Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Specialist

Our client is a leading Africa-based, African-led, international research institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya and with a West Africa Regional Office (WARO) in Dakar, Senegal. They conduct policy-relevant research on population, health, education, urbanization, and related development issues in sub-Saharan Africa and are seeking a talented Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Specialist to be based in the West Africa Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal.

Duties/Responsibilities:

The MERL Specialist will work closely with the WARO (West Africa Regional Office) team and HQ MEL team to design, implement, and manage Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) activities for WARO projects and programs. S/he will lead to synthesize, analyze and utilize the MEL quantitative and qualitative data obtained with the goal of developing impact stories and case studies. S/he will operationalize WARO's MERL agenda by implementing mechanisms for continuous improvement, tracking progress against targets, and adapting programs to achieve the intended impact.

Operationalization of the MERL function at WARO:

• Develop comprehensive MERL frameworks, tools, and plans aligned to APHRC's overall approach.
• Provide Technical Oversight during the implementation of the WARO’s MEL strategy across programs.
• Monitor the organization's strategic plan and project progress against targets and milestones, identify implementation challenges, and recommend corrective actions.
• Ensure relevant and timely MERL information is utilized for routine programs internal reflection on the effectiveness or need for adaptation to strategies.
• Update the MEL platform by working with the M&EL team at HQ

Impact tracking, M&E Reporting:

• Manage the synthesis of programmatic outcomes and pathways to impact and their translation into impact stories and case studies.
• Contribute to monthly, quarterly, and annual reports demonstrating WARO's impact and contributions to Center-wide goals, as well as project M&E reports.
• Regularly pitch impact and success story ideas, and flag opportunities to share new or emerging impact evidence.
• Assess project outcomes and impacts by synthesizing and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data
• Manage the translation of programmatic outcomes and pathways to impact into impact stories and case studies.

Promote and maintain a MERL culture within the staff at different levels:

• Lead efforts to foster a MERL-focused culture across all staff levels through training, and modeling best practices.
• Develop staff capabilities in MERL principles and skills via hands-on workshops, communities of practice, job aids, and technical mentoring.
• Provide ongoing support to integrate MERL into organizational processes including proposals, project implementation, data collection and analysis, reporting, and dissemination.
• Create regular opportunities for collective reflection and sense making of MERL data to support a learning culture.
• Encourage staff at all levels to actively contribute ideas and feedback to continuously improve MERL systems and culture.
• Develop and promote standards, guidelines, tools, and processes to effectively embed MERL within the organizational culture on a sustainable basis.

Learning and Knowledge Translation:

• Facilitate sharing of best practices among partners (coordinating cross-pollination and a Community of Practice).
• Contribute to the synthesis of MEL evidence with strategic information for evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) at WARO.
• In collaboration with the Knowledge Management and Learning Specialist at HQ to organize knowledge-sharing and learning events, pause and reflect sessions with staff or external key partners.
• Facilitate sharing of best practices among partners (coordinating cross-pollination and a Community of Practice).
• Create graphic design materials for MEL reports including quarterly performance reports, annual reports, Pause & Reflect reports, and impact evidence reports.

Qualifications, experience, and skills:

• Master's degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Public Health, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of experience designing and implementing MERL for international development programs.
• Proficiency with statistical analysis software such as R, STATA, NVivo, Survey Monkey

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