Research and Evaluation Manager

ForAfrika is an African-founded and led organisation with over 40 years of impact across the continent. We partner with communities through our integrated development continuum: saving lives and building resilience to reach self-sufficiency through our Humanitarian & Development work and unlocking commercial viability through our Social Enterprise activities. We are Africans, delivering African-led solutions for Africa, and we stand by our promise: we’re committed to the long run, until the job is done and communities are enabled to thrive.

Context
The Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (DMEAL) unit represents a cornerstone of ForAfrika's commitment to evidence-based programming and continuous improvement across all humanitarian and development operations. Positioned at the senior leadership level within the Humanitarian and Development Division, DMEAL ensures that robust evidence generation, systematic learning, and adaptive management become embedded throughout ForAfrika's pursuit of its 2032 vision to empower 20 million Africans to be self-sustained with a further 6 million provided with a platform to thrive.
Within ForAfrika's organisational structure, DMEAL functions as both a technical service provider and a quality assurance mechanism, working through matrix relationships with country offices to ensure that monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems meet international standards whilst remaining contextually appropriate and utilisation focused. The unit directly supports ForAfrika's commitment to demonstrating impact to stakeholders, ensuring accountability to the communities served, and generating evidence that contributes to broader knowledge in humanitarian and development practice. Through its comprehensive approach to evidence generation and learning facilitation, DMEAL enables ForAfrika to make data-driven decisions that maximise programme effectiveness and demonstrate responsible stewardship of resources entrusted by donors, partners, and the communities the organisation serves.

Position Summary
The Evaluation and Research Manager leads ForAfrika's evaluation and research agenda, ensuring rigorous evidence generation that demonstrates impact, informs programming decisions, and contributes to broader knowledge in humanitarian and development practice. This position oversees the design and implementation of high-quality evaluations and research studies that meet international standards whilst remaining contextually relevant and utilisation-focused. The Manager is responsible for leading the annual impact monitoring exercise across all ForAfrika Country Offices.

Key Roles and Responsibilities
1. Evaluation Strategy and Implementation
Developing and implementing ForAfrika's evaluation strategy requires the Manager to establish comprehensive frameworks that align with organisational learning needs, accountability requirements, and donor expectations. This involves creating multi-year evaluation plans that ensure systematic coverage of ForAfrika's programme portfolio whilst optimising resource allocation and maximising learning potential. The position requires balancing external and internal evaluation approaches, determining when independent external evaluations are necessary versus when internal evaluations can provide adequate evidence for decision-making.
The Manager oversees the complete evaluation cycle from initial planning through dissemination and utilisation of findings. This encompasses developing detailed terms of reference that meet ForAfrika's quality standards, managing procurement processes for external evaluators, and ensuring adherence to evaluation timelines and budgets. The role requires applying ForAfrika's evaluation quality checklist systematically to ensure that all evaluations meet international standards whilst addressing organisational learning priorities and accountability requirements.

2.Research Leadership and Evidence Generation
Leading ForAfrika's research agenda involves identifying strategic research questions that address knowledge gaps in humanitarian and development programming, particularly related to self-sufficiency and community resilience. The Manager develops research frameworks that complement evaluation activities whilst generating broader evidence that contributes to sectoral learning and policy discussions. This includes establishing partnerships with academic institutions, research networks, and other development organisations to leverage expertise and resources for collaborative research initiatives.
The position requires designing and implementing mixed-methods research studies that employ rigorous methodologies whilst remaining practical and actionable for programming purposes. This involves developing innovative research approaches that capture complex programme theories of change, particularly ForAfrika's integrated programming model and its contribution to sustainable development outcomes. The Manager ensures that research activities adhere to ethical standards, including securing necessary approvals from relevant ethical review boards and implementing safeguarding protocols for research participants.

3.Advanced Qualitative Data Analysis
Expert qualitative data analysis capabilities represent a core competency for this position, requiring the Manager to employ analytical techniques including thematic analysis, framework analysis, and grounded theory approaches. This involves using qualitative data analysis software effectively whilst maintaining rigorous analytical standards that ensure credible and dependable findings. The position requires developing coding frameworks, conducting inter-coder reliability exercises, and employing triangulation techniques that strengthen the validity of qualitative findings.
The Manager leads the development of qualitative research protocols that capture nuanced understanding of programme implementation, community perspectives, and contextual factors that influence programme effectiveness. This includes designing participatory research methodologies that meaningfully engage rights holders and duty bearers in research processes, ensuring that diverse voices are represented in evaluation and research findings. The role encompasses training country office staff in qualitative data collection and basic analysis techniques to strengthen organisational research capacity.

4.Quality Assurance and Standards Compliance
Ensuring compliance with international evaluation standards requires the Manager to implement systematic quality assurance processes throughout all evaluation and research activities. This involves applying OECD-DAC evaluation criteria, UNEG standards, and ForAfrika's own evaluation framework to ensure that all evidence generation activities meet professional standards whilst addressing organisational learning needs. The position requires conducting regular quality assessments of evaluation reports using ForAfrika's evaluation quality checklist and providing detailed feedback to improve future evaluation practice.
The Manager establishes and maintains evaluation reference groups that include community representatives, ensuring that evaluation processes are participatory and that findings reflect diverse stakeholder perspectives. This involves developing capacity among country office teams to support evaluation activities effectively whilst maintaining independence and objectivity in evaluation processes. The role requires ensuring that all evaluations address human rights, gender equality, and social inclusion considerations systematically throughout evaluation design, implementation, and reporting.

5.Business Development and Proposal Support
The manager supports programme proposal development for multi-country opportunities, designing comprehensive evaluation frameworks that demonstrate ForAfrika's commitment to accountability and learning whilst meeting donor requirements for evidence generation. For single country opportunities, the Manger quality assures evaluation plans for proposal submissions ensuring consistency and technical rigour.

6.Matrix Relationships and Coordination
Establishing productive working relationships with country office DMEAL specialists involves providing ongoing technical support, guidance on complex evaluation challenges, and oversight of evaluation deliverable quality. The Manager conducts regular virtual support sessions, provides written technical guidance on evaluation methodology and implementation, and coordinates cross-country learning initiatives that strengthen evaluation practice across ForAfrika's portfolio.
Collaboration with the Monitoring Systems Manager ensures complementarity between monitoring and evaluation approaches, avoiding duplication whilst ensuring comprehensive evidence generation that addresses both accountability and learning needs. Working closely with the Knowledge Management and Learning Specialist enables systematic capture and dissemination of evaluation insights that inform organisational learning and programme improvement efforts across ForAfrika's operations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
1. Master's degree in development studies, Social Sciences, Evaluation, or related field (PhD preferred)
2. Minimum 8 years of experience in evaluation and research, with at least 5 years in senior evaluation roles
3. Demonstrated experience in managing complex evaluations and research studies
4. Strong background in mixed-methods research and evaluation methodologies
5. Experience in humanitarian and development programming, preferably in African contexts
6. Proven track record in capacity building and technical support provision
7. Experience with participatory evaluation approaches and stakeholder engagement
8. Expert knowledge of evaluation theory, practice, and international standards
9. Advanced qualitative data analysis skills using software such as NVivo, Atlas.ti, or similar
10. Advanced qualitative research methodologies including ethnographic and participatory approaches
11. Understanding of quantitative evaluation methods including quasi-experimental designs
12. Proficiency in evaluation management including procurement, quality assurance, and utilisation
13. Knowledge of research ethics and institutional review board processes
14. Experience with theory-based evaluation approaches and contribution analysis
15. Understanding of humanitarian evaluation standards and conflict-sensitive evaluation
16. Quality and utility of evaluations and research studies completed
17. Timeliness and budget adherence for evaluation and research activities
18. Effectiveness of technical support provided to country office evaluation activities
19. Contribution to successful proposal development through robust evaluation frameworks
20. Innovation in evaluation and research methodologies and approaches
21. Utilisation of evaluation findings for programme improvement and strategic decision-making

ForAfrika is an African-founded and led organisation with over 40 years of impact across the continent. We partner with communities through our integrated development continuum: saving lives and building resilience to reach self-sufficiency through our Humanitarian & Development work and unlocking commercial viability through our Social Enterprise activities. We are Africans, delivering African-led solutions for Africa, and we stand by our promise: we’re committed to the long run, until the job is done and communities are enabled to thrive.

Context
The Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (DMEAL) unit represents a cornerstone of ForAfrika's commitment to evidence-based programming and continuous improvement across all humanitarian and development operations. Positioned at the senior leadership level within the Humanitarian and Development Division, DMEAL ensures that robust evidence generation, systematic learning, and adaptive management become embedded throughout ForAfrika's pursuit of its 2032 vision to empower 20 million Africans to be self-sustained with a further 6 million provided with a platform to thrive.
Within ForAfrika's organisational structure, DMEAL functions as both a technical service provider and a quality assurance mechanism, working through matrix relationships with country offices to ensure that monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems meet international standards whilst remaining contextually appropriate and utilisation focused. The unit directly supports ForAfrika's commitment to demonstrating impact to stakeholders, ensuring accountability to the communities served, and generating evidence that contributes to broader knowledge in humanitarian and development practice. Through its comprehensive approach to evidence generation and learning facilitation, DMEAL enables ForAfrika to make data-driven decisions that maximise programme effectiveness and demonstrate responsible stewardship of resources entrusted by donors, partners, and the communities the organisation serves.

Position Summary
The Evaluation and Research Manager leads ForAfrika's evaluation and research agenda, ensuring rigorous evidence generation that demonstrates impact, informs programming decisions, and contributes to broader knowledge in humanitarian and development practice. This position oversees the design and implementation of high-quality evaluations and research studies that meet international standards whilst remaining contextually relevant and utilisation-focused. The Manager is responsible for leading the annual impact monitoring exercise across all ForAfrika Country Offices.

Key Roles and Responsibilities
1. Evaluation Strategy and Implementation
Developing and implementing ForAfrika's evaluation strategy requires the Manager to establish comprehensive frameworks that align with organisational learning needs, accountability requirements, and donor expectations. This involves creating multi-year evaluation plans that ensure systematic coverage of ForAfrika's programme portfolio whilst optimising resource allocation and maximising learning potential. The position requires balancing external and internal evaluation approaches, determining when independent external evaluations are necessary versus when internal evaluations can provide adequate evidence for decision-making.
The Manager oversees the complete evaluation cycle from initial planning through dissemination and utilisation of findings. This encompasses developing detailed terms of reference that meet ForAfrika's quality standards, managing procurement processes for external evaluators, and ensuring adherence to evaluation timelines and budgets. The role requires applying ForAfrika's evaluation quality checklist systematically to ensure that all evaluations meet international standards whilst addressing organisational learning priorities and accountability requirements.

2.Research Leadership and Evidence Generation
Leading ForAfrika's research agenda involves identifying strategic research questions that address knowledge gaps in humanitarian and development programming, particularly related to self-sufficiency and community resilience. The Manager develops research frameworks that complement evaluation activities whilst generating broader evidence that contributes to sectoral learning and policy discussions. This includes establishing partnerships with academic institutions, research networks, and other development organisations to leverage expertise and resources for collaborative research initiatives.
The position requires designing and implementing mixed-methods research studies that employ rigorous methodologies whilst remaining practical and actionable for programming purposes. This involves developing innovative research approaches that capture complex programme theories of change, particularly ForAfrika's integrated programming model and its contribution to sustainable development outcomes. The Manager ensures that research activities adhere to ethical standards, including securing necessary approvals from relevant ethical review boards and implementing safeguarding protocols for research participants.

3.Advanced Qualitative Data Analysis
Expert qualitative data analysis capabilities represent a core competency for this position, requiring the Manager to employ analytical techniques including thematic analysis, framework analysis, and grounded theory approaches. This involves using qualitative data analysis software effectively whilst maintaining rigorous analytical standards that ensure credible and dependable findings. The position requires developing coding frameworks, conducting inter-coder reliability exercises, and employing triangulation techniques that strengthen the validity of qualitative findings.
The Manager leads the development of qualitative research protocols that capture nuanced understanding of programme implementation, community perspectives, and contextual factors that influence programme effectiveness. This includes designing participatory research methodologies that meaningfully engage rights holders and duty bearers in research processes, ensuring that diverse voices are represented in evaluation and research findings. The role encompasses training country office staff in qualitative data collection and basic analysis techniques to strengthen organisational research capacity.

4.Quality Assurance and Standards Compliance
Ensuring compliance with international evaluation standards requires the Manager to implement systematic quality assurance processes throughout all evaluation and research activities. This involves applying OECD-DAC evaluation criteria, UNEG standards, and ForAfrika's own evaluation framework to ensure that all evidence generation activities meet professional standards whilst addressing organisational learning needs. The position requires conducting regular quality assessments of evaluation reports using ForAfrika's evaluation quality checklist and providing detailed feedback to improve future evaluation practice.
The Manager establishes and maintains evaluation reference groups that include community representatives, ensuring that evaluation processes are participatory and that findings reflect diverse stakeholder perspectives. This involves developing capacity among country office teams to support evaluation activities effectively whilst maintaining independence and objectivity in evaluation processes. The role requires ensuring that all evaluations address human rights, gender equality, and social inclusion considerations systematically throughout evaluation design, implementation, and reporting.

5.Business Development and Proposal Support
The manager supports programme proposal development for multi-country opportunities, designing comprehensive evaluation frameworks that demonstrate ForAfrika's commitment to accountability and learning whilst meeting donor requirements for evidence generation. For single country opportunities, the Manger quality assures evaluation plans for proposal submissions ensuring consistency and technical rigour.

6.Matrix Relationships and Coordination
Establishing productive working relationships with country office DMEAL specialists involves providing ongoing technical support, guidance on complex evaluation challenges, and oversight of evaluation deliverable quality. The Manager conducts regular virtual support sessions, provides written technical guidance on evaluation methodology and implementation, and coordinates cross-country learning initiatives that strengthen evaluation practice across ForAfrika's portfolio.
Collaboration with the Monitoring Systems Manager ensures complementarity between monitoring and evaluation approaches, avoiding duplication whilst ensuring comprehensive evidence generation that addresses both accountability and learning needs. Working closely with the Knowledge Management and Learning Specialist enables systematic capture and dissemination of evaluation insights that inform organisational learning and programme improvement efforts across ForAfrika's operations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
1. Master's degree in development studies, Social Sciences, Evaluation, or related field (PhD preferred)
2. Minimum 8 years of experience in evaluation and research, with at least 5 years in senior evaluation roles
3. Demonstrated experience in managing complex evaluations and research studies
4. Strong background in mixed-methods research and evaluation methodologies
5. Experience in humanitarian and development programming, preferably in African contexts
6. Proven track record in capacity building and technical support provision
7. Experience with participatory evaluation approaches and stakeholder engagement
8. Expert knowledge of evaluation theory, practice, and international standards
9. Advanced qualitative data analysis skills using software such as NVivo, Atlas.ti, or similar
10. Advanced qualitative research methodologies including ethnographic and participatory approaches
11. Understanding of quantitative evaluation methods including quasi-experimental designs
12. Proficiency in evaluation management including procurement, quality assurance, and utilisation
13. Knowledge of research ethics and institutional review board processes
14. Experience with theory-based evaluation approaches and contribution analysis
15. Understanding of humanitarian evaluation standards and conflict-sensitive evaluation
16. Quality and utility of evaluations and research studies completed
17. Timeliness and budget adherence for evaluation and research activities
18. Effectiveness of technical support provided to country office evaluation activities
19. Contribution to successful proposal development through robust evaluation frameworks
20. Innovation in evaluation and research methodologies and approaches
21. Utilisation of evaluation findings for programme improvement and strategic decision-making