ThaiNGO

TITLE:                         Mid-Term Review Technical Advisor Consultant

CONTRACT TYPE:    Fixed Price Contract 

DURATION:               September – October 2026

WORK LOCATION:   Home-based, with virtual engagement and coordination as required.

The Asia Foundation (TAF) is seeking an experienced and qualified Mid-Term Review Technical Advisor to provide technical guidance and quality assurance for the Mid-Term Review of the Mekong Safeguards Program. The contractor will work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director to strengthen the methodological rigor of the review and provide a technical review of key evaluation results. The assignment will be undertaken remotely.

BACKGROUND

The Mekong Safeguards Program (2024-2028) is a regional initiative that aims to strengthen the implementation of environmental and social safeguards policies, standards, and practices in infrastructure development projects across the Mekong subregion. The program is supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Mekong-Australia Partnership.

To assess whether the program is progressing towards its intended outcomes, the program will conduct an internal Mid-Term Review. The review will evaluate the program's progress against its objectives and expected outcomes, assess the effectiveness and efficiency of implementation, and generate evidence to inform adaptive management. Specifically, the review will address the evaluation questions and learning questions outlined in the MEL plan.

To support this process, the Mekong Safeguards Program is seeking an experienced Mid-Term Review Technical Advisor. The contractor will provide technical advice on the appropriateness and effectiveness of the proposed review methodology, tools, and analytical approaches, and recommend alternative or enhanced approaches where appropriate. The contractor will work closely with the Director of MEL to provide independent technical oversight and methodological guidance throughout the review process, strengthen the quality and rigor of the evaluation, review key deliverables, and ensure that the Mid-Term Review is implemented in accordance with the agreed evaluation objectives, scope, and recognized evaluation standards.

OBJECTIVES

• Provide technical guidance to strengthen the Mid-Term Review methodology, approach, and overall review process.
• Serve as Technical Advisor and independent quality assurer to the Mid-Term Review as led by the Director of MEL to ensure the review appropriately assesses program

performance against the agreed key evaluation questions, including relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), impact, and sustainability, and learning questions, as outlined in the MEL plan.

• Review and provide constructive technical feedback to strengthen the quality, rigor, and usefulness of the Mid-Term Review findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Consultant will provide technical advisory support for the Mid-Term Review, working closely with the Director of MEL to strengthen the review methodology, process, and quality of key findings, through three key tasks as described below, in accordance with the objectives of the consultancy service.

Task 1: Advise on the Mid-Term Review design, methodology, and approach

The Consultant will:

• Review relevant Program documents such as the MEL plan/framework and Mid-term review tools, and provide technical advice on the Mid-Term Review methodology, evaluation framework, and approach to ensure they are appropriate, robust, and aligned with the objectives of the review.
• Advise on the suitability of data collection methods, analytical approaches, and tools to ensure they can generate credible evidence to address the agreed evaluation, learning, and contextual monitoring questions.
• Recommend adjustments or alternative approaches/tools where necessary to strengthen the effectiveness and quality of the review process.
• Provide technical advice on relevant evaluation standards, principles, and good practices to support a rigorous and credible review.

Task 2: Support the Mid-Term Review process with the Director of MEL

The Consultant will:

• Work closely with the Director of MEL to guide and support the overall review process.
• Ensure that the review approach and implementation appropriately address the agreed key evaluation questions, including relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, GEDSI, impact, and sustainability, as well as the learning questions outlined in the MEL Plan.
• Provide technical input throughout key stages of the review process, including review planning, stakeholder engagement, data collection, analysis, and validation of findings.
• Support the identification of key program achievements, emerging issues, lessons learned, and areas for improvement to inform adaptive management.
• Document any technical observations, challenges, limitations, and opportunities identified through the Mid-Term Review, including where appropriate, the MEL framework and its components (e.g., indicators, targets, assumptions, and data collection methods, or Theory of Change) to support the measurement of progress toward the End-of-Program Outcomes, including implications for the Final Evaluation.

Task 3: Review and strengthen the quality of Mid-Term Review results

The Consultant will:

• Review key Mid-Term Review results, including the draft and final review reports and relevant supporting documents, to assess the quality, relevance, and robustness of findings, conclusions, and recommendations against the agreed evaluation, learning, and contextual monitoring questions.
• Assess the adequacy of evidence, analysis, and interpretation supporting the findings and provide constructive technical feedback to strengthen the clarity, coherence, rigor, and practical usefulness of the review results.
• Review the incorporation of technical feedback and revisions to ensure key comments have been appropriately addressed in the final results.

All activities under this consultancy will be undertaken with consideration of Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles. The Contractor will ensure that GEDSI considerations are appropriately integrated into the Mid-Term Review methodology, review process, analysis, and assessment of findings, including gender- and inclusion-related outcomes, challenges, and opportunities identified during the review.

DELIVERABLES, TIMELINE, PAYMENTS

EXPECTED OUTCOME

The assignment will enhance the quality and credibility of the Mid-Term Review by providing technical guidance, support, and quality assurance to ensure that the review generates robust findings, recommendations, and useful learning to inform program improvement and the final evaluation.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 10 years' experience in evaluation or MEL
• Experience leading mid-term/final evaluations
• Familiarity with OECD-DAC evaluation criteria
• Experience with DFAT MEL standards or similar donor frameworks
• Knowledge of results-based management and Theory of Change
• Demonstrated experience integrating GEDSI
• Experience in infrastructure, environmental governance or regional development programs
• Strong analytical and report-review skills
• Experience in the Mekong Region or Southeast Asia desirable

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT

Interested contractors must submit a letter of interest and CV by August 21, 2026. Please submit all application documents to: mekong.safeguards@asiafoundation.org 

Email subject line: Application – Mid-Term Review Technical Advisor Consultant