Head, MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning), Innovation and Impact Labs

Job Description

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Head of Impact, this role advances the understanding and practice of the Impact Team and the Foundation in the use of innovation theory, human-centered design-thinking approaches and practice to generate and support youth-led, youth-centered evidence and narratives of change. This role works across Country and Regional and enterprise-wide levels as well as Impact Partner Organizations (IPOs) to identify, test and collaboratively adapting the use of innovative MEL approaches, practices and tools.

This role partners to scope out and collaboratively establish a selective network of Impact Labs (new or existing) in Africa and Canada capable of deepening MEL innovations around youth-focused impact and indigenous evaluation and help to embed into the ongoing evaluation and review work of the Foundation as well as setting a precedence in broader MEL marketplace.

The incumbent will support the bridging of indigenous knowledge, innovation, and evaluation practice to bring new ways of knowing and new impact narratives to the work of the Foundation at all levels - a major pillar of the Legacy of Sulley Gariba.

The successful candidate will be based in any of our listed offices in Africa (Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana) with travel to Canada.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Support the Head of Impact in building out a talented team of MEL innovation specialists in areas such as youth-led data, impact narratives, gender, and inclusion.
• Manage the team to ensure that Impact Team understands and can apply innovation, design thinking approaches, and the Team continues to deepen the use of innovation in the ongoing outcome, impact and systems measurement work of the Foundation.
• Collaboratively with Regional and Country Impact staff and relevant Impact Partner Organizations, lead the scoping and recruitment of Impact Labs to act as incubators and accelerators of new youth led MEL approaches.
• Oversee the ongoing performance of the Impact Labs in delivering innovative MEL approaches and bridging indigenous evaluation and Foundation practice.
• Summarize innovation concepts and build understanding on the Impact Team of the ways in which innovation can help the Impact Team to elevate the voices and agency and evidence of young women and men in the measurement and reporting work of the Impact team, and in advancing indigenous evaluation in Africa and Canada.
• Collaboratively develop practical applications of these concepts and lenses to the monitoring, evaluation and reporting work of the Impact Team and the work of the Foundation.
• Ensure the engagement of hard-to-reach stakeholder groups, particularly vulnerable young women, and men in Innovation and Impact Labs work.
• Work collaboratively with the Africa Regional Impact and Program Heads and their respective Country Impact Leads and the Canada Impact staff (when hired) to scope out and establish a network of Impact Labs to act as incubators of new approaches to indigenous knowledge, youth led MEL approaches and tools, new data approaches, etc.
• Ensure that the Impact measurement and evaluation work conducted in Countries and at Regional level benefits from the practices emerging from the Impact Labs.
• With the Evidence and Insights Outcomes Evaluation team help to advance new and innovative approaches to elevating the voices of young people and African stakeholders in evaluations and to co-create a new approach to evaluation that respects the indigenous perspectives as well as protecting the rights of the marginalized.
• Ensure that the Impact Reporting benefits from the Innovation work of the Impact Labs including innovation in communicating and engaging key audiences in the work of Impact.
• Provide strategic management support to the Head of Impact on Innovation.
• Participate as a member of the Core Impact Management Team.
• Work collaboratively with Strategy and Planning to ensure that innovative concepts and practices of Impact are supportive of and aligned with Planning and Strategy practices.
• Liaise with research and knowledge management as appropriate.
• Engage, advise and present to the senior leadership of the Foundation as required.
• With country, regional and global colleagues as appropriate, represent MEL Innovation internally in the Foundation, and externally at forums and specialized events on MEL Innovation such as MERLTech, Sankalp, Skoll Forum, etc.
• Build a network of resource people and peers in MEL innovation measurement who reflect the Foundation’s values and interest in elevating agency and views of young people.

WHO YOU ARE

• Possesses an Advanced University degree in International Development, Economics, Evaluation, Data Science, Social Science, Social Innovation or other relevant field.
• Holder of formal and experiential training in innovation and human-centered design approaches. Certifications received where applicable and has membership in professional evaluation associations and innovation networks.
• Fifteen (15) plus years’ experience in development, market-based organizations, philanthropic organizations or investors working in sectors such as agriculture, labor, finance, tourism, technology, social development, health, social enterprise.
• Minimum 10 years of management experience including managing evaluation teams, innovation initiatives, specialists and partnerships, and reporting to senior management and Boards.
• Minimum 10 years of experience as an evaluation practitioner conducting country strategy and program evaluations in diverse development and private sector initiatives.
• Strong networks and work experience with youth groups, including youth in vulnerable circumstances, youth-targeted development investments, including the private sector.
• Professional experience in multiple countries in Africa, and ideal, experience with global initiatives.
• Strong understanding of innovation, design thinking, socio-economic analysis, systems change, foresight analysis, data systems, and tech-enabled data collection and analysis.
• Familiarity with policy and practice debates on evidence, equity, inclusion, decolonization, post COVID economic reform among others.
• Support for evaluation and evidence practice that encourage thought leadership and innovation in the use of mixed methods, qualitative and quantitative data, narratives, systems change, participatory techniques for facilitating inclusive evaluations, evidence and insights.
• Strong understanding and commitment to the use of indigenous knowledge and techniques of enquiry to enrich evidence with communities and citizens.
• 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.
• Excellent research, analytical and writing skills.
• Membership in professional evaluation associations and innovation networks.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.
• French language and/or local language skills are an asset.
• Commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.

About the Organization

ABOUT MASTERCARD FOUNDATION

Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. Through its Young Africa Works strategy and Canadian EleV program, the Foundation works with partners to ensure that millions of young people, especially young women, access quality education, financial services and dignified work. Mastercard Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. The Foundation is independent with its own Board of Directors and CEO.

THE WORK AT THE FOUNDATION

We have entered a very exciting time at the Foundation as we scale up our operations across Africa to realize our Young Africa Works strategy. Our role at the Mastercard Foundation is to be a catalyst. Our Young Africa Works strategy focuses on working with others to spur systemic change so young people have the opportunity to find work that is dignified and fulfilling.

The Foundation has opened offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Uganda, building a broader leadership presence in Africa to develop specific strategies that support youth employment. Within a country, we work with governments, the private sector, educators and other funders to improve the quality of education and vocational training, prepare young people for the work force, expand access to financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and connect job seekers to dignified and fulfilling work.

We are ambitious and driven. Our values transcend and rise above everything else as our guide. We encourage you to bring your bold ideas, curiosity, and expertise to your work. We laugh at ourselves and with each other. We are a team. Our journey together makes our impact even more meaningful.