The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Officer is responsible for developing, implementing, and strengthening the monitoring and evaluation framework and procedures across all project activities, ensuring progress towards achieving project outputs. The role requires significant expertise in data management, reporting, quality assurance, and capacity building, with frequent travel to various field locations.
Essential Job Functions
Project Monitoring (50%)
- Develop, create a framework and procedures for MEAL and strengthen monitoring and evaluation of the framework and procedures for all project activities and progress towards achieving the project output.
- Develop and maintain Dashboards in Power BI to reflect on program progress.
- Monitoring and conducting review meetings on the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP), jointly with the programs at the bases supported by this position.
- Define and implement the key project performance indicators (KPI) as well as monitor them throughout the duration of the project cycle.
- Provide feedback to the Project Managers on project strategies and activities, including suggesting strategies for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the project by identifying bottlenecks in completing project activities and developing plans to minimize or eliminate bottlenecks.
- Assist in Monitoring and Evaluating program progress, costed work plans, and targets accordingly throughout project implementation.
- Contribute towards the operationalization of internal project feedback mechanisms and project related accountability mainstreamed in all projects, and ensure dissemination is done to key stakeholders on a quarterly basis.
Data Management (30%)
- Management of the data reporting cycle by generating internal data reporting calendar, overseeing the data collection process, data analysis, and data sharing/dissemination.
- Assist the project managers in collating quantitative and qualitative reports generated monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and annually on the progress of the project activities.
- Maintain project-specific databases and ensure all MEAL related data, reports, and records are clearly organized and archived in a central location for future reference.
- Ensure the quality of data (timeliness, integral, reliable, valid, and complete) shared/disseminated and that it is verifiable.
- Aggregation, collation, and analysis of incoming data coming from the field bases.
- Analyze data submitted on a monthly basis and develop key descriptive statistics from each group’s activity and their progress.
- Conduct spot-checks to confirm reported activities and reported datasets as a means of program implementation quality assurance, collaboratively with partners or local government officials where applicable.
- Ensure data management during the data cycle is within relevant timelines so that the information can be useful for programmatic and strategic decision-making for Program staff, support staff, partners, local government officials, and regional utilization.
- Design relevant surveys and routine surveillance activities. This includes and is not limited to Baselines, Endline, context monitoring, and post-distribution monitoring surveys, and dissemination of the findings to key stakeholders at the bases.
- Conduct data review meetings to reflect on the program progress performance at the base level on a quarterly level.
- Support and participate in the project inception and close-out meetings at the national and county level.
- Capacity building of the program staff on data management and report writing.
Survey and Surveillance Activities (15%)
- Provide technical support during surveys and assessments in collaboration with local authorities and relevant government protocols, ensuring adherence to Government of Kenya procedures/guidelines regarding designed methodology, reporting process, etc.
- Support in strengthening the capacity of staff, county departments, and other partners in surveys methodologies and processes, including sampling, data collection, analysis, and report writing skills.
Any Other Assignment (5%)
- Perform any other task assigned by the supervisor or any other person in authority which is within the office jurisdiction.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Coordinate delivery of MEAL objectives with Enumerators/Data entry clerks.
- Initiate training packages on basics of MEAL to be used by Enumerators/Data entry clerks routinely or on demand.
Fiscal Responsibility
- Track Counties base level MEAL activities monthly budget requests.
- Participate in the development of assessment budget plans.
- Track/analyze at Counties base level, all Project budget expenditure versus performance.
- Track performance against the Projects strategy targets.
Physical Demands
The role requires prolonged sitting, focused work, and producing accurate output under tight deadlines and a moderately noisy office environment with frequent interruptions. Strong proofreading skills are essential.
Working Conditions, Travel and Environment
- The role requires regular attendance (at least five days per week) and availability to work outside normal hours, including weekends, as needed.
- The employee must be able to travel domestically and internationally, including to country offices. Field assignments may constitute up to 70% of working time and may involve high-security risks, basic living conditions, exposure to weather extremes, and potential infectious diseases.
- Travel to various field in different counties will be required.
Gender Equality Commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse
- Foster an environment that reinforces values of women and men, and equal access to information.
- Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
- Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff.
- Help to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.
- Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
- Value and respect all cultures.
Required Qualifications and Professional Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Epidemiology, Public Health, International Development or another field of social sciences.
- Minimum 5 years work experience on similar position with similar setting and responsibility.
- Demonstrated experience in developing project monitoring and evaluation systems.
