About the programme:
Kenya is the largest economy in East Africa and has for many years been the economic and democratic stronghold amongst conflict and poverty ridden neighbours. However, electoral violence, corruption and a lack of accountability have undermined the Government’s ability to ensure inclusive growth and service delivery. Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are ambitious, but success is possible where reforms are well-grounded in political and economic realities, sequenced and focused on improving tangible services to citizens. To achieve more inclusive and accountable governance, and ensure effective poverty reduction and better public services, Kenya requires credible and non-violent elections, stronger performance and interaction of formal oversight institutions, and citizens and a civil society that mobilise for improved responsiveness and accountability of officials. DFID has designed the Deepening Democracy Programme (DDP) to support formal accountability institutions, civil society organisations and other accountability mechanisms to contribute to this change.
The combined impact of DDP is more inclusive and accountable governance in Kenya. DDP has two main results areas – electoral and non-electoral accountability. Electoral accountability will be strengthened through (i) supporting more credible elections in 2017 and the future; (ii) improving civic engagement in elections; and (iii) contributing to a more inclusive electoral process for historically marginalised groups (e.g. women).
Non-electoral accountability will focus on supporting state and non-state accountability and oversight institutions on a demand driven basis by (i) strengthening capacity of and facilitating linkages between formal oversight agencies; supporting climate change governance reforms; and (ii) supporting civil society to improve their participation and advocacy on key issues such as planning, budgeting, climate change, and service delivery.
Scope of work:
The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer will be the most senior point of contact, support and guidance on M&E for DDPs grantees. He/she will help translate DDP MEL needs to other Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning (MEAL) staff and to the grantees themselves. He/she will analyse, plan and help meet any capacity building needs the grantee organisations may have in MEL. The Senior MEL Officer will work closely with the Grants Programme team, the Communications & M&E Specialist, and other DDP technical staff to ensure that DDP is providing coherent, coordinated support to its grantees. He/she will report directly to the MEAL Director and will lead in translating the MEL ‘ground reality’ of DDP grantees to the MEAL Director. The Senior MEL Officer will be based in the Nairobi office, with 20% travel to grantee offices and implementation sites throughout other counties.
Terms of Reference:
Strategic inputs and oversight
Support the delivery of any MEAL-related strategies, frameworks, or approaches, in coordination with the MEAL Director.
Support in the development of the DDP programme-level programme.
Help coordinate any MEAL team member efforts and support to grantees.
Results-based Monitoring & Evaluation
Develop Performance Indicator Reference Sheets and methodologies/tools for DDP logframe indicators.
Lead on the review, validation, and analysis of incoming logframe and results data from grantees.
Coordinate results-data entry into knowledge management system and do data entry.
Lead on ad hoc, in-person verifications (i.e. data quality assessments or DQAs) of reported output-level results.
Coordinate the implementation of DDP’s Monitoring Approach and conduct monitoring of grantee activities and results.
Learning
Lead on the implementation of DDP’s learning agenda, focusing on helping grantees establish processes or mechanisms to institutionalise lessons learnt and learning.
Design and set-up of grantee learning processes, e.g. Critical self-reflection sessions, which feed into the DDP learning approach and priorities.
Development of a quarterly learning report to DDP senior management, inclusive of key lessons learnt and recommendations based on monitoring and reporting data, political economy analysis (led by Political Economy Advisor), and secondary sources.
Capacity development
Train, mentor and otherwise build capacity of DDP grantees in MEL, as required.
Review and provide feedback on applicant logframes during the proposal development phase and during Inception of successful grantees.
Support to grantees in development of M&E systems and results reporting processes and systems, providing clear guidance on how to improve their MEL work.
Lead on capacity development support to grantees on output and outcome indicator development, data collection, and analysis.
Support the capacity development of DDP grant managers on M&E-related issues and in the use of DDP’s Knowledge Management System.
Reporting
Compile, validate, analyse, and present all DDP logframe-related data for quarterly and annual reporting, as well as the DFID Annual Review.
Compile and author narratives around DDP’s key achievements and lessons learnt for the quarterly and annual reports, as well as the Annual Review.
Deliverables:
Lead responsibilities:
Compile and analyse results and achievement data from grantees (each quarter, then, annually), authoring specifically Achievements, Results, Lessons Leart sections of DDP reports.
Up-to-date information on all of DDP’s results entered in the DDP Knowledge Management system.
Quarterly analysis of learning amongst grantees and DDP.
Ad hoc verification visits (DQAs) and verification reports.
Supporting responsibilities:
Updated Logframe, PIRS, and methodologies.
Grantee Monitoring, if required. Proposal and inception logframes required by DDP’s RFAs.
DDP progress reports to DFID (quarterly, annually).
DDP Annual Reviews.
DDP learning products.
Experience, Education and Competencies:
Must have at least 5 years of experience in coordinating and implementing M&E for DFID (or other major donors) funded programmes, including practical experience setting up and managing M&E systems for those projects.
Bachelors degree or its international equivalent in social science, international development or a related field.
Strong English writing skills required, as well as English fluency generally.
Proven ability to design M&E methodologies, monitoring plans, results frameworks, as well as ability to quality-assure quantitative and qualitative data collection methodologies and tools.
Strong diagnostic, analytical, and communication skills.
Must be a proactive trouble-shooter, planner, and communicator.
Computer proficiency in word processing, databases, spreadsheets.
Strong interpersonal skills, initiative, and good judgment. Working knowledge of Kenya’s governance sector.
