The Busara Center for Behavioral Economics is recruiting a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist – Evidence, Evaluation & Analytics to join its Research and Advisory team in Nairobi.

This contract-based, hybrid role is ideal for professionals with strong evaluation design, data analytics, and evidence synthesis skills who are passionate about advancing behavioral science across the Global South.

About Busara

Founded in 2014 in Nairobi, Busara has grown from a small behavioral science lab into a global boutique research and advisory organization. Today, the organization comprises over 130 professionals from more than 15 countries and has implemented projects across 50+ countries.

Busara works across key sectors including:

• Agriculture
• Public health
• Governance
• Inclusive finance

While headquartered in Kenya, Busara has expanded its presence with offices in India, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Latin America.

Role Overview: MEL Specialist

The MEL Specialist will play a central role in strengthening evaluation systems, generating high-quality evidence, and supporting data-driven decision-making across Busara’s project portfolio.

This position requires:

• Strong evaluation design expertise
• Advanced analytical and quantitative skills
• The ability to translate complex findings into actionable insights
• Confidence in leading learning reviews and MEL assessments

The successful candidate will collaborate closely with project leads and research teams to ensure evidence is embedded into strategy, implementation, and adaptive management.

Key Responsibilities

1. Evaluation Design, Research & Evidence Architecture

The MEL Specialist will:

• Design rigorous evaluations, including sampling strategies and analytical frameworks
• Strengthen Theories of Change and learning frameworks
• Apply mixed-methods, quasi-experimental, theory-based, or contribution analysis approaches
• Develop qualitative and quantitative data collection tools
• Conduct in-depth analysis of primary and secondary datasets
• Ensure evaluations meet quality, ethical, and learning standards

2. Data Analytics & Visualization

This role requires strong technical and visualization skills to make evidence accessible and actionable.

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting descriptive statistics, trend analysis, segmentation, and simple modeling
• Creating dashboards using tools such as Google Sheets, Excel, and Data Studio
• Developing engaging charts, visuals, and summary dashboards
• Presenting insights to support rapid learning and strategic decision-making

3. MEL Systems & Data Quality

The Specialist will strengthen internal MEL infrastructure by:

• Developing MEL plans and indicator frameworks
• Designing surveys, interview guides, templates, and checklists
• Improving data management systems and documentation processes
• Leading Data Quality Assessments (DQAs)
• Recommending improvements to ensure data integrity and reliability

4. Learning, Synthesis & Reporting

A core component of the role involves translating evidence into clear communication products.

The MEL Specialist will:

• Produce structured evaluation reports and learning briefs
• Facilitate reflection workshops and learning sessions
• Develop case studies and presentations for internal and external stakeholders
• Synthesize cross-country insights to inform continuous improvement

5. Internal Capacity Building

Busara places strong emphasis on strengthening internal capabilities.

The role includes:

• Mentoring associates and analysts in MEL best practices
• Building reusable tools, templates, and guidance notes
• Supporting proposal development and MEL-related business development efforts

Who Should Apply?

This opportunity is ideal for professionals who:

• Are highly comfortable working with data
• Enjoy designing and implementing evaluations
• Have technical expertise in MEL systems and frameworks
• Can communicate complex findings clearly and visually
• Thrive in collaborative, cross-country research environments

Data Privacy & Recruitment Process

As part of the recruitment process, Busara collects and stores personal information provided during applications, interviews, assessments, and reference checks. This data is used solely for evaluating candidates and, where consent is provided, for future recruitment opportunities.

Busara may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as application screening or response analysis. However, all final hiring decisions are made by human reviewers.

The organization is committed to maintaining data privacy, secure information handling, and transparent recruitment practices.

Why Join Busara?

Working at Busara offers:

• The opportunity to shape behavioral science across the Global South
• Exposure to multi-country research and advisory projects
• A collaborative and internationally diverse team
• A strong learning culture focused on evidence and adaptive management
• The chance to influence decision-making across development sectors

Professionals seeking to advance their careers in evaluation, analytics, and evidence-driven strategy are encouraged to apply and contribute to Busara’s mission of strengthening behavioral science for impact.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization that is hiring for this position. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.