Re-Advert: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead

Job Description

VACANCY RE-ADVERTISEMENT

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead

Equal Access International (EAI) is an international not-for-profit organization working in several countries in Africa and Asia. With a regional office in Nairobi, we have implemented programmes in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Djibouti.

EAI creates customized communications strategies and outreach solutions that address some of the most critical challenges affecting people in the developing world in the areas of peacebuilding and transforming extremism; championing gender equality and women’s empowerment; and governance and civic participation. We help communities around the world drive sustainable and transformative change through our proven participatory media, technology, and outreach model. By designing solutions with communities, our programming is locally owned and culturally resonant. We build communication ecosystems that take root and thrive, create platforms that elevate marginalized voices, and build locally led movements that shift power, inspire normative change and promote creative, positive, and innovative solutions to social issues.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Nabadeynta Soomaaliya (also known as ‘Nabadeynta’) works with both security and justice providers, and the people they serve, to help create a safer, stronger Somalia. The programme recognizes the critical role that improved safety, security and access to justice has in establishing the foundations to lasting peace and political settlements in Somalia. The period of performance of the project is from July 1, 2023, to March 31, 2026.Nabadgelinta will support Somalis to identify and articulate the challenges they face in accessing security and justice and to develop joint solutions that lead to visible, practical change in their experience and trust in the security and justice systems. Through approaches that enable informed and inclusive dialogue and negotiation, the programme seeks to transform how individuals, communities and institutions in Somalia can work together to create fairer, more efficient, and more accountable systems for security and justice.

JOB TITLE

MERL Lead

WORK LOCATION

Nairobi,Kenya

POSITION SUMMARY

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Lead will be responsible for ensuring that the strategic direction of the MERL strategy is designed and implemented using Complexity-Aware Monitoring Evaluation, Research, Learning and Adaptation (CAMERLA) approach, and is supported by participatory/ community action-based principles and Outcome Monitoring and Harvesting.

The MERL Lead will manage the development and implementation of systems and processes to effectively monitor and evaluate programme performance, generate evidence-based research, and facilitate learning and knowledge sharing. They will be responsible for ensuring the MERL strategy is implemented to measure and evidence behavioural change across all activities and respond to the programme results framework through an Outcome Harvesting approach.

This position reports to the Technical Director based in Nairobi, Kenya.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Design and Implement MERL Systems: Lead the design and implementation of project MERL systems, ensuring adaptability to program needs in consultation with the Technical Director. Oversee the implementation of the MERL work plan, ensuring timely execution of data collection and analysis tasks. Ensure partners’ compliance with MEL system and reporting requirements. Tool Development: Design and operationalize quantitative and qualitative evaluative and monitoring tools tailored to capture changes in knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and norms for programme-wide activities. Review, revise, and develop new tools as necessary in consultation with the project technical/implementation team. Data Analysis and Recommendations: Lead the MERL team in data collection and analysis, providing recommendations to the Senior Management Team for program adaptation based on findings, and feeding into overall programme learning agenda. Monitoring and Reporting: Lead efficient implementation of activity-based monitoring, including data capture, analysis, and summarization into concise reports. Conduct secondary verification of monitoring and evaluation data received from partners, including on-site visits as needed. Produce timely, high-quality M&E data, reports with the purpose of evaluating project outputs and outcomes, and to guide management decisions and adjustments to project activities.

Outcome Harvesting: Evolve existing Outcome Harvesting approaches, establishing and adapting systems and protocols for ongoing outcome and change story capture. Oversee Outcome Harvesting in preparation for Annual review, support the MERL coordinator to coordinate field-level harvesting and collation of data. Reporting: Guide reporting processes among technical staff, consolidate program reports, and promote learning and knowledge sharing of best practices and lessons learned. Support the quarterly report process and lead the Annual review process.

Learning Agenda Management: Oversee the learning agenda, tracking program challenges, learnings, and adaptations to inform program design and implementation. Facilitate regular reflection sessions and promote a culture of continuous learning within the project team. Capacity Development: Develop and implement training programs to build the capacity of staff and partners in monitoring and evaluation, with a focus on social behavioural change M&E. Support the project team in maintaining an excellent M&E system through regular reflection and analysis of monitoring data. Research and Learning: Lead the design and execution of project research and learning activities, collaborating with the Home Office MERL technical team to ensure project data flows into the organization-wide MERL system.

Skills and Qualifications
§ Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Statistics, Project Management or Social Sciences or another

§ related field.

§ At least 8- 10 years of experience designing and implementing MERL activities for projects in conflict affected areas.

§ Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research, including skills with relevant statistical software (e.g., SPSS or Stata).

§ Experience with Outcome Harvesting and other innovative M&E approaches preferred.

§ Strong organizational, analytical, and writing skills for monitoring and reporting on program outcomes and impacts to support project supervision.

§ Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing MERL systems in complex development programs.

§ Ability to translate MERL results into concrete recommendations for project/activity adjustments based on the data.

§ Demonstrated experience working in complex environments, working across different cultures, and managing diverse teams to deliver impacts within agreed timelines.

§ Fluency in written, reading, and spoken English.

How to apply
Interested and qualified persons are requested to send their Application Letter and Curriculum Vitae to eaieastafrica@equalaccess.org with the job title as the subject. Deadline for application is 14th July 2024. Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.