Monitoring, Evaluation, Results and Learning (MERL) Officer at Sustainable Business Consulting (SBC)

Position Summary

• The MERL Officer will support the design and implementation of monitoring, evaluation, results measurement, data management, project management, and organisational learning systems across projects and programmes.
• The role will combine data analytics, project management, impact measurement, and high-quality technical writing. The successful candidate will be responsible for turning programme data into credible evidence, clear reports, actionable insights, and recommendations that support decision-making and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Monitoring, Evaluation and Results Management

• Implement project monitoring and results measurement frameworks.
• Track activities, outputs, outcomes, and KPIs against agreed targets.
• Maintain project performance trackers and results databases.
• Conduct field monitoring, verification, and data quality assessments.
• Identify implementation gaps, risks, and performance trends.
• Support the development of practical and measurable indicators.

Data Management and Analytics

• Design and maintain programme databases and digital data collection systems.
• Develop data collection tools using KoboToolbox, Microsoft Forms, Google Forms, or similar platforms.
• Clean, validate, analyse, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data.
• Develop Power BI dashboards for programme performance, portfolio monitoring, and impact reporting.
• Use advanced Microsoft Excel for data analysis, modelling, and reporting.
• Apply appropriate statistical and analytical tools to generate meaningful insights.
• Ensure data is accurate, complete, timely, and properly documented.

Project Management

• Support the planning, coordination, and implementation of projects from inception to completion.
• Maintain project workplans, implementation trackers, timelines, and deliverable schedules.
• Coordinate project activities across technical teams, consultants, clients, and partners.
• Monitor project progress against scope, budget, timelines, and agreed deliverables.
• Identify project risks and support the development of mitigation measures.
• Coordinate project meetings, action trackers, and follow-up activities.
• Support preparation of project status reports and management updates.
• Ensure project documentation is complete and well organised.

Impact Measurement and Evaluation

• Support baseline, midline, endline, outcome, and impact assessments.
• Develop and maintain theories of change, logframes, results frameworks, and impact measurement frameworks.
• Track social, economic, environmental, climate, and financial outcomes.
• Support programme evaluations and impact assessments.
• Analyse evidence to determine what is working, for whom, and why.

Technical Writing and Reporting

• Prepare high-quality technical, monitoring, evaluation, and project reports.
• Draft donor, client, management, and programme performance reports.
• Develop evaluation reports, learning briefs, case studies, success stories, and impact reports.
• Translate complex data and analysis into clear, concise, and compelling narratives.
• Develop presentations and data stories that communicate findings effectively.
• Review and quality-assure reports and other project deliverables.
• Contribute to proposals, concept notes, technical methodologies, and results frameworks.

Learning and Adaptive Management

• Facilitate project reflection and learning sessions.
• Identify lessons learned, good practices, implementation challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Translate evidence into practical recommendations for programme adaptation.
• Document and disseminate learning across projects.
• Support teams to use data and evidence in decision-making.

Data Quality and Verification

• Conduct routine data quality assessments and verification exercises.
• Validate reported results against source documentation.
• Identify inconsistencies, gaps, and anomalies in programme data.
• Maintain appropriate audit trails and supporting documentation.
• Strengthen data collection and reporting processes across projects.

Required Technical Skills

The candidate should be highly proficient in:

• Microsoft Power BI – dashboard development, data visualisation, and reporting.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel – data cleaning, analysis, pivot tables, formulas, and reporting.
• KoboToolbox – digital data collection and field monitoring.
• Power Query – data transformation and cleaning.
• Microsoft PowerPoint – presentation and data storytelling.
• Project management and reporting tools.
• CRM and programme management systems.
• Knowledge of SPSS, Stata, R, Python, SQL, or other analytical tools will be an advantage.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Statistics, Data Science, Monitoring and Evaluation, Development Studies, Business, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in MERL, project management, data analytics, programme monitoring, research, or impact measurement.
• Experience working on development, SME, investment, sustainability, or donor-funded programmes is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing project activities and coordinating multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience developing dashboards and analysing programme data.

Core Competencies

Excellent Writing and Communication

The candidate must demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to:

• Produce clear, concise, well-structured technical reports.
• Translate technical analysis into compelling narratives.
• Communicate findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Develop high-quality client and donor deliverables.

Project Management

The candidate must be able to:

• Manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Track deadlines and deliverables.
• Coordinate teams and stakeholders.
• Follow up on actions and ensure timely completion.
• Identify risks and escalate issues appropriately.
• Maintain high standards of quality and attention to detail.

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

• Strong analytical and critical-thinking ability.
• Ability to identify patterns and insights from complex datasets.
• Strong attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Ability to challenge assumptions and validate reported results.
• Ability to convert evidence into practical recommendations.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands-on MERL and project professional who combines:

• Data + Power BI + Impact Measurement + Project Management + Excellent Writing.
• They should be able to move seamlessly from:
• Data Collection → Data Cleaning → Analysis → Power BI Dashboard → Insight → Technical Report → Recommendation → Project Action.
• They should also be comfortable working in a consulting environment where they may be required to manage multiple projects, interact directly with clients, support proposals, coordinate technical teams, conduct field verification, and deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.