Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Analyst

ABOUT FC AFRICA

FC Africa, formerly First Consult, is a regional development organization operating across East Africa. The transition to FC Africa reflects the organization’s substantial growth in regional reach, technical expertise, and service offerings since its establishment in 2006. Alongside FC Development and FC Investment, we operate through a unified model that blends development resources, investment capital, and advisory services. FC Development delivers grants, guarantees, and technical assistance, while FC Investment supports enterprise financing, investment readiness, and capital mobilization.

ABOUT THE PROJECT/PROGRAM

EthiopiaAI is a 3-year program launched in May 2026 designed to support Ethiopia in accelerating the responsible adoption and institutionalization of Artificial Intelligence across priority sectors, including public service delivery, economic transformation, and climate resilience. The programme builds on national policy frameworks such as the National AI Policy and the Digital Ethiopia 2030 Strategy, which together establish a strong foundation for the integration of advanced technologies into governance and development systems.

The MERL Analyst for this programme is responsible to operate, manage, and maintain the project’s established MERL system throughout its implementation lifecycle. Taking over the pre-designed MERL framework, tools, manual, and annual workplan developed during the inception phase, the MERL Analyst will ensure rigorous data collection, continuous data quality assurance, timely donor reporting, and the active execution of the project’s learning agenda

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• System Operationalization & Maintenance:
  • Fully adopt and maintain the pre-established MERL Framework, Logical Framework (LogFrame), and Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT).
  • Strictly adhere to the data protocols and workflows outlined in the master MERL Manual.
• Data Collection & Quality Assurance:
  • Deploy, manage, and update the digital data collection tools designed for the project.
  • Where applicable, conduct regular field monitoring visits and data quality assessments (DQAs) to ensure data validity, reliability, and integrity.
  • Supervise and train field staff, partners, or enumerators on standardized data collection methods and tools.
• Routine Workplan Execution & Reporting:
  • Execute the activities outlined in the Annual MERL Workplan on time and within budget.
  • Aggregate, analyze, and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data to populate monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reports.
  • Maintain and update project data dashboards to provide real-time data visibility to management.
• Learning, Evaluation, and Adaptation:
  • Operationalize the project’s Learning Agenda by capturing success stories, unexpected outcomes, and case studies.
  • Facilitate routine stakeholder reflection sessions (e.g., “Pause & Reflect” meetings) using collected data to drive project adaptation.
  • Coordinate and support external consultants during mid-term and final project evaluations.

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Data Management, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 3–5 years of hands-on experience in MERL, with a proven track record of managing day-to-day MERL operations and field-level data collection for active development projects.
• Strong practical experience tracking project indicators using Indicator Performance Tracking Tables (IPTT).
• Advanced proficiency in digital data collection tools and data entry/cleaning software (Excel, SPSS, or Stata).
• Proven experience managing data visualization dashboards and writing clear, data-driven reports.
• Soft Skills: High attention to detail, strong organizational and time-management skills, and the capacity to train field teams and collaborate effectively with technical staff.
• The ideal candidate must excel at implementing existing plans, maintaining high data integrity, managing field-level data collection, and translating raw numbers into clear progress reports.

REPORTING

The MERL Analyst reports to the Programme Lead.