Evidence & Insights Manager

Girl Effect is seeking an experienced Evidence & Insights Manager to lead research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MERL) activities across its Kenya portfolio. This is a pivotal role within the Evidence & Insights team — a unit that drives formative research, programme monitoring, and impact evaluation to ensure Girl Effect's work delivers maximum value for girls across Kenya. The team operates at the intersection of data, strategy, and storytelling, translating findings into actionable insights for programme teams, donors, governments, and community partners.

Kenya is a core implementation market for Girl Effect, with an active portfolio spanning Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), Economic Empowerment, and Digital Health. The Evidence & Insights Manager will own the end-to-end delivery of a diverse and ambitious MERL workplan in-country, working closely with both local programme teams and the global Evidence & Insights function to ensure that Girl Effect remains a rigorous, evidence-driven, and learning-oriented organisation.

• Lead the implementation of the market research and knowledge-building strategy to inform, monitor, and evaluate the Kenya programme portfolio in alignment with global frameworks.
• Design and manage research projects including the development of data collection tools, fieldwork coordination, data management, analysis, and high-quality report writing.
• Collaborate closely with Programmes, Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC), and Creative teams to ensure MERL outputs are relevant, timely, and presented in engaging formats.
• Manage the Kenya research budget, prioritise resource allocation, and maximise the value of evidence-generation activities.
• Commission and manage external research agencies — drafting Terms of Reference, reviewing proposals, advising on sampling strategies and methodologies, and overseeing quality of analysis and reporting.
• Conduct and support quality assurance during fieldwork through on-site visits, partner supervision, and real-time problem solving.
• Provide technical expertise across qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research designs, including digital data collection methods and secondary data analysis where appropriate.
• Ensure all research activities uphold Girl Effect's ethical standards and safeguarding policies through partner training and ongoing oversight.
• Ensure research outputs are accessible, actionable, and widely utilised across the organisation and with external stakeholders.
• Contribute to organisational learning by feeding insights back into programme design and strategic planning processes.
• Support the global MERL team on cross-market learning initiatives and contribute to the development of shared tools and frameworks.

• Demonstrated ability to design and manage end-to-end research projects — from inception through to dissemination — in development or NGO contexts.
• Proven experience applying both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and the ability to advise on fit-for-purpose study designs.
• Track record of managing external research vendors, including writing ToRs, reviewing proposals, and overseeing fieldwork quality.
• Ability to translate complex data and research findings into clear, compelling narratives tailored to diverse audiences including donors, governments, and programme teams.
• Experience working on MERL within health, SRH, economic empowerment, or digital health programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Kenya experience strongly preferred.
• Strong project management skills — ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously, meet deadlines, and manage budgets effectively.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical research practice, safeguarding standards, and community-centred approaches.
• Experience using digital data collection platforms (e.g. KoBoToolbox, ODK, SurveyCTO) and data analysis tools (e.g. SPSS, STATA, NVivo, or equivalent).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; Swahili proficiency is an advantage.
• Bachelor's degree minimum in social sciences, public health, statistics, international development, or a related field; postgraduate qualification is an added advantage.

Girl Effect offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience and aligned with INGO pay scales in Kenya. The estimated monthly salary range for this role is KES 200,000 – KES 350,000. Additional benefits typically associated with this level of role at an international NGO include comprehensive medical insurance, professional development opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and exposure to a globally connected team working on high-impact programmes for girls.

Ideal candidate: You are a seasoned MERL professional with 5–8 years of experience in research and evidence management within the NGO or development sector. You are comfortable working independently in a fast-paced, matrixed environment, collaborating with both local teams and global colleagues. You are passionate about girls' rights and gender equity, and you understand how rigorous evidence can drive meaningful programme improvements. You are equally skilled at designing a household survey and presenting findings to a senior donor audience.

Please do not apply if: You have fewer than 4 years of hands-on MERL experience, have not previously managed external research agencies, or are unfamiliar with ethical research standards in community-based settings. This is not an entry-level monitoring and evaluation role.

• Prepare an updated CV (maximum 4 pages) highlighting relevant MERL experience and Kenya-based work.
• Write a cover letter (maximum 1 page) explaining your motivation for joining Girl Effect and how your experience directly maps to the responsibilities of this role.
• Submit your application through the Girl Effect careers portal or the job board where you found this listing.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Girl Effect is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from women and candidates from marginalised communities.