Responsibilities


Strategic Leadership & Vision
Lead with care and courage as you shape and drive Mawazo Institute’s programme, research, and policy vision. Champion bold, innovative approaches that nurture African women researchers’ leadership and influence across the continent. With intentionality and heart, guide the evolution of our work – scaling impact through digital learning, policy... engagement, and advocacy that reflect the realities of Africa’s future. Embed strategic integration of SMERL and policy initiatives to maximise our contribution to systems change.
Programme Excellence & Impact
Hold a steadfast commitment to quality, ensuring our initiatives are delivered with excellence and integrity. Provide strategic guidance and oversight while empowering Programme Leads to manage day-to-day delivery of the programmes. Use data and learning as tools to continuously refine and elevate our programmes, creating space for experimentation and innovation. Foster systems and processes that enable smooth, efficient delivery while nurturing a culture of growth, adaptability, and accountability.
Fundraising, Donor Engagement & Resource Mobilisation
Be the warm, trusted steward of Mawazo’s diverse funding relationships – philanthropic foundations, multilateral agencies, private donors, and individuals – building meaningful, long-term partnerships that bring our mission to life. Support resource mobilisation with strategic foresight and compassionate engagement, ensuring sustainable support for our transformative work. Collaborate closely with teams to develop compelling proposals and transparent reporting that reflect our impact and vision.
Partnerships & Representation
Cultivate authentic, co-creative relationships with academic institutions, governments, civil society, and funders who share our commitment to Africa’s women researchers. Represent Mawazo’s voice with clarity and conviction in high-level forums and public spaces, amplifying our thought leadership and inspiring collective action. Develop partnership frameworks that foster innovation, resource mobilisation, and strategic influence.
People-Centred Team Leadership
Foster a caring, inclusive culture where every team member is empowered to grow, take courageous leaps, and lead with autonomy. Provide compassionate mentorship and nurture psychological safety, encouraging curiosity, experimentation, and learning from setbacks. Lead with empathy, humility, clear communication, and unwavering support, cultivating a team driven by shared purpose and respect. Inspire collective ownership and create space for diverse voices to shape our strategy and success.


Qualifications.

Professional Experience and Expertise


At least 10 years’ experience in senior programme management and research leadership roles, preferably within Africa, with a proven ability to lead complex initiatives that drive real change.
A Master’s degree, or above, in the field of STEM, Development Studies, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, or a related field. Relevant certifications in programme management, research methods, policy analysis, strategic partnerships, systems or futures thinking, organisational management, or leadership are advantageous.
Demonstrated success in designing and implementing research strategies that ensure evidence shapes policy and practice, creating lasting impact.
Strong expertise in engaging and convening diverse stakeholders, translating research into impact (policy influence and innovation), assessing programme outcomes, and securing funding from a wide range of sources – including philanthropy, multilaterals, private sector, and individual donors.
Excellent financial management skills with experience overseeing budgets, grants, and resource mobilisation to support sustainable organisational growth. more

We are recruiting a MERL Lead to help us gather, interpret, use, and communicate evidence on the impact of a growing portfolio of activities across our operations and programmes.

The position will include overseeing the collection and communication of meaningful, high-quality data about our interventions; ensuring the organisation’s activities remain informed by evidence and aligned with its... evolving strategic objectives; and generally maintaining and improving the organisation’s monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning processes.

Responsibilities

Monitoring and Evaluation


Design and implement monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks, methodologies, and tools for Mawazo’s operations and programmes.
Develop data collection strategies, including both quantitative and qualitative methods, to assess operational and programmatic performance and outcomes.
Create results frameworks that are relevant, robust, and serve the informational needs of the programme (internal learning and external communications and donor reporting), including:
Regularly updating Mawazo’s logframe and ensuring our activities are aligned with our mission and vision.
Management of all databases and ensuring that our data visualisation dashboard is functioning and always up to date.
Lead data analysis and interpretation, providing actionable insights for operational and programmatic improvements.
Track key performance indicators and maintain comprehensive records of M&E activities, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and internal standards.


Research


Provide oversight and guidance on Mawazo’s research activities, including the design of research projects.
Conduct research on best practices and innovations in supporting women researchers, with a focus on African contexts.
Drive the development of learning agendas, evaluations, and impact assessments for new and ongoing programs.
Provide research support across all programmes including supporting team members to create talking points for external engagements
Promote an organisational culture of learning by facilitating regular feedback loops with teams, partners, and stakeholders.


Learning, Reporting and Communication


Collaborate with programme and communications teams to share insights and lessons learned with external stakeholders.
Lead the preparation of high-quality reports for funders, providing detailed analysis and updates on program performance.
Prepare reports, case studies, and learning briefs to communicate findings to a variety of audiences, including donors, board members, and partner organisations.
Engage with relevant networks and communities of practice to stay updated on trends in MERL, particularly within the African research and development sector.


Capacity Building and Strategic Planning


Provide technical support and capacity-building for Mawazo staff on M&E concepts, tools, and practices.
Offer guidance to Mawazo’s teams in developing theories of change, logical frameworks, and results-based management approaches.
Evidence-based strategy development processes, including programme design, theory of change and logical framework, incorporated as relevant in fundraising proposals; updated as needed based on emerging evidence.
Facilitate the development and implementation of strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks, approaches, and annual plans with programme leadership, staff and partners.
Facilitate active engagement and ownership of Mawazo strategic planning and MEL processes by the team and partners, providing support as needed.


Other Responsibilities


Participate in and facilitate meetings and spaces for staff to coordinate and co-create tools, practices, processes, and evidence.
Participate in team and organisational planning and retreats, annual personnel reviews.
Support an organisational culture that aligns with Mawazo’s principles.


Requirements


Master's degree in social, economic, political sciences, development studies or any sciences, and formal training in monitoring and evaluation systems, approaches and methodologies.
Minimum 5 years of experience in developing and implementing MERL frameworks and systems for governance, advocacy, or development organisations and multi-country programmes is required.
Strong quantitative research skills.
Field experience with building and implementing programme MERL strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience with MERL (including appropriate tools and methodologies) for complex, politically informed and adaptive programming is required.
Familiarity with data analytics and database software, and data visualisation tools such as Power BI is required.
Strong facilitation skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse individuals, teams and cultures is required.
Attention to detail and strong organisational, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
A Curious individual with ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to seek assistance with projects as required; keen interest in finding suitable new and alternative approaches.
Ability to supervise staff and delegate work effectively.
An interest in continual learning and professional growth.
The ability to thrive in a role with a great deal of autonomy in an environment that is highly collaborative, communicative, and team-oriented.
Excellent written and spoken English, proficiency conveying complex and technical processes and ideas to diverse audiences.
Written and spoken French is desirable but not a must.
Commitment to the Mawazo Institute’s mission and values.


Terms of Offer

Compensation and benefits for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead position include:


Competitive salary
21 days of paid leave
10 days of paid sick / family leave
3 months paid parental leave in the event of the birth or adoption of a child by the employee or the employee’s partner
Health insurance and pension
Operating on a four-day work-week
Flexi-hours and hybrid working arrangement
Access to a wellness fund
Access to a professional development fund
Quarterly data bundles
Interested candidates should be looking to commit to the role for a minimum of 2 years.
The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead position is offered on a fixed-term basis with a three-month probationary period. Upon successful completion of probation, the role will be confirmed, with the option for automatic contract renewal upon expiry, subject to the CEO's approval. more

We are currently seeking to hire a Finance and Grants Associate to support the financial operations of the Mawazo Institute. This role focuses on managing day-to-day financial activities and ensuring the smooth administration of grants.
Responsibilities include overseeing petty cash accounts, preparing bank payments, and maintaining accurate financial records, including Accounts Payable, Accounts... Receivable, and monthly bank reconciliation.
In addition to core financial duties, the Finance and Grants Associate will assist in payroll administration, ensure statutory compliance, and collaborate closely with grant recipients to facilitate financial reporting and documentation.
The position also entails reviewing financial policies to ensure they align with regulatory standards and supporting the Finance and Grants Officer in managing the organisation’s grant processes.
This role is crucial for maintaining financial integrity, supporting programmatic success, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements.

Responsibilities

Monitoring the petty cash accounts regularly, to ensure that adequate funds are available and appropriately disbursed
Prepare and queue payments at the bank as and when due for review by the finance officer
Maintain and track Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Prepayments.
Prepare monthly bank reconciliation for all accounts
Assist in payments preparation in liaison with the Finance and Grants Officer.
Assisting with grant management and reporting through preparation of reports, record keeping and supporting documentation in addition to liaising with the grants recipients on matter finance.
Review of fellows and connects fund reports to ensure all necessary documents are in place and adhere to laid down procedures.
Assist in reviewing existing financial policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance
Payroll administration and filing of statutory payments before the due dates.
Keeping records and documenting financial processes on grants and any other relevant supporting documents.
Any other duties as may be assigned by the Lead or Director of Finance.

Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field
CPA (K) certification
At least 2 years’ experience in a similar role
Proficiency in integrated financial management software, such as QuickBooks
Extensive knowledge of accounting standards and fiscal procedures
Exceptional attention to detail
Excellent collaboration and communication skills
Great analytical and problem-solving abilities more