Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer

About DERIS WANAAG
The Kenya-Somali-Ethiopia (KSE) Borderlands project is a strategic initiative led by the United Kingdom (UK) aimed at enhancing peace, stability, and socio-economic development in the border regions of Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. These borderlands have long been characterized by complex political dynamics, intercommunal tensions, and security challenges, exacerbated by factors such as historical grievances, porous borders, and the presence of violent extremist groups.

The project recognizes that sustainable peace and stability can only be achieved through concerted efforts that involve both governmental and non-governmental actors at national, sub-national, and community levels. It emphasizes the importance of holistic approaches that integrate security, development, and peacebuilding efforts to address the root causes of instability and build resilience against the influence of violent extremist actors

Overall purpose of the role: 
The overall purpose of the role: Monitoring Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Officer will conduct field level M&E activities and provide technical support to MEL Lead in ensuring timely and quality learning as well as implementation reporting with a specific focus on peacebuilding, enhancing stability as well as gender and social inclusion engagements. 
Assist project teams in collecting data against indicators, lead data collection based on data-collection tools and methodologies designed by the MEL team. The MEL Officer will also lead project assessments and project compliance audits in all cross border locations covering the Mandera Triangle region and down to Kiunga/Raskamboni in Lamu. 
The MEL Officer will collaborate closely with the MEL Lead, Field Research Officer and wider Borderlands Research team and field programme team to ensure compliance with the projects MEL requirements and best practices. The role will also ensure programme data and other protected data is accurately and ethically collected, stored, analysed and shared in strict adherence to the projects data protection policy and MEL Plan.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Support MEL Lead in ensuring that MEL approaches adhere to project Conflict Sensitivity, Do No Harm, and GESI strategies; 
• Work closely with project field team, local organisations, and other actors to conduct MEL activities, including monitoring visits, project assessments, and targeted research;
• Support the establishment of Borderlands/Deris Wanaag MEL systems and reporting structures, including user-friendly templates, to contribute to quarterly reporting and learning products/events;
• Conduct MEL training for downstream partners in response to capacity assessments, including research methods, reporting needs, and other data collection requirements; 
• Review and translate data collection tools into Swahili and Somali, in addition to training enumerators and piloting tools in relevant field locations;
• Develop and manage data collection work plans in coordination with MEL Lead and Field Research Manager;
• Develop plans for GESI self-assessment for all partners together with the field GESI advisor and Senior GESI advisor;
• Develop sector-specific data and support timely and appropriate deployment by implementation teams, in alignment with ethical research and data security policies;
• Conduct field-level assessments, including baseline, mid-term, end-line and other monitoring surveys, including the cleaning, translation, and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data;
• Contribute to monthly implementation updates, to share with Area Leads, flagging key achievements, areas of concern, lessons learned, and recommendations for corrective actions;
• Facilitate field-level learning events, collaboratively with the MEL Lead, to capture, document and disseminate lessons learned for internal and external purposes;
• Conducted internal data quality assessments to ensure that all reported observations and indicators are supported by verified data sources, including activity-level monitoring forms, participant lists, and geo-tagged photos;
• Gather, analyse, and report community and stakeholder feedback through the design and management of feedback mechanisms, including complaints hotlines, community forums, and other sources.

Experience and technical competencies:  

• A minimum of 4 years of MEL experience within the peacebuilding, stabilization or development field.  
• Demonstrated field experience in working on conflict resolution, peacebuilding and stability programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in leading GESI related M&E and capacity building.
• Experience in training and supporting local partners to conduct comprehensive M&E.
• Proven technical skills in monitoring, evaluation and experience with both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. 
• Strong background in the use of computers including the use of software applications such as Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and software such as SPSS and STATA.
• Previous experience with electronic or mobile data collection such as Kobo is a requirement.
• Experience in working in cross border and conflict prone areas. 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines.

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in the Social Sciences, Economics, Statistics or Information Management Sciences.

Language: 

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Swahili is essential  
• Fluency in Somali is a great advantage

Key stakeholders: 
Internal 

• Programme implementation teams in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia and MEL staff in Nairobi. 
• Enumerators in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

External

• National and county government authorities
• Implementing partners

About you:  
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:  

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.   
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.   
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.   
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.   
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.   

Conditions  

• Contract: One-year contract with possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment. 
• Availability: February 2025
• Duty station: Nairobi, with frequent travel to DW Project offices

Application and CV:  
Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered.  
DRC only accepts applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. Please remember to upload both a letter of application and your CV and do not attach any written recommendations.  
Please submit your application and CV in English no later than 24th February, 2025

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels.  In light of this, Female are strongly encouraged to apply.

Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer.  We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees.  We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, color, race, marital status or other protected characteristics.  
DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process. Visit drc.ngo to read more about what we do to secure robust safeguarding mechanisms. 
If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.