Monitoring and Verification (M&V)/Research Specialist, Kenya Program Support for USAID/Kenya East Africa, Kenya

Job Description
The USAID/Kenya and East Africa (USAID/KEA) portfolio addresses multiple sectors and by necessity is focused on key manageable interests, as evidenced in its many strategically focused activities throughout the region. The countries covered by the portfolio are Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Uganda, South Sudan, Republic of Sudan, and Zambia.
Monitoring and Verification (M&V) is critical to the Mission’s ability to track progress toward reaching stated objectives. Effective monitoring of activity performance (including verification of partner-provided information) lies at the heart of the program cycle and is imperative for analyzing the achievement of results over the life of the Mission’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and Regional Development Cooperation Strategy (RDCS) for East Africa.
The purpose of this project is to provide USAID/KEA with demand-driven third-party monitoring and verification services and to generally support monitoring efforts across the Mission. These services are meant to ensure that the Mission’s implementing partners (IP) are implementing activities and submitting data that are complete, accurate, consistent with agreements and reports, and in compliance with USAID regulations. The project will provide USAID/KEA with data necessary for the Mission to assess progress towards stated goals and objectives in the CDCS and RDCS.
Position Summary:
Together with the M&V team, the M&V/Research Specialist will work to ensure that USAID implementing partners’ data are complete, accurate, and consistent with agreements and reports, and with USAID’s regulations.
Responsibilities:

Assist with the implementation of the M&V task order, including project management.
Design and coordinate data collection and synthesis, and facilitate the assessment of activity, project and program goals.
Provide real-time, flexible, activity-level data analyses and reporting utilizing an electronic data collection system.
Support partner training and sessions on collecting data for individual indicators.
Meet with implementing partners to provide advice on updating and implementing their M&E plans, and ensuring M&E plans link to USAID M&E Plans.
Other activities as assigned by the M&V team leader.

Qualifications:

A graduate degree in the field of monitoring and evaluation, statistics, social sciences or a related field.
At least 7 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation or research related to development programs, including experience developing research tools, and training and managing staff in effective use of those tools.
Experience with USAID or USAID-funded monitoring and evaluation is a plus
Excellent written and spoken English language skills
Ability to travel as needed throughout Kenya and East Africa, up to 25% of the time
Ability to work well in a team

Please Note: Only Kenyan citizens are eligible for this position.
Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. MSI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer.