Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer

Position Identification

Title: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer

Supervisor: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist

Location: CICan Kenya Office

Start Date: Immediately

Background

Young Africa Works-Kenya is a partnership between the Mastercard Foundation, the private sector, and the Government of Kenya to improve employment outcomes in the country. As a key strategic component of Young Africa Works, the Young Africa Works in Kenya: Youth Employability through TVET (Young Africa Works in Kenya-TVET) will strengthen the quality of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and systems in Kenya.

Young Africa Works in Kenya-TVET is a 5-year program (2020-2025) implemented by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, other relevant Government of Kenya agencies, and the private sector. Young Africa Works in Kenya-TVET will work through a partner-driven participatory approach focusing on developing 26 Centres of Excellence (COEs) as model institutions that will increase the participation of young Kenyans, particularly women, in market-relevant skills training programs to ultimately increase the number of youths in dignified and fulfilling work in the Big Four and digital sectors.

Job Summary

General Expectations

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer is expected to support MEL for Young Africa Works in Kenya-TVET, with a particular focus on the successful implementation of the new approved MEL plan/ framework.

The Officer will work under the direction of the MEL Specialist, in close collaboration with the Kenya-based Senior Technical Advisor (STA), to support the development, planning and implementation of program activities, and coordination of day-to-day work. The Officer is also expected to work closely with Canadian-based staff including the Manager of Operations, STA, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning MEL Specialist , Senior Program Officer, Program Officers, and Administrative staff.

The position is expected to involve some travel within Kenya.

Responsibilities

• Guide the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation framework for Young Africa Works in Kenya-TVET and relevant updates to the program’s Theory of Change as needed.
• Support the development and roll out of project data systems.
• Support the development of research and learning information systems.
• Support collaborative learning and adaptation through critical reflections and learning retrospectives to review program strategies.
• Support the review of contextual issues and assumptions as relates to the program’s theory of change.
• Support the use of appropriate quantitative and qualitative instruments and data analysis plans.
• Support relevant qualitative and quantitative data collection across the country.
• Carry out data entry and analysis using necessary software where applicable.
• Ensure consistency and quality of analysis.
• Help the team identify gaps in data collection approaches and data analysis.
• Generate reports from datasets including data visualization (charts, tables, etc.).
• Synthesize analyzed data into succinct summaries for including in resulting reports.
• Support MEL reporting for quarterly, mid-year and annual reports by reviewing partnership narrative reports to synthesize data.
• Ensure that information collected and analyzed complies with proposed methodologies and standards.
• Support the development and implementation of a system for validating information and reviewing data quality.
• Provide support to external evaluation processes.
• Support partnerships and partners with all aspects related to optimal functioning of monitoring and evaluation systems and procedures.
• Assist the MEL Specialist in training staff and partners in use of data gathering tools and strengthening the MEL capacity of implementing partners.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Reporting

The employee will work under the direction of the MEL Specialist, in close collaboration with the STA/CICan Representative of the CICan Kenya Office and Ottawa-based Manager of Operations.

Qualifications

• Full fluency in English and Swahili.
• Kenyan citizen or legally permitted to work in Kenya. Note: CICan will not provide a work permit or sponsor individuals.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in MEL, economics, public policy, political science, international development or a related field.
• At least 3 years of professional experience working on MEL on international development projects, ideally in the education or TVET sector.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information.
• Experience in mobile/ digital data technology (Kobo/ODK/ONA preferred) and surveys.
• Proficiency with MEL and statistical analysis software (strong proficiency in PowerBI will be an added advantage).
• Experience conducting research, entering and synthesizing primary and secondary data.
• Experience of developing performance indicators; conducting routine monitoring of data for donor-funded projects; and conducting participatory or impact evaluations.
• Demonstrated ability to write up statistical analysis, study findings and other types of results in clear, concise and error-free English.
• Experience working with an international team.
• Demonstrated competence in the planning, implementation, administration, and reporting of donor-funded projects, ideally with experience with Mastercard Foundation.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively on a team.
• Strong writing, computer, and data skills.