Global MEL Senior Associate

Job Description

One Acre Fund is a nonprofit organization that supports smallholder farmers across Africa by providing access to quality farm inputs, financing, training, and market support. Through research-driven programs and data-informed decision-making, the organization works to improve agricultural productivity, increase farmer incomes, and strengthen food security across the continent.

The Global MEL Senior Associate position is a highly analytical and strategic role responsible for providing technical guidance, quality assurance, and analytical support across multiple country programs within One Acre Fund’s growth portfolio. The successful candidate will strengthen Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems, improve evaluation methodologies, build country team capacity, and help ensure that program decisions are informed by high-quality evidence and data.

Responsibilities
The Global MEL Senior Associate will serve as a technical advisor to country MEL teams while promoting rigorous analytical standards and continuous learning across programs. The role requires strong quantitative expertise, evaluation experience, and the ability to translate complex findings into actionable recommendations.

• Serve as the primary technical resource for country MEL Leads across assigned country programs, providing guidance, review, and feedback throughout the program cycle
• Review and strengthen survey instruments and data collection methodologies, including questionnaire design and programming in CommCare or similar platforms
• Assess and improve data quality assurance processes, including backchecks, validation systems, and automated quality controls
• Review and advise on country-level data analysis using Stata and other statistical software to ensure analytical integrity and reproducibility
• Conduct quality assurance of MEL reports, dashboards, presentations, and other deliverables to improve overall quality standards
• Support country MEL teams in translating data and evaluation findings into actionable insights for program staff and leadership
• Facilitate knowledge sharing across multiple country programs by identifying and disseminating best practices and lessons learned
• Advise on evaluation design and methodologies, including quasi-experimental approaches such as Propensity Score Matching (PSM), Difference-in-Differences (DiD), and Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
• Identify methodological risks and gaps in ongoing evaluations and escalate issues to senior leadership when necessary
• Contribute to the development and documentation of global MEL standards, frameworks, and analytical tools
• Design and support MEL training and capacity-building initiatives for country teams
• Develop shared templates, tools, and guidance materials to improve consistency across programs
• Participate in cross-program methodology projects and other strategic initiatives led by the Global MEL team
• Provide analytical support to the Agroforestry portfolio where applicable
• Peer-review cross-country workstreams and provide technical feedback for continuous improvement

Qualification
Applicants should possess strong quantitative and analytical skills, significant experience in monitoring and evaluation, and a solid understanding of impact evaluation methodologies in development or agricultural contexts.

• Master’s Degree in Economics, Applied Statistics, Agricultural Economics, or a closely related field
• Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL), applied research, or related fields
• Advanced quantitative and statistical analysis skills
• Proficiency in Stata is required
• Knowledge of R programming language is a strong advantage
• Demonstrated experience with impact evaluation methodologies including PSM, DiD, and RCTs
• Experience designing and programming mobile data collection surveys, preferably using CommCare
• Strong understanding of data quality assurance processes and validation systems
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to analytical rigor and reproducibility
• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience with smallholder agriculture programs and agricultural MEL frameworks
• Background in agriculture or agricultural development is preferred
• Experience in agroforestry, tree planting programs, or ecosystem measurement is an added advantage
• Professional fluency in English, both written and spoken
• Professional fluency in French is considered a significant asset
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain technical findings to non-technical audiences
• Collaborative working style with strong coaching and mentoring abilities
• Willingness to travel between 10% and 25% of the time
• Must possess citizenship or permanent residency in eligible countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, or the Democratic Republic of Congo

How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their applications online through the One Acre Fund careers portal. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the eligibility requirements and ensure that their application materials are complete before submission.

• Prepare an updated CV/Resume highlighting relevant MEL, research, and analytical experience
• Ensure you meet the citizenship or permanent residency eligibility requirements
• Review the job requirements and align your application with the required qualifications and experience
• Submit your application through the official One Acre Fund careers portal before the closing date of 04 August 2026

Apply here:
One Acre Fund Careers Portal – Global MEL Senior Associate

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Conclusion
The Global MEL Senior Associate role offers an exceptional career opportunity for professionals interested in evidence-based development, agricultural research, and international program evaluation. The position provides exposure to multi-country programming, advanced impact evaluation methodologies, and global development strategy. Successful candidates can progress to senior positions such as MEL Manager, Research Manager, Global Evaluation Lead, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, or Technical Advisor within international NGOs, research institutions, and development organizations.