MERL Specialist, Ethiopia

This role was posted on August 25, 2025. Please note that we will review applications on a rolling basis.

The Role

At Last Mile Health (LMH), we dig data. Have you implemented innovative monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) plans to assess health system strengthening, community health workforce upskilling, and community-based primary care service delivery? If so, you may be our next MERL Specialist for the Health Extension Program in Ethiopia.

LMH has partnered with the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Ethiopia to develop a cost-effective and learner-focused blended learning design for the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Health (RMNCH) module of the in-service for Health Extension Workers (HEWs), Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Major Communicable Diseases (MCDs). Our organization is enhancing its digital learning and blended training approach to other health programs and health workers to reach more inaccessible sites. 

The MERL Specialist will play a central role in designing, implementing, and managing MERL systems for CEO Round Table Gates project in RMNCH, NCDs, and MCDs Integrated Refresher Trainings (IRT) learning. The role involves collaboration with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health, digital health implementers, and global MERL team to support data-driven decision-making, program adaptation, and digital innovation.

The MERL Specialist will be responsible for operationalizing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, embedding learning practices across program teams, managing data tools, and conducting impact evaluations and implementation research aligned with national priorities.

This is a 12-month  fixed-term contract based in Ethiopia and open to Ethiopian nationals based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

What you’ll do

Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Design and Management:

• Lead the development and implementation of MERL frameworks and tools for RMNCH, NCD, and MCD programs.
• Develop performance indicators and data collection protocols, ensuring alignment with Ethiopia’s Health Extension Program (HEP).
• Establish feedback loops to translate data into actionable insights for program improvement.

Digital Learning, Innovation, and Data Use:

• Engage in designing and managing blended digital learning platforms, learning dashboards, and mobile-based tools for capacity building.
• Support the integration of MERL tools in decision support and learning applications for community and facility-level programs.
• Promote data use culture through learning sessions, dashboards, and digital analytics.

Research, Evaluation, and Documentation:

• Lead and contribute to impact evaluations, implementation science research, and learning agenda development.
• Analyze data to evaluate community health interventions, including the community-level impact of digital training evaluation, NCD, and NTDs screening.
• Draft reports, case studies, and learning briefs to share evidence with internal and external stakeholders.

Partnership and Stakeholder Coordination 

• Represent the organization in technical working groups, partner meetings, and joint reviews with the Ministry of Health.
• Maintain data use agreements and support cross-team learning with global MERL colleagues.

Data Analysis and Interpretation 

• Manage and clean program datasets using statistical and visualization tools.
• Conduct descriptive and inferential analysis to identify trends, gaps, and areas for intervention.
• Develop and automate dashboards and reports using tools such as Looker Studio, Power BI or Excel.
• Support the interpretation and presentation of data to program teams, MOH counterparts, and donors.
• Ensure high data quality and integrity across all digital and paper-based sources.
• Build the capacity of internal staff and local partners on data management, analysis, and visualization.

What You'll Bring

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Demography, Health Informatics, or a related field.
• Progressive years in MERL with experience in quantitative and qualitative research skills.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing digital learning platforms and evaluating blended learning approaches.
• Proven track record working within Ethiopia’s HEP and collaborating with the Ministry of Health and development partners.
• Progressive experience with tools such as DHIS2, KoboToolbox, ODK, Stata, SPSS, 
• Ability to lead MERL planning, data collection, data visualization, and results-based reporting.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated capacity to work with high-level government and donor stakeholders.
• Proven experience conducting impact evaluations and analyzing program effectiveness.

You’ll Impress Us If

• You have experience with tools such as Looker Studio, Power BI, and AI-integrated analytics platforms.   
• You have proven experience in MERL, in health systems, or community-based health programs.

Compensation Information

At Last Mile Health, we strive to reward our employees equitably and transparently. This means that we pay our employees based on a clear and consistent methodology and without regard to their identity or personal relationships. We have made this model fully transparent so that everyone has access to all information related to compensation. We hope this helps you better understand Last Mile Health’s values and commitments to our employees. We look forward to answering any questions you may have during the hiring process.

Before applying to this role, please take a moment to learn more about our approach to compensation and how compensation works in each of the countries where we operate. Please find the link to our compensation model and benefits overview below:

OVERVIEW OF LAST MILE HEALTH’S COMPENSATION MODEL

Compensation for this position: 

The Band for this position: Band 3

For Ethiopia, the range is $22,260 - $37,100 USD per annum dependent upon experience doing an equivalent role. Please note that this compensation is subject to statutory taxes.

About Last Mile Health

Last Mile Health partners with governments to design, scale, strengthen, and sustain high-quality community health systems, which empower teams of community and frontline health workers to bring life-saving primary healthcare to the world’s most remote communities. LMH is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For more information, visit www.lastmilehealth.org.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity at LMH. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.