Programme Quality, Research & MEL Advisor

Job Description

Closing date:  07 June 2024 at 23:59 GMT

Job location: Nairobi or Johannesburg

Contract type: Fixed Term – 12 Months

The Role:

The role is responsible for contributing to effective Programme Quality, MEL & Research, with a focus on the Africa region but with a federation mindset. The role supports quality programming and learning through ongoing interactions with federation members. With a view to accountable, transparent feminist and decolonial reporting of impact, the role supports the development of MEL frameworks, plans and systems to better support ActionAid to assess, track, learn and reflect upon the impact of policy, advocacy, campaigning, research, and public engagement within the ActionAid Global Strategy. A further purpose of the role is to support the federation to design of feminist research and learning products, in line with the Feminist Research Guidelines.

Who we’re looking for a candidate with:

• Masters (or equivalent experience) in development related social sciences with a strong programme development and management component or substantial experience leading, and doing programme/participatory research, evaluation, learning and knowledge management.
• Specific and substantial experience of managing research that contributes to a rights-based development programmes with poor and excluded communities in the global South.
• Substantial experience of and commitment to decolonization of knowledge.
• At least 5 years of experience in providing research and MEL support to large donor funded projects.
• HRBA programming and monitoring experience, including working with partners and social movements.
• Specific and substantial experience of designing and implementing rights-based development programmes with poor and excluded communities in the global South.
• Familiarity with the range of approaches and methods currently being used in the sector to monitor and evaluate policy, advocacy, campaigning, and public engagement efforts.
• Ability to document programme experiences and generating lessons learnt and knowledge.
• Dynamic, participatory leadership style with superb negotiating and influencing skills – without the power of direct line management.
• Proven ability to persuade and inspire through communication, as well as negotiate and influence change, with sensitivity.
• Able to work closely with others (often from a distance) to meet tight deadlines and multiple priorities.
• Ability to work in a multicultural context/environment, engage in social justice activism/advocacy and demonstrate innovative Practices.
• Excellent written and spoken English. A second language will be advantageous.

What we offer

ActionAid is committed to providing a welcoming, supportive workplace where we recognise a job well done. We offer a fair compensation package and a flexible working environment. At ActionAid, you can look forward to:

• Fantastic training and development opportunities
• A workplace that embraces feminist leadership principles
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption pay

How to apply

Please click on the “apply” button to start the application process. Applications close on 7th June 2024 at 23.59 GMT Please upload an up-to-date CV and a cover letter, clearly explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.

Candidate will require the right to work in the job location at the time of appointment.

Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted- usually within 2 weeks of the closing date.

About us

ActionAid is a global federation working for a world free from poverty and injustice.

We want to see a just, fair and sustainable world, in which everybody enjoys the right to a life of dignity, and freedom from poverty and oppression.

We work to achieve social justice and gender equality, and to eradicate poverty.

All our work is underpinned by a set of feminist leadership principles:

self-awareness, self-care and caring for others, dismantling bias, inclusion, sharing power, responsible & transparent use of power, accountable collaboration, respectful feedback, courage and zero tolerance for harassment, exploitation and abuse.

Our commitment to Safeguarding

ActionAid is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct. We are also committed to preventing and responding to any form of sexual harassment, exploitation and child abuse and abuse of adults at-risk, whether carried out by staff/representatives or resulting from our work. ActionAid expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.