The MERL Manager will serve in the ‘Wezesha’ project, a three-year USAID funded Activity aimed at promoting disability inclusion in service delivery, enhance employment opportunities for Kenyans with disabilities and strengthen disability inclusion practices in public policy planning and implementation. The long-term objective of the Activity is to contribute to increased household incomes and resilience of Kenyans with disabilities.

JOB SUMMARY

The MERL Manager takes lead in designing and implementation of the framework for monitoring and evaluating programmatic implementation of the Project to ensure delivery of plans and set objectives. Collaboratively, this position will develop a strong MERL system and tools, track, document, assure quality and timely reporting, and nurture learning and continuous improvement to achieve the highest transformation through project interventions. Additionally, he/she will ensure systematic monitoring of key deliverables, and coordinate routine data quality assurance, analysis, and reporting. The MERL Manager will build the capacity of the project team in MERL activities as well as provide advisory and technical guidance to management and UDPK staff.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepare the project Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plan and ensure regular updates as required.
• Establish and oversee the project’s performance management and reporting system, including preparing and reporting against the project’s MEL Plan.
• Develop, implement and oversee the Activity’s strategy for learning throughout the project cycle.
• Work closely with the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party to review program performance, document learnings and best practices.
• In consultation with the donor, lead the implementation of the Activity’s research agenda, which may include operations research, performance evaluations, among others.
• In collaboration with project stakeholders including the USAID, lead on periodic project pause and reflect sessions. Design, conduct, and manage other internal assessments and evaluations to assess program impact.
• Ensure the collection and analysis of high-quality quantitative and qualitative data through robust data collection methodologies.
• Coordinate routine data quality assurance, ensure data integrity throughout the process of data collection, storage, entry, verification, cleaning, analysis and reporting. Conduct periodic data quality assessments.
• Provide training on data collection and management systems to project and implementing partner staff.
• Conduct regular visits to project sites to monitor and ensure the quality of project activities.
• Collect, analyze and synthesize data for reports to USAID in line with reporting requirements.
• Serve as the technical lead and key MERL technical point of contact for implementing partners, including participation in technical meetings and coordination platforms.
• Contribute to the design, delivery and monitoring of technical assistance to strengthen implementing partner’s abilities in MEL, data collection and management, and research and learning methods.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, evaluation research, statistics, data analytics, governance, or a related discipline required; master’s degree strongly preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience designing and implementing MERL strategies with a focus on governance or inclusion indicators for similar donor-funded programs in developing countries/Kenya.
• Technical expertise in program monitoring and evaluation using mixed methods, preferably with experience evaluating in innovative ways and evaluating program innovations.
• Prior experience designing and conducting quantitative and qualitative research in relevant fields and contexts, and strong analytical skills (e.g. using statistics software, relational databases, and/or other software for analysis, visualization, and reporting).
• Experience with systems thinking approaches and the use of systems-aware measurement approaches.
• Experience in utilizing digital solutions for data collection and analysis preferred.
• Proven track record of developing and managing USAID-compliant MERL plans and past experience with adaptive learning approaches.
• Understanding of the human rights-based approach to disability is highly desirable
• Experience working in a leadership role and engaging with a diverse set of stakeholders and in team situations.
• Strong communicator, with excellent verbal communication and writing skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.
• Understanding English both oral and written communication skills is required, strong preference for proficiency in a second language (preferably Kiswahili).
• Willingness to commit and adhere to UDPK’s mandate, mission, vision, and values.

SAFEGUARDING

UDPK is committed to ensuring that its activities and programs are implemented in a safe and protective environment where violence, harm, exploitation, neglect, and abuse in all its forms are effectively prevented as judiciously as possible.

Our Safeguarding Policy aims to ensure that:

• All who work for and engage with us are equipped with skills, are confident, understand, and are well supported in meeting their responsibilities to promote the welfare of all children with disabilities, children without disabilities, vulnerable adults (those at-risk including women and men with different disabilities) and protect them from harm that may be caused as a result of the organization’s activities.
• We have in place procedures to prevent and deal with the actions and behavior of our staff, representatives, visitors, and others that result in violence, harm, exploitation, neglect and abuse in all its forms against the above-described target groups and/or place them at risk of the same.
• Vulnerable adults (those at-risk including adults with disabilities), Children, particularly children with disabilities, we work with /or who are the target of our activities are aware of our responsibilities to prevent and respond to any harm against them arising from actions and behaviours of our staff, representatives, visitors and others and the avenues for reporting such incidents.

The application deadline is 10th January 2025.

• Interested candidates that meet these requirements and are available to start immediately must send their applications to [email protected] copying [email protected]; with the subject titled Application for Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning (MERL) Manager, USAID Wezesha Project.
• Qualified persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation measures will be provided as needed throughout the recruitment process.