Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist at TechnoServe

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Reports to: Program Manager

Grade: 8

Duration: 18 months

About TechnoServe

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of businesses and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing when incomes increase, and living conditions for families get better, they can access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off. 

Program Overview

The MSME Competitiveness Program aims to improve the integration of Kenyan MSMEs in the leather and essential oils sectors into national and international supply chains. The program delivers targeted technical assistance to improve product quality, strengthen market linkages, and increase financial readiness for MSMEs through a dual approach: intensive support to anchor firms and capacity building for the wider MSME ecosystem.

Position Description

The MEL Specialist will lead the design and implementation of the program’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) system, ensuring rigorous tracking of results, delivery of the learning agenda, and timely donor and internal reporting. This role requires strong technical skills in MEL design and analysis, program coordination, and stakeholder engagement, as well as experience with private-sector-oriented development programs.

Key Responsibilities

MEL System Design & Implementation

• Lead the development, rollout, and continuous refinement of the MEL framework, tools, and processes.
• Define and track progress against key outcome indicators such as: Product quality improvements among MSMEs,Number of buyer agreements and letters of intent.
• MSMEs achieving financial readiness and investment plans.
• Ensure data collection is timely, accurate, and aligned with program and organizational standards.

Learning Agenda & Knowledge Management

• Drive the program’s learning agenda, focusing on: Effectiveness of training-of-trainers (TOT) delivery models,Impact of aggregation models on MSME competitiveness. Influence of buyer incentives on MSME quality improvements.
• Facilitate regular reflection sessions with program teams and partners to translate findings into program adaptation
• Produce knowledge products (case studies, briefs, dashboards) for internal and external dissemination.

Reporting & Compliance

• Coordinate and compile program reports for donors and internal stakeholders, ensuring compliance with requirements and deadlines.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date data in internal systems, ensuring consistency between field records, databases, and reporting outputs.
• Liaise with program and operations teams to validate reported results and ensure alignment with contractual targets.

Program Coordination & Support

• Work closely with technical leads to integrate MEL findings into program delivery and strategy adjustments.
• Support partner capacity building on data collection, analysis, and utilization.
• Contribute to work planning, activity tracking, and cross-team communication.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Statistics, Monitoring & Evaluation, International Development, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in MEL roles, preferably in private sector development, agribusiness, or value chain programs.
• Proven skills in MEL system design, data management, and use of quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Strong track record in donor reporting, preferably with multi-stakeholder or multi-sector programs.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex findings for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., Excel, Power BI, STATA, SPSS) and mobile data collection tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in market systems development or SME competitiveness programs.
• Familiarity with leather, essential oils, or other value-added agribusiness sectors in Kenya.
• Experience leading learning agendas and producing knowledge products.
• Understanding of donor reporting standards and compliance processes.

Competencies

• Analytical and detail-oriented.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative approach with cross-cultural sensitivity.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Click on the link to apply: https://recruiting.ultipro.com/TEC1006TESER/JobBoard/18180d88-ced0-4361-bd09-d5eef66dab24/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=57c85b24-3b60-4e7c-bcb5-d009a7c07a96&