Design the measurement approach
Clarify what success looks like and translate it into practical measurement approaches through theories of change, results frameworks, indicators and data-collection tools.
Hey, I’m SaniamoMercy
I help development programmes define what success looks like, measure change, and use evidence to improve decisions.
How I work
Make sense of the findings
Analyse and interpret data to produce clear, credible findings that support reporting, learning and programme improvement.
Selected work
Measurement, analysis and learning in practice.
01 / IMPACT MEASUREMENT
Outcome measurement for 2,000+ entrepreneurs
Between 2024 and 2026, I led MERL processes supporting impact reporting for more than 2,000 entrepreneurs. This involved coordinating data collection, quality assurance, analysis and reporting to assess employment, revenue and other programme outcomes.
I contributed data, analysis and findings to AMI’s annual impact reporting and donor reporting for programmes supported by the Argidius Foundation, Mastercard Foundation and World Bank.
Data collection: ODK · SurveyMonkey
Analysis: Excel · SPSS
Focus: Employment · Revenue · Business outcomes
02 / PROGRAMME ANALYSIS
Participation data and entrepreneur outcomes
I analysed routine programme data to examine whether consistent participation across programme activities was associated with stronger revenue and employment outcomes among entrepreneurs.
I linked participation records with entrepreneur-level outcome data and used Excel and SPSS to examine patterns across levels of engagement, sectors, regions and business types. The analysis found that entrepreneurs who were consistently engaged throughout the programme reported stronger business outcomes than those whose participation was more irregular.
What changed
The findings highlighted the value of monitoring participation and engagement throughout the programme, rather than focusing only on whether entrepreneurs completed the programme. Programme managers could identify declining engagement earlier and follow up with entrepreneurs while there was still time to support their participation.
03 / MERL DESIGN
Measurement approaches across AMI programmes
I supported MERL design and implementation across AMI programmes, translating programme objectives and theories of change into practical approaches for tracking implementation, participation and outcomes.
My work included developing and strengthening theories of change, results frameworks, indicators, IPTTs, baseline approaches and routine monitoring processes, adapting measurement approaches as programmes evolved.
Measurement pathway: Programme objectives → Measurement framework → Data collection → Monitoring & analysis → Results & learning
Portfolio examples
Practical examples of my approach
Templates and tools you can open and look through.
Data management
Data Management SOP
My approach to managing programme and MERL data across its lifecycle, from collection and quality checks through access, sharing, retention and disposal. It sets out data-quality requirements, classification and role-based access to support responsible data management.
View document →MERL planning
MEL Plan Template
My approach to translating a programme’s Theory of Change and results framework into a practical plan for what to measure, how to collect and assess the data, and how findings will feed into learning and decision-making.
View workbook →Programme monitoring
Academy Learning & Results Dashboard
A portfolio work sample showing my approach to turning routine programme data into usable monitoring information. I developed it to track cohort participation, learning and results using simulated data.
View dashboard →About
PhotoI am a MERL professional working across measurement, evaluation, research, data quality and learning. My work focuses on building practical measurement approaches, producing reliable programme data and turning findings into evidence that teams can use.
My experience spans the full measurement cycle, from results frameworks and data-collection approaches to analysis, reporting and learning. I have worked across entrepreneurship, MSME development, youth livelihoods and financial inclusion programmes in multiple African countries.
Experience
May 2024 – Jul 2026
MERL Manager
African Management Institute · Nairobi, Kenya
- Led MERL across a multi-country portfolio of donor-funded entrepreneurship, youth employment, livelihoods and financial inclusion programmes.
- Designed and strengthened theories of change, results frameworks, indicators, measurement plans and evaluation approaches across programmes.
- Led impact measurement and reporting processes covering 2,000+ entrepreneurs, from data collection and quality assurance through analysis and reporting.
- Strengthened data-quality, monitoring and reporting processes to improve the reliability and use of programme evidence.
- Managed and mentored a small MERL team, coordinating work across monitoring, data and reporting activities.
Feb 2023 – Apr 2024
MERL Officer
African Management Institute · Nairobi, Kenya
- Translated programme requirements into indicators, surveys, digital data-collection tools and monitoring processes.
- Supported programme teams with data quality, analysis and reporting, helping turn monitoring data into usable information.
- Used monitoring findings to support programme discussions on implementation, participation and results.
Dec 2021 – Jan 2023
Data Analyst
African Management Institute · Nairobi, Kenya
- Analysed programme and participant data to understand participation, engagement and outcomes.
- Built reporting tools and dashboards in Excel, Google Sheets, Power BI and Metabase to support programme monitoring and reporting.
- Produced analysis and reporting that supported programme teams to track performance and understand emerging patterns.
Dec 2020 – Feb 2021
Data Coordinator Consultant
UNDP
- Managed programme data and ran descriptive analysis in Excel and SPSS
- Supported monitoring dashboards and reporting
Mar 2018 – Oct 2020
Research Assistant, Volunteer
Kenya Forest Service
- Collected and quality-checked field data with communities for natural resource and climate adaptation work
Education & trainingBSc Environmental Planning & Management, Kenyatta University, 2022 · Data Science & AI Fellowship, Women Techsters / Tech4Dev
Areas of practice
MEL & evaluation
Theory of change · results frameworks · indicators · MEL plans · baseline and endline studies
Research & analysis
Quantitative and qualitative analysis · SPSS · Excel · Python
Data collection & systems
KoboToolbox · ODK · SurveyMonkey · Power BI · Metabase · Apps Script
Learning & responsible data
Learning agendas · data quality · data protection · evidence use
Responsible use of AI
I’m exploring AI for tasks like data cleaning, qualitative coding and first-draft reporting, while keeping judgement, data quality and data protection under human oversight.