IRL Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa (MERL professional)

This is an exciting role for a skilled monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) professional who enjoys turning data

into actionable insights and evidence-informed decision-making, as well as compelling external communications. You will play a key

role in designing, analysing and implementing MERL activities across regional projects, while contributing to global evidence

generation related to the Safe Delivery App and Safe Delivery Programme.

Beyond core MERL, you will work closely with the External Relations wider team to ensure that insights generated through our

digital platform and project activities inform strategy, advocacy, programme improvement and donor reporting. Strong analytical,

communication and remote collaboration skills are essential. Location in Addis or Nairobi is preferred.

• Manage the development and implementation of MERL frameworks aligned with organisational objectives, programme goals and

digital health standards.

• Lead quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, designing robust methodologies, survey tools and qualitative

protocols to measure programme outputs, outcomes and impact.

• Design and implement project evaluations, baseline/midline/endline studies and assessment frameworks across projects in

sub-Saharan Africa and other regions as required.

• Monitor Safe Delivery App user engagement, behaviour and impact indicators, ensuring data quality, consistency and timely

reporting.

• Collaborate with IT specialists and developers to define data needs and interpret Safe Delivery App usage, engagement and

performance data.

• Ensure all data collection meets research ethics, informed consent and data protection requirements (including GDPR and

national regulations), and secure ethical approvals where required.

• Identify, document and disseminate programme best practices and key learnings to inform internal programme improvements,

scale-up and advance best practices internally, as well as across the broader digital health and maternal/newborn health

fields.

• Contribute to global research and evidence-generation initiatives, including operational research, publications, case studies

and user feedback reports.

• Develop presentations, dashboards, reports, impact briefs and other knowledge products that communicate programme performance

and impact.

• Work closely with programme, clinical, communications, business development and IT teams to ensure learning and evidence are

integrated across organisational activities.

• Education: Master's degree in public health, epidemiology, social sciences, international development, statistics, health

informatics or a related field.

• Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, research and learning within international development,

global health, digital health or related sectors.

• Methods and design: Proven track record in designing and leading both quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis

and evaluation methodologies.

• Frameworks and tools: Strong expertise in designing and implementing MERL frameworks, baseline/endline evaluations, survey

tools and indicator tracking systems.

• Data analytics: Proficiency analysing and visualising data using: Excel, Power BI and statistical software (Python, R, SPSS or

Stata).

• Research and evidence: Experience contributing to research publications, operational research or evidence-generation

initiatives.

• Communication and dissemination: Demonstrated ability to communicate complex findings clearly through reports, presentations

and other knowledge products.

• Collaboration: Strong project coordination and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working across multicultural and

remote teams.

• You thrive on purpose. Making a real impact motivates you and you want your work to contribute to safer childbirths and better

healthcare globally.

• You are curious by nature. You enjoy questioning data, spotting patterns and connections others might miss, and acting as a

thoughtful sparring partner to colleagues in programmes, business development and communications.

• You take ownership. You work independently with initiative and professionalism, juggle multiple priorities with ease and bring

a sharp eye for detail and a commitment to quality and timely delivery.

• You bring respect and inclusion. You value diversity, treat everyone fairly and help create a workplace where trust and

appreciation are the norm.

• You think big and act smart. Innovation excites you: you’re bold, agile and committed to finding sustainable solutions that

make a difference.

• You collaborate naturally. You enjoy working with others, building strong partnerships and believe that together we achieve

more.

The position is a full-time position and based in Ethiopia or Kenya. The way of working is a hybrid model with the possibility to

work from home twice a week. Regular travel is expected. Salary will be negotiated based on qualifications and Maternity

Foundations salary scale guidelines.

We value equal opportunity and encourage candidates regardless of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, disability, or age

to apply.

Location: Hybrid in Kenya or Ethiopia

Contract: Full-time employment or consultancy agreement based on location. Strong likelihood of being permanent after 3 months'

probation time.

Team: Insights, Research & Learning (IRL)

Reports to: Head of IRL

Deadline for applications: 22 November 2026. We will be looking at applications on a rolling basis, so please apply sooner rather

than later.

Maternity Foundation has Danish roots but is a global organisation within maternal and newborn health, digital solutions and

learning programmes.

In 2005, we started out as a small Danish organisation working in western Ethiopia. Today, we are an international NGO with

offices in Ethiopia, India and Denmark and engagements in multiple countries across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North

Africa, and Asia. In 2023, we expanded our work into Latin America and the Caribbean.

We are a team of roughly 40 colleagues working across our three global hubs in Ethiopia, Denmark and India. We come from various

backgrounds – global health, midwifery, anthropology, IT and business – and take pride in an entrepreneurial spirit and a can-do

attitude.  Together, we are an ambitious and purpose-driven team working in a welcoming and informal atmosphere.