Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Coordinator 1 at LEAP Africa

Job Summary:

• The MERL Coordinator will support the monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning activities of the organization, ensuring that programs and projects are effectively assessed, learning is integrated into decision-making, and quality data is collected and analyzed for continuous improvement.
• This position will play a key role in ensuring that MERL systems align with organizational goals and contribute to the strategic development of programs and impact measurement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate the design, development, and implementation of all the MERL functions to ensure organizational effectiveness for LEAP Africa.
• Conduct rigorous research, and write and publish research papers on local and international platforms to mainstream the thought leadership strategy arm of the organization.
• Coordinate the harvest of stories of change and develop evaluation, impact, and research reports and products, including policy briefs, info-graphics, articles, and Op ed
• Work with the programmes team and partner in the conceptualization, design, and development of impact measurement frameworks, indicators, and monitoring plans for all assigned project(s).
• Support the harmonization of all data sources into one central database and develop robust data pipelines for efficient extraction and innovative usage.
• Coordinate the development of the annual impact assessment and report reach to gauge organizational and program effectiveness.
• Engage in knowledge building and sharing with regard to data management and analytics for the organization, including documentation of lessons learned/ best practices and contributing to LEAP Africa’s knowledge management initiatives.
• Coordinate the process of curriculum development, and review and the mapping of best practices research for the LEAP Africa’s curriculum and pedagogy.
• Coordinate and carry out fundraising efforts in seeking and applying for funding, relevant research grants, and partnerships (both local and international) to support
• MERL initiatives and LEAP programmes.
• Carry out writing activities - white papers, concept notes, evaluation reports,
• Infographics, peer reviews and articles, editing, etc.
• Carry out rigorous analyses of data, including visualization of project data and dashboard designs to display project impact, synthesize insights, and clearly communicate findings with actionable recommendations.
• Develop systems-level advocacy materials in line with the organization’s strategic pillars and lead Incentivizing learning, agile project, and stakeholder management and lead knowledge sharing
• Collapse research findings and evaluation learnings into policy briefs and advocacy statements for the organization.
• Coordinate community building, and create and maintain partnerships with other relevant local and international NGOs.
• Support to manage the budget for assigned projects/programmes and ensure the transparent and efficient use of the organization’s funds.
• Carry out all other tasks assigned by your supervisor(s).

Key Performance Indicators

• 2 research papers published on local and international platforms.
• 5 thought leadership pieces (articles, op-eds, infographics) produced and published.
• Timely completion of 3 evaluation, impact, and research reports.
• 2-3 projects managed from end-to-end
• 2-3 partnerships secured and managed annually.
• 1 policy briefs, info-graphics, and articles developed from stories of change.
• 3 impact measurement frameworks and indicators.
• 2 development plans for direct reports annually.
• 1 Peer reviews and feedback received on publications and reports.
• 100% adherence to data governance standards and compliance with regulations.
• 100% compliance with financial process

Behavioral and Leadership

• Provide supervision and guidance to the Officers, Associates, and Interns under your supervision.
• Support to drive and communicate LEAP Africa’s vision and mission
• Model and collaborate to ensure the team embraces our core values and inspires others to align their actions and behaviors accordingly
• Provide strategic direction and guidance in the development and execution of initiatives that promote a culture in line with LEAP Africa’s values of Audacity,
• Respect, Integrity, Innovation, Synergy, and Excellence, leading to a better organizational culture.
• Support to empower and support team members at all levels by fostering a culture of
• trust, collaboration, and accountability, encouraging individuals on collective ownership of organizational values and goals.
• Facilitate and support change management processes in organizational transitions and cultural transformation.
• As a supervisor, demonstrate effective conflict resolution skills in addressing interpersonal conflicts or disagreements related to values alignment, promoting open dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation; escalate persisting issues to P&C.
• Serve as a role model for ethical leadership, demonstrating integrity, authenticity, and transparency in all interactions and decisions and holding oneself and others accountable to high ethical standards.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging feedback, learning, and adaptation, leveraging insights to refine leadership strategies and practices in alignment with organizational goals and values.

Educational Background

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field

Experience

• Experience in monitoring and evaluation (typically 5 years or more).
• Experience in program implementation, research, or data management, especially in the development sector.
• Strong knowledge of data analysis, survey design, and evaluation methodologies.
• Hands-on experience with M&E tools, frameworks, and platforms.

Technical Skills

• Data collection and analysis: Proficiency in software tools like SPSS, Stata, Excel, or other data management systems.
• Survey design and conducting needs assessments.
• Understanding of data quality management and statistical methods.
• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Project Management Skills

• Ability to manage and coordinate various stakeholders and teams.
• Planning, organizing, and overseeing project activities.
• Familiarity with donor reporting requirements and knowledge of project management frameworks (such as logical frameworks or results-based management).

Communication and Reporting

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively share data insights and recommendations to stakeholders and team members.
• Ability to train and mentor members

Soft Skills

• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Adaptability to changing project needs and circumstances.
• Teamwork and the ability to work across different cultures and contexts