Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA)

MMWCA is a Regional Association of the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA), one of 12 regional associations across Kenya that collectively play a key role in the growth and development of conservancies nationally. MMWCA has three primary objectives: -

• To provide a convening space for open discussions; a hub for knowledge sharing and coordination across conservancies; a voice for advocacy; and driving policy in the interest of conservancies and conservation related issues across the Mara.
• Support the creation and development of conservancies and their neighboring areas across the greater Mara ecosystem, as a sustainable form of land-use and to provide mechanisms for equitable and value-based benefit sharing to sustain land under conservation.
• Lead and/or implement development and conservation programmes across member conservancies to facilitate coordination, collaboration and synergetic action.

The role:

Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the M&E Officer will be responsible for:

• Programme Monitoring & Evaluation Expert
  • Manage the monitoring & evaluation budget to provide adequate financial resources for evaluations and assessments.
  • Provide input into the design, implementation and dissemination of evaluations and assessments.
  • Coordinate the creation of a MMWCA Performance Monitoring Plan including assessing the validity of the information and indicators that contribute to the plan.
  • Develop and maintain activity level monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (ME&LP) to ensure measurement of achievements and support MMWCA to utilise the ME&LP as a tool for planning and managing the process of monitoring, evaluating and analysing progress.
  • Collaborate with staff and take the lead in developing schedules and practices to implement the programme monitoring plan and activity level monitoring and learning plan
  • Ensure the provision of consistent, on-the-ground performance monitoring and reporting to MMWCA to enable more effective management of projects as well as reviews of specific activities, programs and the portfolio as a whole.
  • Guide and advise staff on utilization of activity work plans and M&E plans
  • Advise MMWCA on determining data use and reporting in order to better manage the program and report on successes, as well as understand and correct limitations.
  • Ensure implementation of monitoring and evaluation best practices for the programme.
  • Work as a point of contact for Monitoring and Evaluation in MMWCA
  • Assist MMWCA and its member conservancies in building local M&E capacities
  • Ensure MMWCA is aware of donor compliance issues related to monitoring and evaluation activities and results
  • Assist in the Data Quality Assessment (DQA) processes and analyze it to confirm that it meets the quality standards of our donors in regards to validity, integrity precision, reliability, and timeliness.
• Learning & Coordination Function
  • Craft and implement the Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation Strategy (CLA) for the Programme, to ensure effective and efficient systems and processes.
  • Establish working relationships with counterparts in the programme area
  • Establish coordination systems and processes, across the programme area, for related subject areas and relevant partner organizations
  • Liaise and coordinate with key partners to build and strengthen relationships with relevant partner institutions, to encourage optimal coordination, harmonization, and alignment to programme M&E.
  • Establish offline and online Community of Practice(s) for knowledge exchange across the conservancies and organizations working on related issues to MMWCA's Programme.
  • Collect and disseminate best practices and lessons learned at different project sites.
  • Performance Management
  • Manage the development and implementation of capacity building programs, workshops, and other participatory activities that will serve to broaden knowledge and practice of effective performance management and evaluation.
  • Participate in relevant working groups and teams to provide technical expertise on performance and knowledge management and other related tools, systems, and issues, and lead such teams as required.
• Technical Input
  • Assist in drafting and/or editing scopes of work (SOW) as required, to obtain relevant research products and/or achieve USAID Forward Quality Evaluation standards, including assisting in the identification, planning and procurement to obtain required assistance.
  • Assist in identifying relevant research, data and information, as required to ensure evidence-based programme development and implementation.

The person:

Based at MMWCA’s HQ in Aitong, the M&E Officer will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in fields related to Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Project Management. A Master’s degree preferred
• At least five years relevant experience in practical development and implementation of natural resource management and related result-based management oriented monitoring system
• Data-oriented personality with a keen eye for detail, data analysis and presentation
• Demonstrated ability to work with local communities and diverse teams.
• Demonstrated experience in analyzing, interpreting, and reporting on M&E results so that lessons can be learned and incorporated
• Supportive attitude towards building local capacities for M&E
• Knowledge of methods and standards of M&E systems and initiatives
• Experience with multi-lateral donor-funded projects
• Experience with field research and monitoring
• Excellent people management and communication skills with the ability to network and to develop and maintain strong relationships with field staff, conservancy members and our partners
• Excellent and confident public speaking and presentation skills