Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer

WUSC is seeking a Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Officer to support the development and management of the M&E framework and strategy for the ‘Displaced and Refugee youth Enabling Environment Mechanism (DREEM)’, a five year project based in northern Kenya and funded by the MasterCard Foundation

Background:

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organization that works with and through its southern partners to promote sustainable development. Founded in 1957 and currently working in more than 20 countries worldwide with an annual budget of approximately $45 million dollars, WUSC fosters youth-centered solutions for improved education, economic, and empowerment opportunities to overcome inequality and exclusion. We believe youth have the potential to provide for their families, build strong communities, and create positive social change for future generations. Globally, WUSC has a network of higher education institutions, civil society organizations, private sector partners, professionals, students, volunteers, faculty, and community leaders that can be leveraged to support our work.

WUSC’s members are Canada’s most globally engaged post-secondary institutions. WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference for youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, employment and empowerment. **

Displaced and Refugee youth Enabling Environment Mechanism (DREEM) project

WUSC through the DREEM project will play a unique role as a technical assistance and strategic learning partner to the Mastercard Foundation and Mastercard Foundation partners. The DREEM project will contribute to the Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to meaningfully include refugee and displaced youth in their Scholars project and Young Africa Works project. As the Mastercard Foundation also works to develop a new refugee and displaced youth strategy, the DREEM project will engage with the Foundation to ensure that the project continues to support the overall goals of the Foundation.

The DREEM project will focus on three key pillars:

1. Support Scholars project (SP) partners and staff with the knowledge, capacity and networks to meaningfully recruit and serve refugees and displaced youth in higher education and transition to work and to work towards more inclusive societies;
2. Support Young Africa Works (YAW) country partners and staff in Kenya to gain the knowledge, capacity and networks to meaningfully include and develop programming that meets the unique training and employment needs, opportunities and aspirations of refugee and displaced youth, especially young women;
3. Strengthening Economic Opportunities for Refugees (SEOR) to complement WUSC’s existing Learning through Education and Access to Employment Pathways (LEAP) project and provide refugee entrepreneurs, especially young women with improved access to market-oriented business support services that improve business and employment outcomes in Kenya.

Job Role

Under the supervision of the Nairobi-based MERL Manager, the Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer will work closely in collaboration with the WUSC team in Kenya, the Canada-based WUSC Advisory Team and the Mastercard Foundation team. **

Responsibilities:

● Develops and manages the MERL framework and plan for the DREEM program, in line with requirements of the Mastercard Foundation and WUSC;

● Develops the appropriate tools for periodic reviews and adaptations;

● Provides capacity building and overall support to partners to properly monitor and evaluate activities;

● With support of the WUSC MERL team, develops and delivers training on M&E across the DREEM network, providing direct coaching and capacity support as needed;

● Works in collaboration with the Policy and Strategic Communications Lead to develop policy and research priorities and a Research and Policy Strategy;

● Working closely with the MERL Manager, undertakes research and coordinates commissioned research;

● Working closely with the MERL Manager, manages the recruitment and relationships with external evaluation and research consultants;

● Contributes to the draft of the project’s progress reports by providing quality data and analysis on results achieved;

● Working closely with the MERL team, support the documentation of learning from project DREEM implementation;

● Supports the development and circulation of knowledge products to draw out lessons learned and success stories;

● Participates as required in regional and international meetings/workshops (remotely or in person, as feasible and appropriate) to share project lessons learned, success stories and research/studies findings.

Line Manager

WUSC Kenya MERL Manager

Position Requires Close Collaboration with:

Kenya

DREEM Team

Livelihoods and Economic Opportunities (LEO) Advisor

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Team

Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI) Advisor

Learning through Education and Access to Skills for Employment Project (LEAP) Team

Senior Management Team

HQ

Senior Manager, Durable Solutions for Refugees

Inclusive Economies Advisor

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Advisor

Qualifications:

● Master’s Degree in applied social science, statistics, international development, or another related field.

● Specific formal training in Monitoring and Evaluation is required

Experience & Competencies

The ideal applicant will combine technical expertise in one or more of DREEM’s sectors (higher education, durable solutions for refugees, vocational and technical training, support to entrepreneurs and businesses), a familiarity with the East African refugee context, a strategic and analytical mindset, excellent listening and interpersonal skills, and an ability to get things done.

Specific competencies:**

● At least 5 years of experience working in the coordination, implementation and evaluation of international development and other key donors

● A strong quantitative and/or qualitative background and experience with best practice data collection and analysis methods would be an asset

● Technical experience in at least one of DREEM’s core pillars would be an asset

● Superior oral and written communication skills, including the demonstrated ability to distill data and create compelling narratives for a variety of audiences

● Substantial experience with data collection, management, and analysis considered an asset

● Demonstrated experience in and commitment to working collaboratively across teams

● Experience infusing a gender responsive lens across M&E

Other requirements

● The role will require regular travel (up to 20%) to field sites in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kalobeyei Settlement, and nearby communities in northern Turkana, as well as occasional international travel for conferences, workshops and meetings

● Ability to work a flexible schedule