Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at Mennonite Economic Development Associates

Project Profile:

The Equitable Prosperity - Maendeleo Sawa (M-SAWA) project is a seven year, $28.7 million initiative funded/implemented by MEDA (supporters, partners and investors) with funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) which will run from 2015 to 2022. The project aims to contribute to Kenya’s economic growth and increase job creation by improving the business performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and small entrepreneurs (SEs) in select counties along the Northern and LAPSSET Corridors in the following sectors: • Agriculture/agribusiness • Construction and allied industries • Extractives

Job Summary:

Under the Supervision of the Project Manager, the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist has the overall responsibility for coordination of all monitoring and evaluation activities for the M-SAWA project. The M&E Specialist will be responsible for establishing and implementing an effective system to monitor progress, impacts and successes of project activities and performance at all levels. The M&E Specialist will also monitor all grant activities and ensure that the project complies with Global Affairs Canada (GAC’s) performance reporting requirements.

Location and Duration of Position: 1-year renewable contract. This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Eligible candidates: Kenyan Nationals

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design, organize and supervise implementation of baseline, rolling and periodic surveys, and quantitative and qualitative data collection tools.
• Liaise with MEDA’s HQ based M&E staff, the Field Project Officers, the Senior Project Management Team, and lead firm business partners and their respective senior management teams to:-Develop a set of performance indicators and monitoring plans that reflect the project strategy. -Ensure the availability of necessary data for project activity areas.
• Work with the Project team and to integrate M&E into ongoing project planning and implementation systems and ensure adherence to GAC’s M&E standards
• Take lead in the development of appropriate monitoring, tracking and reporting systems, tools and templates that enhance monitoring of project outputs and quality, generate quality evidence on project impact and promote and ensure use of data for decision-making processes
• Support the project in writing beneficiary stories from the field
• Collect results generated from the implementation of the Results Management Strategy, consolidate data and perform appropriate analysis, including statistical and financial analyses, to allow the comparison of performance between lead firm businesses, between entrepreneurs, and across project outcomes and activities.
• Generate data reports (tables/graphs/reports) from the database at regular intervals, ensuring reports/information are available for program implementation staff as required. Facilitate data analysis with program implementation team as requested;
• Conduct regular field visits to ensure all elements of the data system is being utilized effectively, assessing and identifying breakdowns and areas that require clarifications and improvements; Analyse project results and inform senior project management of any gaps or shortcomings in the attainment of project goals.
• Work with lead firm businesses and project partners in evaluating gathered data and analyzing lessons learned and best practices for subsequent activities.
• Work closely with the project teams to develop and deliver staff/partner trainings, improving capacities in monitoring and evaluation and database management: data collection, entry, verification and analysis; and other identified needs
• Contribute to understanding of and support for mobile data collection hardware and software.
• Prepare and complete periodic appraisal reports including midterm and final evaluation to fulfill project requirements.
• Perform any other duties to advance the M&E objectives of the project as necessary.
• Manage the cross-cutting team (Gender, Environment and IT Officers) delineating their responsibilities by grant/project specific to support the programmatic activities of the project and ensure these are monitored and evaluated in a timely, efficient and effective manner.

Key Competencies required:

Knowledge and Experience:

• Masters degree in quantitative discipline (Preferably in Statistics, Economics, Social Science or any Development related field
• At least 6 Years experience in the Field of Monitoring and Evaluation; significant experience in private sector and international development will be an added advantage Knowledge of major quantitative & qualitative monitoring methodologies and proven ability to design monitoring instrumentation.
• Extensive experience with assessment, monitoring & evaluation; information systems including MS Suite (Word, Excel, etc.), database and other computerized cloud data storage, data statistical analysis and management programs, and mobile data collection platforms.
• High level of proficiency in Windows Excel and/ or Statistical Software (SPSS, STATA etc.)
• Experience working directly with target clients (e.g. with large businesses, small-medium enterprises and entrepreneurs; personally, conducting interviews with rural respondents); experience in project sectors (agriculture, extractives, construction) desirable
• Demonstrated project evaluation and report writing expertise in preparing final reports for major donors.
• Strong facilitation, interpersonal, motivational, and communication/writing skills.
• Written and spoken English and Swahili;
• Willingness to work under pressure and to work extra hours when required.
• Willingness to travel 50% of the time to the project areas for project monitoring.

Behavioral:

• Creates an effective work environment though exceptional interpersonal, communication, team building and relationship building skills.
• Proven experience in Team management, through delegation, clear assignment of responsibilities, provision of sufficient authority and budget, and performance assessment.
• Results and solution oriented approaches
• Appreciation and support of MEDA’s faith, values, mission and purpose