Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Coordinator 1
Location:Lagos
Reports to: Senior MERL Coordinator
Job Type: [Full-Time)
Department: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning
LEAP Africa is a non-profit organization focused on raising dynamic, innovative, and principled
leaders who will drive positive transformation in Africa. We provide relevant and tailored
interventions that support effective youth transitions in the area of education, entrepreneurship & employability, civic participation and social mobility for young Africans.
We are on a strategic journey towards building a world-class institution that will be an
ecosystem builder, a thought leader, and a development hub for young people. We are seeking to hire a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Coordinator to support the organization by supporting the MERL unit in actualizing all set goals.
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 continuousimprovement.
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.
1. Educational Background
● A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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).
5. 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
6. 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 Apply
Interested and Qualified to apply, please submit your CV , portfolio and cover letter to [email protected]
