SLED Opportunity · NORTH CAROLINA · IPAS
AI Summary
Ipas seeks a MERLA consultant to lead monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning for the FCDO-funded WISH2 project across Africa. The role involves strategic oversight, technical coordination, data analysis, and partner engagement from Feb to June 2026, with travel to African countries expected.
A. Statement of Purpose Ipas is requesting a proposal for a MERLA consultant with an Africa focus, who will provide leadership for the FCDO-funded Women’s Integrated Sexual Health 2 (WISH2) project, with responsibility for strategic oversight and technical coordination across WISH programmes in WACA (West and Central Africa) and ESA (East and Southern Africa). The scope of work includes driving and monitoring and evaluation efforts, leading and supporting evaluations, and stewarding high-quality research, learning, reporting, and partner engagement across the portfolio. The selected vendor will be expected to collaborate closely with Ipas teams to deliver results.B. Background Information Founded in 1973, Ipas is a global non-governmental organization dedicated to ending preventable deaths and disabilities from unsafe abortion through local, national, and global partnerships. Ipas works to ensure that women can obtain safe, respectful, and comprehensive abortion care. Ipas is a consortium member under the Women’s Integrated Sexual Health 2 (WISH2) project and is seeking interim support for management and support MERLA objectives in alignment with our responsibilities under this program. The WISH2 MERLA Consultant will provide responsive and proactive technical assistance support to Ipas staff and partners in WISH2 implementing countries, including in-person and remote support to: build MLE plans, develop research and evaluation protocols, develop and test indicators and new data collection tools, train data collectors, liaise with other Program Evidence and TEX staff to expand project capacity. This includes leading/supporting adaptation to local contexts of global tools, guidance, and processes for data management, analytics, donor reporting, data auditing, and data visualization and use.C. Scope of Work, timeline and level of effort, deliverables Timeline: February/March to June 2026 Place of performance: Remote with travel expected to Africa (List of WISH2 countries available on request) Number of estimated consultant workdays: 15-20 days per month.Key responsibilities across lots: • Provide monitoring, evaluation, research, leading, and adaptation (MERLA) leadership Women’s Integrated Sexual Health 2 (WISH2) project, with responsibility for strategic oversight and technical coordination across WISH programmes in WACA and ESA.• Act as the main global contact for MERLA at Ipas for lead partners, including attending regular and as-needed meetings and responding to requests through coordination with Ipas project teams • Weekly to biweekly meetings with RME Advisors in African country teams • Finalize the global WISH2 MLE plan for Ipas teams in alignment with the grant requirements • Guide creation of Excel template and/or Power BI dashboards with Program Evidence team members to facilitate monitoring and reporting on project indicators • Support local MERLA Advisors to implement Client Exit Interviews with abortion and contraception clients in Ipas-supported access points in Chad and DRC • Collaborate with Senior Research Scientist, study team, and partners on implementation of research on postabortion care in Somalia, as needed • Review data analysis and narratives for quarterly donor reporting, including setting up efficient reporting systems/processes • Support local MERLA Advisors to develop Learning Briefs based on project results • Facilitate the identification and planning for Value for Money (VfM) case studies in alignment with the project VfM framework • Travel to West, Central, and/or East Africa for in-person project meetings and technical support to implementing teams.D. Minimum required skills and proficiencies: • Master’s degree in social science or public health discipline, or equivalent professional experience• 8+ years’ work experience in global reproductive health programs, especially experience in MERLA• Experience in MERLA for global health programs, especially SRHR, including experience training others in MERLA-related skills and processes• Experience managing research and/or evaluation teams• Experience using mobile data collection apps using ODK programming, CommCare, or similar programs• Demonstrated ability to use data for decision-making and quality improvement• Experience with word-processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software• Experience with use of databases• Experience with communicating data to various audiences and use of data visualization software (Power BI, Tableau, Excel, or others)• Fluency in English, excellent written and verbal English, ability to effectively use language translation tools when needed • Preferred but not required proficiency in French• Experience working in multiple African countries • Ability to travelReview the attached RFP document for detailed instructions on how to submit your proposal.
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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