Description
- We are seeking a detail-oriented and organised Senior Associate with at least 5 years of work experience in MEL data systems in an international development context, strong technical skills across data management and visualisation platforms, and a growing interest in AI-powered solutions. for a transformative business and economic empowerment programme across Africa, with a strong focus on young women, leadership, and organisational growth and development.
About the Role
- Reporting to the Impact Manager: Data, Systems and Reporting, the Senior Associate will play a hands-on role in implementing and maintaining the technology solutions that underpin the programme & the MEL framework.
- This includes maintaining data collection and management systems, producing routine reports and dashboards, and building the data capacity of partners and team members across the region.
- The ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience in MEL data systems in an international development context, strong technical skills across data management and visualisation platforms, and a growing interest in AI-powered solutions.
Accountabilities Include
MEL Technology and Reporting:
- Support the implementation and ongoing maintenance of the programmatic MEL technology platform including Salesforce, Power BI, Airtable, or equivalent tools to enable efficient data collection, management and reporting
- Contribute to the development of quarterly reporting processes and produce routine reports and dashboards on key metrics and KPIs, including financial KPIs, for a range of stakeholders
- Carry out data analysis to support insight generation, working closely with the Impact Manager: MEL
- Develop infographics and data visualisations using appropriate software and tools
- Support close collaboration with Finance to quality assure and integrate financial data with impact data, including reporting on Impact Linked Finance initiatives
- Advise on AI solutions to support MEL activities.
Programme Data Management:
- Ensure data is collected, stored and managed in line with best practices and programme standards
- Liaise with the Compliance and Legal team to ensure adherence to data consent, use, retention, protection and security requirements
- Integrate data from multiple sources to produce consolidated reports e.g. through Power BI or similar
- Support the Impact Manager as a point of contact for impact data requests from internal and external stakeholders.
Knowledge Management and Learning:
- Support the set-up and maintenance of the programmes internal knowledge management system
- Work closely with the Programme Insights team to ensure lessons are captured and qualitative data is managed in line with best practices
- Support programmatic evaluations by ensuring all data needs are met in a timely manner.
Capacity Building — Team and Partners:
- Build the capacity of team members to use technology for MEL implementation
- Support partners to engage with programme technology and reporting systems, including developing training materials and delivering training sessions
- Assist lower-capacity partner organisations to develop their own internal reporting systems in line with programmatic requirements
- Conduct site visits to monitor partner data management and reporting systems
- Contribute to quarterly reporting on data quality from partners.
Requirements
Essential Criteria:
- Candidates must be able to demonstrate at least five years of relevant experience, including:
- Practical experience in project or programme monitoring and evaluation
- Experience working across multiple countries in an international development context
- Knowledge of and experience with a range of MEL database tools and systems
- Experience using IT to support MEL objectives in country and field locations
- Experience developing or maintaining IT products or tools to support data collection, management, analysis and reporting
- Experience building and using Salesforce for data management and reporting
- Experience in data analysis, analytics and data visualisation
- Experience with mobile data collection approaches
- Experience setting up routine reporting actuals vs. targets for quarterly and annual reporting cycles
- Experience advising organisations or teams on best practices in data management and reporting
- Experience working with Compliance teams on data management best practices
- Understanding of AI tools, agents and solutions.
Desirable Criteria:
- Formal training in MEL methodologies, data analysis or project evaluation
- Experience on Impact Linked Finance initiatives, Value for Money approaches, SROI or benefit-cost analyses
- Project management qualification
- Experience working in a multi-country programme
- Experience working in gender and youth-inclusive programmes, or with private sector businesses seeking to grow and scale
- Experience working in a matrix-managed environment with multiple reporting lines and cross-functional teams
- Familiarity with Power BI, Airtable, Salesforce or similar platforms.
