Senior Expert, Monitoring & Evaluation, Media Freedom Programmes

Position: Senior Expert, Monitoring & Evaluation, Media Freedom Programmes, WAN-IFRA

Contract Length: 12 months

Engagement Type: Milestone based external contract (director level position)

Start Date: July 2026

Location: Global (Flexible)

Application Deadline: 01/07/2026

About the Role:

The Senior Expert, MREL holds primary responsibility for designing, managing and implementing the systems, tools and frameworks required to ensure quality monitoring, evaluation, results and learning (MREL) across WAN-IFRA Media Freedom programmes. The role leads the organisation's learning agenda, including strategic direction, documentation and facilitation of Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) activities.

Working closely with WAN-IFRA Media Freedom programme leads and regional teams across multiple projects including Women in News, Brave and Stronger Together, the role provides functional leadership for the MREL unit, oversees data systems and quality, leads on research, and builds internal capacity across all regions to deliver on the full M&E cycle. Advisory services on other projects may also be required.

Key Responsibilities:

1- Functional Leadership of MREL

• Lead WAN-IFRA’s Monitoring, Results, Evaluation and Learning framework ensuring application, relevance and coherence between multiple programmes and individual project results frameworks
• Design and maintain MREL architecture systems, processes, technology and people for efficient and impactful delivery
• Establish MREL standards, templates, reporting accountabilities and governance structures, including board-level documentation if required
• Manage strategic partner relationships related to consortium and bilateral initiatives
• Drive organisational MREL capacity strengthening across teams, regions and projects.

2- M&E Framework and Planning

• Design and implement results frameworks in coordination with leadership teams providing full cycle support and leadership from proposal to programme end reporting.
• Develop annual reporting plans to guide timely and efficient data collection across all regions
• Develop baselines, mid-term and final evaluations that directly support outcome and impacts ensure coherency with set indicators and where relevant and appropriate have application across projects
• Track and contextualise activities across regions, adjusting for country-specific contexts and providing strategic and performance data
• Review MREL procedures to ensure quality assurance and consistency across all regions (Africa, Arab Region and Southeast Asia and Europe)
• Compile, analyse and report on project monitoring data for internal and external stakeholders
• Design internal evaluations and surveys; review and refine existing tools to reflect current programmatic requirements
• Translate M&E findings into actionable recommendations for programme improvement

3- Data Management and Quality

• Ensure the integrity, accessibility and utility of programme data housed in Airtable and related systems
• Build and maintain interfaces and reports for external stakeholders, consolidating HR data, events, participation figures, grant information and content data
• Support administrators and project staff in developing data collection tools and understanding reporting processes
• Contribute MREL input to proposal development, results framework design and programme planning on an iterative and ad hoc basis as required
• Convene communities of practice and facilitate quarterly reflection sessions with regional teams
• Assist with the induction of new team members on the programme, results frameworks and data collection tools.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Leads and maintains a functional, well-documented MREL strategy, framework and organisational plan that is actively used across teams
• M&E frameworks and results frameworks are in place, aligned and understood across all programmes and regions
• Monitoring data is collected, analysed and reported accurately and on time for all donor and internal reporting cycles
• Data systems (including Airtable) are well-maintained, accessible and fit for purpose across all programmes
• Research projects are delivered to a high standard, on time and serve both internal learning and external advocacy purposes
• MREL team members and wider staff demonstrate improved capacity in monitoring, data collection and reporting processes
• Donor and internal reports are high-quality, accurate and submitted on time, with clear evidence of progress, outcomes and learning
• Quarterly reflection sessions and communities of practice are convened regularly, with documented lessons shared across regions

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Significant experience in a senior MREL, research or programme learning role within an international NGO, media development or gender equality context with specific experience in emerging, transitional and or complex contexts.
• Demonstrated experience designing and operationalising M&E frameworks and results frameworks across multi-country programmes
• Strong track record in qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis and reporting for donor-funded programmes
• Experience managing primary research projects end-to-end, including design, data collection, analysis and publication
• Proficiency in data management systems and survey tools (e.g. Airtable, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; additional languages (French, Arabic) are an advantage
• Experience building staff capacity in MREL processes and tools
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams across regions and time zones
• Experience working in or within Africa, Southeast Asia and Arab Region is highly desirable

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should submit their applications via our online application form by 1 July 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

About WAN-IFRA:

The World Association of News Publishers, or WAN-IFRA, is the world’s largest international press organisation representing 3,000 news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and 40 member publisher associations representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries. Our mission is to protect the rights of journalists and publishers worldwide to operate independent media. We provide our members with expertise and services to innovate and prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in society.

Since its foundation in 1948, WAN-IFRA has been committed to fostering international business cooperation among publishers; sharing best practices in both business and technology; working as a representative trade body to elaborate and advance quality standards in the production workflow and business value chain; and engage with public authorities, institutions, and other trade bodies to promote press freedom and advocate for the independence of news media organisations.