Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist - EMACK

Education for Marginalized Children in Kenya (EMACK) is an initiative of the Ministry of Education (MOE) made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF).

The program seeks to improve access to quality education, retention and completion rates for children historically underserved by the education system by focusing on a number of interrelated strategies.

These include increased community and parental participation in all aspects of school life; teacher development and improved coordination and dialogue to inform the Kenya Education Sector Support Program.

Ultimately the program aims to improve the learning outcomes for all children in terms of literacy, numeracy analysis and innovation.

We invite applications from suitable candidates to fill the following position:

Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

As a member of EMACK Senior Management Team, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (MES) will be responsible for the project’s monitoring, research and evaluation function.

The post holder will provide technical leadership and support to the development of comprehensive performance monitoring plans by EMACK and her partners.

These will in turn form the basis for data collection, ensuring data quality and integrity, analyzing indicator data, organizing monthly formative feedback sessions for project staff, and monitoring compliance with USAID specified targets.

The MES will be expected to provide appropriate support in all M&E and research related capacity-building activities for EMACK and her partners as well as developing and maintaining the project’s Management Information System (MIS).

S/he will also take responsibility for collecting and compiling regular monthly and quarterly reports for review by the Chief of Party and for revisiting program indicators to ensure that they are suitable for project purposes.

Essential Job Functions:

• Responsible for the development of the project performance monitoring and evaluation plan and the periodic refinement of performance indicators to ensure that objectives are practical, specific and cost-effective;
• Lead the development and implementation of robust education research programs to inform evidence-based policy and practice;
• Develop and manage the project’s Management Information System using computer programs (such as Microsoft Excel and research oriented programs such as EPI INFO/SPSS) so as to ensure efficient and effective collection, entry and analysis of partner intervention data (both quantitative and qualitative);
• Offer advice to the EMACK Core team and partners on implications of project decisions based on Monitoring, Research and Evaluation findings. This will include advising on all situations that have potential impact on the project’s ability to reach its performance targets;
• Prepare the project for a mid-term and a final evaluation by liaising with all relevant stakeholders [including partners] so as to ensure that data is in order, that staff are aware of their obligations, and that the evaluators have appropriate access to information;
• Facilitate learning-oriented analysis sessions of M&E data, analyze and disseminate complex information to a wide range of audiences including donors and the government;
• Offer regular training to EMACK staff and partners on Monitoring, Research, Learning and Evaluation to ensure that project experiences and lessons are used to improve performance and to inform the design of new programs.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in education, population studies, social sciences, social research methods [both quantitative and qualitative], project management, anthropology, international development, statistics or other relevant degree; Information Technology (IT) related training in research programs and setting up of data tracking systems;
• Minimum 5 years hands-on experience in monitoring, research and evaluation in a busy working environment related to international development projects, preferably in the education sector;
• Hands-on experience in the application of common statistical packages such as EPI INFO and SPSS; Demonstrated competence in the design and implementation of research programs;
• Knowledge of USAID donor reporting requirements and monitoring systems highly desirable;
• Demonstrated ability to train, support and mentor staff and partners on M&E methodology; Excellent analytical and report writing skills.

Applications, along with a cover letter, an up-to-date CV and names of three referees should be sent to the address below by 25th May, 2012.

Those who had applied for the post in an earlier advert need not apply.

The Human Resource and Administration Assistant, EMACK II
P.O. Box 50027 - 00100,

Nairobi

Email: bernice.mueni@akf-emack.org

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted

The Aga Khan Foundation is an Agency of the Aga Khan Development Network