Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Research, and Learning (MEARL) Manager

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Research, and Learning (MEARL) Manager leads the consortium's MEL framework for the Mastercard Foundation-financed "Internship Opportunities for Young Women" (iWork) program. The role ensures robust data systems, evidence generation, learning, and donor compliance across multiple regional states and city administrations to support 24,000 financially disadvantaged young people.

Key Responsibilities

• MEL Framework & Systems: Develop and manage the consortium's MEL framework aligned with VSO’s Measuring Impact for Learning and Empowerment (MILE) approach and Global MERL standards.
• Evaluations & Research: Plan and execute project baselines, mid-term, end-term evaluations, outcome measurements, impact verifications, and special tracer studies.
• Data Quality & Reporting: Maintain robust monitoring systems, consolidate partner data, ensure data protection and quality audits, and lead timely donor reporting.
• Learning & Adaptation: Facilitate reflection sessions, learning forums, and "Learning Circles" to translate performance data into actionable insights for adaptive management and scaling.
• Team Leadership & Capacity Building: Manage the consortium MEL team, provide coaching and mentorship, and deliver capacity-building training in MERL tools and primary actor accountability.
• Field Oversight: Conduct regular cluster visits for spot-checks, data verification, and risk mitigation.

Educational Qualification & Experience Requirements

• Educational Background: Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Economics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Data Science, Research Methods, Project Management, or related fields (Additional MERL or data analysis certifications are a plus).
• Work Experience: Substantial progressive professional experience in MEARL within large-scale, multi-partner, or consortium donor-funded development programs.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Advanced skills in quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and synthesis using tools such as SPSS and EPI-Info.
• Strong knowledge of youth employment, workforce development, gender inclusion, safeguarding, and youth-centered programming.
• Excellent interpersonal, partnership-building, and feminist leadership skills.
• Proficient written and verbal communication skills in English and Amharic.

Core Skill Tags: Communication