Monitoring and Evaluation Manager

Job Summary

MWA is the prime implementing agency in a consortium of local partners that will be working in nine Arid and Semi-Arid counties of Kenya. The MEL Lead will report to the Chief of Party and will provide technical oversight on the program’s activities that are geared towards improving management, efficiency, and equitable access to water for productive purposes. The MEL Lead will work in a dynamic team at the Program Hub and at the implementing partners’ level. The position holder will also maintain close working relations with the STAWI Contract to achieve the broader Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation (CLA) agenda.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

The MEL Lead will provide technical oversight in the planning, decision making and implementation of the following functions:

• Line manages the MEL/Communication Officer.
• Set up and manage the program’s MEL system while ensuring that there is adequate technical capacity among the staff to enhance the performance of the system.
• Closely work with the MWA and partner staff to review the MEL framework and theory of change with a view to developing an annual performance management plan (PMP) with clear targets per implementing partner per year.
• Develop and adopt Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) tools for measuring and reporting on indicators performance; develop indicator guidance reference sheet for activity output and outcome indicators.
• Lead the monitoring of the program’s performance indicators and offer timely advice on areas that need remedial measures.
• Ensure reporting on online reporting databases as instructed by USAID.
• Coordinate all program evaluations across the target counties while ensuring close collaboration with USAID and the STAWI Contractor.
• Provide leadership to the development of annual and quarterly work plans that are in line with the PMP and activity work plan.
• Provide technical support in the establishment of platforms for cross county collaboration and exchange of experiences.
• Lead the co-creation of a learning agenda by all program stakeholders.
• Coordinate the documentation and sharing of replicable and scalable models for strengthening water resources management and improving service providers efficiency in conflict and climate risk areas.
• Support the compilation and review of partner’s periodic reports and achievement of targets related to improvement of collaboration and learning across stakeholders.
• Promote and support development of a program culture that reflects collegiality and peer support, accountability and high performance, innovativeness, and continuous quality improvement to achieve desired results.
• With input from STAWI implementing partners and in conjunction with USAID and key stakeholders, participate in determining annual priorities.
• Contribute to the success of regular program meetings including technical working group meetings as well as program management meetings for improved collaboration and share lessons and common practice.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years-experience in MEL for WASH programs in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in East Africa.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field such as M&E, Statistics, and Information Systems.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing MEL systems for donor funded programs.
• In depth understanding and experience in the CLA framework.
• Demonstrated experience in statistical analysis using STATA and/or SPSS and cloud-based data collection and analysis platforms.
• Experience working through local partners and offering technical backstopping.
• Previous successful experience as a technical lead on USAID funded programs is desired.
• Demonstrated experience in successful program management and understanding of the project management cycle.
• Proven ability to provide effective and primary representation with high profile donors and government stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in donor report writing.
• Experience in using MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and virtual meeting software.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Excellent relationship management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.