Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer

Position Title: Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer
Project: Displaced and Refugee Youth Enabling Environment Mechanism (DREEM), Phase II
Position Location: Africa-based, with preference for Nairobi, Abidjan, Accra, Kigali or Addis Ababa
Reports To: Senior Regional Manager, MERL
Contract Term: One-year fixed-term contract (renewable)
Languages Required: English (required); French (strong asset)

Background

WUSC is a Canadian global development organization working to catalyze positive education and economic outcomes for young people. We collaborate with a diverse network of partners, including civil society organizations, governments, educational institutions and private-sector actors, to advance inclusive, youth-centred solutions, with particular attention to women and displaced populations.

WUSC is implementing the second phase of the Displaced and Refugee Youth Enabling Environment Mechanism (DREEM), a five-year initiative (2026–2031) designed to expand access to education and dignified and fulfilling work for refugee, displaced and host community (RDP) youth across Africa, particularly young women.

DREEM Phase II builds on earlier programming by strengthening local ecosystems, supporting institutional and systems-level change, and expanding the role of Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs). Its principal implementation pathways include a Technical Assistance Mechanism (TAM), Higher Education Inclusion programming, and an RLO Opportunity Fund.

Through these interconnected interventions, WUSC aims to strengthen the capacity of institutions, organizations and networks to develop, implement and sustain more inclusive solutions for RDP youth.

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Senior Manager for MERL, the Senior MERL Officer will play a central role in coordinating and supporting the implementation of DREEM Phase II's monitoring, evaluation, research and learning systems across its programme components and countries of operation.

The Senior MERL Officer will help ensure that project monitoring and reporting systems are consistently implemented, that data collected by project teams and partners are accurate, timely and useful, and that evidence is effectively consolidated and analyzed to inform programme management, adaptation and learning.

Working closely with MERL Officers, the Research and Learning Manager, programme leads and implementing partners, the Senior MERL Officer will provide day-to-day technical coordination and quality assurance across the project's MERL activities.

The position requires a combination of strong technical MERL expertise, practical data management and analytical skills, experience supporting diverse implementing partners, and the ability to translate complex monitoring information into clear, actionable findings.

Key Responsibilities

1. MERL Systems Implementation and Coordination

• Support the operationalization and continuous improvement of DREEM's overall MERL framework, Performance Measurement Framework (PMF), indicator reference sheets, data collection tools and reporting procedures.
• Coordinate the implementation of MERL activities across the TAM, Higher Education Inclusion and RLO Opportunity Fund workstreams, ensuring consistency with project objectives, reporting requirements and established MERL standards.
• Provide technical guidance to MERL Officers and programme teams on indicator definitions, data collection methodologies, reporting processes and the application of standardized tools.
• Support the development and maintenance of databases, monitoring trackers, dashboards and other information management systems.
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies and operational challenges in MERL implementation and propose practical improvements.
• Contribute to the development and periodic updating of MERL workplans, data collection schedules and reporting calendars.

2. Data Quality, Analysis and Reporting

• Coordinate routine data collection, consolidation, verification and analysis across project components and implementing partners.
• Establish and apply practical data quality assurance procedures, including completeness checks, consistency reviews, validation exercises and periodic data quality assessments.
• Support accurate tracking and reporting of programme indicators, including outcomes related to access to education, dignified and fulfilling work, institutional capacity strengthening and systems-level change.
• Support the application of the Mastercard Foundation's Shared Measures framework, including relevant indicator definitions, disaggregation requirements and verification procedures.
• Work with programme teams and partners to strengthen beneficiary tracking, outcome verification, data management and measures to avoid double counting.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative monitoring data to identify trends, performance gaps, emerging results and issues requiring management attention.
• Contribute to the preparation of high-quality donor reports, internal performance updates, dashboards and analytical summaries.
• Ensure that monitoring information is appropriately documented, securely stored and managed in accordance with WUSC's data protection and safeguarding requirements.

3. Technical Support and Capacity Strengthening

• Provide practical MERL support and coaching to MERL Officers, programme staff and implementing partners.
• Support the assessment of MERL capacities among RLOs and other partner organizations and contribute to the development of tailored capacity-strengthening plans.
• Develop and deliver training on results-based management, indicator tracking, data collection, data quality, analysis and reporting.
• Support RLOs and other partners in establishing feasible, proportionate monitoring systems that respond to their operational capacities while meeting project accountability requirements.
• Promote consistent use of monitoring tools and reporting templates across implementing partners, while allowing appropriate adaptation to different organizational and country contexts.
• Encourage partner ownership of monitoring processes and the use of evidence for organizational learning and programme improvement.

4. Research, Evaluation and Learning Support

• Work closely with the Research and Learning Manager to support implementation of the project's research, evaluation and learning agenda.
• Contribute to the planning, coordination and technical review of baseline studies, assessments, evaluations and thematic research activities.
• Support the development and review of research protocols, data collection instruments, sampling approaches and analytical frameworks, as required.
• Assist in coordinating external consultants and research partners, including reviewing technical deliverables and supporting quality assurance.
• Contribute to the analysis and synthesis of monitoring, research and evaluation findings, including qualitative evidence of institutional change, partnership effectiveness and programme contribution.
• Support the preparation of learning briefs, case studies, presentations and other knowledge products.
• Participate in reflection and learning activities, helping programme teams identify lessons, test assumptions and translate evidence into practical programme adaptations.

5. Programme Coordination and Evidence Use

• Maintain regular communication with MERL Officers and programme teams to monitor implementation progress, identify reporting challenges and coordinate technical support.
• Support the integration of MERL processes into programme planning, implementation and management.
• Work with programme leads to ensure that monitoring systems adequately capture results across different intervention pathways, including those delivered through partners and RLOs.
• Support the analysis of programme contribution to broader institutional, ecosystem and systems-level outcomes, recognizing the complexity of measuring indirect and longer-term change.
• Prepare concise analytical updates for project management, highlighting emerging results, data limitations, risks and opportunities for adaptive management.
• Promote effective collaboration and information sharing across MERL, programme implementation, research and learning functions.

6. Safeguarding, Inclusion and Ethical Data Management

• Ensure that MERL activities incorporate appropriate gender equality, disability inclusion and displacement-sensitive approaches.
• Support the collection and analysis of disaggregated data in accordance with project and donor requirements.
• Promote ethical data collection, informed consent, confidentiality and responsible handling of sensitive information.
• Ensure that monitoring and research activities comply with WUSC's safeguarding policies, including prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
• Contribute to a respectful, inclusive and collaborative working environment.
  

Qualifications and Competencies

Education

• Bachelor's degree in International Development, Economics, Statistics, Social Sciences, Public Policy or another relevant discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification in Monitoring and Evaluation, Development Studies, Statistics, Research Methods or a related field is a strong asset.

Experience

• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in monitoring, evaluation, research and learning within international development or humanitarian programmes.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and coordinating MERL systems for complex, multi-partner programmes, preferably across multiple countries.
• Strong practical experience with performance measurement frameworks, indicator tracking, data collection, data quality assurance and donor reporting.
• Experience providing technical support, training and capacity strengthening to implementing partners, including local civil society or community-based organizations.
• Experience analyzing quantitative and qualitative data and translating findings into clear reports, presentations and management recommendations.
• Experience supporting research, evaluations, baseline studies or other structured evidence-generation exercises.
• Familiarity with results-based management and approaches to measuring institutional strengthening, behavioural change or systems-level outcomes.
• Experience working with programmes focused on education, youth employment, livelihoods, displacement, gender equality or locally led development is highly desirable.
• Experience with Mastercard Foundation-funded programmes or the Foundation's Shared Measures framework is an asset.

Technical Competencies

• Strong understanding of quantitative and qualitative MERL methodologies, including indicator development, data collection, analysis and quality assurance.
• Proficiency in Excel and experience using digital data collection platforms such as KoboToolbox, ODK or SurveyCTO.
• Familiarity with data visualization and analysis tools such as Power BI, R, Stata, SPSS or equivalent applications.
• Ability to manage and analyze data from multiple partners and intervention pathways while maintaining consistency and reliability.
• Strong analytical writing skills, including the ability to synthesize complex evidence into concise, accessible reports.
• Familiarity with Theory of Change approaches, contribution-oriented analysis, Outcome Harvesting or other methods for assessing complex programme outcomes is an advantage.
• Understanding of ethical research, data protection, safeguarding and gender-responsive monitoring practices.
  

Professional Competencies

• Strong organizational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and reporting deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to provide constructive technical guidance and support to colleagues and implementing partners.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively across diverse cultural and institutional contexts.
• Ability to identify practical solutions to data quality, monitoring and reporting challenges.
• Commitment to collaborative working relationships, locally led development and partner capacity strengthening.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining close coordination with the Senior MERL Manager and other project staff.
• Commitment to gender equality, social inclusion and the rights and opportunities of refugee and displaced populations.

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Professional proficiency in French is a strong asset.
  

Work Environment

The Senior MERL Officer will work as part of DREEM's regional MERL team, collaborating closely with programme staff and partners across multiple African countries.

The position requires flexibility, strong cross-cultural communication skills and willingness to travel periodically to project countries to provide technical support, participate in monitoring activities and engage with implementing partners.

WUSC is committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive and respectful working environment and applies a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.