The Senior Regional Manager, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL), operating under the supervision of the Project Director, will oversee the MERL strategic response by offering leadership and technical oversight across the project’s interventions. This role is responsible for designing the MERL system in alignment with country-level frameworks, ensuring robust data collection, quality standards, and evidence-based learning for systemic change.
Responsibilities
MERL System Design and Management
- Design and manage the program’s overall MERL standards and framework, ensuring data collection and reporting capabilities are robust and aligned with program goals and donor requirements.
- Establish and oversee quality standards, ensuring adherence to the necessary level of MERL standards across the entire project portfolio.
- Manage and mitigate the risk associated with challenges in maintaining quality MERL standards across a diverse set of partners.
- Develop annual operating forecasts of MERL budgets, and the annual research, evaluation and learning agenda in close collaboration with the Project Director and team leads.
- Oversee a team of five, including a Learning Manager, Research Manager, and 3 MERL Officers, providing coaching and support to successfully deliver the initiative’s ambitious MERL agenda.
- Provide coaching and support to the Technical Assistance Mechanism, Higher Education Inclusion, and RLO Opportunity Fund units to ensure that M&E practices are embedded in the teams’ daily work.
Learning and Knowledge Exchange
- In close collaboration with the WUSC global MERL Manager, develop and oversee a strategic approach to learning and knowledge sharing within the project. This includes creating and implementing a project learning agenda aligned with WUSC’s institutional learning agenda and contributing learning results to the institutional knowledge hub.
- Lead the development of a learning agenda to synthesize lessons learned and facilitate their incorporation into program design and implementation.
- Oversee the process of assessments and thematic papers, research, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of various data across all projects in the region to ensure the highest standards of intellectual honesty, research ethics, and academic convention.
- Support network connections to promote knowledge exchange and strategic collaboration across geographies and partners, ensuring data and learning are leveraged for scaled impact.
- Ensure learning and evidence are utilized to enhance the capacity of donor staff and partners to develop, test, and scale innovative programming.
- Establish and manage working relationships and strategic engagement with external evaluation and research consultants and other partners, including relevant government bodies, researchers and other MERL stakeholders.
Refugee-led Organization Capacity Strengthening
- In close collaboration with the core pillar leads, develop and implement a tailored MERL training strategy for RLOs to effectively address gaps and improve their data collection and reporting capabilities.
- Support RLOs in meeting project expectations and ensure they can maintain accountability and quality standards in their data and reporting.
Reporting and Systemic Change
- Track progress towards the ultimate program goals of enabling 1 million Refugee and Displaced Population (RDP) youth to secure dignified work and 35,000 RDP youth to access education through technical assistance.
- Provide evidence and data to inform the adaptation or redesign of interventions to address systemic barriers to education and economic opportunities for RDP youth.
Work Environment
- Promote and maintain an organizational culture that advances gender equality, reduces power abuse and inequalities, and fosters trust, respect and safety.
- Create a working environment that is free from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH).
- Ensure high standards of prevention and response measures for SEAH are in place consistent with the WUSC's safeguarding policies and WUSC's Code of Conduct.
Qualifications and Competencies
Education
- At minimum, a Bachelor’s degree in a related field (International Development, Public Policy, International Relations).
Experience & Competencies
- Extensive experience (over ten years) designing, implementing, and managing complex MERL systems for large-scale, multi-country programs, preferably in the African context.
- Demonstrated ability to provide technical assistance and capacity building in MERL to diverse partners, including community-based organizations and higher education institutions.
- Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, data management, and the use of evidence for systemic change and policy influence.
- Strong analytical and communication skills, with experience synthesizing complex data into clear learning products and reports.
