IRL Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa (MERL professional)
- Hiring from
- Ethiopia, Kenya
- Work type
- Hybrid
- Posted
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This is an exciting role for a skilled monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) professional who enjoys turning data into actionable insights and evidence-informed decision-making, as well as compelling external communications. You will play a key role in designing, analysing and implementing MERL activities across regional projects, while contributing to global evidence generation related to the Safe Delivery App and Safe Delivery Programme.
Beyond core MERL, you will work closely with the External Relations wider team to ensure that insights generated through our digital platform and project activities inform strategy, advocacy, programme improvement and donor reporting. Strong analytical, communication and remote collaboration skills are essential. Location in Addis or Nairobi is preferred.
Key responsibilities:
Monitoring and evaluation
Manage the development and implementation of MERL frameworks aligned with organisational objectives, programme goals and digital health standards.
Lead quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, designing robust methodologies, survey tools and qualitative protocols to measure programme outputs, outcomes and impact.
Design and implement project evaluations, baseline/midline/endline studies and assessment frameworks across projects in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions as required.
Monitor Safe Delivery App user engagement, behaviour and impact indicators, ensuring data quality, consistency and timely reporting.
Manage MERL data systems and tools (e.g. KoboToolbox, dashboards), and maintain data quality)
Collaborate with IT specialists and developers to define data needs and interpret Safe Delivery App usage, engagement and performance data.
Ensure all data collection meets research ethics, informed consent and data protection requirements (including GDPR and national regulations), and secure ethical approvals where required.
Research and learning
Identify, document and disseminate programme best practices and key learnings to inform internal programme improvements, scale-up and advance best practices internally, as well as across the broader digital health and maternal/newborn health fields.
Contribute to global research and evidence-generation initiatives, including operational research, publications, case studies and user feedback reports.
Reporting and external communication
Translate complex data into clear, compelling and accessible formats for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Develop presentations, dashboards, reports, impact briefs and other knowledge products that communicate programme performance and impact.
Produce MERL inputs for donor reports against agreed indicators and reporting standards
Support internal and external presentations, donor communications and thought leadership initiatives.
Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement
Work closely with programme, clinical, communications, business development and IT teams to ensure learning and evidence are integrated across organisational activities.
Collaborate with regional and global teams to strengthen knowledge sharing and data-driven decision-making.
Provide MERL input to proposal development and fundraising initiatives, supporting evidence generation and results frameworks.
Qualifications and experience:
Education: Master's degree in public health, epidemiology, social sciences, international development, statistics, health informatics or a related field.
Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, research and learning within international development, global health, digital health or related sectors.
Methods and design: Proven track record in designing and leading both quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis and evaluation methodologies.
Frameworks and tools: Strong expertise in designing and implementing MERL frameworks, baseline/endline evaluations, survey tools and indicator tracking systems.
Data analytics: Proficiency analysing and visualising data using: Excel, Power BI and statistical software (Python, R, SPSS or Stata).
Research and evidence: Experience contributing to research publications, operational research or evidence-generation initiatives.
Communication and dissemination: Demonstrated ability to communicate complex findings clearly through reports, presentations and other knowledge products.
Collaboration: Strong project coordination and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working across multicultural and remote teams.
Language: Excellent written and verbal English communication skills. French is an advantage.
Attributes, competencies and skills needed:
You thrive on purpose. Making a real impact motivates you and you want your work to contribute to safer childbirths and better healthcare globally.
You are curious by nature. You enjoy questioning data, spotting patterns and connections others might miss, and acting as a thoughtful sparring partner to colleagues in programmes, business development and communications.
You take ownership. You work independently with initiative and professionalism, juggle multiple priorities with ease and bring a sharp eye for detail and a commitment to quality and timely delivery.
You bring respect and inclusion. You value diversity, treat everyone fairly and help create a workplace where trust and appreciation are the norm.
You think big and act smart. Innovation excites you: you’re bold, agile and committed to finding sustainable solutions that make a difference.
You collaborate naturally. You enjoy working with others, building strong partnerships and believe that together we achieve more.
Terms and Conditions
The position is a full-time position and based in Ethiopia or Kenya. The way of working is a hybrid model with the possibility to work from home twice a week. Regular travel is expected. Salary will be negotiated based on qualifications and Maternity Foundations salary scale guidelines.
We value equal opportunity and encourage candidates regardless of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, disability, or age to apply.
Location: Hybrid in Kenya or Ethiopia
Contract: Full-time employment or consultancy agreement based on location. Strong likelihood of being permanent after 3 months' probation time.
Team: Insights, Research & Learning (IRL)
Reports to: Head of IRL
Deadline for applications: 22 November 2026. We will be looking at applications on a rolling basis, so please apply sooner rather than later.
Starting date: From January 2027 or upon agreement.
About Maternity Foundation
Maternity Foundation has Danish roots but is a global organisation within maternal and newborn health, digital solutions and learning programmes.
In 2005, we started out as a small Danish organisation working in western Ethiopia. Today, we are an international NGO with offices in Ethiopia, India and Denmark and engagements in multiple countries across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia. In 2023, we expanded our work into Latin America and the Caribbean.
To date, we have reached more than 600,000 healthcare professionals in low and middle-income countries.
We are a team of roughly 40 colleagues working across our three global hubs in Ethiopia, Denmark and India. We come from various backgrounds – global health, midwifery, anthropology, IT and business – and take pride in an entrepreneurial spirit and a can-do attitude. Together, we are an ambitious and purpose-driven team working in a welcoming and informal atmosphere.
