Malawi MEL Lead, Zomba, Malawi

About One Acre Fund

Established in 2006, One Acre Fund empowers over 5.5 million smallholder farmers to enhance their farm productivity. Operating in nine countries across Africa, we supply essential farm inputs, tree seedlings, accessible credit, modern agricultural training, and a diverse array of agricultural services. Our comprehensive approach typically results in a more than 35 percent increase in income and assets for farmers on supported land, while simultaneously building lasting resilience. This impact is driven by our dedicated team of over 9,000 full-time professionals from varied backgrounds.

Our Malawi program, launched in 2016, serves more than 670,000 farmers with vital farm supplies and training. With our headquarters situated in Zomba, our operations are concentrated in Malawi's southern region, home to the nation's largest population of smallholder farmers.

About the Role

The Malawi MEL Lead will spearhead all in-country evaluations across One Acre Fund Malawi's Agriculture, Agroforestry, and Carbon portfolios. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead extensive research projects, generating insights that will guide the Malawi program towards deepening its impact at scale. The role also involves managing and fostering the professional growth of a team exceeding 100 members.

Responsibilities

Oversee Malawi MEL Execution

• Independently direct country-level and program-wide impact evaluations and studies.
• Develop and continuously refine frameworks, processes, and procedures for quality assurance, in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Global MEL team.

Analysis and Reporting

• Update existing analysis plans and devise new analyses for emerging programs and business units within the Malawi program.
• Produce high-quality survey reports and presentations, articulating key findings and proposing practical recommendations.

Drive Evidence to Action through Effective Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate closely with Program teams and other Global stakeholders to ensure MEL results and recommendations are understood and implemented.
• Enhance the availability and utilization of robust MEL data for informed decision-making across all organizational levels.
• Contribute significantly to the development of Malawi's impact deepening strategy.

Team Management

• Contribute to the formulation of MEL OKRs aligned with Malawi's Impact Strategy and Global MEL priorities.
• Manage all human resource functions within the department, including recruitment and development of MEL staff.
• Oversee departmental budgeting and financial management, seeking opportunities for growth and efficiency while maintaining team sustainability and data integrity.

Career Growth and Development

We foster a culture of continuous learning and invest in our employees' development. You will benefit from weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular performance feedback. Bi-annual career reviews will focus on your aspirations and long-term goals. This role provides a chance to shape a growing organization and build a fulfilling career.

Qualifications

While we consider general qualifications for all our roles, this specific position requires:

• Substantial academic or professional experience in designing and executing evaluations, and analyzing data, including large-scale data collection and field team management.
• Proficiency in evaluation concepts and mastery of experimental and quasi-experimental evaluation designs.
• Advanced analytical skills, particularly in applying statistical techniques for impact evaluation measurement strategies (e.g., propensity score matching, difference in differences, regression discontinuity).
• Familiarity with statistical software such as Stata or R.
• Strong project management capabilities, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects concurrently.
• Exceptional written communication skills, with a keen eye for design and visual presentation.

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Zomba, Malawi

Benefits

Health insurance, housing allowance, and comprehensive benefits package.

Eligibility

One Acre Fund is able to support work permit applications for this position. However, preference will be given to Malawian nationals or candidates with extensive professional experience and a strong work history within our countries of operation.

Application Deadline

20 November 2026. Please note that we review applications on a rolling basis and continue to do so until a suitable candidate is appointed.

One Acre Fund never requests monetary payment or fees for tests at any stage of the application process. All official communications from One Acre Fund will originate from an @oneacrefund.org email address. Please report any suspicious correspondence to [email protected], but do not submit applications or application materials to this address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are fundamental to our organization's mission and purpose. One Acre Fund is committed to cultivating an environment where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected, enabling our team to thrive professionally and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are dedicated to equal employment opportunity, irrespective 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 employer.

Tags

agricultural development

agricultural research

development research

monitoring evaluation and learning

sustainable agriculture

Skills

Impact Evaluation

Project Management

Statistical Tools

Analytical Skills

Team Management