Co-creation HUB is the leading pan-African creative and innovation ecosystem enabler. In 2010, we started out as Nigeria's premier innovation center dedicated to accelerating the application of social capital and technology for economic prosperity in Nigeria. We have since grown our physical presence to five cities (Lagos, Abuja, Kigali, Nairobi and Windhoek) across Africa and we work closely with stakeholders - including entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, government, and private sector - to identify and nurture novel solutions to social challenges in Africa.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Specialist
Location: Lagos
Job type: Full-time
Job Purpose
The MERL Specialist will oversee the tracking, measurement, and reporting of program impact and outcomes.
The role involves designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, conducting research, and extracting insights to inform iterative improvements to program delivery.
The MERL Specialist will play a key role in ensuring data-driven decision-making and fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation within the Nigeria GATEWAY Program.
Key Responsibilities
Monitoring & Evaluation System Design and Implementation:
Develop and implement a comprehensive MERL framework to assess program impact and outcomes.
Track key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with program objectives, including participant progress, skills acquisition, employment outcomes, and inclusion metrics.
Establish systems for effective data collection, validation, storage, and analysis, ensuring data quality and integrity.
Train program staff and stakeholders on MERL tools, methodologies, and processes to build internal capacity.
Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting:
Conduct regular data collection, validation, and analysis to measure program performance and track progress against goals.
Prepare detailed reports and dashboards on program impact, outcomes, and key findings for both internal use and external stakeholders.
Present data and insights in a clear and actionable manner to support real-time program decision-making.
Research & Insight Generation:
Design and implement research studies to generate insights into program effectiveness, participant needs, and contextual dynamics.
Identify emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in the gig economy and within the implementation landscape.
Provide evidence-based recommendations for program enhancements and strategic pivots based on findings.
Learning, Knowledge Sharing, and Adaptive Management:
Facilitate the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, best practices, and innovation opportunities across teams.
Support adaptive management by ensuring program design and implementation remain responsive to data insights and participant feedback.
Work closely with program teams to integrate MERL findings into program planning, delivery, and continuous improvement processes.
Collaborate with teams across Training, Partnerships, Community Engagement, and Communications to align MERL efforts with broader program goals.
Stakeholder Engagement and External Learning:
Engage with external partners, platforms, and stakeholders to share findings, contribute to sectoral learning, and support advocacy efforts.
Represent the program in learning forums, evaluations, and discussions that enhance credibility and visibility.
Key Performance Indicators
Validation of Skills in Demand
MERL System Design and Implementation
Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting
Research & Insight Generation
Learning, Knowledge Sharing, and Adaptive Management
Stakeholder Engagement and External Learning
Requrements
Educational Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Development Studies, Statistics, or a related field. A certification in Monitoring and Evaluation, Data Analytics, or Research is an advantage.
Experience:
At least 8-10 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning roles within development programs, especially those focused on youth and marginalized populations.
Familiarity with data collection tools and platforms, as well as statistical software such as SPSS, Stata, Excel, Tableau, Power BI or R.
Demonstrated leadership in designing M&E frameworks, impact evaluations, and adaptive learning systems.
Skills and Competencies:
Strong knowledge of MERL methodologies, tools, and best practices.
Strong leadership in guiding MERL teams and integrating learning into program delivery.
Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and visualization techniques.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to interpret complex data and provide actionable insights.
Strong written and verbal communication skills to present findings to diverse audiences.
Knowledge of the gig economy and digital inclusion is an advantage.
Deep technical proficiency in quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods.
Advanced knowledge of data systems, analysis tools (e.g., STATA, R, Power BI, or Tableau), and visualization.
Excellent communication and reporting skills tailored to technical and non-technical audiences.
Strong risk assessment and mitigation lens through performance monitoring.
Proven ability to foster a culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.