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

Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability & Professionalism (LEAP) Africa is a leadership development non-profit organization that was founded by Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli (MFR) in May 2002. Our mission is to inspire, empower and equip a new cadre of African leaders by providing skills and tool for personal, organizational and community transformation.

Experience5 years
Location Lagos.

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

Method of Application

Send CV with job title to: [email protected]

Share this job:
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print