Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) Manager

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 33,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Key Responsibilities:

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

% of time

Activity

End Results

40% Lead Program Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Innovation Processes

• Under the leadership of the Strategy and Programme Quality Director, lead operations aimed at the area identification process by managing the MELI (Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Innovations) Specialist towards an operational portfolio assessment, design processes (DIP, ITT, Logframe, and MEAL Plans), NO’s area identification criteria, and SO considerations;
• Provide managerial guidance in implementing the NO strategy and IPF document in line with established donor-related guidelines at Programme and National level;
• Use data generated from programmes to inform the delivery of the NO Strategy and IPF goals
• Coordinate MEAL operations and update high-level impacts and quality programmes to senior leadership and extended senior leadership at NO;
• Support the grant acquisition process by participating in proposal development, providing guidance, and overseeing the conduct of needs assessments in collaboration with sector programmes, program Hubs, HEA/DRR, and the resource development team;
• Ensure that proposals and concept notes are aligned to donor and OIOS indicators;
• Ensure gender and disability inclusion and disaggregated data needs of each donor, etc. They should also feed info to the comms team for cap statements, etc.
• Lead the conduct of baselines and evaluations in accordance to partnership/donor guidelines and standards, review and approve the development of Terms of References, provide managerial directions to baselines, assessments, and evaluations, collaborate with consultants, support offices, or partners;
• Manage MELI Specialists and consultants to implement special surveys and studies such as baselines and evaluations required for evaluating programs effects and impacts;
• Ensure that valuable insights and learnings are thoroughly documented from the project and program assessment and design process;
• Use available data to generate innovations and impacts across the cluster office in line with the NO strategy and IPF indicators
• Use data generated from monitoring, learning, and evaluation to inform cluster programme adaptation and reviews

End Results

• Quality Project designs with clear M&E frameworks aligned to NO MEAL Framework
• Quality Log frames, Results Frameworks, and TOC for all grant applications
• Increased adoption of WV OIOS indicators
• Master of IPF content and strategies
• Mastery of the coaching staff in conducting monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities  

30% Oversee research operations and use research findings to inform the NO strategy implementation.

• Oversight of the research activities of NO
• Manage primary research projects – facilitating staff and consultants to determine research topics, questions, and methods, and working with members to ensure the timely delivery of research projects
• Directly deliver research projects – designing research tools, building the capacity of members as needed, and providing distance and hands-on support to data collection, analysis, and report writing
• Use existing findings and data from researches, evaluations, baselines, learning assessments, and other knowledge management products to develop marketable abstracts and evidence-based impact and evidence briefs in close collaboration with PDQ (Programme Development and Quality) Managers and MELI (Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Innovations) Specialists
• Update the research mapping and pipeline for the NO
• Compile all strategy and programme quality department reports from PDQ Managers, MELI Specialists, and Technical Advisors, research and evaluation reports in the monthly evidence-based briefs to inform the Strategy and Programme Quality Director on the progress of the NO strategy and programme quality and performances
• Carrying out desk-based research to inform the NO business cases and GAM’s resource mobilization
• Review the terms of reference and final reports of NO research, evaluations, baselines, and learning assessments, and share the summaries of researches, baseline, and evaluation with the Strategy and Programme Quality Director for approval prior to posting these knowledge management products on the NO Intranet and external platforms for a wider audience.

End Results

• Researches conducted and research briefs/abstracts produced

• Research methodology applied in child programming by the use of statistical and research tests
• Data visualization completed and shared wita h wider audience

20% Lead child programming impact reporting from research and evaluation findings

• Develop and implement innovative, long-term strategies aligned with the NO strategy, ensuring forward momentum and measurable impact. 
• Anticipate trends and position the organization ahead of key sustainability and policy shifts based on programme impact findings
• Collaborate across teams to drive cross-functional initiatives and ensure alignment on impact measurement and strategic objectives. 
• Navigate the intersection of NO strategic workstreams supporting the reporting and information on the progress of the NO strategy
• Generate robust evidences of impacts and impactful stories to inform quality programming and NO strategy
• Disseminate high-impact reports to a wider audience internally and externally
• Contribute to fundraising and grant development efforts by using existing impacts and evidence-based business cases at NO

End Results

• Impact assessment and evaluation reports produced
• NO impacts, impacts are disseminated internally and externally

10% Team Development, Leadership, and Networking

• Mentor MELI specialists from cluster offices and grants for (matrixed role) high-performing work styles, and fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and impact. 
• Align internal teams to enhance operational efficiency, strategic execution, and impact measurement
• Serve as a focal point and lead academics, researchers, and students requesting to conduct researches within WVR programmes

End Results

• MEAL team is coached and mentored to produce high-level impacts, innovations, programme performance, and quality programming reports
• Network with academics and researchers in nurtured and using to disseminate NO impacts

KNOWLEDGE/QUALIFICATION FOR THE ROLE

Required Professional Experience

• Experience with qualitative and quantitative M&E data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting
• Minimum of seven years of work experience in managing MEAL
• Impact and programme performance writing skills
• Data visualization by using available primary and secondary digital platform data
• Team management and leadership
• Experience working with consultants, researchers, and academics

Required Education, training, license, registration, and certification

A Master’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Statistics, Public health, Demography, Biostatistics, Psychology, or a Bachelor’s Degree with 7 years of experience in MEAL is required.

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

• Digital data analysis and visualization
• Impact assessment and evaluation
• Strategic thinking

Travel and/or Work Environment Requirement

Travel up to 10 %

Physical

Requirements

Planned with Line Manager

Language Requirements

Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda; Knowledge of French is an advantage.

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only