African Leadership Academy is seeking an experienced Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) to lead the organization’s MERL functions and enable our strategic vision.


About African Leadership Academy
Since 2008, African Leadership Academy (ALA) has sought to identify, develop and connect the most promising young leaders on the African continent, organizing them into a powerful community of ethical and effective collaborative action. More than fifteen years into the journey, the organization has built a powerful track record of impact. Our campus community serves 250+ young leaders from across the continent each year. Our pan-African programs in entrepreneurship and impactful careers serve hundreds more. Through these young leaders, we are already impacting thousands of Africans as we pursue a vision of lasting peace and shared prosperity.


The Role & Responsibilities

Skills and Profile of Ideal Candidate

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a relevant field such as monitoring and evaluation, research methods, statistics, econometrics, or international development.
• Deep expertise in data systems and information management.
• Solid knowledge and experience in working with both quantitative and qualitative data; experience with statistical analysis preferred.
• Understands different evaluation designs and measurement tools and can explain these concepts to
• 5+ years of working in monitoring and evaluation; 10+ years of total work experience. Some background in education a plus.
• Proven track record in leading high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and promoting a culture of innovation, learning, and growth.
• Demonstrated success and affinity for breaking down complex problems into component parts and ability to consider policies from multiple perspectives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; report writing experience required and external communication experience preferred.
• A passion for Africa, the potential of its youth, and commitment to the vision of

Reporting: This role reports to the Chief Executive Officer, and is a member of ALA’s Executive team.
Location: ALA Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa
Anticipated Start Date: March 2025