Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL), Coordinator Coast Region

ROLE PURPOSE:

The MERL Coordinator is responsible for overall implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation activities for the AKF programme in the Coast Region of Kenya. The role ensures quality, timeliness, and efficient implementation of routine monitoring activities, project evaluations, surveys, and reporting. Overall, the role contributes to programme design, evaluation, and learning agenda.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Oversee and coordinate the monitoring, evaluation and learning agenda for the Coast Region programme which includes Civil Society, Education, Early Childhood Development, Work and Enterprise projects. The MERL Coordinator will have the overall responsibility for tracking of progress in projects and area programme implementation and results (outputs and outcomes) and facilitating use of M&E outputs for review of projects strategies, enhanced accountability, and learning, in alignment with the AKF MERL standards.

Reports to: Programs Manager Coast Region with a dotted reporting line to the Senior Regional Awards Manager.

Staff directly reporting to this role: MERL Assistant

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

M&E planning and coordination

• Coordinate and deliver the MERL agenda of the Coast Region programme.
• Lead development and implementation of M&E frameworks, indicators, protocols, and tools for all projects in Coast Region Kenya for efficient and effective tracking of programme’s progress.
• Leads on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools and processes, including but not limited to: develop and operationalize a comprehensive M&E plan, establish indicator tracking system, design measurement tools and reporting processes, and execute data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Coordinate projects related evaluations, surveys, and studies.
• Designing consultancy TORS for project evaluation, surveys, and studies
• Supervise consultants conducting evaluations, surveys, and studies in all programme areas.

1. Programme reporting

• Coordinate production of high-quality M&E reports for donors and AKF management
• Ensure reporting deadlines are met and communication of relevant notifications to program leads for timely reporting.
• Track reporting writing and provide targeted support to staff to meet set submission deadlines.
• Coordinate core sector indicator reporting and validation in liaison with the Regional MERL Coordinator
• Timely updating on quarterly basis, the Awards Information Management Systems (AIMS)
• Reporting the annual Global Reach System (GRS) data for Kenya.

Quality control

• Coordinate quality assurance activities of the area programme including conducting regular programme quality assessments, partner assessments, routine field monitoring visits and supervision of all related projects data collection.
• Responsible for managing the data collection and coordination with the Country team (and consultants if necessary) ensuring a high quality of data collected and the use of evidence to inform adaptive management.
• Conduct routine quality control checks of M&E work, overseeing that planned monitoring and evaluation activities are taking place as planned.
• Promote individual accountability and commitment by clearly and regularly communicating expectations and providing constructive feedback.
• Enhance use of digital data management within the program, this includes use of Kobo, among other programs.

Knowledge Management

• Co-lead the reviews and reflections processes across the area programme in liaison with project managers and area programme manager.
• Promote sharing of lessons learned from programme monitoring and evaluation to improve future programme selection, design, and implementation.
• Create and instil an M&E culture that promotes the learning and self-critical skills of program staff in the pursuit of project excellence.
• Track planned evaluations, research, and ensure that these reports are obtained and shared to facilitate learning.
• Document lessons learnt and good practices and share them with the broader organisation in liaison with the AKF Coast Region Programs Manager.
• Manage and mentor the projects staff on MERL processes.
• Provide training, coaching, and mentoring to CSO partners, ensuring their proficiency in implementing M&E activities and producing necessary information and reports.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline, including Monitoring and Evaluation, international development, project management, social sciences, or economics.
• Minimum 6 years of relevant professional experience in designing and implementation of M&E of development programmes with international NGOs or donor agencies; at least 2 of these years in an M&E related management position.
• Respectful of diversity; sensitive toward others in their context, situation, and challenges; pluralistic, open, and understanding toward other people’s cultures, values, autonomy, and faiths; demonstrates compassion and empathy; is courteous to others with respect for their background, religion, ethnic, social, cultural, gender, and age
• Committed to acting ethically and upholding safeguarding standards towards all staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries of the organisation.
• Extensive knowledge of Results-Based Management (RBM), including how to develop logic models and SMART indicators.
• Demonstrated ability in design and implementation of surveys and qualitative studies.
• Proficiency in use of statistical packages (e.g., SPSS or STATA) is desirable.
• Proficiency in Mobile Data Collection systems (e.g., Kobo Collect, SurveyCTO, etc) is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality results-based and donor reports.
• Strong interpersonal and people’s management skills
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English