Kazi Solutions on behalf of their client in the NGO sector is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Adaptation (MERLA) Manager to support an anticipated international donor-funded Inclusive Africa Program (IAP). The IAP is a five-year, multimillion-dollar regional initiative that aims to create socio-economic opportunities for young men and women with disabilities in Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana through enhanced digital accessibility. The program's strategic objective is to cultivate an environment that enables young individuals with disabilities to access digital economic opportunities by advancing digital accessibility policy, facilitating stakeholder engagement, driving digital innovation and entrepreneurship, amplifying youth voices, and establishing industry best practices.

• Responsible for all data protection aspects of ensuring all relevant data protection mechanisms are in place for all data-related program activities.
• Build, manage, and continuously strengthen the program’s M&E system, ensuring that it is developed in a consultative fashion and provides timely and accurate data regarding program progress.
• Responsible for developing and designing systems to track program progress against indicators, collecting and verifying information, and maintaining performance monitoring plans, reports, work plans, and monthly reports.
• Develop and implement a framework for program results measurement, accountability, learning, and development effectiveness to measure and report program success, including articulation of Theories of Change (ToC).
• Work closely with the technical leads of program components to ensure compatibility and coordination within the M&E framework and ensure that the MEL system adheres to donors’s guidelines and meets the needs of the program for learning, analysis, and reporting.
• Promote evidence-based decision-making among the program’s senior management team, ensuring the use of evidence from the program’s M&E system in collaborating, learning, and adapting processes.
• Coordinate routine monitoring and annual monitoring processes and fulfil donor requirements for program baseline, midline, and final evaluations.
• Oversight all data collection for program-related studies and assessments and lead data quality assurance mechanisms throughout the life of the award. (while adhering to data protection standards).
• Supervise and coordinate the M&E tasks that the program teams will be supporting by providing training, mentoring, and coaching to team members as required while ensuring high performance.
• Focus on strengthening the M&E system, building capacity of partners and their staff, and improving alignment and support to host-country M&E systems.
• Institute routine data reviews as part of an adaptive management process, including analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data to program management and technical leads.

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning, preferably in an NGO or similar setting. 

• Strong knowledge of MERLA methodologies, tools, and best practices. 
• Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R, Excel) and data visualization tools. 
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. 
• Experience in designing and conducting research studies. 
• Ability to manage multiple projects and work under tight deadlines. 
• Strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving. 
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders. 

"We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations will be provided during the recruitment process upon request."

All applications should be submitted by 30th October 2024