THOKOZANI CHIMENYA
MEL Director
Lilongwe
Summary
Highly committed Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director with over 12 years of senior-level experience in developing and managing comprehensive MEL systems. Expertise in leading strategic and thematic evaluations, fostering methodological innovations, and applying both qualitative and quantitative methods. Proven track record in capacity building, resource management, and evidence-driven decision making. Extensive international experience with donors such as USAID, World Bank, ECHO, and others, focusing on human rights and gender-responsive evaluation methodologies. Led and supported over 20 multi-sectoral evaluations in different contexts. Results-driven leader with positive attitude and passion for providing high-quality advice and guidance to clients. Proven ability to identify customer needs, resolve conflicts and build strong relationships. Possesses excellent problem-solving, communication and interpersonal skills.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Team Lead/Director MEL
Mercy Corps
4 2024 - Current
- Leading MEL strategic development for USAID portfolio in West Bank and Gaza.
- Developing overarching MEL strategy with clear vision, targets, and deliverables.
- Ensuring compliance with USAID and Mercy Corps MEL policy standards.
- Driving a culture of learning and evidence-driven decision making.
- Leading evaluations and providing capacity building for MEL team and partners.
- Managing automated MEL data systems and ensuring strategic alignment with program needs.
Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor/Consultant
USAID Partnerships Incubator (The Kaizen Company)
03.2023 - 04.2024
- Provided M&E technical support to implementing partners as directed by USAID.
- Provided M&E technical support to implementing partners as directed by USAID.
- Assessed partner organizations' M&E systems and supported improvements.
- Trained team members on USAID M&E requirements and data collection tools.
- Strengthened analysis and learning through data sorting, analysing, and summarizing.
- Provided evaluation capacity building aimed at enhancing partners' ability to conduct and use evaluations effectively.
Manager Global Monitoring Learning and Evaluation Strategy
Evidence Action
01.2021 - 03.2023
- Led development and adoption of MLE tools and methods across five countries.
- Designed and managed technical projects, including research and evaluation studies.
- Developed multi-country Power BI Dashboard for program management.
- Digitized global MLE processes for data collection, analysis, and visualization.
- Provided evaluation capacity building to enhance Evidence Action's effectiveness in conducting and using evaluations.
Head Monitoring and Evaluation
West Bank Protection Consortium
11.2019 - 01.2021
- Served as technical expert for a protection-centered humanitarian program.
- Led on data analysis to support the production, writing, visualization, and editing of consortium documents and reports.
Conducted comprehensive evaluations of emergency response, resilience building, and legal advocacy programs.
Developed and implemented evaluation methodologies to assess program effectiveness and impact. - Developed mutual approaches and provided guidance to consortium partner MEAL teams.
- Led design and implementation of accountability systems and capacity building support.
- Chaired and coordinated the MEAL Task Force of the Consortium.
- Led in developing strong indicators and logical frameworks for consortium program components.
- Worked with all key consortium groups to identify and provide support on their MEAL needs.
- Engaged with external stakeholders generating protection data such as OCHA Clusters.
Senior Manager and Team Lead Monitoring and Evaluation
VillageReach
02.2018 - 11.2019
- Led key program evaluations and research in health supply chain and community health.
- Developed and managed comprehensive accountability systems.
- Led digitization of M&E processes using various data tools.
- Led and managed a team of M&E professionals, providing guidance, support, and capacity building to ensure high-quality performance and project outcomes.
National Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting Officer/Country Lead
UN Women
08.2016 - 01.2018
- Led decentralized evaluations and ensured use of findings and recommendations.
- Contributed to the development of UN Women’s global evaluation guidelines.
- Managed Malawi Evaluation Management Response platform.
- Led strategic planning processes ensuring alignment with UN Women’s strategic objectives.
- Coordinated the UN-Malawi Ministry of Gender Annual Work Plan.
- Instrumental in positioning UN Women Malawi as a key technical partner in humanitarian response.
MEAL Specialist
Save the Children International
02.2012 - 01.2015
- Developed and implemented MEAL frameworks for child protection and education programs.
- Conducted evaluations and baseline surveys, ensuring evidence-based programming.
- Built capacity of program staff in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Led the MEAL function for the MasterCard Foundation-funded “Youth in Action” program.
- Introduced DataWinners for mobile and real-time data collection.
- Supported a World Bank-funded early childhood development program.
Operations Research Coordinator
Marie Stopes International
08.2009 - 01.2012
- Led research and evaluation initiatives for reproductive health programs.
- Designed and implemented data collection tools and conducted impact assessments.
- Provided technical support for the use of data in program planning and decision making.
- Designed and conducted three RCTs on family planning products.
- Introduced GIS mapping for outreach programs.
- Developed a data dashboard with monthly and quarterly data visuals.
Education
Master of Development Policy - Impact Evaluation And Sustainable Development
KDI School of Public Policy And Management
Sejong, South Korea 01.2015 - 12.2015
Bachelor of Social Science - Economics And Statistics
University of Malawi
Zomba, Malawi 02.2005 - 12.2008
Skills
Evaluation Leadership
Strategic Planning and Budget Management
Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analysis
Capacity Building and Training
Innovative Evaluation Approaches
Evidence-based Decision Making
Data Visualization and Reporting
Collaboration and Communication
Selectedtrainings
- High-Dimensional Data Analysis, Harvard University, 2018
- Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster, Harvard University, 2019
- Data Science: Inference and Modeling, Harvard University, 2022
- Data Science: Visualization, Harvard University, 2022
- USAID MEL Requirements, Learning Lab, 2019
- Monitoring and Evaluation for HIV Programs, Malawi Institute of Management, 2011
- USAID Compliance and Proposal Writing, Learning Lab, 2019
- USAID Communications and Branding, USAID’s Partnerships Incubator, 2023
Languages
English (Fluent)
Chichewa (Native)
References
- Collins Mhango, Measurement and Data Analytics Advisor, USAID, cmhango@usaid.gov
- Anthony Dutemple, Head of Mission, West Bank Protection Consortium/PUI, anthonydutemple@dr.com
- Noora Fati, Director of MLE Strategy, Evidence Action, noorafati@contractor.net
Timeline
Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor/Consultant
USAID Partnerships Incubator (The Kaizen Company)
03.2023 - 04.2024
Manager Global Monitoring Learning and Evaluation Strategy
Evidence Action
01.2021 - 03.2023
Head Monitoring and Evaluation
West Bank Protection Consortium
11.2019 - 01.2021
Senior Manager and Team Lead Monitoring and Evaluation
VillageReach
02.2018 - 11.2019
National Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting Officer/Country Lead
UN Women
08.2016 - 01.2018
Master of Development Policy - Impact Evaluation And Sustainable Development
KDI School of Public Policy And Management
01.2015 - 12.2015
MEAL Specialist
Save the Children International
02.2012 - 01.2015
Operations Research Coordinator
Marie Stopes International
08.2009 - 01.2012
Bachelor of Social Science - Economics And Statistics
University of Malawi
02.2005 - 12.2008
Team Lead/Director MEL
Mercy Corps
4 2024 - Current
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