Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist

1. BACKGROUND

The Government of Uzbekistan (GoU), in collaboration with the World Bank
(the Bank), is preparing the BILIM: Transforming Public Education for Economic Growth Program (BILIM, BILIM Program, the Program), aimed at improving
the quality, accessibility, and inclusiveness of school education through modern infrastructure and enhanced teacher professional development.

The Program is composed of a Program-for-Results financing instrument (Program) and the Technical Assistance component (using an Investment Project Financing instrument).

A Grant Facility for Program Preparation (GFPP) was obtained by the GoU
to support the preparation of the BILIM Program. The GFPP supports preparatory activities such as developing architectural designs and construction documentation using the RIGHT+ model, conducting comprehensive site assessments for new or expanded schools - including engineering, seismic, climate, WASH, and inclusivity evaluations - performing climate risk modeling, cost-benefit, and institutional analyses to ensure projects are effective and bankable, and creating materials to strengthen the climate change and alignment aspects of Programs.

The Program and the GFPP will be implemented under the coordination
of the Ministry of Preschool and School Education (MoPSE) in close coProgram with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) of the Republic
of Uzbekistan as the implementer of the second DLI of the Program through
a dedicated Implementation Office, which will oversee Program preparation and structuring, including monitoring and evaluation, financial management, procurement, and reporting in accordance with the Program Programal Manual (OOM) and the World Bank’s Programal requirements.

The Program is structured around three mutually reinforcing Results Areas (RAs), each linked to a Disbursement Linked Indicator (DLI):

• RA1 / DLI 1: Improved pedagogical and managerial practices in schools (revised ITE/CPD, coaching, classroom observation, remedial activities).
• RA2 / DLI 2: Improved learning-conducive environments (RIGHT+-aligned school construction/rehabilitation standards).
• RA3 / DLI 3: Improved data-driven management and assessment systems (national/international learning assessments, EMIS, data-driven planning).

Achievement of results is measured through PDO indicators, intermediate results indicators, and Disbursement Linked Results (DLRs), all set out in the Program’s Results Framework (Annex 1 of the PAD), and is independently verified by an Independent Verification Agent (IVA). The IPF component finances technical assistance, impact evaluation(s), and the Programal costs of the Program Coordination Office (PCO), established under MoPSE, which is responsible for fiduciary, technical, and M&E coordination.

To support MoPSE and the PCO in discharging these responsibilities, the Program requires a dedicated Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The M&E Specialist will lead the design, Programalization, and day-to-day management of the Program's M&E system, ensuring reliable, timely, and quality-assured tracking of the PDO indicators, intermediate results indicators, and DLIs/DLRs; supporting verification by the IVA; and ensuring that results data inform adaptive management and Bank reporting requirements throughout implementation.

3. SCOPE OF WORK

The M&E Specialist will perform the following key tasks:

Monitoring and Data Management

• Establish and maintain a monitoring system aligned with the Results Framework, DLIs, and the verification protocols of both GFPP and BILIM Programs;
• Draft ToRs for the relevant Independent Verification Agents (IVAs) and the impact evaluations/baseline research planned within the Program;
• Collect, verify, and analyze data received from MoPSE departments, implementation partners, IVAs and others;
• Maintain accurate and timely updates in monitoring databases and digital platforms;
• Support MoPSE and implementing departments/organizations in strengthening data collection processes related to infrastructure, staffing, teacher training, and inclusion;
• Maintain gender-disaggregated, region-specific, and vulnerability-related data.
• Ensure security, integrity, and ethical use of sensitive information.
• Contribute to design and data collection for the Program’s impact evaluation.

Evaluation and Reporting

• Monitor progress toward the Program’s results, identifying deviations and recommending corrective actions;
• Prepare and submit regular M&E reports summarizing progress, results achieved, challenges, and proposed solutions;
• Provide indicator data for Implementation Progress Reports (IPRs) and for World Bank supervision missions;
• Contribute to the Program Completion Report with consolidated results and lessons learned;
• Support baseline, mid-term, and end-line assessments, when applicable;
• Assist in developing data visualization materials such as charts, infographics, and dashboards;
• Facilitate necessary data collection, processing, and analysis to support ongoing and emerging impact evaluations in the BILIM Program.

Capacity Building and System Strengthening

• Strengthen the capacity of the MoPSE, MEF, and co-implementing departments/agencies’ internal systems for monitoring, data management, and reporting;
• Provide on-the-job training to MoPSE, MEF and co-implementing agencies’ staff on indicator tracking, M&E tools, verification protocols, and reporting;
• Support improvement of institutional data quality assurance mechanisms.

Environmental and Social (E&S) Performance Monitoring

• Support monitoring of environmental and social performance indicators, including PAP, SEP, LMP, GRM, gender and inclusion indicators, and climate adaptation metrics;
• Verify compliance with World Bank PforR Core Principles;
• Track and summarize stakeholder engagement and grievance redress data;
• Ensure M&E systems reflect E&S-related data requirements.

The Specialist may be assigned other related M&E tasks as required by the Implementation Office Coordinator and agreed with the World Bank.

• 4. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

  Education and Professional Background:

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in economics, statistics, social sciences, public policy, management, or a related field;
• Minimum three (3) years of professional experience in monitoring, evaluation, or results-based management, preferably under donor-funded or government programs;
• Experience with M&E frameworks, indicator verification, and data analysis;
• At least 1 year of experience with World Bank or IFI-funded Programs.
• Experience working with government MIS platforms or large-scale monitoring databases is an asset.

• Language Requirements:

  Professional proficiency in English (required); working knowledge of Uzbek and Russian (strongly preferred).

  Skills and Competencies:

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills. Knowledge of social research methods – qualitative and quantitative is necessary;
• Knowledge of major international assessments of student learning is necessary;
• Ability to analyze datasets and prepare clear, evidence-based reports;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and one of the statistical packages (SPSS, RStudio, or STATA); familiarity with visualization packages (Power BI/Tableau) is an asset;
• Strong communication and coordination abilities;
• High ethical standards, accuracy, and attention to detail;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

Deadline for application submission: 3 August, 2026