Background:

Experience from YMCI’s previous program shows that women-led/owned micro and small businesses tend to have low access to financial services, with only 51% having an active bank account and using it in the last six months. YMCI learnt that although the financial inclusion and financial literacy rate for women in Indonesia has improved compared to the Global Findex 2017, women – who lead/own around 60% of MSMEs in Indonesia – still face challenges due to structural and behavioral factors to use the financial products and services from formal financial institutions. Gender-based barriers to financial inclusion arise from both the demand and supply sides. From the demand side, the most critical barriers are social norms that preclude women from owning property or being involved in financial decisions. From the supply side, barriers include lack of gender-specific policies and practices in product design, marketing, and distribution channels. Moreover, in terms of cultural limitations, women may face socio-cultural barriers in accessing services as empowered clients even when financial services are easily available or even mandated by the government.

This program aims to empower women-led /owned micro and small businesses in Semarang, Surabaya, and Medan Cities by improving their access to bundled financial literacy and services, business development, and digitalization. The program will replicate YMCI’s multi-stakeholder partnership and bundled services approach in facilitating a comprehensive package that includes financial literacy, financial management, access to financial products and services, digital literacy and mentoring, and digital marketing for women-led/owned micro and small enterprises, to enable them to increase their businesses performance, increase sales, and expand their market. This program expectedly will create an impact on their financial health that leads to bettering their well-being and their family. The program will also facilitate ecosystem learnings, knowledge exchange and foster collaboration between women led/owned MSEs engagement and within the broader Micro and Small Businesses, and other stakeholders through learning events.

Goals and Outcomes Program:

Improved financial health & resilience

30% of women reported an improvement in financial heal Influences Policymakers (increased sales)

Outcomes:

Improvement in financial knowledge & application

75% of women reported an improvement in knowledge on financial literacy & services, business development & digitalisation
60% of women reported an improvement in access to digital marketing channels to improve their business

Improvement in access to financial services

60% of women reported an improvement in access to financial products /services including digital financial services.
70% of women reported to have accessed and actively used financial product/ services (at least once a month)

Consultant Objectives:

The MERL Assistant shall support the Senior MERL Officer in implementing the MERL system for the Financial Inclusion for Women Entrepreneurs Program across Medan, Surabaya, and Semarang, ensuring that data collection, management, and reporting are accurate, timely and consistently reflect the program’s GESI and safeguarding priorities and key performance indicators.

Consultant Activities:

The MERL Assistant will undertake the following activities: Support implementation of the MEL plan including Result Framework, Logical Framework, Indicator Plan and Program Participants tracking plan. In addition, implementation of the MEL Plan for program activities, outputs, and outcomes, including appropriate methodologies and data collection frequency.
Develop data flow map and information management plan.
Develop digital data collection tools, include data visualization system/dashboard based on program outcome and output indicators.
Support the collection, aggregation, storage, and analysis of indicator data for dissemination and use,
Develop, maintain, and implement a data analysis plan for reflecting on outputs, outcomes, goal, and assumption indicators.
Establish and regular update of program Indicator tracking in TOLA
Assist in maintaining and updating the Program participant tracking system, including regular tracking of Program Participants’ Sex and Age Disaggregated Data (SADD)
Ensure the data needed for program monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, and report are available.
Support Senior MERL Officer to develop monthly workplan and target and provide monthly progress against the target and workplan.
Manage program data and files in accordance with the MCI standard filing structure in the Synology storage platform or MCI Data Center.
Develop and conduct MEL capacity building and training plans for program team and partners as needed, and serve as a resource for program staff, advising on activity design and evidence-based programming.
Support field-level data collection for program monitoring, baseline and endline activities across the three program cities.
Support data entry, cleaning, and quality assurance of indicator data collected through KOBO, ONA, Commcare, and other equivalent digital tools.
Provide logistical and administrative support for enumerator coordination, training, and field scheduling during data collection rounds.
Assist in the production of donor and internal MERL reports.
Support the compilation of data inputs for bi-weekly, quarterly, and interim progress reports, in coordination with the Senior MERL Officer.
Support evaluation, assessment, and learning activities, including documentation of lesson learned.
Support the program team to use data and evidence for adaptive management and decision-making.

Consultant Deliverables:

During the assignment, the MERL Assistant will be responsible for delivering:

Updated Program Participant Tracking: accurate and current participant records maintained in the program’s MERL/administrative system.
Indicator Data: monthly indicator tracking updates completed in TOLA (or equivalent system) in line with the agreed schedule.
Field Monitoring Support: field visit notes and data verification records for activities in Medan, Surabaya, and Semarang.
Data Quality Checks: routine data quality checks completed with issues flagged and resolved in coordination with the Senior MERL Officer.
Progress Report Inputs: data tables and summaries submitted on schedule to support weekly, bi-weekly, quarterly, and interim reports.
Learning Documentation Support: notes, case study inputs, and materials for learning events and program stories.

Timeframe / Schedule:

The MERL Assistant will be engaged from the date of 1 August 2026 – 31 January 2027. with recurring activities as outlined below. Specific dates for field data collection will be finalised jointly with the Senior MERL Officer in line with the program’s baseline and endline schedule.

No	Activity	Timeline	Target
1	Onboarding and orientation on MEL Plan and MEL Tech tools.	First week of contract	–
2	Support field data collection for baseline/endline/assessment activities	As scheduled with Senior MERL Officer	Weekly
3	Data entry, cleaning and indicator tracking updates	Ongoing from month 1	Weekly
4	SADD tracking and Program Participant database update	Ongoing from month 1	Monthly
5	Support for weekly and bi-weekly program report data inputs	Ongoing from month 1	Weekly/Bi-weekly
6	Support for quarterly progress report	As scheduled	Quaterly

Duration and Compensation:

The MERL Assistant will be engaged on full-time basis upon signing contract to January 2027 that the payment will be made in monthly basis. All approved accommodation and transportation costs required for activities in the program locations shall be covered by Mercy Corps Indonesia through reimbursement, subject to the submission of valid supporting documents

The Consultant will report to:

Senior MERL Officer

Works Directly With: Senior MELR, Program Manager, KM and Comms Coordinator, Program Support Officer, Field Officers in 3 cities, TM Consultant

Required Experience and Skills

The Financial Inclusion and Women Entrepreneurs Program seeks a MERL Assistant with the following qualifications:

University degree in Social Studies, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or other relevant fields.
Minimum 2 – 3 years’ experience supporting MERL, data management, or research activities, ideally on financial inclusion, women-focused programs, and development programs.
Experience supporting data collection, entry, and cleaning for program monitoring or research activities.
Familiarity with KOBO, ONA, Commcare digital data collection tools are preferred.
Good knowledge of MS Office software, comfortable working with data in Excel.
Able to write and understand spoken English is preferred.
Demonstrated ability to identify issue, propose practical solutions, and communicate them clearly in both written and verbal form.
Any other responsibilities as assigned by the Organization from time to time.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following:

An updated CV outlining relevant experience in MERL, data management, or research support, including any experience related to financial inclusion, women entrepreneurs, GESI and Safeguarding.
A cover letter describing motivation and fit for the role.

Interested candidate could email their CV and proposal to procurement@id.mercycorps.org with the subject “SUB 0002 – MAC – (your name)” the latest on 24 July 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Thank you,

Mercy Corps Indonesia