MEL NGO Job inABLE

Project Management Jobs. inABLE Jobs. Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Manager leading the operationalization of IAP’s results, measurement and learning system including MEL design, data quality and evaluations, requiring a master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Economics or Development Studies and 8-10 years progressive MEL or research experience, in an NGO development environment, on-site role in Nairobi.

Job Description

• Department/Programme: Inclusive Africa Program (IAP)
• Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya with regional travel and virtual engagement across Africa
• Contract Allocation: Full-Time
• Level: Middle Level
• Recommended Reporting Line: Programs Director
• Direct Reports: None initially; may supervise officers, interns, consultants and service providers as assigned
• Experience required: 8 – 10 years of progressively responsible relevant experience

Position Purpose

The Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Manager will lead the operationalization of IAP’s results, measurement and learning system. The role will translate the Theory of Change and results framework into practical indicators, tools, baselines, targets, data flows, dashboards, evaluations and learning processes that combine quantitative performance with qualitative evidence and lived experience. The postholder will promote data quality, ethical and accessible data collection, accountability and adaptive management across the programme.

 Key Responsibilities

MEL System Design and Operationalization

• Refine and maintain the MEL plan, results framework, indicator reference sheets, learning agenda, data-flow maps and reporting calendar in collaboration with programme teams and the Foundation.
• Align programme indicators, disaggregation and evidence requirements with IAP outcomes, donor requirements and management decision needs.
• Develop accessible quantitative and qualitative tools for training, employment, policy influence, working groups, convenings, narrative change, AT innovation and institutional adoption.
• Establish clear responsibilities, standard operating procedures, version control and evidence standards for data collection, review, storage and reporting.

 Baseline, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Coordinate baseline, midline, annual and endline assessments, outcome reviews and other programme studies, including terms of reference, sampling, tools, quality assurance and management response.
• Ensure all studies obtain the required research permits and ethics approvals before data collection (including NACOSTI licensing, accredited ethics committee review, and county or national authorisations in other countries where applicable), and that approved protocols are followed throughout.

• Monitor progress against targets and milestones, identify variance and support workstream leads to define corrective action.
• Coordinate participant tracking from outreach and training through certification, internship, employment, advocacy and leadership pathways.
• Apply mixed methods to assess skills, agency, voice, gender barriers, employment pathways, institutional practice and policy contribution.

Data Management, Quality and Protection

• Configure and administer approved programme information systems, dashboards and secure evidence repositories, including ActivityInfo or equivalent platforms where authorised.
• Conduct routine data-quality assessments covering validity, reliability, completeness, timeliness, integrity and precision.
• Ensure data are disaggregated appropriately, including by sex, age, disability and geography, while applying data-minimisation and confidentiality principles.
• Implement informed-consent, access-control, retention, anonymisation and secure-transfer practices consistent with data-protection and safeguarding requirements.
• Serve as inABLE’s designated Data Protection Officer / focal point for programme, MEL and research data, in line with the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019 and its Regulations, and applicable data-protection laws in other countries of operation. This includes but not limited to maintaining inABLE’s registration with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) as a data controller/processor and keeping records of processing activities up to date.

 Analysis, Reporting and Visualisation

• Analyse programme data and produce accurate dashboards, performance briefs, quarterly and annual result narratives, donor annexes and management presentations.
• Triangulate monitoring data, participant feedback, stories, research and partner evidence, distinguishing outputs, outcomes, contribution and attribution.
• Flag underperformance, anomalies and emerging risks promptly and provide practical recommendations for management action.
• Ensure all data products and visualisations are accessible, clearly labelled and suitable for decision-making.

Learning, Adaptation and Evidence Use

• Facilitate regular reflection, pause-and-learn and outcome-harvesting sessions with staff, partners and youth representatives.
• Establish and maintain an accessible feedback and complaints mechanism that participants (especially youth with disabilities), partners and community members can use, through multiple channels suited to different disabilities and literacy levels (for example SMS, WhatsApp, voice, Kenya Sign Language, easy-read and in-person options).
• Maintain a decision and adaptation log showing what changed, why, based on which evidence, and with what follow-up.
• Coordinate the programme learning agenda, including questions on youth advocacy, digital service use, institutional adoption and AT peer learning.
• Work with Policy and Communications colleagues to package validated evidence for policy products, knowledge resources and external learning.

Partner Capacity and Team Leadership

• Assess and strengthen partner capacity in indicator interpretation, accessible data collection, data quality, safeguarding, consent and evidence documentation.
• Provide coaching, templates, helpdesk support and feedback to programme staff, OPDs, training partners, consultants and evaluators.
• Coordinate external evaluators or enumerators and verify deliverables before acceptance.
• Contribute to programme planning, budgeting, risk management and governance meetings, and promote a culture of learning rather than compliance-only reporting.

Education and Professional Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Economics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Data Science or a related field.
• Professional training in results-based management, evaluation, research methods, data Visualisation, project management or learning is desirable.
• Training in research ethics, safeguarding, data protection, disability-inclusive data collection or Washington Group questions is an advantage.

Required Experience

• 8–10 years of progressively responsible MEL, research, evaluation or programme-quality experience in complex development programmes
• Demonstrated experience designing and managing results frameworks, Theory of Change, baselines, targets, indicator protocols and mixed-method evaluations.
• Experience with youth skills, policy, systems change, disability inclusion, employment, education or multi-country programmes.
• Strong record in data-quality assurance, partner capacity strengthening, donor reporting, dashboards and evidence use for adaptive management.
• Experience administering ActivityInfo or comparable MIS platforms and analysing data using advanced spreadsheet, statistical, BI or qualitative-analysis tools.
• Experience managing consultants, evaluations, research ethics and secure participant data is strongly preferred.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Results-based management and Theory of Change
• Indicator design, sampling and mixed-method research
• Quantitative and qualitative analysis
• Data-quality assessment and audit-ready evidence management
• Data visualisation and dashboard design
• Information-system administration and data governance
• Contribution analysis, outcome harvesting and policy-influence measurement
• Accessible and disability-inclusive data collection
• Donor reporting, learning facilitation and evidence translation
• Strong spreadsheet capability; competence with statistical, BI or qualitative software

Behavioural Competencies

• Analytical rigour and attention to detail
• Curiosity and constructive challenge
• Integrity and independence of evidence
• Pragmatism and service orientation
• Ability to explain technical information clearly
• Collaborative coaching style
• Commitment to participant dignity and data rights
• Organisation, deadline discipline and calm problem solving

How To Apply

Interested candidates should submit their cover letter, detailed CV, and expected salary to: careers@inable.org

Application Deadline: 13th October, 2026