Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning (MERL) Specialist - FIJ 42110
Closing Date: 13 January 2026
Category: Youth Engagement & Community Development
Change your scene and become a VSA Volunteer and share your experience, knowledge, and skills to transform the lives of many. Work with our partner organisation to create a fair future for all.
VSA will organise and fund, flights, visas, insurance, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while on assignment.
Please note VSA Volunteers must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
Volunteering with VSA
Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) is not your typical volunteering agency, we are committed to building sustainable communities across the Pacific. If you’re an experienced MERL Specialist, looking for an extraordinary overseas experience in the Pacific to build into your field of expertise – working collaboratively with Model Town's Charitable Trust (MTCT), then read on, as we have an exciting opportunity in store for you!
Our Partner Organisation - Model Town's Charitable Trust
Model Town’s Charitable Trust (MTCT) started as a Rota-homes Project in 1985, before registering as a Charitable Trust in 2002. MTCT manages a social housing programme “Koroipita village” as a model town.
They work with over 1000 vulnerable residents to access safe homes, education, counselling, health services and life skills to increase economic growth opportunities with the target to advance out of the housing programme. MTCT is well established and has established networks.
With secured funding from the Fiji and New Zealand Government, the programme plans to expand in the next five years.
The Assignment - MERL Specialist
In this assignment the VSA volunteer will be working directly with the community development team to assess and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their program delivery, and with the management team to support the provision of high-level reporting on the development impact of MTCT’s programmes.
The Volunteer
Are you someone who wants to make a difference, have a sense of adventure and like the challenge of being outside your comfort zone? VSA Volunteers are technical experts who impart their skills and knowledge to the local community. You will need to be flexible, adaptable, resourceful, resilient with a passion for Aotearoa and the wider Pacific community.
We're looking for a volunteer with the following:
Fiji includes the other 3 cultural groups called Fijians -Rotuma, Rabi, and Kioa (Rabian and Kioans) were resettled in Fiji after being evacuated from Ocean islands, Tuvalu and Kiribati).
It is a destination attraction for its coral reefs, clear lagoons, and tropical landscapes. Fijian indigenous society is very communal, with great importance attached to the family unit, the village, and the vanua (land).
With the introduction of traditions such as Indian and Chinese and significant influences from Europe and Fiji's Pacific neighbours, particularly Tonga and Samoa, these various cultures have come together to create a multicultural national identity for Fiji.
Fiji has several development goals they are focusing on as a country such as lowering youth unemployment rates, reducing poverty, reducing child mortality and gender inequality, increasing environmental sustainability, and improving the health and education status of its citizens.
Apply Now!
Apply for this amazing opportunity through our website. For more information on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.
If you are on the VSA website, please click on the download assignment description tab above.
VSA will organise and fund, flights, visas, insurance, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while on assignment.
Please note VSA Volunteers must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
Volunteering with VSA
Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) is not your typical volunteering agency, we are committed to building sustainable communities across the Pacific. If you’re an experienced MERL Specialist, looking for an extraordinary overseas experience in the Pacific to build into your field of expertise – working collaboratively with Model Town's Charitable Trust (MTCT), then read on, as we have an exciting opportunity in store for you!
Our Partner Organisation - Model Town's Charitable Trust
Model Town’s Charitable Trust (MTCT) started as a Rota-homes Project in 1985, before registering as a Charitable Trust in 2002. MTCT manages a social housing programme “Koroipita village” as a model town.
They work with over 1000 vulnerable residents to access safe homes, education, counselling, health services and life skills to increase economic growth opportunities with the target to advance out of the housing programme. MTCT is well established and has established networks.
With secured funding from the Fiji and New Zealand Government, the programme plans to expand in the next five years.
The Assignment - MERL Specialist
In this assignment the VSA volunteer will be working directly with the community development team to assess and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their program delivery, and with the management team to support the provision of high-level reporting on the development impact of MTCT’s programmes.
The Volunteer
Are you someone who wants to make a difference, have a sense of adventure and like the challenge of being outside your comfort zone? VSA Volunteers are technical experts who impart their skills and knowledge to the local community. You will need to be flexible, adaptable, resourceful, resilient with a passion for Aotearoa and the wider Pacific community.
We're looking for a volunteer with the following:
- A degree in social science/psychology/organisation management or relative field
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in an organisation at management level
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in the MERL field.
- Advanced Excel and MS word/ PowerPoint/ Access skills
- Be able to extract relevant information from a data base
- Be analytical and have exceptional written English skills
- The ability to communicate with our residents and employees at a level that they understand
- Be able to produce great data and reports including dashboard diagrams and graphs
- Familiar with Monday.com or similar software would be an advantage
- Knowledge of Teaching, Psychology, Social behaviour knowledge and counselling
- Knowledge of the tertiary education system, entry requirements and courses
- Experience in children’s education and teaching best practices
- Understanding of the local cultural context of iTaukei and indo-fijian people
Fiji includes the other 3 cultural groups called Fijians -Rotuma, Rabi, and Kioa (Rabian and Kioans) were resettled in Fiji after being evacuated from Ocean islands, Tuvalu and Kiribati).
It is a destination attraction for its coral reefs, clear lagoons, and tropical landscapes. Fijian indigenous society is very communal, with great importance attached to the family unit, the village, and the vanua (land).
With the introduction of traditions such as Indian and Chinese and significant influences from Europe and Fiji's Pacific neighbours, particularly Tonga and Samoa, these various cultures have come together to create a multicultural national identity for Fiji.
Fiji has several development goals they are focusing on as a country such as lowering youth unemployment rates, reducing poverty, reducing child mortality and gender inequality, increasing environmental sustainability, and improving the health and education status of its citizens.
Apply Now!
Apply for this amazing opportunity through our website. For more information on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.
If you are on the VSA website, please click on the download assignment description tab above.
We are looking for a volunteer with:
- Do you have experience implementing MERL frameworks?
- Flights and Accomodation funded by VSA
- 6-month assignment in Fiji
VSA covers flights, accommodation, insurance and some expenses. A living allowance is also provided.
Does volunteering with one of the largest and most experienced agency in international development interest you?