Monitoring and Evaluation Lead at Food for the Hungry (FH Kenya)

Food for the Hungry is seeking applicants for the Monitoring and Evaluation Lead of an anticipated USAID Title II Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) program in Kenya. The program will use an integrated, multi-sectoral approach to sustainably reduce acute malnutrition levels among vulnerable groups in northern Kenya. Program implementation will utilize a phased approach with the first 18 to 24 months focused on a research and collaborative design phase, followed by a second phase of systems-driven implementation and institutional strengthening.

Expat Post Status: Accompanied
Reports To: Chief of Party

Values, Vision, and Purpose

At Food for the Hungry, we operate under a set of guiding principles we call “The Heartbeat.” This includes our Values, Vision, and Purpose, which serve as the explanation of who we are and how we work as an organization. Together we follow God’s call responding to human suffering and graduating communities from extreme poverty.

Position Purpose

The Monitoring and Evaluation Lead (M&E Lead) is responsible for guiding the overall M&E strategy and implementation related activities within the USAID Title II Food for Peace funded Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) project and providing timely and relevant information to all project stakeholders. Critical tasks for the M&E Lead are to manage and further enhance the M&E system, ensuring it is implemented effectively including data collection activities, survey work, analysis and M&E reporting. To accomplish these responsibilities the M&E Lead works closely with all parties involved in M&E design and implementation including: project managers and field staff, representatives from partners and key stakeholder groups, external consultants and donors.

Responsibilities

Please note: this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Key Result #1 – Ensure effective roll out and management of monitoring and evaluation systems.

• Manage and oversee the collection and organizing of information in accordance with program’s M&E Systems and M&E Framework;
• Track performance on established input, activity, output, effect and impact indicators to measure achievement and track progress towards intermediate results and overall program strategic objectives;
• Work closely with program managers and technical coordinators to process, analyze and use this information to improve management, make necessary adjustments, and assess certain trends;
• Design, plan, coordinate and report on the major periodic events associated with individual programs, namely: baseline survey, mid-term evaluation and final evaluation;
• Through aggregation of information and analysis at a national level, provide annual progress reports on national level strategic objectives;
• Ensure that monitoring, data collection and reporting take root in the process of program implementation;
• Set-up or adapt FH Kenya M&E policy, its yearly implementation plan and update (including monitoring and evaluation plans, targets);
• Ensure that all project beneficiaries are registered into the system, that there is no duplication, and 100% cross validation or all beneficiaries registered.

Key Result #2 – Ensure the highest quality of the M&E data for reporting and learning.

• Conduct data quality training for project staff;
• Ensure that information systems are in place to collect data on all indicators required by the donor and necessary for project decision making;
• Monitor data quality through the processes of collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data is audit worthy and where problems exist, support the identification of solutions to challenges faced;
• Conduct spot checks at the individual site and community level to evaluate adherence to programming standards and visually verify information reported through the normal reporting systems;
• Compile and present program information for internal monthly, quarterly and annual reports as well as donor required annual reports such as FFP’s Standard Annual
• Performance Questions (SAPQ) or the Standardized Indicators Performance Tracking Table.

Key Result #3 – Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in monitoring and evaluation.

• Train field staff in using the M&E system and provide support for any capacity issues related with the system;
• Provide training and capacity building for consortium staff in effective monitoring and evaluation tools and procedures;
• Manage the correct and effective use of routine monitoring tools to regularly assess changes in adoption of improved practices, pre/post tests, Quality Improvement and
• Verification Checklists, and Barrier Analysis to identify determinants of behaviors so that more effective behavior change can be encouraged;
• Ensure transfer of monitoring and evaluation skills to a local community level through participative training and development of community based systems.
• Search, collect and share new approaches and tools regarding designing, monitoring and evaluation for the consortium;
• Provide insight to the project management for appropriate action based on data from project performance;
• Work in coordination with Research Lead to provide evidences to refine ToC.

Key Result #4 – Improve and further develop M&E tools and systems to monitor impact.

• Further develop the M&E System and processes to function more efficiently in providing relevant, timely program assessment information to key stakeholders within the organization as well as external partners and community level groups;
• Develop a national M&E System to harmonize and where possible, standardize the indicators and processes which are used in different sites, with different programs and donors;
• Assist in developing a community based early warning system through h monitoring of defined trigger indicators and a community level and triangulating this information with other early warning stakeholders;
• Take a lead role in integrating M&E into new program design and implementation planning;
• Facilitate the work of any external program evaluators and take a lead role in ensuring follow-up of their recommendations;
• Support operations team in the perspective of program growth and designing.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty/function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ and Christian commitment to serving the poor and in full agreement with FH’s Christian foundation and beliefs as expressed in The Heartbeat: our Values, Vision, and Purpose;
• Excellent people skills including warmth and sensitivity, interpersonal communication skills, conversational, able to relate to and effectively communicate with people from different cultures (at various levels within the organization), strong team player and adept at creating a strong team spirit;
• Excellent / strong organizational skills; ability to plan and coordinate work, focus on details, ensure the efficient flow of projects and processes;
• Proficient in written and verbal communication skills;
• High integrity and a strong sense of professional ethics;
• Able to self-manage a diverse and dynamic set of responsibilities, proactively solve problems and / or suggest viable solutions while advancing goals and objectives, and meet strict deadlines;
• Demonstrated computer operating skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office products, Google platform, and virtual technologies such as Skype and / or GoToMeeting;
• Comfortable and persuasive when speaking before both large and small groups;
• Ability to interact positively with all levels of the organization and across organizational and cultural boundaries;
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and statistical analysis software (SPSS, EPI-Info, or similar);
• Proven ability to work creatively and independently both in the field and in the office;
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions;
• Strong experience with the logical framework approach to M&E and with quantitative, qualitative, and participatory M&E approaches;
• Experience in monitoring and evaluating Title II development programs, including developing and operationalizing comprehensive M&E systems;
• Proven ability in designing qualitative studies, in-depth knowledge about qualitative sampling, and experience in using interview and interactive tools to generate qualitative information and analysis;
• Demonstrated expertise in designing annual monitoring surveys including probabilistic sampling strategy and estimating sample size, developing appropriate weights, and analyzing quantitative data;
• Medical fitness to live and travel in rural and urban areas with extreme conditions and limited medical support;
• Working experience in remote and fairly insecure environment;
• Ability to travel up to 50% of time per year to remote project sites in northern Kenya, and work in difficult conditions and under pressure.

Education and Experience:

Master’s degree in a quantitative field (economics, agricultural / development economics, statistics, biostatistics; nutrition, applied sociology, anthropology, or other relevant subject) with significant training in quantitative methods plus ten years of relevant experience; or a PhD in any of the stated field of study above, with at least seven years relevant work experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Supervisor Responsibilities: This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities. Will support and monitor field M&E staff to ensure the M&E system is maintained.

Language: Proficiency in spoken and written English. Proficiency in Swahili preferred. Ability to read and interpret field program reports, analyze and interpret reports and statistical information, technical procedures, and government regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.