Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning Specialist

Sayara International is hiring for an exciting new position as Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Specialist (or Senior MERL Specialist, depending on experience) in Sudan. This role is full-time and based in Khartoum, Sudan. Please read the full Terms of Reference below and guidelines on how to apply for this role. There will be a short task for candidates at the interview stage. We look forward to hearing from you.

Position Description:

Sayara is seeking a MERL Specialist to join its growing team in Sudan. Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director, you will provide technical leadership of MERL activities across Sayara’s portfolio in Sudan (mainly funded by international development agencies and UN agencies). You will possess advanced qualitative and quantitative analytical skills and should be able to work across various thematic areas, such as migration, education, WASH, climate change, health, child protection, inclusive governance, and countering disinformation. The final title for this role will depend on the level of experience and expertise of the successful candidate.

This role will contribute to the work Sayara does to build positive change in societies that most need it. You will be working as part of a welcoming and diverse international team of experienced professionals.

About Sayara International:

Sayara International is a social enterprise combining rigorous research and communication to create positive change in fragile and conflict-affected societies.

Sayara provides complex monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) and social and behavior change communication (SBCC) in the most challenging environments. We work on countering disinformation, measuring social cohesion, and assessing education, migration, inclusive governance, climate change, and health.

Diverse perspectives and an emphasis on equity bring strength to Sayara. Gender, inclusion, and intersectional identities are cross-cutting themes across all our internal practices and our programs for governments, civil society organizations, and international institutions.

Sayara has evolved across unstable contexts. Our decentralized structure – with a global leadership network and investment in local talent – enables agility and rapid start-up, while equipping us with unique values and competencies.

Founded in 2003, Sayara operates in 30 countries across Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Our teams of professionals are based in field offices in Khartoum and Nairobi, with support from our offices in Dubai, Istanbul, London, Marseille, and Warsaw.

Sayara opened a branch office in Sudan in 2019 and obtained a certificate of incorporation from the Sudanese Ministry of Justice in January 2020. Since its incorporation, Sayara’s Sudan team has become a go-to provider of complex MERL services, as well as designing and implementing communication strategies to support social stability and change management.

Through a period of major political flux, our team has continued to help our clients deliver tangible benefits to the communities they serve in Sudan. Our clients include UNICEF, Itad, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), DT Global, USAID, and the U.S. Department of State’s Global Engagement Center.

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership for MERL proposals and resulting projects.
• Develop the technical sections of MERL proposals.
• Contribute to workplans in collaboration with proposal/project managers.
• Develop monitoring and logical frameworks as well as theories of change across a variety of sectors, in collaboration with specialist consultants and clients.
• Develop quantitative and qualitative data collection instruments adapted to the local context.
• Develop sampling strategies, including among hard-to-reach communities.
• Oversee mobile data collection using software such as ODK, KoBo Toolbox.
• Conduct training for local enumerators and researchers (e.g., research methods, quality control (QC), and ethical standards).
• Develop quality control and data management procedures for data collection, transit, and storage in collaboration with the project team, and ensure they are implemented adequately.
• Lead the analytical process (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods).
• Produce high-quality monitoring, evaluation, and research reports.
• Develop dissemination approaches for project findings, in collaboration with the Communications team (e.g. data visualization/infographics, PowerPoints, event planning, online dissemination).
• Present findings to clients and partners as required.
• Contribute to the ongoing technical growth of the local team, helping to build their capacity through on-the-job learning and occasional training sessions.
• Support the recruitment of technical consultants, with the support of Admin & Operations colleagues.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in statistics, social science, international development, measurement and evaluation, economics, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in research, monitoring, and evaluation within the development or humanitarian sector (USAID, UN, and/or FCDO experience is required).
• Proven technical skills in research, monitoring, and evaluation, including experience with qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Advanced command of quantitative data analysis tools (e.g. SPSS, Advanced Excel with Pivot Tables, Power Pivot, Power Query, or complex Excel formulae).
• Advanced command of qualitative data analysis tools (e.g. NVivo or ATLAS.ti).
• Demonstrable ability to develop electronic data collection tools using: ODK, KoBo Collect, or similar software.
• Strong organizational skills, proactive and effective planning and organizing skills.
• Ability to work on multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to work as part of a cohesive team, bring forward creative solutions to problems and maintain a commitment to excellence and camaraderie.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Arabic language skills are desirable but not required.

Location: The position is based in Khartoum, Sudan. We highly encourage applications from people from minority groups and/or from low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Job Type: This is a full-time position (40 hours per week), Sunday-Thursday. Occasionally, overtime may be required. This position is open to Sudanese nationals and expatriates.

Remuneration: A competitive package will be offered.

Duration: The MERL Specialist will be offered a one (1) year contract, with a three (3) month probation period and the option for renewal, based on the discretion of, and mutual agreement between Sayara and the individual.