Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Manager(MERL Manager) Full Time

Pact seeks Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Manager (MERL Manager) for the USAID/Mali-funded Basiki ni Tagne Kunafoni Activity. This two-year, information integrity project aims to enhance publicly available content that provides timely, relevant, and accurate information to Malian citizens through data-driven approaches that promote media literacy, mitigate harm from inaccurate information, and optimize the reach of quality information.

The MERL Manager will be responsible for increasing the evidence and data for informing and improving the programmatic interventions that support information integrity and promote media literacy. The MERL Manager will also be responsible for producing sharable learning products for information ecosystem practitioners in Mali and the Sahel. They will lead the technical oversight and provide strategic guidance, vision, and management of all MERL activities.

The position will be based in Bamako, Mali and report to the Chief of Party. This is a Mali-based local position open to Malian national and individuals with legal authorization to work in Mali without employer sponsorship only.

The proliferation and spread of inaccurate information threaten democracy and security in Mali. The accelerating rates of inaccurate information and its likely adverse impact within the information ecosystem have added to the challenge of information integrity in the wider, West African regional context.  Hence, ensuring information integrity through the supply of timely, relevant, and accurate information and the promotion of media literacy using data-driven approaches to mitigate harm and ensure information integrity in Mali are core mandates of this Activity. In this context, the Measurement, Evaluation, Learning and Research Manager will play a key role in increasing evidence and data to inform and improve programmatic interventions to support information integrity and promote media literacy.

The core duties to be carried out by the successful candidate are:

• Design and implement a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework to inform interventions, including the learning agenda for the activities under all objectives.
• Coordinate with partners to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, including online and offline campaigns and initiatives to address misinformation and demand-side activities and to inform the design of future USAID programming in Mali and the region.
• Foster collaboration between Malian researchers and practitioners and with peers in the region to subject practitioner interventions to academic study and to make academic study accessible to the community of practitioners.
• Grow research and learning partnerships among Malian, regional, and international institutions with expertise related to this project’s objectives.
• Collaborate with partners to develop learning products for practitioners in the media literacy and information integrity space in Mali.
• Employee complies with all company policies and procedures, including completing all compliance training topics by the deadline to satisfy each and receiving the corresponding acknowledgment statement that the training has been completed.
• All other duties as assigned

• Master’s degree and 8+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Bachelor’s and 10 years of experience.

Other Qualifications:

• Experience developing brief reports, infographics, and other communications products that translate research into actionable findings for practitioners.
• Experience in media, communication, and/or information integrity research or program evaluation.
• Demonstrated understanding of information integrity in the Malian information ecosystem, data driven and technology-based solutions to address disinformation and the role of civil society and media actors in West and Francophone Africa
• Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to perform and collaborate in complex and politically sensitive project environments.
• Experience developing brief reports, infographics, and other communications products that translate research into actionable findings for practitioners.
• Demonstrated understanding of information integrity in the Malian information ecosystem, data-driven and technology-based solutions to address disinformation and the role of civil society and media actors in West and Francophone Africa
• Fluency in French (oral, writing, and reading)
• Professional working proficiency in English
• Ability to occasionally travel regionally and internationally.

• Expertise in media intervention, analytics, countering inaccurate information, and enhancing the capacity and relevance of media actors, including independent sources.
• Conversant with information technology, use of popular social media platforms and media services, and experience in analyzing the veracity of media disseminated to the public.
• Knowledge of impact evaluation and social science research methods.
• Knowledge of how to cater to the comprehensive needs of Malian communities USAID is trying to reach.
• Experience implementing communities of practice and/or MEL capacity development activities.
• Expertise in media intervention, analytics, countering inaccurate information, and enhancing the capacity and relevance of media actors, including independent sources.