Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager Position

About Asante Africa Foundation

Asante Africa Foundation is a globally guided and locally led non-profit educating East Africa’s youth to tackle life’s challenges, thrive in the global economy and catalyze positive change. As an on the ground implementing organization, invest in youth living in “off the paved roads” rural Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, empowering them with the skills they need to be successful in school and rise above the challenges they face. Their interconnected educational, life skills and livelihood programs, facilitated within “safe-space” learning groups, utilize learn-do-teach methodology, keep at-risk youth on the path to learning, accelerate academic classroom learning and develop future leaders, confident labor force.

The Asante Africa Foundation is seeking seasoned East Africa Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager will lead, guide and develop evidence-based decision-making across all functions and programs including strategy, design, collection, analysis and reporting across Asante Africa Programs of Education, Gender and Youth. Asante Africa is a Multi Country Organization and frequent engagement is required between Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and USA. This person will report to the Director Programs and Impact and the Country Manager of Home Base. The organization is seeking a “start-up” type of leader who is strategic in nature with ability to coach and mentor staff to continue developing, efficient and effective MEAL structures. As a critical member of the East Africa Led Executive Management Team, you will also support overall strategic direction, leadership, and management of the program to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of large and complex programming serving last mile communities. Candidates’ leadership, management and knowledge will enable the program to deliver high-quality programs and continuously work towards improving the impact.

This candidate manages the M&E team and reports to the Director Programs and Impact. Additionally, s/he works in collaboration with country managers to ensure seamless coordination and communication between the Programs and MEAL teams.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Technical Expertise

• Provide strategic MEAL leadership and direction to the team implementing programs.
• Build and manage the M&E team, with members based in East Africa and US.
• Forecast areas for future program and MEAL expansion and work with the team and donors to develop new strategies for evaluating programs.
• Make and guide operational decisions and manage the various components of the programs dealing with M&E. Lead the effort to manage all the program MEAL activities, independent learning studies and external collaborations.
• In consultation with Program Coordinators, develop, review and update project results frameworks and ensure that they logically capture the hierarchy of objectives, outcomes, outputs and indicators for the key thematic areas.
• Develop the Project Management Plan setting out specific measurable performance indicators and targets for overall objectives and activities and establishing monitoring systems to measure project progress.
• Provide technical guidance and support to staff to ensure programs are of good quality, innovative, in line with AAF’s strategic plan.
• Lead writing quarterly technical and financial reports; and responsible for accurate, timely and high-quality donor reporting as per guidelines.
• Utilize critical inputs, feedback, and assessments from evaluation partners to inform changes in program approaches and scale-up.
• Manage Impact dashboards on the website in collaboration with the website team.
• Manage the development and maintenance of program management information system with data collected on key thematic indicators and ensure accessibility by other staff.
• Plan for and conduct data quality audits to rapidly verify project data and assess the adequacy of data management systems and document project best practices.
• Assist in the design and execution of baseline surveys and other evaluation studies and participate in operations research and other data manipulation exercises to provide evidence to improve project management.
• Compile, analyze (including the use of complimentary data sets and secondary analysis), and present data for reporting of program progress and impact.
• Organize and facilitate quarterly and annual project review meetings.

Program Quality Oversight

• Work with programs teams to create standards of program quality that can be effectively managed at scale with a lean structure and cost-effective models.
• Work with programs teams to create strategies for field-staff accountability (CBOs and youth groups).
• Work with the grants team to ensure program design is accurately translated into grant applications and proposals- especially for new programs and technical grants.
• Support launch of new programs or projects in new or existing counties or countries of operation.

Strategic Management

• In collaboration with each Country Manager and Director Programs and Impact provide leadership and strategic direction for the design of AAF strategic frameworks and plans.
• Support in the development of budgets for grants and quality results for donor reports.
• Provide coaching and mentoring for Program and M&E team members for program quality and growth.
• Support the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.

Others

• Represents the organization at meetings, strategy sessions, and conferences in East Africa and globally.
• Any other duties as assigned by the leadership team.

Qualifications: Education/Knowledge/Technical Skills and Experience

Candidate will lead all Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) aspects of Asante Africa programs including developing strategy, refining existing M&E system, data collection, management and reporting, generate and disseminate learning from the project, data analysis and utilization – use the data to inform project implementation, donor reporting and the project contribution to the overall programs change ambition. This also includes overall data quality assurance for the projects.

The following may be acquired through a combination of formal or self-education, prior experience or on-the-job training:

Education and Skills

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Economics, International Development, Evaluation Research, Statistics, or a related field from an accredited academic institution and at least five (5) years of experience in designing, managing and implementing results-based M&E activities; Preferred; Masters’ degree in the above fields with at least three years of relevant professional experience.
• Certifications and publications of data analysis and presentation in Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Proven and demonstratable qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills and abilities and recognized as an expert in this field by external organizations.

Experience

• At least 5 years of experience working in the field of monitoring and evaluation in an international/national level NGO with Education, Gender and Youth programs.
• Documented and Proven success in designing, implementing, and operating M&E systems from project initiation to close out is required. Strong conceptual and design skills using theories of change, logic model, gender and youth program indicators, M&E plan, data quality assurance and data utilization.
• Strong analytic and organizational skills; strong creative and innovative thinking skills.
• Previous experience working in the East Africa region in insecure environments is desirable but not required.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a complex collaborative environment, including government stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and relevant computer software skills with proficiency in Excel and other data management systems. a. Strong data analysis skills with proven research experience in designing, conducting or supervising a qualitative and quantitative research. b. Experienced in data organization (Ex. Excel, R, Python etc.) and data analyses (Ex. STATA, SPSS etc.) software. Desirable to have experience in data visualization using Tableau software or similar tool, experience in digital data collection tools (Ex. KoBoCollect, Survey Monkey, ODK etc.) and Salesforce data management.
• Geographical experience of working in East Africa localities (especially Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda).

Communications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential both in English and Kiswahili.

Managerial Competencies

• Leadership: provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the organization’s vision; assists others to realize and develop their potential.
• Mentorship of Others: Empowering others & building trust; creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.

Asante Africa Foundation also considers the following values and core competencies critical for a staff member of the team.

Demonstrated Passion for Asante Africa Foundation’s Mission

Demonstrated passion for Asante Africa Foundation’s mission – www.asanteafrica.org – along with the culture and core values of the organization is essential. High level of personal integrity and trustworthiness.

Mission Alignment & Culture Fit

• Passionate and committed to advancing opportunities for youth education and skill development.
• Have a sophisticated, nuanced understanding of international philanthropy and how to navigate the funding opportunities.
• Highly strategic, and comfortable with creating clarity from ambiguity.
• Have experiences bringing a racial justice and gender equity lens to work products and staff culture.
• Possess high EQ and hear what is said and unsaid.
• Build trust through relationships and personal stories.
• Not afraid to advocate for organizational culture and values.
• Set high expectations for yourself and those around you.
• Can celebrate the victories in the work, big and small, while continuing to work for the long-term vision.

Organization Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• Integrity and transparency: maintain high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: demonstrates the ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivery of results produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

To Apply

Please send to [email protected] with Name: MEAL Manager – AAF East Africa as the Subject Line.
Please indicate who sent you this opportunity (since it is a private search).
Please attach your CV, M&E writing samples, 3 references, and how to best contact you.

This opportunity is ONLY OPEN TO EAST AFRICANS. TANZANIA NATIONALS AND WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
Asante Africa Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, considering all qualified applicants and employees for hiring, placement, and advancement, regardless of race, color, tribe, religion, national origin, genetic information, military status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or protected veteran status.

Compensation is competitive for a start-up organization and has the potential to grow. It will be determined based on a combination of factors, including level of experience, proven track record and exceeding targets. The total compensation package has a base salary and a performance bonus.
Applications will be accepted up to March 30, 2025, and then the shortlisting will take place.