Research and Learning Director at Boma Projects

Key Responsibilities:

Research and Learning Strategy & Planning:

• Establish and implement an approach for institutionalizing learning within the organization as part of the knowledge management function.
• Ensure an effective research and learning agenda that optimizes innovation and learning for program improvement, cost efficiency and scale ambitions of the organization and is contributing to the organizational and sectoral knowledge gap around the Graduation Approach, livelihoods, gender and resilience building of vulnerable populations.
• Ensure the Learning and Impact unit is resourced and supported adequately.
• Manage work plans and budgets, and support country offices as needed, subsidiaries and other entities to implement the Learning and Impact agenda.
• Liaise and network with internal and external Learning and Impact experts to bring about global best practices across the organization.
• Maintain and grow partnerships with various research and evaluation bodies across Africa.

Systems and Processes design:

• Lead and support the design of impact studies and evaluations in collaboration with the technical and research and impact teams.
• Introduce a learning agenda in which research, impact and other evidence is captured effectively and fed back into programming; establish links from data, and regular reports into the learning agenda with the support of the data, information and systems teams.
• Facilitate the production of the Annual Technical Report in collaboration with the technical leads.
• Ensure recommendations of this report are followed up on/implemented.
• Establish data-driven approaches through enabling a learning culture across the organization.
• Support the Learning and Impact unit to produce audience-friendly communication on impact data through analytics and regular development of information/knowledge products to be shared internally and externally.
• Enable BOMA’s research work to be translated into position papers on relevant thematic areas and aligned with the objectives of BOMA’s Strategic Plan 2022-2027.
• Produce donor briefs using impact and outcome data evidenced through evaluations in coordination with other units.
• Review and establish standard operating procedures and/or guidelines to support the organization in designing and delivering impact, evaluation, research and learning processes.
• Introduce innovative but credible methods (as opposed to relying on traditional and time-consuming approaches) to gauge changes effected by programmes and/or context-related issues that affect BOMA interventions immediately and effectively.

Developing, Managing and Disseminating Learning Products and Outlets:

• Lead the development of learning products such as Fact Sheets, Policy briefs, Policy Position papers, Publications, etc. and innovative ways of packaging such products for different audiences.
• Ensure that learning products are made easily available and accessible for colleagues within and outside the region.
• Lead the management and implementation of learning outlets such as Evidence Days/Events, Webinar Series, and professional talent development of BOMA staff.
• Be a champion in the development of an organizational culture for knowledge sharing and cross learning, particularly supporting senior leadership to champion and use evidence and learning in all we do.

Networking and Partnerships:

• Keep abreast of relevant developments, evidence, resources and good practices from BOMa Project Activities and other organizations that can be applied in support of regional priorities.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with other technical leads (thematic and cross functional), with a view of improving outcomes and our ability to demonstrate and showcase that impact.
• Support the regional technical team to develop and share new learning products and information.

Technical Support

• Develop standardized training materials/curriculum on research methods, impact and evaluations and related topics and enable the delivery of these training to country offices and other entities.
• Support and direct country office teams in undertaking quality impact studies, evaluations and research; review terms of references, methodologies and reports for quality and adherence to relevant standards.

Administrative/Other

• Contribute to the Impact team and country-level research annual planning & budgeting;
• Lead or participate in internal and external steering committees and technical working groups as assigned and appropriate.

Team Management

• Supervise and lead the Research and Learning Manager, Create and maintain a work environment where mutual respect among team members prevails and where the pursuit of individual and collective excellence is valued.
• Promote individual accountability and commitment by clearly and regularly communicating expectations and providing constructive feedback

Does this sound like you?

• An advanced degree (Master’s or Doctoral), preferably in Social Sciences, Statistics, related areas or related fields.
• 7+ years of experience in development settings including designing and leading impact studies, evaluation and research including at least 3-4 years of field/country office experience and 4+ years in a leadership role.
• Record of impactful thought leadership and advocacy around important social and/or technical issues.
• Fluency in the role of data and evidence tools – such as impact evaluations, representative surveys, monitoring systems, and/or machine learning – to create insights and impact.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and engage effectively with a range of stakeholders including senior managers, Boards, team members, private and public sector partners, and young evaluators.
• Demonstrated experience in statistical/quantitative and qualitative methods, designing credible studies focusing on impact and evaluations at a headquarters level as well as Knowledge of key IT/e-learning softwares