MERL Tech Round Up | November 1, 2017
It’s time for our second MERL Tech Round Up, a monthly compilation of MERL Tech News!
On the MERL Tech Blog:
We’ve been posting session summaries from MERL Tech DC. Here are some posts you may have missed in October:
- Big data, big problems, big solutions
- Data quality in the age of lean data
- MERL Tech and the World of ICT Social Entrepreneurs (WISE)
- Tools, tips and templates for making Responsible Data a reality
- The Good, the bad and the ugly of using IATI results data
- Five lessons learned from applying design thinking to data use
- MERL Tech Maturity Models
- 12 ways to ensure your data management implementation doesn’t become a dumpster fire
- How to buy M&E software and not get bamboozled
- Data Security and Privacy – MERL Tech presentation spurs action
Stuff we’re reading/watching/bookmarking:
There’s quite a bit to learn both in our “MERL / Tech” sector and in related sectors whose experiences are relatable to MERL Tech. Some thought-provoking pieces here:
- New Philanthropy Capital: Towards an evidence based social sector
- Oxfam’s Duncan Green: How to ensure your research influences policy
- FinExtra: On replacing onerous Terms and Conditions with chatbots
- Nature: Is public data exempt from formal ethics review?
- Gov Lab: The potential of social media intelligence to improve people’s lives
- Making All Voices Count/IDS: Research at the intersection of technology, citizen engagement and transparency, accountability and governance
- MERL Tech participants/organizers: Responsible data resources and guidance
Events:
- Top on our list: MERL Tech London is confirmed for March 19-20, 2018! We’re taking session ideas until November 10th. Submit a session idea, register to attend, or reserve a demo table.
- We’ll be at the Feedback Labs Summit this week talking about what makes institutions responsive and adaptive.
- We’ll also be joining sessions at the American Evaluation Association Conference Nov 6-10 to share learning about gender and technology; talk about digitized consent processes; and discuss responsible digital data policy and practice.
Jobs
Head over to ICT4DJobs for a ton of tech related jobs. Here are some interesting ones for folks in the MERL Tech space:
- SocialCops is a team of engineers, data scientists, and entrepreneurs, and they are looking to hire a variety of positions!
- UNU Computing and Society is filling a few Research Assistant and Senior Research Assistant positions, located in Macau, SAR, China.
- PATH is also looking for a Regional Learning and Action Network (LAN) Manager for Anglophone Countries to be based in PATH’s Kampala, Uganda office.
- CHAI’s Global Malaria team is seeking a highly motivated individual to manage the development of a full-scale malaria information system and set of tools that will accelerate malaria elimination across countries. Apply now!
- Oxfam is hiring a Development Data Analyst to be based in Boston, Massachusetts.
- VisionFund International is looking for Data Analyst. Apply soon! Application deadline is October 31st.
- Cooper/Smith is looking for a Senior Technical Consultant who can work with our Technical Director and Lead Data Strategist to conduct a 360 assessment of mobile health applications in Malawi.
- DAI is scoping out the perfect MEL Data Specialistfor their Managing for Development Results (MfDR) team. Apply now!
- You could be the next Data Scientist for Medic Mobile. Location is flexible.
If you’re not already signed up to the Pelican Initiative: Platform for Evidence-based Learning & Communication for Social Change, we recommend doing that. You will find all kinds of MERL and MERLTech related jobs and MERL-related advice. (Note: the Platform is an extremely active forum, so you may want to adjust your settings to receive weekly compilations).
Tag us on Twitter using #MERLTech if you have resources, events, or other news you’d like us to include here!
Don’t forget to submit your session ideas for MERL Tech London by November 10th!