MERLA Specialist

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in social sciences, development studies, or related fields.
  
• Minimum of 8 years with an international development agency in a similar role, preferably with solid experience in project- or technical-area specific topic.
  
• Strong understanding of and experience implementing MERLA concepts and best practices.
  
• Proficiency in quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis and data visualization techniques (e.g., using Power BI, Tableau).
  
• Experience implementing evaluations for project- or technical-area specific topic.
  
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
  
• Experience in solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in.
  
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
  

• Acts in the Role of Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist in a Roving Role
  
• Monitors adherence and compliance with established national regulations and standards and achievement of quality standards through monitoring and evaluation and other reviews.
  
• Feeds this information into the monitoring and quality team at region or headquarters.
  
• Design and operationalize MERLA frameworks aligned to donor logframes, guidelines, and CBM MERLA practices.
  
• Define Theory of Change, logframes, indicators, data flow pathways, and learning and adaptation approaches.
  
• Maintain a robust performance management plan with indicators (reflecting inputs→ outputs→ outcomes→ impact), baselines, targets, disaggregation types (sex, age, disability, geography), data sources, reporting frequency, risks and assumptions.
  
• Lead routine monitoring, including in-person and virtual monitoring visits; use monitoring to identify and address programme quality issues.
  
• Conduct data quality assurance, including Data Quality Assessments (DQAs), spot checks, and supervision.
  
• Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for data capture, validation, cleaning, storage, and access control; ensure data protection compliance.
  
• Plan and oversee implementation of evaluations (baseline, midline, endline); may include developing terms of reference, managing consultants or groups to implement evaluations, reviewing evaluation reports, and linking findings to adjust project implementation and inform future project design.
  
• Develop research/evidence-gathering priorities, activities, protocols, consent processes, sampling strategies, and statistical analysis plans, steward ethical approvals.Learning & Adaptation.