Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Consultancy in London

To deliver the high-ambition policy we need to tackle climate change, we have to broaden and preserve consensus on action. Pathways works with local experts to co-design strategy, launch new initiatives and create conditions that favour action on climate.

Pathways is at a pivotal and exciting moment in our growth — moving from organic, proof-of-concept delivery into a more intentional, scaled structure across a growing number of countries. As we scale, we need a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) system that lets us define what we want to learn, track our impact, and supports Country Directors and our grantees with practical tools, that feeds evidence back into how we refine our approach.

We are looking for a MEL consultant to support us in building these foundations in organisational learning, with the possibility of this transitioning into a long term role. The consultant will report to the Operations Director and work closely with the Executive Director, and Country Directors across our markets (currently Brazil, Mexico, and the UK, with new country programmes launching).

Scope of Work

• Phase 1: MEL Framework Refinement + Building
  • Review Pathways' initial MEL framework thinking and OKR structure, and how they're currently being used across country programmes and in our strategy templates.
  • Conduct consultations with the COO, Strategy Director, Country Directors, and ED to understand MEL needs.
  • Review existing materials, proposals, and deliverables as defined in current grant agreements.
  • Synthesize current state of MEL and propose evolution of framework and how it would be applied to existing initiatives and moving forward.
  • Design comprehensive organisational learning strategy and MEL framework, incorporating findings from prior consultation phases, that includes:
  • Overall MEL philosophy and approach.
  • Practical MEL tools and templates for Country Directors and incubated initiatives to use in the field.
  • A data management and tracking approach appropriate to a small, growing organisation, incorporating workflows that utilize AI-assisted analysis.
• Phase 2: Application
  • Roll out the refined framework and tools with Country Directors and incubated initiatives, providing hands-on support as they apply it to live country strategies and initiatives.
  • Design and run a recurring organisational learning process (e.g. structured retrospectives or cross-country learning sessions) that feeds field-level insight back into strategy and methodology.
  • Align MEL outputs and learnings with donor and funder reporting needs, creating both proposal and report content as required.
  • Feed into larger fundraising strategy as required.
• Phase 3: Embedding + Integration
  • Develop guidance materials and documentation, including the organisational MEL handbook and toolkit, for easy reference and application by all staff and grantees.
  • Deliver targeted training to relevant staff and partners.
  • Handover and assessment report on how the learning strategy is best served and implemented for the medium to long term of the organisation’s trajectory.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience leveraging AI and data analytics to streamline and enhance MEL processes.
• Demonstrated experience designing MEL systems for small or growing organisations, ideally in policy, advocacy, or climate.
• Comfortable working with a Theory of Change that centres influence and ecosystem-building rather than direct service delivery.
• Able to design something proportionate to Pathways' size and trajectory.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative methods background, with a track record of turning frameworks into tools people actually use.
• Able to work independently and iteratively with a distributed, multi-country team without close supervision.
• Experience translating field-level, politically-sensitive work into credible evidence for funders and internal decision-making.
• Team player who enjoys collaborating.
• Alignment with our mission and ready to think outside the box on how we advance climate policy progress.

Benefits

• Duration: 6 months, structured across the three phases above, with potential to turn into a long term role.
• Capacity: equivalent of 3 days per week/60% time.
• Reporting line: COO, in close coordination with other Directors.
• Location: Remote, within +/- 3 hours of GMT.
• Budget: Maximum of £575 p/d.

To apply, please answer the questions in the application form and submit your CV. Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a role closing date of Monday September 7th, 10AM BST.