Monitoring and Evaluation Manager

Mercy Corps has recently been awarded a 3-year program under USAID’s Yes Youth Can initiative, covering six regions in Kenya; Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central, Nairobi and Coast.

The core of this program is a Youth Innovate for Change Fund (YICF), which will be a youth-owned, youth-led and youth-managed financial facility to support local solutions for community economic development as it grows in value.

This program aims to appropriately empower Kenyan youth (15-35yrs) to strengthen their socio-economic and political stakes through youth-led and managed initiatives and institutions.

The YICF will in the first three years provide sustainable financial and skills development assistance to approximately 200,000 youth through a variety of youth-identified social and economic community development projects.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has recently been awarded a 3-year program under USAID’s Yes Youth Can initiative, covering six regions in Kenya; Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central, Nairobi and Coast.

This program aims to appropriately empower Kenyan youth (18-35yrs) to strengthen their socio-economic and political stakes through youth-led and managed initiatives and institutions.

The program will in the first three years provide sustainable financial and skills development assistance to approximately 200,000 youth through a variety of youth-identified social and economic community development projects.

General Position Summary

Working under the direction of the Deputy Chief of Party, the M&E Manager ensures high quality program information is available and used to promote program accountability, learning, and improvement of Yes Youth Can National. This person will perform quality control and regular audit of the program progress and results.

The M&E Manager provides informed and independent professional advice to the program with a view to improving the delivery process and achieving high impact outcomes. For this position, Mercy Corps requires good enterprise acumen, statistical, investigative skills and writing skills.

The M&E Manager must maintain sober and professional communication with Mercy Corps partners and field staff in the program during execution of his/her functions. The Monitoring and Evaluation Manager will be based in Nairobi with frequent travel to implementing sites in six regions in Kenya; Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central Province, Nairobi and Coast as required.

Essential Job Functions

M&E systems’ development

• Design and maintain a monitoring and evaluation system for the program that produces timely and trustworthy data results
• Lead in revision of the program indicators and results matrix whenever appropriate and based on program experience
• Works closely with the ICT specialist in using SMS and other technological innovations for collecting data

Evaluation and impact assessment

• Develop, standardize and deploy survey tools, and other data collection forms to realize the effective use of monitoring plans.
• With stakeholders, set out the framework and procedures for evaluating program activities and outcomes
• Review existing social and economic data, including methods employed in data collection to ensure they are fit for use as baseline statistics for impact evaluation
• Based on the review of existing data on the area, draw up the TOR for, design and cost out a baseline survey, needs assessments, and impact evaluations
• Design, together with field officers (of Mercy Corps and partner agencies), on appropriate tools for conducting participatory discussions with groups of clients
• Implement and improve existing monitoring tools for the youth & staff to ensure the appropriateness of the program and to gauge its impact, including a system of recording and presenting relevant data.
• Design and oversee rigorous evaluations of the impact and scalability of programs.

Information / knowledge management

• Prepare consolidated program progress reports for management submission to relevant bodies. Also guide partner agencies in preparing their progress reports.
• Mentor staff on quality report writing keeping in mind the donor (USAID) and all other stakeholders.
• If possible, create discussion forums for cross-sharing and debating on monitoring findings and data
• Document and disseminate key findings from program studies and evaluations in accessible forms that can influence program design and donor policies

M&E capacity building

• Develop a plan for project-related capacity-building on M&E and for any computer-based support that may be required
• Train field officers and investment officers on user-friendly data collection, ensuring they all understand the importance of M&E for the program
• Train program staff and local partners on the logical framework, data management, data analysis and results-oriented programming, basic surveying and sampling techniques, monitoring and evaluation methods and principles and report writing techniques and requirements for Mercy Corps and USAID.
• Supervise training of youth joint monitoring teams and reporting teams and engage them in monitoring their own projects and implementing youth mentorship programs.

Quality assurance

• Conduct periodic client audits/visits also with a view of identifying success stories
• Ensure all trainings delivered to staff and beneficiaries under the program are properly and timely documented and filed.
• Work with partner agency M&E team to agree and execute periodic progress monitoring and reporting, in line with the overall reporting timelines under the program
• Identify the need and draw up ToRs for specific project studies
• Travel to the field to monitor and evaluate project sites, work with beneficiary groups, and organize and conduct assessments as necessary.

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Accountability Reports Directly To: Deputy Chief of Party

Works Directly With: Chief of Party, Country Director, Fund Manager, Field Project Officers, Grants Manager, Investment Officers

Knowledge and Experience:

• Previous experience with USAID programs in a similar position is desirable. Familiarity with the Results Framework approach is required.
• Experience in M&E methods and approaches (including quantitative, qualitative and participatory)
• Experience delivering capacity building programs in the economic development sector for multiple stakeholders such as women’s groups, youth groups and CSOs.
• Bachelor's or Advanced degree from a recognized college or university in statistics, project management or equivalent. Each additional year of approved formal education may be substituted for one year of required work experience.
• An understanding of USAID regulations.
• Demonstrated experience and skill in information analysis and writing comprehensive and high quality reports
• Familiarity with and a supportive attitude towards processes of strengthening local organizations and building local capacities for self-management
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel
• Prior management experience and strong organizational skills
• Excellent oral and written English skills

Success Factors

• Excellent writing skills
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and communicate effectively with team members.
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach and build capacity of staff of competencies
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning
• Proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results.
• Ability to understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work.
• Good sense of humor a plus
• Experience working with a youth or women program
• Ability to coordinate and communicate across departments (Operations, Finance, Program).
• Any other duties as assigned by supervisor and characteristic to the position

Living /Environmental Conditions:

The position will be based in Nairobi, with 60% field travel.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting.

Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit on or before 14th February, 2012 at 4.00 p.m. a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org

Applicants must clearly indicate on the email subject; “Application for the position of MONITORING AND EVALUATION MANAGER”

Applications without this subject heading will be disqualified.

Please do not attach any certificates.

(ONLY Qualified short-listed candidates will be contacted)