Background

The International Land and Forest Tenure Facility (Tenure Facility) is the main global funding mechanism dedicated to advancing the land tenure and territorial governance of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities at scale. Since 2017, we have channelled global funding to these groups, with measurable results—including millions of hectares of pristine forest secured and defended, stronger community governance, and lasting capacity within partner organisations. We advance such outcomes by funding Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and local community partner organisations to assist communities to map and monitor their territories, strengthen governance bodies, develop territorial management plans, and prepare and submit land claims.

We also support our partners to improve their strategies and internal systems, hire and train staff, and invest in essential equipment. To scale and improve these efforts, we and our partners document and share lessons learned and engage in multi-stakeholder platforms, policy dialogues, and learning exchanges. Our support is long-term and flexible, delivered through a global portfolio of projects implemented by partner organisations, generating results that are tracked through the ROOTS system.

Purpose of role

As the Tenure Facility expands its portfolio across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the organisation is shifting towards a decentralised monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) support model to enhance data quality, partner engagement, and regional accountability. The Regional MEL Officer for Latin America, based within the Programme Unit, is pivotal in providing tailored MEL support to partners and programmes across the region. This role involves strengthening regional monitoring, verifying data accuracy, and ensuring that results align with the Tenure Facility’s reporting standards. The Regional MEL Officer will lead MEL processes at the regional level, focusing on the quality and usability of project results while bridging connections between partners, the region, and the global team. As the primary focal point for MEL functions within Latin America, the Officer will collaborate closely with the Regional Coordinator, Programme Officers, and MEL team members.

Primary responsibilities

The job holder will have the following key responsibilities:

The MEL Regional Officer is primarily responsible for collecting, reviewing, verifying and validating regional data and results reported by partners - both quantitative indicators (communities, hectares) and qualitative results (outcomes and changes) - ensuring that these are entered into the ROOTS system, following the required structure, language, and are consistent with the reports from partners and with supporting evidence. The Officer identifies and addresses data inconsistencies, missing information, and potential duplication across reported communities or territories.
The Regional Officer undertakes regional data analysis by aggregating regional data related to territorial recognition, governance enhancement, effective management, policy influence, and institutional capacity, while also monitoring cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, biodiversity, and environmental outcomes to identify trends, lessons learned, and emerging results for institutional reporting and learning.
The Regional Officer undertakes spatial data coordination in collaboration with the GIS Officer. This includes the identification of territories and communities linked to specific results, clarifying discrepancies between spatial and narrative data, as well as validating spatial data submitted by partners and ensuring alignment between evidence, spatial datasets, and reported results. They will facilitate communication with partner technical teams for data validation, for the purpose of corrections and updates.
The Regional Officer is responsible for conducting assessments of partners’ MEL capacity and providing technical assistance on their MEL needs within the regions. This may take the form of guidance tools and materials, facilitation of regional training and other forms as determined by the MEL Manager and Chief Programme Officer.
The Regional Officer supports partner engagement and capacity by guiding partners on reporting requirements, data quality standards, and the use of templates and tools. Additionally, the officer will assist partners in improving data collection practices and strengthening evidence by linking results to documentation and spatial data. When necessary, the MEL Regional Officer will facilitate technical discussions with partner teams.
The Regional Officer contributes to donor reports and ensures that regional data used is consolidated, accurate and validated, consistent with and aligned with ROOTS systems and the spatial data sets.
The Regional Officer contributes to the production of internal knowledge products, project evaluations and other research activities as necessary.
The Regional officer collaborates with the global MEL team in conducting internal learning processes in line with the Tenure Facility Learning Strategy

Skills and qualifications

Bachelor or Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Development Studies, Geography, Environmental Governance, Monitoring & Evaluation, Social Sciences, Law or related field.
Minimum 2–5 years in MEL, project monitoring, or data management.
Experience working with multi-country or regional programmes.
Experience working with Indigenous Peoples or land/tenure issues is an added advantage.
Strong data analysis and validation skills.
Experience with results frameworks and indicator-based reporting.
Ability to work with both qualitative and quantitative data.
Familiarity with GIS concepts (not necessarily advanced technical level).

Competencies

Strong attention to detail and data quality.
Analytical thinking and problem-solving.
Ability to coordinate across teams and cultures.
Clear communication and facilitation skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English
Knowledge of Portuguese and /or Spanish for Latin America is an added advantage.

To apply for the post

To apply for this role, please submit a copy of your CV/resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how you fulfil the requirements set out in the job announcement. Please ensure you send your CV and Cover letter in the following format: full_name_CV_org_name_role and full_name_role_CL.

If you have any questions about the role or organisation, please reach out to Ruth Gardner at ruth@upsallinternational.com. Please note: to ensure the security of your application and to ensure that your data complies with GDPR regulations, applications via email will not be accepted.

· The deadline for applications is Monday 8^th June, 9:00 am CET ·

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Upsall International actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. In recruiting candidates, we seek candidates with the proven skills required, irrespective of race, gender, religion or belief, age, disability, or sexual orientation.

Regional Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer