Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning Specialist

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites applications for a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Specialist to join our dedicated and talented team in Africa on our mission to create business solutions to poverty on support to the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund & WEAVE projects.

MEDA’s work is built on a foundation of Mennonite business roots and faith-based values, within the global context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We believe business solutions are effective interventions to address poverty. Through a market-systems approach and strategic partnerships, MEDA enables access to finance and provides business and technical expertise to build transformative agri-food market systems that create decent jobs, allowing traditionally excluded groups to become active participants in a sustainable economy. MEDA welcomes all who share our values and want to join us in our mission. To find out more about MEDA, please visit our website at www.meda.org.

The Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund is a Fund of funds established to catalyze risk capital through Investment Vehicles (IVs) with a Gender Lens Investing approach. The Fund seeks to enable female-led and gender-diverse, African-owned, African-led, and based Investment Vehicles to fund and provide value creation support to growing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in sub-Saharan Africa.

The overall objective of the Fund, through this means, is to create dignified and fulfilling work for women and youth on the continent. It functions as a catalytic fund, leveraging other investors, providing access to risk capital and business development services (BDS) to African IVs and their portfolios of SMEs.

See more information here:  Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund

POSITION SUMMARY

The MERL Specialist will support the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund (“the Fund”) and WEAVE Africa in driving the design, implementation, and continuous refinement of monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning systems. This position will play a vital role in ensuring rigorous impact measurement, documentation of learning, and adaptive management across both initiatives, with a particular emphasis on advancing investment practices that unlock capital for young women, especially in rural and peri-urban Africa.

The role requires strong technical competencies in impact measurement, data management, and qualitative and quantitative analysis. The MERL Specialist will provide technical assistance to partners, design and implement learning agendas, and ensure effective communication of impact to internal and external stakeholders. The MERL Specialist will work closely with MEDA’s Monitoring and Impact Measurement (MIM) department, Learning Partner Organization (LPO), and the Mastercard Foundation’s external Impact Partner Organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES

A) Data Analysis and Reporting (30%)

Conduct continuous in-depth analysis of the Fund's & WEAVE’s portfolio performance, prepare quality reports on a quarterly basis in a timely manner. These includes:

• Provide support in gathering and updating data from Investment Vehicles (IVs), Portfolio Companies (PCs) and Micro Enterprises (MEs).
• Monitor and track key performance indicators (KPIs), including financial performance, and impact metrics relevant to the Fund's and WEAVE’s objectives.
• Analyze data to identify trends, strengths, and areas for improvement.
• Evaluate the performance of individual MEs, PCs and IVs, as well as the overall portfolio.
• Identify potential risks or challenges within the Fund’s portfolio IVs, PCs and MEs and provide recommendations to mitigate identified risks.
• Coordinate with the Fund and WEAVE partners in preparing detailed quarterly performance reports summarizing the information to include key findings, insights, outcome stories and actionable recommendations.

B) Learning and Knowledge Sharing (20%)

Develop evidence-based knowledge products, coordinate with the Fund’s Learning and Communications partner, and share insights to improve project implementation and ecosystem engagement. These includes:

• Develop evidence-based learning products, such as reports, briefs, case studies, toolkits, and infographics.
• Ensure the learning products developed by the Learning Partner are aligned with the Fund’s objectives and target audience needs.
• Provide support to Partners in developing internal and external knowledge products.
• Provide support to the Gender, Learning and Communications Partner in coordinating dissemination activities at ecosystem events.

C) MERL System Implementation (20%)

Work with the LPO to improve and optimize the Fund and WEAVE’s MERL systems for data collection and visualization, enhancing its utility for partners, IVs, PCs, and MEs while developing MERL services to meet donor requirements and strengthen MEDA’s capacity.

• Engage regularly with the LPO and BDS Partner in the maintenance and optimization of the Fund’s Impact, ESG/GDEI dashboards.
• Coordinate joint efforts to ensure that the upgraded MERL systems meet the needs of partners, IVs, and PCs, making information more accessible and actionable for stakeholders.
• Provide data reporting templates to partners, IVs, PCs and MEs by providing training on tracing and tracking impact data and outcomes.
• Ensure that data collection processes are aligned with donor requirements and Fund objectives - including specific criteria such as gender, age, and geographic distribution.

D) Capacity Building (20%)

Provide capacity-building support to IVs, PCs, and MEs to enhance their impact measurement capabilities while ensuring staff and partners understand MERL requirements for data gathering and reporting.

• Develop and deliver training programs to IVs and PCs to strengthen their impact measurement capabilities especially on tracing and tracking impact data and outcomes.
• Support efforts in socializing the Fund’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) vision and requirements to IVs and support alignment with their investor reports.
• Establish regular check-ins with the LPO to address any challenges they face in meeting MERL requirements.
• Gather feedback from IVs, PCs, and MEs to continuously improve the capacity-building efforts and ensure they meet the evolving needs of the Fund.

E) Other Duties (10%)

• Participate in MERL and partner meetings and perform other assigned duties.
• Coordinate with partners to prepare them for the Consortium retreat, ensuring they have the necessary materials and understand the retreat’s objectives.
• Collaborate with the LPO and provide technical support in preparing for ecosystem events and convenings.
• Organize and participate in internal learning meetings, Operations Committee (OC) meetings ensuring that MERL lessons and issues are discussed with relevant teams.
• Carry out additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned by supervisors or as required by the project's evolving needs.
• Provide general support to the MEDA’s Impact and Knowledge Management team and other departments as needed.

The role will report into the MERL Director - Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund & WEAVE projects

• Job Status: Full-time, starting in August 2025
• Location: Dakar, Senegal - preferred
• Language Skills: Fluency in French and an excellent command of English, both written and spoken, to effectively operate in our bilingual work environment.

Education & Professional Experience requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Economics, Statistics, Development Studies, Business Administration, or related discipline is required.
• A postgraduate diploma or certification in Monitoring & Evaluation, Data Analytics, or Impact Measurement would be a strong asset.
• At least 4–6 years of progressively responsible experience in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) within development finance, investment programs, or economic development contexts.
• Demonstrated experience supporting complex data-driven initiatives, preparing impact reports, and engaging with multiple stakeholders such as investment vehicles, portfolio companies, and external learning or communications partners.

Additional Competencies & Skills

• Strong analytical skills with proven ability to synthesize large data sets into clear insights and actionable recommendations.
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills, with the ability to produce high-quality knowledge products (briefs, case studies, infographics).
• Capacity-building expertise, particularly in training external partners or grantees on data and MERL systems.
• Solid knowledge of gender-responsive or youth-focused programming is a plus.
• Collaborative and adaptive mindset to work with diverse internal teams (MERL, BDS, Programs, Impact & Knowledge Management) and external partners.

Job Requirements for All MEDA Staff

Organizational Policies and Procedures

• Ensure and adhere to all MEDA management, professional, finance, audit, legal, human capital, security, corporate and other policies as required
• Prepare quarterly and other required internal reports and planning documents
• Complete and participate in all training as required

Organizational Culture

• Appreciation, understanding and commitment to MEDA’s mission of creating business solutions to poverty
• Demonstrate MEDA’s Core Performance Values: Collaboration, Respect, Entrepreneurship and Accountability

Image and Engagement

• Adherence and demonstration of MEDA image according to MEDA values
• Comply with board approved brand strategy
• Promote MEDA thorough speaking engagements, media appearances and convention as required

The role is open until 29th July 2025 5:00pm GMT. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis when received. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs.

Only successful applicants will be contacted.

MEDA is an equal opportunity employer, and accommodation is available during all phases of the recruitment process. We ask that any applicants requiring accommodation make their needs known in advance.

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