Sr. Officer, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL)

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL), Sr. Officer

Location: Ottawa, ON; or remote

Reports to: Sr. Manager, Programs, Partnerships and MERL.

ABOUT AGA KHAN FOUNDATION USA (AKF USA)

AKF USA is a private, non-denominational, non-profit international development organization committed to alleviating poverty, disease, and illiteracy, primarily in Africa, Central and South Asia. Aga Khan Foundation is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org), a group of 10 private development agencies working to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities, especially in Africa and Asia.

POSITION SUMMARY

AKF USA is seeking an experienced, dynamic Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager to implement MERL across an exciting multi-sector program portfolio in North America, Africa and Asia. The MERL Manager will provide oversight, leadership, and technical support to AKF colleagues and implementing partners to ensure project and organizational MERL activities are designed and implemented effectively. In most projects in the position’s portfolio, field-based MERL staff will be responsible for leading and executing MERL activities, with backstopping from the MERL Manager. This will include MERL support to existing projects and during proposal development, and to organizational learning processes.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborate with AKF, project implementation partners to establish and implement gender sensitive MERL systems for routine project monitoring and evaluation of programs in the AKF North America portfolio.
• Lead design of project logic models, theories of change, indicators, performance measurement frameworks (PMFs), and indicator reference sheets.
• Oversee program data collection, including development of data collection tools and implementation of quantitative and qualitative studies, such as baselines, midlines, endlines, and other periodic evaluations and assessments.
• Guide development and execution of program data management systems in the position’s project portfolio, ensuring timely availability of quality data for reporting and learning.
• Support program data reporting against outcome, output and reach indicators, ensuring reports align with donor requirements and industry good practices.
• Oversee program learning, ensuring data and evidence are disseminated and used to inform decision making and adaptations by AKF, project partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure gender equality and safeguarding are integrated throughout MERL activities, including selection of performance indicators, data collection design and implementation, data management and storage, and data analysis and reporting.
• Support, liaise, and coordinate with global, regional, and country-level MERL staff. This includes providing remote and on-site technical support to project implementation partners in relation to the development and maintenance of gender sensitive MERL systems in partner countries.
• Assist in the identification and recruitment of MERL technical experts (consultants and partner staff), as necessary.
• Participate in MERL communities of practice and represent AKF at MERL-related conferences and forums.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree, preferably in international development or a related field, ideally with a focus on measurement, evaluation, and research.
• Minimum of five years of relevant practical experience designing, implementing, and managing gender sensitive MERL systems for donor-funded international development projects across various sectors, including health, education, economic development, including at least two years of experience based in a developing country.
• Extensive knowledge of results-based management (RBM), including how to design and analyze logic models and how to develop and use appropriate (“SMART”) indicators. Strong preference for knowledge and experience with Global Affairs Canada’s (GAC’s) results-based management tools, requirements and reporting processes, including monitoring, and evaluating gender equality results.
• Knowledge of good practice global standard indicators.
• Knowledge and experience of research design and implementation, including qualitative and quantitative gender sensitive data collection methodologies.
• Experience with the development of data collection methods and tools (forms, formats, questionnaires) as well as systems for the entry, analysis, and storage of quantitative data.
• Experience in using digital data collection, management, analysis and visualization tools and functions (e.g. Kobo Toolbox, ODK, MS Power Query, MS Power Pivot, SPSS, NVIVO, MS Power BI, etc.) is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated capacity to respect and safeguard vulnerable populations.
• Experience in the development context of any of AKF’s partner countries (Afghanistan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Uganda) is an asset.
• Experience working with GAC, USAID and other North American institutional donors is an asset.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English. Advanced proficiency in French is strongly preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 30% of time per year, including to Africa and Asia.

The salary range for this position is $86,160 to $91,545 per annum, in addition to a competitive benefits package.