Monitoring Evaluation Research Learning and Adaptability (MERLA) Officer

About Light for the World

Light for the World sparks lasting change on disability rights and eye health. We believe in a world where people with eye conditions and disabilities can fully exercise their rights to health, education, work, and protection in emergencies. Over the last three decades, Light for the World has contributed to improving eye health systems and amplifying the voices of people with disabilities.

Our programmes include:

• Eye Health – preventing blindness and promoting eye health for all.
• Inclusive Education – ensuring children with disabilities receive quality, inclusive education.
• Inclusive Economic Empowerment – ensuring that barriers are removed for men and women with disabilities to access decent work.

In Kenya, Light for the World promotes the socioeconomic inclusion of people with disabilities. We focus on empowering people with disabilities by helping them build skills and access opportunities for growth. At the same time, we influence systemic changes to ensure people with disabilities thrive in inclusive environments. Our dual approach emphasizes on the empowerment of people with disabilities alongside broader social transformation.

Through our programmes, we create opportunities for inclusive business and employment. Our Inclusive Business approach equips entrepreneurs with the tools and networks they need to succeed in competitive markets, while advocating for a business environment that embraces diversity. We also partner with organisations and institutions to foster inclusive workplaces by addressing barriers such as a lack of accessibility, negative attitudes and policies.

Light for the World is seeking to hire a Monitoring Evaluation Research Learning and Adaptability (MERLA) Officer who will be responsible for assessing LFTW-KE programme’s effectiveness to improve evidence and quality.

Role Profile

The MERLA Officer will be responsible for assessing programme effectiveness to improve evidence and quality of all country programmes. This will include process and tools development; data collection, analysis, and reporting; learning &reflection management; and evaluations support. He will support the MERLA Manager to build the capacity of staff in the use, adaptation and reporting of programme results using Light for the World’s M&E tools and processes and will be active in identifying learning opportunities from the country programmes and partners’ work that demonstrate impact. He will work closely with the MERLA Manager and Head of Learning and Innovation to share learning internally and externally and will support the development of approaches to ensure beneficiaries are engaged throughout the programme management cycle.

Key Responsibilities

1. Coordination of M&E functions and processes in project design and implementation

• Strengthening intervention logics for projects and influencing through refining the logic between interventions and results and identifying appropriate indicators to track progress and measure results across chain levels.
• Lead the development and use of relevant data collection tools for programs and projects across the country including data analysis and visualization.
• Support data management processes through the Activity-Info organizational Platform and ensure continuous deployment of digital tools to support data collection, management, analysis and reporting in line with the Principles of Digital Development.
• Provide MERLA technical assistance to program teams and inputs into the design stages of program proposals, budgets, log-frames, indicators, and measurement methodologies, plans and tools
• Collaborate in the execution of evaluation and research studies including the development of concept notes, ToRs and recruitment of consultant and implementation of relevant evaluation/research workplans
• Support appropriate reporting mechanisms and processes to satisfy the accountability needs of internal and external stakeholders at all levels.

2. Support high-level documentation and dissemination of learning that facilitate evidence-based program adaptation

• Maintain programme level monitoring tools and databases that allow for evidence based adaptation
• Prepare regular M&E data and reports that meet requisite standards of quality and usability.
• Support project staff, partners and community-based structures on documentation of lessons learnt, best practices and development of success stories
• Support the dissemination of learning products and other research studies and lessons internally and externally including to relevant stakeholders, government, community of practices (CoPs) and donors
• Support and/or participate in relevant technical exchange of knowledge management networks, M&E forums and other thematic workshops which promote program learning.

3. Ensure the implementation of quality MERLA standards for all programmatic interventions

• Use on-going project monitoring and assessment and work closely with project teams to improve the quality of implementation and adapt project design.
• Ensure data is of sufficient quality through imbedding appropriate quality assurance approaches at all stages of the MERLA process including but not limited to Data Quality Audits, Washington Group of Questions Assessment etc.
• Interpret and contextualise data, assess results and draw conclusions to inform programmes and influence initiatives.
• Ensure adherence to organizational M&E guidelines, research and evaluation standards.

4. Support MERLA capacity building through sharing, networking and coaching

• Capacity build local partners and stakeholders on the result framework, data management, and results-oriented programming that incorporate DI approaches.
• Mentor upcoming M&E staff including data officers and interns with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the MERLA team, and providing professional development guidance in conjunction with the MERLA Manager
• Promote and strengthen the understanding of the importance of M&E within the country team and the use and analysis of M&E systems during program design and implementation.
• Build, maintain and engage in internal and external MERLA partnerships and networks.

5. Support efficient data management processes for improved knowledge management

• Develop and maintain an updated database of all completed interventions and periodically carry out meta-analysis of the information in Activity-info
• Ensures all the data is disaggregated by sex and age and all the studies are disability and gender responsive.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and analysis of data at every level of the implementation with the objective of ensuring the programmes are refined and remain relevant in a changing context.

6. Other duties

• Take charge of other responsibilities as may be assigned by your line manager.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Qualification and Skills

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in monitoring and evaluation or related field
• 3-5 years’ experience in a M&E/MEL/MERLA role.
• Strong skills in Monitoring and Evaluation systems
• Strong data analysis skills
• Strong research skills
• Strong in developing lesson learnt documents.

Desirable

• Experience of Monitoring and Evaluation within international development organizations
• Experience of reporting and monitoring project performance indicators.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of MERLA systems and frameworks
• Experience of solving technical problems and providing solutions
• Experience of providing desktop and onsite technical support
• Experience of using Ms Word, Excel and power point.
• Experience of processing and reporting performance data

Desirable

• Power-Business Intelligence data analysis experience
• Experience with Activity-Info and other digital M&E databases