Background

The Sana’a Center is currently implementing the “Mobilising Local Actors for Transformative Peace in Yemen” program, funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The program seeks to foster a Yemeni-led transition toward inclusive and sustainable peace and stability, underpinned by accountable governance, justice, protection, responsive institutions, and the meaningful engagement of youth, minority groups, and local actors.

To strengthen strategic learning, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making throughout program implementation, the Sana’a Center seeks to engage a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Consultant to provide high-level advisory support over the course of the program.

Objective of the Bid

To provide strategic monitoring, evaluation, and learning support that strengthens accountability, adaptive management, organizational learning, and evidence-based decision-making throughout the implementation of the program.

Scope of Work and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The consultant will serve as a strategic advisor on monitoring, evaluation and learning, rather than a day-to-day monitoring officer, providing periodic guidance and quality assurance throughout the life of the program.

The assignment will focus on assessing progress toward outcomes, strengthening learning and adaptation processes, supporting evidence-based reporting and decision-making, and ensuring that monitoring and evaluation approaches are aligned with the nature of think tank and policy engagement programming.

The consultant will support the program team in assessing progress toward intended outcomes, strengthening evidence collection and analysis, evaluating the effectiveness of policy dialogues, research and policy influence efforts, and capturing lessons learned to improve program implementation and organizational learning.

Roles and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Grants and Partnership Manager, the consultant will provide specialized MEL support, including but not limited to the following:

• Providing high-level advisory support on monitoring program progress, assessing performance against intended outcomes, and identifying emerging risks, opportunities, and areas requiring strategic attention;
• Supporting the assessment of the effectiveness of policy dialogues, research outputs, stakeholder engagement efforts, and policy influence activities, with a focus on their contribution to the program’s objectives and broader peacebuilding outcomes;
• Advising on methodologies and approaches for measuring outcomes, influence, and contribution in the context of think tank programming, where policy engagement, knowledge production, and dialogue are key pathways to change;
• Guiding and providing technical inputs into program reporting, internal assessments and external monitoring and evaluation missions for the program;
• Contributing to the identification and documentation of lessons learned, emerging practices, and strategic insights to strengthen adaptive management, organizational learning, and future programming;
• Supporting the capacity strengthening of relevant staff through mentoring and guidance on monitoring, evaluation, and learning approaches suited to research, policy, and peacebuilding programs.

Methodology

Applicants are expected to propose a practical and context-appropriate methodology for delivering strategic MEL support to a think tank-led peacebuilding and policy program. The proposed approach should demonstrate how the consultant will assess progress toward outcomes, support organizational learning, and strengthen evidence-based decision-making.

Applicants should also demonstrate how their approach will support adaptive management and continuous learning while adhering to appropriate ethical and professional standards.

Key Deliverables

• Inception Report including detailed methodology, tools, and time bound action plan
• Four annual monitoring reviews and management briefings highlighting key findings, lessons learned, and strategic recommendations for enhancing program’s progress towards the planned results, adaptive programming and organizational learning.
• Four management briefings presenting key findings, lessons learned, and strategic recommendations to support adaptive programming and organizational learning.
• Technical inputs and advisory support to program reporting, learning processes, and monitoring and evaluation activities, as required throughout the consultancy period.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in public policy, international development, peacebuilding, governance, social sciences, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in monitoring, evaluation, research,and learning.
• Demonstrated experience working with think tanks, policy engagement initiatives, peacebuilding programs, governance programs, or similar interventions.
• Strong understanding of outcome measurement, policy influence assessment, adaptive programming, and learning-oriented MEL approaches.
• Excellent analytical, facilitation, writing, and communication skills in English.
• Experience working in fragile and conflict-affected contexts is highly desirable.

Consultancy Details

• Location: Remote
• Level of Effort: Up to 20 consultancy days over a four-year period, deployed on an as-needed basis according to program requirements.
• Duration: The consultancy will span the duration of the program (four years), with a maximum engagement of 20 working days allocated based on program needs and agreed workplans.
• Reporting Line: Grants and Partnership Manager

Application Process

Interested individual consultants are invited to submit:

• A technical proposal outlining the applicant’s understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, workplan, and relevant experience.
• A financial proposal detailing the proposed daily consultancy rate.
• CV of the consultant
• Examples of previous relevant assignments.
• Contact details for at least three professional references.

Applications should be submitted electronically to: [email protected], with the email subject line: RFP_MEL Advisory Services

Deadline for submission: 5 August 2026

Note: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to participate in an interview to further assess their understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, and suitability for the consultancy.