ForAfrika is an African-founded and led organisation with over 40 years of impact across the continent, and a vision to see Africa thrive. We partner with African communities through our integrated development continuum, moving from crisis to self-sufficiency through our Humanitarian and Development work, and on to commercial viability through our Social Enterprise activities -- creating a platform for thriving.
By delivering African-led solutions for Africa, we reach millions of people annually, in communities across Africa through interventions that provide clean water, food security, healthcare, education, opportunities to earn and save as well as become economically active.
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 maximize programme effectiveness and demonstrate responsible stewardship of resources entrusted by donors, partners, and the communities the organization serves.
Position Summary
The Monitoring Systems Manager leads the development, implementation, and quality assurance of robust monitoring systems across ForAfrika's humanitarian and development portfolio, directly responsible for monitoring organizational KPIs and supporting Country Offices in structuring project level systems. This position ensures that real-time data collection, indicator tracking, and performance monitoring systems generate reliable evidence to inform programme adaptation, accountability reporting, and strategic decision-making across all operations.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
1. Monitoring Systems Development and Management
The Monitoring Systems Manager establishes and maintains comprehensive monitoring frameworks that align with ForAfrika's results framework and the organisation's commitment to measuring progress towards its 2032 vision. This involves developing standardised monitoring protocols that can be contextualised across diverse country operations whilst maintaining consistency in quality and rigour. The position requires designing integrated monitoring systems that capture both quantitative performance data and qualitative insights on programme implementation, ensuring that monitoring approaches are participatory and community centred.
The role encompasses overseeing the ActivityInfo platform as ForAfrika's primary data management system, ensuring optimal configuration, user training, and data quality protocols. This includes developing automated reporting dashboards, establishing data validation processes, and maintaining system security protocols. The Manager works closely with IT teams to ensure seamless integration between monitoring platforms and other organizational systems, whilst leading efforts to explore and implement innovative monitoring technologies that enhance data collection efficiency and accuracy.
2. Quality Assurance and Technical Support
Providing technical leadership on monitoring plan development represents a critical function of this position. The Monitoring Systems Manager reviews and approves all country office monitoring plans to ensure alignment with organisational standards, donor requirements, and best practice methodologies. This involves conducting detailed quality assessments against ForAfrika's DMEAL Framework, ensuring that indicator selection follows SMART criteria and adequately captures intended outcomes and impact.
The position requires providing ongoing technical support to country office DMEAL teams, offering guidance on indicator measurement, data collection methodologies, and monitoring plan adaptation based on changing contexts or programme modifications. The Manager leads capacity building initiatives for country office staff, developing training materials, conducting workshops, and providing mentoring support to strengthen monitoring competencies across the organisation. This includes participating in regular DMEAL check-ins with all country offices to facilitate peer learning and knowledge exchange.
3. Data Analysis and Insights Generation
Advanced quantitative data analysis using R or Python programming forms a cornerstone of this role, requiring the Manager to conduct complex statistical analyses that reveal trends, patterns, and insights from monitoring data. This involves developing predictive models, conducting variance analyses, and generating statistical reports that inform programme decision-making. The position requires translating complex analytical findings into accessible insights for diverse audiences, from field teams to senior leadership and external stakeholders.
The Manager leads the development of analytical frameworks that enable real-time programme adaptation, establishing early warning systems that identify programme risks or opportunities for enhancement. This includes creating standardised analytical templates that country offices can utilise for routine data analysis whilst maintaining quality standards. The role encompasses conducting meta-analyses across multiple country operations to identify cross-cutting trends and generate organisational learning insights.
4. Business Development Support
Supporting multicounty proposal development represents a significant component of this position, requiring the Manager to develop robust monitoring frameworks for new programme initiatives. This involves reviewing proposal monitoring plans, ensuring that monitoring budgets are realistic and comprehensive, and providing technical input on indicator selection and measurement approaches. The position requires collaborating with business development teams to articulate ForAfrika's monitoring capabilities and track record in donor communications.
Quality assuring country office contributions to proposal development ensures consistency and technical rigour across all submissions. The Manager provides guidance on adapting monitoring approaches to meet specific donor requirements whilst maintaining alignment with ForAfrika's standards and methodologies. This includes developing template monitoring frameworks that can be adapted for different programme contexts and donor specifications.
5. Matrix Relationships and Coordination
The Manager provides day-to-day technical support, guidance on complex monitoring challenges, and oversight of deliverable quality from country offices. This involves conducting regular virtual support sessions, providing written technical guidance, and coordinating cross-country learning initiatives.
The position requires collaborating closely with the Evaluation and Research Manager to ensure complementarity between monitoring and evaluation approaches, avoiding duplication whilst ensuring comprehensive evidence generation. Working with the Knowledge Management and Learning Specialist enables the systematic capture and dissemination of monitoring insights that inform organizational learning and programme improvement efforts.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
* Master's degree in Statistics, Development Studies, Economics, or related quantitative field
* Minimum 7 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation, with at least 4 years in monitoring systems management
* Demonstrated experience with ActivityInfo or similar data management platforms
* Strong background in quantitative research methodologies and statistical analysis
* Experience in developing monitoring frameworks for complex, multicounty programmes
* Proven track record in capacity building and technical support provision
* Experience working in humanitarian and development contexts, preferably in Africa
* Expert knowledge of results-based management principles and monitoring best practices
* Advanced proficiency in R or Python programming for statistical analysis, including regression analysis, time series analysis, and predictive modelling
* Proficiency in data visualisation tools and dashboard development
* Strong understanding of indicator development and measurement methodologies
* Experience with participatory monitoring approaches and community-based data collection
* Knowledge of donor monitoring requirements and reporting standards
* Familiarity with human rights-based programming and gender-responsive monitoring.