Mercy Corps is a leading global relief and development agency saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. In more than 40 countries, we partner with local people to put bold ideas into action, help them overcome adversity and build stronger communities. We help communities survive and move beyond emergencies. When natural disasters strike, economies collapse or conflict flares, Mercy Corps is there. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives to grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions.
Mercy Corps has been operational in Kenya since 2008, and our programs strive to achieve one or more of our countrywide objectives:
1) Increase the capabilities and assets of households to adapt and recover from shocks and stresses,
2) Reduce levels of in-country and cross-border conflicts that threaten to destabilize development gains,
3) Strengthen adolescent & youth leadership, livelihoods, & ability to influence government policy, and
4) Increase the effectiveness of public service at the county government level.
PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps Kenya currently has funding from the Global Alliance for Clean Cooking (GACC) through a 24-month program entitled Driving Demand and Adoption through Improved User Experience Design (DDAI-Uex), in the Rift, Central, and Western regions of Kenya. With the GACC’s support, Mercy Corps Kenya and a consortium of partners will use behavioural research and behaviour change communication interventions to increase sales and uptake (correct and consistent use) of clean cook stoves in Kenyan households in our target areas.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The DDAI-Uex Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager is a key position to ensure and promote quality assurance, accountability, documentation and learning. The position holder will support the Program Manager in planning and execution of monitoring, evaluation and learning activities, ensure quality in accordance with accepted standards, provide essential feedback for learning, accountability and decision making. S/he will be responsible for providing internal capacity building for program staff and partners on monitoring and evaluation activities as well as review and development of necessary tools that feed into needs of Mercy Corps and donor reporting requirements. The MEL Manager will lead and design monitoring activities, conduct assessments as needed and support evaluation efforts to determine program benefits and determine the extent of uptake of cookstoves. S/he must promote the use of participatory methods for assessment and monitoring surveys and establish strong partnerships with implementing partners.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Work with the Program Manager, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and other program partners to develop program learning objectives and a sound monitoring, evaluation and learning plan.
- Document processes and achievements to ensure best practices are captured and disseminated. Ensure all reporting requirements are met on time and are of the highest standards.
- Work with ICRW to develop monitoring and evaluation systems and tools to monitor program implementation and measure impact.
- Coordinate assessments, evaluations and monitoring surveys in area of operation. This will entail development of scopes of work, development of survey tools, trainings and management of data collectors, report writing and facilitating results discussion.
- Provide technical and other support roles to the DDAI-Uex Program Manager and the team.
- Coordinate all MEL activities and work within the program team and partners to ensure monitoring and evaluation tasks are completed on time and using the proper processes.
- Responsible for monitoring and evaluating initiatives under DDAI-Uex, and provide accountability and ensure efficiency and success from start to finish.
- Response for modifying and monitoring key performance indicators to report results and in full cooperation with partners and in compliance with donor requirements.
- Lead all M&E initiatives for DDAI-Uex including monitoring data quality, tracking the progress of activities and summarizing lessons learned and findings and sharing with the Program Manager and partners.
- Lead M&E system and process development, creating a framework and procedures for the monitoring and evaluation of DDAI-Uex.
- Keep abreast of developments in DDAI-Uex and changes and progress in order to advise and recommend tools and strategies to increase program performances and results.
- Build the capacity of all relevant team members to develop and maintain an excellent M&E system, and facilitate periodic reflection and analysis of program monitoring information that feeds into programming and learning.
- Perform field visits to ensure the quality of data collected by program and to verify the accuracy of reported data.
- Maintain professional relationships with the Mercy Corps team, DDAI-Uex partners, local government officials, private sector partners, NGOs, and others.
- Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to credit Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
- Perform any other duties as assigned by his/her supervisor or representatives
ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING
As part of our commitment to organizational learning, and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps and themselves.
Accountability: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: DDAI-Uex Program Manager (Nairobi-based)
TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM: Mercy Corps’ Global Energy Advisor
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: DDAI_Uex team, DDAI UEx partners, HR, Operations, Finance, YES team (10-15% of their time is allocated to DDAI_UEx), and other MC program teams.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Agriculture, Demography, Statistics, Business Administration or relevant field (Essential). A master’s degree will be an added advantage
- At least 4 years of program management, monitoring and evaluation experience.
- Should understand concepts and demonstrate skills in monitoring and evaluation, project cycle, results chain and frameworks, participatory monitoring. Past experience measuring behavior change/adoption of new practices is preferred.
- Capacity to produce high-quality briefs and reports
- Proven ability to make data usable for decision making by project managers.
- Demonstrated ability to train and build capacity of team members and partners.
- Should be able to design and implement surveys, have knowledge of commonly used probability and purposive sampling techniques
- Should have knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data collection, reporting techniques.
- In addition to Microsoft Excel, the incumbent should demonstrate fluency in use of at least one data management software including Ms Access, SPSS, and STATA.
- Must be fluent both spoken and written English and Swahili.
SUCCESS FACTORS
- Contextual knowledge of Kenya
- Proven monitoring and evaluation skills
- Team player with experience working with and through partners
- Effective communication techniques
- Excellent organizational and strong interpersonal skills
- Even temperament and good sense of humor
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to ke-hrkenya@mercycorps.org
The email subject line must clearly show the job title and location they are applying for. Applications without the right subject heading will be automatically disqualified. Please do not attach any certificates.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We will only get in touch with shortlisted candidates.
NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
