We are recruiting a MERL Lead to help us gather, interpret, use, and communicate evidence on the impact of a growing portfolio of activities across our operations and programmes.

The position will include overseeing the collection and communication of meaningful, high-quality data about our interventions; ensuring the organisation’s activities remain informed by evidence and aligned with its evolving strategic objectives; and generally maintaining and improving the organisation’s monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning processes.

Responsibilities

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Design and implement monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks, methodologies, and tools for Mawazo’s operations and programmes.
• Develop data collection strategies, including both quantitative and qualitative methods, to assess operational and programmatic performance and outcomes.
• Create results frameworks that are relevant, robust, and serve the informational needs of the programme (internal learning and external communications and donor reporting), including:
• Regularly updating Mawazo’s logframe and ensuring our activities are aligned with our mission and vision.
• Management of all databases and ensuring that our data visualisation dashboard is functioning and always up to date.
• Lead data analysis and interpretation, providing actionable insights for operational and programmatic improvements.
• Track key performance indicators and maintain comprehensive records of M&E activities, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and internal standards.

Research

• Provide oversight and guidance on Mawazo’s research activities, including the design of research projects.
• Conduct research on best practices and innovations in supporting women researchers, with a focus on African contexts.
• Drive the development of learning agendas, evaluations, and impact assessments for new and ongoing programs.
• Provide research support across all programmes including supporting team members to create talking points for external engagements
• Promote an organisational culture of learning by facilitating regular feedback loops with teams, partners, and stakeholders.

Learning, Reporting and Communication

• Collaborate with programme and communications teams to share insights and lessons learned with external stakeholders.
• Lead the preparation of high-quality reports for funders, providing detailed analysis and updates on program performance.
• Prepare reports, case studies, and learning briefs to communicate findings to a variety of audiences, including donors, board members, and partner organisations.
• Engage with relevant networks and communities of practice to stay updated on trends in MERL, particularly within the African research and development sector.

Capacity Building and Strategic Planning

• Provide technical support and capacity-building for Mawazo staff on M&E concepts, tools, and practices.
• Offer guidance to Mawazo’s teams in developing theories of change, logical frameworks, and results-based management approaches.
• Evidence-based strategy development processes, including programme design, theory of change and logical framework, incorporated as relevant in fundraising proposals; updated as needed based on emerging evidence.
• Facilitate the development and implementation of strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks, approaches, and annual plans with programme leadership, staff and partners.
• Facilitate active engagement and ownership of Mawazo strategic planning and MEL processes by the team and partners, providing support as needed.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in and facilitate meetings and spaces for staff to coordinate and co-create tools, practices, processes, and evidence.
• Participate in team and organisational planning and retreats, annual personnel reviews.
• Support an organisational culture that aligns with Mawazo’s principles.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social, economic, political sciences, development studies or any sciences, and formal training in monitoring and evaluation systems, approaches and methodologies.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in developing and implementing MERL frameworks and systems for governance, advocacy, or development organisations and multi-country programmes is required.
• Strong quantitative research skills.
• Field experience with building and implementing programme MERL strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with MERL (including appropriate tools and methodologies) for complex, politically informed and adaptive programming is required.
• Familiarity with data analytics and database software, and data visualisation tools such as Power BI is required.
• Strong facilitation skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse individuals, teams and cultures is required.
• Attention to detail and strong organisational, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• A Curious individual with ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to seek assistance with projects as required; keen interest in finding suitable new and alternative approaches.
• Ability to supervise staff and delegate work effectively.
• An interest in continual learning and professional growth.
• The ability to thrive in a role with a great deal of autonomy in an environment that is highly collaborative, communicative, and team-oriented.
• Excellent written and spoken English, proficiency conveying complex and technical processes and ideas to diverse audiences.
• Written and spoken French is desirable but not a must.
• Commitment to the Mawazo Institute’s mission and values.

Terms of Offer

Compensation and benefits for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead position include:

• Competitive salary
• 21 days of paid leave
• 10 days of paid sick / family leave
• 3 months paid parental leave in the event of the birth or adoption of a child by the employee or the employee’s partner
• Health insurance and pension
• Operating on a four-day work-week
• Flexi-hours and hybrid working arrangement
• Access to a wellness fund
• Access to a professional development fund
• Quarterly data bundles
• Interested candidates should be looking to commit to the role for a minimum of 2 years.
• The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead position is offered on a fixed-term basis with a three-month probationary period. Upon successful completion of probation, the role will be confirmed, with the option for automatic contract renewal upon expiry, subject to the CEO’s approval.