Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead

About the role

iDE Nepal, part of the international nonprofit iDE, is looking for a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead for its Programs Unit. The role gives strategic and technical leadership for the design, implementation and continuous improvement of monitoring, evaluation and learning systems across iDE Nepal's programs, ensuring high-quality data collection, analysis, reporting and learning to support evidence-based decisions, adaptive management and donor compliance.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of iDE Nepal's MERL strategy, frameworks and systems, aligned with strategic priorities, program objectives and donor requirements.
• Oversee results frameworks, performance indicators, data collection and analysis, data quality assurance and impact measurement.
• Lead operational research, impact assessments and evidence generation on market-based approaches.
• Build organizational learning and adaptive management through reflection sessions, stakeholder feedback and lessons learned.
• Ensure high-quality results reporting and present evidence and recommendations to management, donors and partners.
• Work closely with the Global MERL team on reporting, KPIs and the management dashboard.
• Support projects in study and assessment plans, data collection tools, reporting formats, data analysis methods and report writing.
• Advise on project proposals: goals and targets, M&E plans, logical frameworks, theories of change, indicators and M&E budgets.
• Develop and maintain MERL project documentation and strengthen staff and partner skills in MERL methods and data management.

Required profile

• Master's degree in statistics, economics, social science, development studies or a related field, with at least 8 years of manager-level experience; or a Bachelor's degree with at least 10 years of manager-level experience.
• At least 8 to 10 years of experience in MERL or results measurement in development projects.
• Proven experience in market development approaches, including Market Systems Development (MSD) and value chain development, including the DCED Standard for Results Measurement.
• Demonstrated experience building and running MERL systems from design through implementation.
• Record of working effectively with diverse teams and adapting to different working conditions.

Required skills

• M&E system design: theories of change, results frameworks, indicator definitions and performance monitoring plans.
• Survey and evaluation design: baselines, midlines, endlines, household and enterprise surveys, and impact evaluations.
• Qualitative methods: focus group discussions, key informant interviews, outcome harvesting and most significant change.
• Sampling, data quality checks and quantitative analysis with SPSS, Stata or R.
• Mobile data platforms such as KoBo, TaroWorks, CommCare or ODK, and data visualization with Excel, Looker Studio, Power BI or Tableau.
• Data protection, ethics and informed consent; knowledge of MSD and frameworks such as AAER and the DCED Standard is a plus.

Applicants submit a letter and CV in English, with contact details of at least three professional references, by November 5, 2026. Benefits are as per iDE norms.