Acumen is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Impact Manager with at least 8 years of work experience to provide Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) technical support at a regional level for a transformative business and economic empowerment programme across Africa with a strong focus on young women, leadership and organisational growth and development.

This role will be based out of Acumen office in Nairobi or Lagos with an expectation of working from office 3 days a week. Remote from other geographies is not an option.

About Acumen

Acumen is a global force of entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, and social innovators working together to build a world based on dignity. We were founded by Jacqueline Novogratz on the radical idea that business, when cultivated with moral imagination, can break the cycle of poverty. We invest in transformational companies, build sustainable markets, and prepare leaders with the tools they need to create a more just and inclusive future. Since 2001, we have scaled companies and shaped markets in some of the hardest-to-reach communities on the planet, impacting over half-a-billion lives. To learn more visit acumen.org.

About the role

As the Impact Manager you will be responsible for designing and implementing the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework, ensuring adherence to the design and alignment with donor and organisational standards. Working as part of the East and West Africa regional teams, you will coordinate MEL activities with programme staff and implementing partners and organisations, ensuring that data collection, analysis, and reporting are conducted to the highest standards of quality, ethics, and inclusivity, and supporting high-quality project delivery.

Additionally, you will be responsible for ensuring that MEL activities are adapted to align with private sector financing approaches to Impact measurement and management.

The role will report into the Academy Impact lead and work closely with the Impact Manager: Reporting, Data and Analytics. The role Impact Manager: reporting, Data and Analytics is a role with a strong focus on data and software analytical skills, growing skills in the use of AI and ability to develop data management systems and processes. Additionally, you will work with other Impact & Insight staff based in the UK and in East and West Africa.

Accountabilities include:

Oversight of the MEL framework design and implementation

• Support the design and implementation of the programmatic MEL framework (including MEL plan, data collection plan, data management plan, quality assurance protocols, results framework).
• Work collaboratively cross functionally with the Impact Manager: Reporting, Data and Analytics to co-develop quarterly reporting processes and reports on key metrics and KPIs (including financial metrics), for sharing with a range of stakeholders
• Translation of data into understandable and clear insights for action
• Set up processes and practices and proactively identify opportunities to strengthen MEL processes, tools and data quality
• Monitor use of the regional MEL budget and ensure efficient use of resources
• Develop and maintain the Impact issues log – to ensure overall management of any Impact issues.

Oversight of Programme monitoring and adaptive management

• Oversee the day-to-day MEL of the programme
• Support the design and rollout of data collection plan for a range of SMART indicators
• Support the design and rollout of data collection tools and surveys
• Conduct monitoring visits and gather feedback from participants and partners, including private sector companies
• Lead in the analysis framework and presentation of regional level data
• Ensure the highest standards of data quality, including accuracy, completeness and timeliness.
• Liaise with compliance team to ensure data management is compliant with best practices.

Oversight of Knowledge Management and Learning

• Work closely with Programme Insights team to ensure lessons are captured and knowledge management processes are followed.
• With Programme Insights, oversee adaptive learning activities.

Evaluation

• Co-ordinate and Support ad hoc research and evaluation activities as per the MEL plan.
• Lead on the compilation of the Annual Impact Report for the project.

Capacity building - team and partners

• Capacity building and training the team on Logical Framework approach, use of templates and tools and providing ongoing support to regional teams to use the tools.
• Lead in the development of the development of the Impact and MEL Implementation Manual (Impact section) for partners

Skills and qualifications

• At least 8 years of professional experience, including at least 3 years of designing or delivering programs for African social entrepreneurs.
• Experience with learning design, pedagogy, curriculum development, content production, and facilitation.
• Experience setting up large-scale mentoring programs.
• Experience in co-creating with third-party delivery partners, subject matter experts, and consultants.
• Detail-oriented project manager.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Critical thinker accustomed to working, problem-solving, and collaborating thoughtfully with different colleagues and personalities, at all levels both externally and internally, and across a variety of functions and geographies.
• Experience working in East Africa or West Africa and other regions in the continent, preferred
• Effective collaborator able to work with different colleagues and personalities, at all levels both externally and internally, and across a variety of functions and geography.
• Advanced knowledge of business skills and the investment readiness process gained via experience with an accelerator or venture studio (desirable).
• Familiarity with human-centered design and lean start-up approaches (desirable).

Location: Nairobi (East Africa) or Lagos (West Africa)

Acumen is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, age, differential ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or background.

Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis.

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