MEL Director

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund supplies 1 million smallholder farmers with the agricultural services they need to make their farms vastly more productive. Our 8,000+ team is drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. With operations across six core countries in Africa, we make farmers more prosperous by providing quality farm supplies on credit, delivered within walking distance of farmers' homes, and agricultural training to improve harvests. On average, the farmers we serve harvest 50 percent more food after working with One Acre Fund.

To learn more about our work, take a look at our Why Work Here blog for more information.

About the Role

We are seeking a dynamic research and evaluation leader with proven experience implementing robust studies in rural areas, developing large teams, and communicating results effectively. The Global Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Director will lead all MEL functions in the organization and be an important member of organizational leadership. You will report to the Global Impact Director at One Acre Fund.

The MEL department at One Acre Fund functions like an in-house research and evaluation firm and conducts rigorous evaluations and analyses that inform internal decision-making. The team has a presence in all 10 countries of operation. The goal of the MEL department is to both prove and improve program impact, and One Acre Fund has a culture of respecting data analysis and pivoting program activities in response to new evidence. This is a unique environment in which to lead MEL activities, with a true influence on program strategy.

Responsibilities

• Steward the internal annual evaluation studies that take place in all program countries and seek to measure and learn about One Acre Fund's impact on farmers.
• Ensure the continuation of the highest quality of data collection and analysis that One Acre Fund has come to be associated with.
• Develop and continue to professionalize MEL staff at all levels to set the standard for excellence in rural data collection.
• Ensure that MEL data and results continue to inform program strategy by working with program leadership to understand and devise strategies to implement results that maximize program impact.
• Work with senior leaders to collaboratively set and implement long-term vision for MEL functions.
• Continue to deepen One Acre Fund's evidence base through periodic experimental studies of the immediate program impact or long-term outcomes on farmers' lives and livelihoods. This can be contracted through external research partners or conducted in-house.
• Develop robust standardized methods for One Acre Fund's newly evolving work. For example, you may create frameworks for evaluating market access programs, smallholder insurance, or farmer resilience in order to ensure a strong evidence base for operational decisions.
• Oversee the analysis and recommendations that enable organizational leaders to choose among multiple investments.
• Ensure transparency and accessibility of data insights including historical trends, program comparisons, and gap analyses.
• Liaise with partners and donors to ensure that MEL studies are responsive to their requests and requirements.
• Represent One Acre Fund MEL to leaders internally and externally.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You'll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You'll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for.

We are seeking exceptional candidates with 7+ years of experience in the evaluation field, in a developing country context, and preferably in programs which address rural livelihoods. Candidates who fit the following criteria are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Master's degree or higher in agriculture, economics, demography, statistics, mathematics or a related field
• 7+ years experience in monitoring and evaluating of complex programs
• 7+ years experience in a quantitative field (economics, agricultural/development economics, statistics, biostatistics, nutrition, applied sociology, anthropology, or other relevant field) with significant training in quantitative methods.
• 5+ years of experience managing teams and developing leaders across different geographies
• Familiarity with one or more statistical software packages, including STATA or R
• Experience working in a multicultural workplace in a developing country

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

• Kigali, Rwanda or Nairobi, Kenya (flexible for other locations, depending on work authorization).
• Flexible workplace blending in-person, remote, and ~20% travel.

Benefits

Health insurance, housing, and comprehensive benefits

Eligibility

One Acre Fund can support a work permit for this role. However, nationals of (or those with an extensive professional background and work history in) our countries of operation are preferred.

Application Deadline

30 June 2025.

One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here (globalhotline@oneacrefund.org), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization's mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.