NurtureFirst is seeking a Senior Associate – Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning to own and independently deliver substantial areas of the organization’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning portfolio as it advances its mission to strengthen home-based childcare (HBCC) systems. Working within agreed organizational priorities, the role will help shape measurement approaches, translate them into practical monitoring systems, and generate evidence to inform program implementation, adaptation, and decision-making.
Reporting to the Head of Programs, the successful candidate will take responsibility for defined MEL workstreams, exercising judgment on how best to deliver them, prioritizing effectively, and proactively identifying and resolving issues. They will maintain and improve monitoring systems, lead data quality and evaluation activities, and turn data into clear analysis and recommendations for program and management use. The role will work closely with program and Alliance teams, government partners, implementing partners, and other stakeholders. It will contribute to team-level priorities and the continued development of NurtureFirst’s MEL approach.
Key Responsibilities
Across these responsibilities, the Senior Associate is expected to own outcomes within their scope: clarify what needs to be done, organize the work, bring in the right people, communicate progress, and drive delivery through to completion.
Monitoring & Measurement
Own defined MEL workstreams end-to-end, including indicators, measurement plans, deliverables and timelines, within agreed organizational priorities.
Develop, adapt and improve indicators, data collection tools and monitoring processes for programs and workstreams, using sound judgment to ensure they are practical and fit for purpose.
Partner with program teams and external partners to clarify results, indicators, targets and data requirements, and resolve measurement questions as they arise.
Drive the integration of practical measurement approaches into program planning, implementation and review.
Proactively identify gaps, risks and opportunities in monitoring approaches and recommend and implement practical improvements within the role’s scope.
Data Quality & Management
Own and continuously improve data quality assurance processes for defined programs and partners, escalating material risks where needed.
Review monitoring data for completeness, consistency, accuracy and timeliness; investigate issues and drive follow-through to resolution.
Ensure assigned databases, data documentation and monitoring records are accurate, current and usable, and improve systems where needed.
Advise and support partners to strengthen data collection, management and reporting, adapting support to their needs and context.
Use and help optimize digital data collection platforms such as Kobo, ODK, CommCare, or similar tools.
Data Analysis & Performance Reporting
Independently analyze quantitative and qualitative data to assess progress, emerging trends, implementation issues, and implications for decision-making.
Develop concise performance summaries, dashboards, and data visualizations that enable teams and leaders to understand progress and act on findings quickly.
Translate data into clear findings, practical recommendations and decision-ready insights, not simply reports of activity.
Own MEL inputs to program reviews and contribute high-quality analysis to donor reporting, planning and proposal development.
Pilots, Testing, Evaluation & Evidence Generation
Design and refine measurement approaches for assigned pilots, tests and systems-change interventions, drawing on appropriate methods and the needs of the decision being made.
Develop and drive learning agendas for assigned pilots and tests in collaboration with program teams, ensuring learning questions are translated into actionable evidence.
Plan and coordinate data collection and evidence-generation activities with program teams, partners, consultants and technical providers, managing dependencies and quality with minimal follow-up.
Lead the analysis and synthesis of findings across evaluations, assessments and research activities, drawing on relevant technical expertise and taking ownership of the quality and completion of the overall deliverable.
Analyze evidence to assess what is working, what is not, why, and under what conditions, and translate findings into practical recommendations for program adaptation and scale.
Develop or lead contributions to evidence products that inform program, policy and advocacy decisions.
Ensure all data collection, research and evaluation activities involving children, caregivers and providers adhere to NurtureFirst’s safeguarding, consent and data protection standards, including risk assessments, informed consent and assent where applicable, and secure handling of personal data.
Program & Partner Support
Act as a practical MEL thought partner to program colleagues and partners, independently advising on measurement, evidence and learning within the role’s areas of ownership.
Strengthen partner monitoring, data quality and reporting practices through clear guidance, tools and problem-solving support.
Help teams interpret and use data to identify implementation challenges, test assumptions and make timely adjustments.
Build and manage constructive working relationships with government counterparts, implementing partners and other stakeholders relevant to assigned MEL workstreams.
Learning & Adaptive Management
Bring MEL findings proactively into program reflection, planning and decision-making rather than waiting for formal reporting cycles.
Design and facilitate structured reflection and learning processes with program teams, partners and Alliance members, with clear questions, outputs and follow-through.
Work with the Learning & Knowledge function to ensure evidence is translated into useful learning products and organizational knowledge.
Partner with teams to translate evidence and experience into practical improvements in program design and implementation.
Synthesize and share evidence, lessons, promising practices and adaptations across NurtureFirst’s programs and the Global HBCC Alliance, identifying patterns and implications across contexts.
Contribute substantively to knowledge and learning exchanges across the Global HBCC Alliance, helping partners share and apply evidence, practices and lessons across contexts.
Planning, Budget & Coordination
Independently plan, prioritize and manage assigned MEL workstreams, deliverables, dependencies and timelines, with general direction rather than day-to-day supervision.
Shape MEL inputs to team work plans, budgets and proposals, identifying what is needed to deliver strong measurement and learning outcomes.
Manage defined assignments with external consultants and technical providers, including clarifying scope, coordinating inputs, monitoring quality and driving timely delivery.
Proactively communicate progress, decisions, risks and emerging issues to the Head of Programs, bringing recommended solutions rather than only escalating problems.
Requirements
Candidate Profile.
Essential.
Existing eligibility to work in Kenya.
Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Public Health, Economics, International Development or a related field.
4–6 years of progressive MEL experience in development programs.
Demonstrated experience owning and delivering MEL workstreams with increasing autonomy, including setting the delivery approach within an agreed strategy and managing work with minimal supervision.
Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, with the ability to move from data to clear findings, practical recommendations and decision-ready insight.
Experience developing and using indicators, measurement tools, data collection approaches and reporting systems.
Experience designing and delivering evaluations, assessments, pilots, testing, or implementation research, including coordinating stakeholders or technical inputs.
Proficiency in digital data collection and management platforms such as KoboToolbox, ODK, CommCare, or similar tools.
Experience with data analysis and visualization tools such as Excel, Power BI, Tableau, Looker Studio, or similar tools.
Strong understanding of data quality and experience applying data quality assurance processes.
Strong technical writing, synthesis, communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to communicate evidence clearly to non-technical audiences.
Experience working as a thought partner to program teams, partners and other stakeholders to use data, evidence and learning to inform decisions and adaptation.
Understanding of safeguarding and ethical research practice, including informed consent and data protection when working with children and families.
Strong self-leadership, prioritization and proactive problem-solving skills, with a track record of high-quality delivery, sound judgment and reliable follow-through with minimal supervision.
Desirable
A Master’s degree.
Experience in systems strengthening or systems change.
Experience in early childhood development, childcare, education, health or social protection.
Experience working directly with communities, with an understanding of participatory approaches and community engagement.
Familiarity with systems thinking and systems-change measurement approaches.
Experience working with governments and development partners.
Experience translating evidence and learning into program, policy or advocacy decisions.
Experience applying safeguarding standards in early childhood or community-based programs.
Experience contributing to cross-country, network or global learning initiatives.
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