Manager- Impact & Equity

Job Title: Manager- Impact & Equity

Duty Station: Lalitpur, with up to 30% field travel across Nepal, especially rural and marginalized communities in eastern and central parts of Nepal.

Reports To: Country Director

Grade & Band: 5- 6 / 1-5

About dZi Foundation

dZi Foundation is a US-based non-profit organization dedicated to working with rural communities in Nepal to achieve prosperity by removing barriers to basic needs, fostering sustainable livelihood opportunities, and enhancing local capacity to drive transformational change. Our current strategic plan adapts to evolving policy and development landscapes, sharpening our focus on partnerships, local ownership, and long-term sustainability beyond external investments.

Position Summary

The Manager- Impact & Equity (MIE) will serve as the primary organizational lead for designing, rolling out, learning from, adapting, and providing capacity building on dZi’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) systems.

This role combines technical expertise in MERL with a strong equity and inclusion lens to ensure that all monitoring and evaluation frameworks are participatory, inclusive, and responsive to marginalized voices. The MIE will lead the creation of tools, protocols, indicators, and learning processes that improve program quality, enhance accountability, and drive evidence-based decision-making.

The position requires close collaboration with program teams, field staff, partners, and community stakeholders, ensuring they have the skills, systems, and support to collect high-quality data, analyze it effectively, and use it for program adaptation and strategic learning.

Key Responsibilities

1. MERL System Design & Rollout

• Lead the design of dZi’s organization-wide MERL framework, ensuring it aligns with strategic objectives, donor requirements, and community priorities.
• Develop monitoring tools, data collection protocols, and research methodologies that incorporate gender equality, social inclusion, and participatory approaches.
• Roll out the MERL framework across all program areas, ensuring consistent implementation by staff and partners.

2. Learning, Adaptation, and Evidence Use

• Facilitate strategic learning processes at all organizational levels, ensuring findings are used to adapt strategies, improve interventions, and inform advocacy.
• Coordinate regular program reviews, after-action reflections, and adaptive management discussions based on MERL data.
• Ensure findings are communicated in formats accessible to diverse audiences, including communities, staff, donors, and external partners.

3. Capacity Building of Staff and Partners

• Lead targeted capacity building for dZi staff, local partners, and community stakeholders on MERL practices, tools, data analysis, and utilization.
• Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and technical assistance to improve understanding and application of MERL in day-to-day program work.
• Develop and deliver both in-person and virtual training modules tailored to different user groups and learning needs.

4. Data Quality, Analysis, and Reporting

• Establish and maintain quality control systems for data collection, entry, and analysis at all stages.
• Oversee the compilation, review, and synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data into clear and actionable reports.
• Contribute high-quality MERL sections for donor reports, internal strategy documents, and public communications.

5. Equity & Inclusion Integration

• Ensure that all MERL systems include robust indicators and analysis on gender equity, inclusion, and community representation.
• Work with program teams to identify and track barriers to participation and ensure program benefits reach marginalized groups.
• Advocate for the integration of equity principles into all program design, monitoring, and evaluation efforts.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree (preferred) or bachelor’s degree in development studies, Economics, Sociology, Public Administration, Education, or a related field.
• Certification or formal training in Monitoring & Evaluation/Research & Learning desirable.

Work Experience:

• 4+ years (Master’s) or 6+ years (Bachelor’s) progressive experience managing MERL systems, preferably in an international or national NGO.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing M&E frameworks, leading research initiatives, and using learning for program adaptation.
• Experience delivering capacity development to diverse groups, including grassroots partners and remote field teams.
• Demonstrated ability to embed equity and inclusion into monitoring and evaluation systems.

Skills & Abilities:

• Strong ability to design participatory monitoring and research approaches.
• Excellent data collection, statistical analysis, and visualization skills.
• Strong facilitation and training skills, with an ability to simplify complex concepts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Nepali.
• Proficiency in MS Excel, data management systems, and relevant analysis software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, Power BI).

Physical Requirements:

• Extended periods of computer work.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% to remote field locations.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinker with a commitment to evidence-based decision-making.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural collaboration skills.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized, and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Commitment to ethical data practices and community-driven development.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit:

• A detailed CV highlighting relevant experience.
• A cover letter explaining suitability for the position.
• Contact details for 2–3 professional references.
• Expected salary range.

Please send applications to vacancy.np@dzi.org with the subject line: Application for MIE by August 22, 2025. Applicants should also complete the online application form via the Google link.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Canvassing will result in disqualification. dZi reserves the right to accept or reject applications without assigning reasons.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: dZi Foundation Nepal is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from women, people from marginalized groups, and bilingual/bicultural individuals. Applicants shall not be discriminated against due to caste, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Tagged as: Lalitpur