Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting & Learning (MERL) Officer – Jobs in Kenya

Act Change Transform (Act!) is a local Non-Governmental Organization whose mission is to facilitate the empowerment of marginalized people and communities in Kenya and neighboring countries, to become active participants in their development by enabling them to: stand up for their rights; demand good governance in the management of resources; and participate in decision-making processes. Act! does this through direct and partnership with other implementing partners, offering them capacity development, management of grants so that value for money is achieved and providing strategic leadership in national advocacy for the benefit of women, youth, people with disabilities and other marginalized communities.

1.0 Job Summary

Act! is leading a consortium of local and international partners to implement the new Kenya Devolution Programme (Timiza Ahadi) with 4 year funding from the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (established through recent merger of DFID and FCO). We are seeking to recruit a suitable experienced and talent MERL officer to join the programme implementation team. Working closely with the MERL Technical Lead, the key responsibilities revolve around: (1). managing data and information throughout the project cycle; (2). ensuring that project design takes into account relevant indicators, data collection, analysis and utilization; (3). supporting Implementing partners to track results at along the results chain (output, outcome and impact level); and (4). ensuring data quality, timely review and compilation of partners’ reports in a format that is analyses and documents programme performance data as an ongoing organizational best practice.

2.0 Key Responsibilities:

Programme Level MER&L Support

• Contribute to the design and continuous review of the program Log frame and Results Framework.
• Oversee the design, management and maintenance of the programme database(s) to monitor and pro-actively track all performance indicators established in the KDP results framework.
• Support the MERL Technical Lead in managing and conducting data collection process for all set programme indicators.
• In liaison with MER&L function team at Act! design and deliver MER&L trainings to all downstream partners on the programme.
• Support the MERL Lead to periodically review and disseminate basic MER&L training materials for programme use, among staff and partners.
• Support KDP Technical Leads with the preparation of the monthly, quarterly and annual program reports for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Participate in planning and execution of external programme review and evaluation exercises.
• Participate in setting program performance targets in line with overall strategic goals of the program.
• Take the lead role in tracking implementing partners and grantees progress in achieving outcomes and impacts.
• Participate in the quarterly and other scheduled programme performance review meetings.
• Share information and lessons learnt with other programme staff.

Act! MERL Team Support

• Review and consolidate detailed monthly and quarterly work plans and track implementation of the same, on a monthly basis.
• Support the overall MERL Manager to coordinate program teams to ensure compliance with all reporting & MER&L requirements of Act!.
• Support the review of the monthly cumulative indicator performance tracking data (from Indicator Performance Tracking Tool – IPTT and all quarterly reports submitted by the program partners for compliance and data adequacy.
• File final cumulative data to track achievements against targets (from IPTT) for all partners under KDP.
• Develop a programme summary and analysis of overall MER&L data for each quarter.
• Support the MERL Technical Lead for KDP to prepare a summary of the partners’ needs and issues for follow up derived from quarterly reports and track responses.
• Contribute to Act! Partners support that documents “success stories” and other anecdotal information to enhance the overall quality of performance reports to the donors.
• Provide support in designing, planning and delivery of all Program technical trainings.

Support to Consortium/Implementing Partners

Overall, support the MERL Technical lead in providing MERL accompaniment, mentoring and training to implementing partner’s MER&L counterparts as appropriate and on demand. Specific support would include the following:-

• The development of Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting and Learning (MER&L) processes, tools and plans for partners and grant recipients – including online planning and reporting system.
• The implementation of partners MER&L plans through the life of the programme.
• Ensuring full compliance with Act! and (donor) data management and quality standards.
• Support partners in preparations and effective participation in the design and implementation of mid-term and end term evaluations/reviews, in particular the TORs, SOWs, identification of suitable experts’ selection and quality control of process and to the final reports.

3.0 Qualification, Experience and Skills:

Academic Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in appropriate or any other related discipline in e.g. social sciences, anthropology, developmental studies. A Postgraduate degree will be an added advantage.

Professional Qualifications

A diploma or equivalent in Project Management or relevant qualification in Monitoring and Evaluation**.**

Indicative level of Experience

Minimum 5 years’ experience in a busy MERL function and role. Those with experience within a democracy & governance programme environment may have an added advantage.

Essential Skills and Competencies

Thorough knowledge of socio-economics, socio-anthropology and/or proven ability in participatory methods and processes:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment requiring multi-tasking.
• Knowledge of policy influences and institutional practices.
• Knowledge of statistical software applications.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Good people skills, writing and reporting skills.
• Willingness to travel frequently.

Complexity and difficulty of the work

This is a highly demanding role requiring high levels of personal organization, knowledge of local context, extensive and practical field level experience as well as political economy dynamics.