Summary

EduSpots was created to show that communities themselves can design, lead, and sustain transformative learning. By unlocking the knowledge and creativity already present in communities, the model turns education into a shared civic responsibility rooted in local ownership and collective action.

In 2015, the first Spot was created by the Addae family in Abofour, Ashanti Region of Ghana, in response to a locked privately owned library in a neighbouring community, built on principles of community ownership, local leadership and purposeful collaboration.

Since that point, over 700 local leaders named Catalysts, including students, teachers and community members, have come together to create 50 community-owned learning hubs known as ‘Spots’ – a concept drawn from the Ghanaian idea of a drinking space. Each Spot is unique, shaped by the identity and aspirations of its community, but all are part of a connected online network advancing inclusive, future-ready education through WhatsApp for Learning and the EduSpots App.

Through the Spots, thousands of learners, or Sparks, take part in playful, community-rooted clubs – across early years education, digital skills, STEM, climate action and gender equity themes – that spark curiosity, collaboration and civic action. Many Sparks grow into Catalysts themselves, with one in four new Spots now founded by those who first joined as Catalysts. From this cycle of change, a movement is emerging across rural Ghana and beyond.

EduSpots has grown through a participatory model in which every Catalyst has a voice in shaping the network’s future. Their ideas and experiences feed into programme design and wider decision-making, with over half of our staff team drawn directly from Catalyst pathways.

As one Catalyst commented in the 2025 independent evaluation: “We’re not just implementing a pre-set model. Our ideas and experiences are actively shaping how EduSpots evolves. It’s truly a collaborative effort.” Find our latest guide book here.

In 2026, the EduSpots team grew the network from 50 to 70 Spots, with another 30 on the horizon for 2027, aiming to reach an additional 10,000 learners, also widening our reach through its EdTech Innovations as part of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, and the launch of EduSpots Unlocked to share aspects of our approach with the wider NGO community.

We are excited by our future. Do visit www.eduspots.org for further information.

About this role

Location: Remote working, Ghana-based

Reports to: Global Head of Operations

Salary: 5000–7000 Cedis/month gross

Hours: Full-time

Community ownership and local leadership have always been at the heart of EduSpots’ approach, and that extends to how we understand our own impact. We want evidence that is reliable, that respects the communities it comes from, and that genuinely helps us decide what to do next. This role has been designed to lead that work.

As MEL Manager, you will lead how EduSpots collects, manages, analyses and reports data across all our programmes. You will turn numbers and stories into clear findings, spot trends and lessons, and share them with colleagues, the Board of Trustees, funders and partners through diverse communications channels. You will also design and improve our surveys and other data collection tools, and manage our use of the ImpactEd platform.

This is a manager-level role, so we are looking for real MEL expertise. It is also a deeply collaborative one. You will work closely with programme, fundraising, communications and leadership colleagues, helping them feel confident collecting, understanding and using data in their own work. As we grow from 50 to 100 Spots in 2026-2027, the need for dependable, meaningful evidence will grow with us.

We are looking for someone who is rigorous, curious and practical, who can explain technical findings clearly to non-technical colleagues, and who cares about doing monitoring and evaluation in a way that is respectful of communities, safe for children and useful in practice. You will enjoy understanding what is really happening in Spots and helping the whole team learn from it.

Main duties and responsibilities

Monitoring, evaluation and impact measurement

• Leading the development and continuous improvement of our MEL framework, so that it reflects our strategy, programme objectives and intended outcomes, working alongside community members in this process. 
• Developing and reviewing indicators, targets and data collection plans
• Setting up clear processes for tracking progress against organisational and programme objectives
• Supporting evaluations of our programmes, including what is working well, what could be better and what difference we are making
• Working with programme teams so that monitoring and evaluation are part of planning and delivery from the start
• Developing systems that enable community-based Catalysts to interpret the data that they provide, and learn from it. 

Data collection and quality

• Designing, testing and reviewing surveys, questionnaires, feedback forms, interview guides and other data collection tools
• Coordinating data collection across programmes and the App, working with staff, volunteers, Catalysts and community partners
• Making sure methods are appropriate, accessible and proportionate for different audiences, optimising the use of the EduSpots App in this process, working closely with the App and Technology Manager.
• Running data quality checks so information is accurate, complete, consistent and on time, and working with colleagues to resolve gaps and errors
• Collecting both quantitative and qualitative data, including feedback, case studies and stories of change, sharing these directly onto social media channels and the website within an agreed framework. 
• Ensuring data collected is stored and used in line with GDPR and other applicable data protection laws, with children’s data kept secure and shared only with appropriate consent.

Analysis and learning

• Analysing quantitative and qualitative data to assess programme performance, outcomes and impact
• Identifying trends, patterns, gaps and areas of concern, and presenting them clearly and accessibly
• Producing regular data summaries, dashboards, charts and reports to support programme management
• Explaining what findings mean for our work and recommending practical next steps
• Comparing results across programmes, locations, communities and reporting periods
• Facilitating learning and reflection sessions with the wider team, and documenting good practice and lessons learned.
• Leading professional development sessions with the wider staff team on areas relating to MEL, including as part of our new staff induction programme. 

Donor, Board and stakeholder reporting

• Leading MEL contributions to funder reports, making sure reported results are backed by reliable evidence
• Working with programme and fundraising colleagues to provide data and impact evidence for grant reports and funding proposals
• Keeping reporting aligned with agreed indicators, targets, schedules and funder requirements
• Preparing and presenting data and impact updates for the Board of Trustees and management meetings, including quarterly reports
• Supporting our annual report with accurate statistics, outcomes and key findings
• Developing case studies, impact summaries and examples of change
• Keeping organised records of reported results and the evidence behind them, so what we share is consistent across reports

ImpactEd and data systems

• Managing and overseeing our use of the ImpactEd platform, including the setup, administration and review of surveys, measures and reporting
• Monitoring data collection progress and resolving issues that affect survey completion or data quality
• Supporting colleagues to understand and use the platform effectively
• Keeping data access, storage and confidentiality processes secure and up to date
• Looking for ways to improve how we use ImpactEd whilst reviewing other potential tools for data collection, analysis and reporting

Other responsibilities

Working with colleagues

• Giving practical guidance and training to colleagues who collect, record and report data
• Setting clear reporting timelines and responsibilities, and following up so deliverables are completed
• Contributing evidence and analysis to planning, strategy reviews and cross-team work
• Keeping up to date with developments in monitoring, evaluation and impact measurement, and sharing useful approaches with the team

Safeguarding, ethics and data protection

• Making sure all monitoring, evaluation and research follows our safeguarding, data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Using appropriate consent procedures, particularly with children and other potentially vulnerable participants
• Making sure our approaches are respectful, inclusive and sensitive to the communities we work with
• Handling personal and sensitive information responsibly, and raising any concerns about data quality, safeguarding or ethical practice through the right channels
• Undertaking other duties reasonably requested within the scope of the role as EduSpots grows

Personal specification

Essential: qualifications and experience

• A degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Research Methods, Social Sciences, Education, Development Studies, Data Science or another relevant discipline
• At least five years of relevant experience in monitoring, evaluation, research, impact measurement, data analysis or a related field, with increasing responsibility
• Experience developing or managing MEL frameworks, indicators and data collection tools
• Experience designing surveys and coordinating quantitative and qualitative data collection
• Strong experience analysing data and turning findings into clear reports, recommendations and actionable insights
• Experience preparing reports for funders, senior management or other external stakeholders
• Experience maintaining data systems, monitoring performance against targets and ensuring data quality
• Experience working across teams and helping colleagues improve their data and reporting practices

Essential skills

• Strong analytical skills, with confidence in spreadsheets and data visualisation tools
• Able to judge how reliable data is and to explain its limitations honestly
• Understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, including sampling, data collection and analysis
• Excellent written and verbal communication, able to explain technical findings to non-technical audiences and present evidence in ways that work for funders, managers, Board members and programme teams
• A strong ability in writing compelling and ethical stories, working closely with community members and learners and the wider staff team. 
• Strong organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to manage several reporting deadlines and follow up on missing information
• Able to work independently, use sound judgement and take responsibility for high-quality work as part of a remote team
• Confident giving guidance, training and constructive feedback
• Understanding of, and commitment to, safeguarding children and ethical research

Personal qualities

• A genuine commitment to community-led education and EduSpots’ mission
• Respect for the experiences and perspectives of the communities we work with
• Curious, reflective and proactive, with a practical approach to solving problems
• Collaborative and people-centred, able to encourage colleagues to use evidence to improve their work
• Flexible, adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced environment
• Committed to EduSpots’ values of community leadership, play, teamwork, passion, care, daring, sustainable impact and learning mindset

Desirable

• A postgraduate qualification in Monitoring and Evaluation, Research Methods, Statistics, Education, Development Studies or a related field
• Experience working in an NGO, charity, education organisation or community-based development setting
• Experience using ImpactEd or a comparable education impact measurement platform
• Experience with digital survey tools such as Google Forms, KoboToolbox or SurveyCTO
• Experience with data visualisation or analysis tools such as Power BI, Tableau, SPSS, Stata or R
• Experience supporting Board reporting, annual reports, impact reports and funding proposals
• Experience conducting evaluations, baseline or endline studies, or other impact assessments
• Experience building the data collection and reporting skills of staff, volunteers or community partners

Our core values are play, passion, community leadership, learning mindset, caring, daring and sustainable change. 

Please send a tailored covering letter and CV to recruitment@eduspots.org by Monday 23rd November with a hope to meet shortlisted candidates shortly afterwards for a start date on 11th January 2027.