Short Term Impact & Learning Specialist

 

Terms of Reference (TOR) for Impact and Learning Specialist - Short Term

Background

As a pan-African feminist fund, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) resources, strengthens and upholds women’s rights and feminist organizations and movements across Africa to make gender justice a reality for all on our continent and worldwide. Through its grantmaking, programmatic, and advocacy work, AWDF has supported work that has led to changes in law and policy, social norms, narrative, and movement-building for gender justice.

In 2023, building on its strong track record, AWDF launched Lemlem. This strategic framework will guide its efforts to advance gender justice for girls, women and gender-diverse people across Africa over the next decade. At its core, the strategy focuses on resourcing, nurturing and strengthening those best placed to achieve transformative change: African women’s and feminist groups, organizations and movements.

 

Role overview

AWDF seeks an Impact and Learning (I&L) Specialist on a consultancy basis to support the management of external end-of-project evaluations and impact documentation processes including data and story collection and dissemination. The Specialist will work alongside two I&L Officers and work collaboratively in support to the programmes team and wider AWDF team. The role will report to the Director of Programmes.

Scope of Work

The successful applicant will;

• Lead and manage baseline, midline and endline evaluations, including drafting terms of reference, overseeing consultants, and ensuring methodological rigor.
• Coordinate evaluation logistics, sampling, data collection, quality checks and analysis plans and ensure that evaluations generate clear and actionable insights for programming.
• Facilitate collaborative interpretation of evaluation findings with stakeholders, including grantees.
• Support the documentation of impact stories, case studies, lessons learned and best practices.
• Lead the production of learning briefs, synthesis papers, and presentations for dissemination to partners, donors, internal teams and the board.
• Lead the development and updating of monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks including theories of change, results frameworks, indicators and MEL plans.
• Lead the design and refining of data-collection tools, methodologies and protocols to ensure high quality and consistent data.
• Coordinate the development of MEL guidelines and instruments for internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the development of the AWDF MEL framework to track the implementation of the strategic plan, Lemlem.
• Support project close out and documentation processes including data repository and impact documentation products.
• Contribute MEL expertise for the development of project proposals and internal and external reporting requirements (board, donor, project reports etc)

Qualifications and Experience

The successful applicant will have a blend of relevant background and professional experience in the following areas:

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, gender studies, evaluation, development studies, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in MEL within feminist movements, philanthropy, gender justice work or human rights work.
• Strong technical MEL expertise, including evaluation management, qualitative and quantitative methods, and evidence synthesis.
• Experience managing people including team members and consultants
• Experience applying feminist, participatory, or decolonial MEL approaches.
• Excellent qualitative analysis and writing skills, with a track record of producing high quality learning products.
• Ability to facilitate inclusive learning processes that engage diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Working knowledge of French will be an advantage.

Duration of Assignment

The successful candidate will be required to work remotely in Africa from their country of residence, with some travel expected. The assignment shall be for a 12 month period, working 4 days a week.  The appointment will run from January 2026 to December 2026.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit their cover letter and application not later than Monday 22nd December, 2025 by email to (Simplicant link)

Kindly put in the email subject header: “Short Term I&L Specialist”

 

In line with AWDF’s Mission, qualified gender diverse persons are encouraged to apply.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted