Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Officer at Tetra Tech

Job Overview:

• The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Officer ensures the effective implementation of the MERL framework, within the REINVENT Programme. This position plays a central role in the planning, designing, implementation, and overall improvement of the programme's activities by ensuring that data-driven decision-making, research, and learning are at the core of our approach. The MERL Officer will be responsible for a wide range of tasks, and not limited to monitoring and evaluation, research, learning, data management, data use and collaboration.
• Reducing Insecurity and Violent Extremism in the Northern and Coastal regions of Kenya (REINVENT) is a five-year (2018-2023) programme funded by UK Government through its Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). The programme aims to improve security and stability in 18 counties across four regions of Kenya to enable investment, inclusive growth, and equitable service delivery. The programme is designed to enhance Kenyan capacity and capability to address, prevent and respond better to criminal violence and weak community-police relations, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), inter-communal conflict and election-related violence, and radicalisation and violent extremism.
• REINVENT is managed by Tetra Tech International Development and delivered in partnership with the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI). It builds on the achievements of the predecessor programme, Jamii Thabiti (2014-19), also known as the Kenya Improving Community Security Programme (ICS) and scales up support across more counties. New areas of work include conflict-sensitive development, election security, and preventing/countering violent extremism.
• The Impact of the REINVENT programme is “Improved community safety and security as measured by the effect on inclusive and equitable development, investment and service delivery in Kenya.” The Outcome is “Improved state and non-state actors' collaboration in a mutually accountable and inclusive manner to respond effectively to root causes of violence”.

The outputs are:

• Accountable and effective police (and other security agencies) addressing community security, violent extremism, and election security.
• Strengthened agency of women and girls in peace, safety, and security.
• Intra and inter-institutional commitment to address the root causes and drivers of conflict.
• Knowledge and evidence generated and utilised to enhance community and institutional learning and adaptation.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Support the implementation of the programme MERL framework, ensuring it meets the client’s expectations and delivers quality evidence.
• Support the design and application of data collection tools and methodologies to evidence programme performance and impact.
• Regularly collect, manage, and analyse data to track progress towards programme outcomes.
• Produce comprehensive MERL reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Recommend programme adjustments based on monitoring, research, and evaluation findings.
• Support the MERL Lead in tracking programme performance, success stories and adaptations for effective reporting to the programme leadership.
• Support the programme in undertaking various studies e such as evaluations, reviews, and reports.

Research:

• Support the development of evidence-based strategies and interventions for implementation by technical teams.
• Analyse and synthesise relevant research findings and provide actionable insights.
• Collaborate with the technical team in conducting continuous programme context analysis and review of research reports.
• Engage in various research studies under the REINVENT programme and ensure that the knowledge generated is utilised to inform programme focus and adaptation including informing wider sector learning.
• Support in reviewing periodic Violence Monitoring Report (VMR) and in organising roundtables on thematic areas.

Learning and Capacity Building:

• Facilitate knowledge-sharing sessions and learning events within the programme.
• Collaborate with programme teams to identify learning needs and opportunities for improvement.
• Support the development of training materials and tools for capacity building of programme and partner staff.
• Assist the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead in reviewing programme reports and documenting and consolidating programme lessons, stories of change, and good practices.
• Track recommendations from various programme assessments, annual reviews, and research studies and ensure they feed back into improved programme quality.

Data Management and Analysis:

• Develop and maintain accurate information in a project database, as well as accurate and timely electronic files.
• Perform statistical analysis and data visualisation on Power BI and/any other recommended software to ensure data-based decision-making.
• Ensure data confidentiality and compliance with data protection regulations.
• Periodically analyse and share this data with the technical team and document feedback for evidence-based programming.
• Conduct Routine Data Quality Assessments (RDQA) procedures and implement corrective actions to improve data quality and accountability of staff and partners, as required.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Prepare regular progress MERL-related briefs for programme management and client utilisation.
• Maintain a repository of programme-related documentation, research, and success stories/ best practices.
• Work closely with the REINVENT Technical team to produce and gather data/evidence for the programme quarterly and annual reports (including KPI reports and the annual review/self-assessment report).
• Collate quarterly reports and prepare annual programme reports for the client.

Partnership and Collaboration:

• Collaborate with external partners and stakeholders on research and evaluation initiatives.
• Build relationships with relevant organisations for knowledge sharing and resource mobilisation.
• Ensure appropriate training and supportive supervision of all partners in monitoring and evaluation procedures, data collection tools, data management practices and data quality procedures in alignment with the MERL Plan.
• Collaborate with partners to establish their internal MERL systems, MERL plans, and data quality management procedures.
• Support the review of partners’ concept notes while verifying the achievement of results and ensuring that partners are following the standard MERL processes and tools.

General Requirements:

• Engage in the activities of the Programme Management Team and contribute to the progression of the programme, to ensure delivery of project outputs and outcomes in line with RE-INVENT’s log-frame. This will involve routine whole-of-project meetings (each week) to undertake a detailed review of progress against the log-frame, adjusting work plans and resourcing on an ongoing basis for the programme to remain on track.
• Adhere to all security advice from Tetra Tech’s Risk Management Team.
• Adhere to Tetra Tech Policies and Procedures as outlined in the Operations Manual.
• Adhere to Tetra Tech’s behaviours: Integrity, delivery of quality results, effective collaboration, creativity, and innovation.
• Undertake other activities as requested by the Programme Manager, Programme Management Team, or the client (FCDO) for the successful accomplishment of the programme’s immediate and long-term objectives.
• Some travel and out-of-hours work may be required.
• Any other duties as may be required for the exigency of the programme.

Aptitude and skills:

• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to deal with competing demands, multiple priorities, time constraints and unanticipated events.
• Proven experience in monitoring and evaluation, research, and learning in the context of safety and security programming.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Enthusiasm about fostering a culture of learning and evidence-based adaptive programming.
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
• Technical expertise in evidence-based monitoring and evaluation approaches and practices both for accountability and learning processes.
• Demonstrable good track record in data tracking and quality assessment, with the ability to support staff and partners on MERL methodology and analyse and disseminate complex information to a range of stakeholder audiences.
• Well-developed research, analytical (qualitative and quantitative), documentation, report-writing, and strategic planning skills, with competency in participatory research methods.
• Practical knowledge of current thematic issues and debates in the Kenyan context related to justice and security, as well as an understanding of major institutional donors such as FCDO.
• Proficiency in data management and visualisation software programs (e.g., Power Bi, R, Tableau, Kobo Collect, ODK, NVivo, ATLAS.ti, and STATA, Epi Info, SPSS etc.).
• Experience in solving complex issues through analysis, defining a clear way forward, and ensuring buy-in.
• Knowledge of gender mainstreaming, peacebuilding, and conflict analysis is highly desirable.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Social Science, Development Studies, Security Studies, Community Development) or any other closely related field.
• A proven track record that can demonstrate reoccurring practical experience in MERL for large programmes/international organisations.