Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Consultant 2026–2027

This is a 30-day consultancy with Population Council in Nairobi, Kenya (remote) from October 26, 2026, to June 30, 2027, focused on Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) support for Mastercard Foundation’s programs. The role requires 5–9 years of experience in MEL and involves assessing, strengthening, and aligning MEL frameworks across multiple African partners. The consultant will work with an inter-regional consortium of organizations to improve program impact measurement, data governance, and adaptive management for education and financial inclusion initiatives across 35 African countries.⁠‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​⁠

What it offers

The consultant will support structured MEL accompaniment programs for Mastercard Foundation’s partners, focusing on:

• Strengthening MEL infrastructure, including theories of change, data systems, and reporting.
• Diagnosing MEL capabilities and refining plans for 12 program platforms (e.g., Pan-Africa Program, Scholars, Higher Education Collaboratives).
• Aligning indicators with Shared Measures 2.0 and reporting tools like Fluxx/Daraja.
• Facilitating learning and adaptive management through evidence-based decision-making.

The consultant will produce monthly dashboards, quarterly reports, and a final handover synthesis while maintaining confidentiality and avoiding direct program management.

Who can apply

Applicants must have 5–9 years of experience in MEL consulting, preferably in education, youth development, or financial inclusion within Africa. Experience with Mastercard Foundation’s programs or similar non-profit frameworks is a plus. No explicit nationality or age requirements are stated.

How to apply

Applicants should submit their application via email with the subject line: Consultancy – Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Expert. The email should include:

• Application details (name, contact, experience).
• A brief description of relevant MEL consulting experience.
• A cover letter outlining how their skills align with the role’s scope.

The application deadline is October 21, 2026. No formal documents are explicitly required beyond the email submission.

Good to know

• The consultancy is 30 days long, covering October 26, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
• The role is remote-based in Nairobi, with potential fieldwork in Africa.
• The consultant will not certify data credibility or replace partner MEL staff.
• No salary or funding details are provided; this is a contract-based consultancy.
• The work is part of an inter-regional consortium led by Population Council, Kenya.