Job Description
JOB TITLE: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer (MEL Officer)
REPORTS TO: MEL Specialist
STAFF REPORTING TO POSTHOLDER: None
LOCATION: One of the project sites (Kakamega, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Busia, Siaya, Kilifi)
DURATION & HOURS: Fixed term, full-time, renewable based on performance and
availability of funds.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The purpose of the role is to provide monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) support in
the Empowering Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture Markets and Jobs creation
program implemented by Farm Africa in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The
programme aims to tap the potential offered by the aquaculture sector for entrepreneurship
and employment, building knowledge and capacity so that young people, especially women,
are attracted by the opportunities and growth potential offered by working in aquaculture
and mariculture. The programme will cover Kakamega, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Busia, Siaya
and Kilifi
The Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer will be responsible for development
of data collection instruments, routine data collection including collecting qualitative and
quantitative information from activities carried out by the project, analysis and reporting,
support with identification of lessons learned, and keeping track of successes of project
activities. He/she will work closely with the project team and consortium partners, to ensure
effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting of program activities and results. The post
holder will be key to regular compilation, verification, storage, and consolidation of project
data as per the indicators defined in the monitoring and learning plan and giving real time
information to the project team. This will also include working with the project team and
consortium partners to collect community and partner feedback through various channels,
updating the feedback tracker, collect responses from the project team and consortium
partners and monitoring to ensure the feedback loop is closed.
KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Support in the design and development of essential MEL tools for the project and
partners, in alignment with MEL minimum standards (30%):
Contribute to the development of the project monitoring and learning plan (MLP),
ensuring all the key components of the MLP are fully defined and align to project
activities.
Work closely with the MEL specialist, project delivery team and consortium partners
to conduct a stakeholder mapping that enables reporting of beneficiaries inline with
the project activities (counting reach).
Ensure that the consortium partners and project team are sufficiently equipped with
necessary data collection and reporting tools inline with the indicators outlined in the
project monitoring and learning plan (MLP).
Support the project team and consortium partners to establish effective mechanisms
and approaches for gathering community feedback, inline with the MEL minimum
standards.
Digitize data collection tools in Open Data Kit (ODK) and upload to the ONA platform.
Work closely with the MEL specialist to provide capacity trainings to project team and
consortium partners on MEL tools and MEL minimum standards.
2. Coordinate, plan, and support project delivery team to undertake routine and
periodic data collection, analysis and reporting inline with the project indicators
(50%):
Together with the MEL specialist, coordinate data collection by the project delivery
team – and in particular support the delivery team and consortium partners to
integrate regular data collection into their routine activities.
Undertake regular travel to project sites to carry out monitoring and assessments,
lead surveys, data collection, and other MEL efforts.
Work with the project team and consortium partners to plan, design and gather
ongoing routine monitoring data, including gathering feedback from target
communities through active community feedback sessions.
Work with the MEL specialist, project team and consortium partners to ensure that
the monitoring and learning plan (MLP) is updated with project results against the
indicators on an ongoing basis.
Collate, consolidate, and store key evidence that inform project results.
Support the MEL specialist and project team to compile periodic progress reports.
3. Support in collation and dissemination of key project learnings on an ongoing
basis, including support towards development of knowledge and learning
products (20%)
Assist the project team and consortium partners in gathering key lessons emanating
from project activities, while ensuring that they are well evidenced.
Support the project team in updating project lessons log on a quarterly basis.
Support the project team and consortium partners in fulfilling deliverables for the
mini and annual project performance reviews (PPRs)
Participate in the annual project performance reviews (PPRs) and work with the
project team and consortium partners to address identified gaps or actions.
Support the communications team in gathering evidence for development of
knowledge and learning products, such as case studies, success stories, etc.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Desirable
Education qualifications
Graduate degree or equivalent in numerate discipline (e.g., economics, statistics, applied
social sciences, monitoring and evaluation, etc)
Academic training in statistical analysis
Demonstrable understanding of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and
best practice
Demonstrable understanding of monitoring and evaluation tools, principles, and best
practices
Experience
2 – 3 years’ experience supporting monitoring, evaluation, learning and research at an
organisational level, or in a consortium
Demonstrated experience in drafting clear written reports/ briefings for both internal and
external audiences
Demonstrated experience in development of data collection tools, data analysis and
interpretation.
Desirable experience working in market systems development projects, value chain
projects, private sector development or related
Desirable experience working in employment focussed projects, particularly youth
employment.
Skills & abilities
Fluency in Microsoft Office tools, particularly MS Excel, MS Word, and MS PowerPoint
Highly numerate, confident in synthesising data (both quantitative and qualitative) to draw
and explain evidence-based conclusions
Strong written and verbal communications skills, particularly ability to communicate
technical information clearly to a wide range of audiences
Ability to multi-task and work well under pressure, with a methodical approach and
attention to detail. Highly driven and able to work with minimal supervision
Confident, flexible and initiative-taking, with the ability to be proactive in working with
others
Skilled in scripting data collection tools in Open Data Kit (ODK) and ONA
Willingness to learn on the job and take strategic direction
Fluency in written and spoken English
Behaviours
Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves.
Future orientated, thinks strategically.
Our Values
Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm
Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and
developing businesses in rural Africa.
EXPERT: Deep expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of
everything Farm Africa does.
GROUNDED: Positive change starts with Africa’s people, so our experts work closely with
local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.
IMPACTFUL: We take a long-term view so we can deliver lasting changes for farmers and
their families.
BOLD: We model innovative new approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies
that are failing.