Company Description

Lumos is an international non-governmental organisation working to ensure every child has the right to grow up in a safe and loving family. Founded by J.K. Rowling, we partner with governments, civil society, and communities to transform care systems and prevent family separation.

We are ambitious for children. In the next 10 years, Lumos will enable 500,000 children in care to return to family-based care and prevent 10 million children from experiencing family breakdown and separation – so that they can thrive in their own families. Working with local, national, and global partners, Lumos supports government-led transformation of childcare systems across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America- driving systemic and sustainable change.

Since 2018, Lumos has been working in Kenya to support national care reform efforts, collaborating closely with government and partners to strengthen child protection systems and promote family-based care. Our work contributes to long-term, sustainable change so children can thrive within their families and communities.

Position

Lumos Kenya has an ongoing Programme involving National level Advocacy, supporting regional and County Care Reform implementation and related activities. Lumos is also working closely with Eastern and Rift Valley Regions authorities. Additionally, Lumos Kenya has an incredible opportunity in front of us as we, in partnership with UNICEF, to deliver our Expanding Care Reform Model to Improve Access to Lifesaving Family Based Care for At‑Risk Children in Nakuru, Kajiado, and Uasin Gishu Counties in Rift Valley programme.

We are looking for a highly experienced MEAL professional to support the Kenya team to lead its MEAL system and processes in line with Lumos’ standards and deliver to the highest possible standards and therefore ensure the success of its programme.

Key Objectives

• Establish effective and continuous monitoring systems to track Lumos Kenya programmes and projects in alignment with Lumos’ strategic objectives and standards, in collaboration with the Lumos Global MEAL team.
• Develop and lead Kenya programme’s MEAL Framework, including all Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning activities under the UNICEF and Embu programmes. Develop and strengthen appropriate data collection and monitoring tools, ensuring high-quality data is timely collected and available for regular monitoring, decision-making and reporting.
• Contribute to the development of quarterly and annual reports, reports to donors and other required reports.
• Support project reviews and evidence-based adaptations, and lead assessments, surveys, and data collection (including UNICEF baseline/endline and caregiver surveys) using data visualisation and analytical tools.
• In close collaboration with Safeguarding and GDPR Leads, ensure the programme’s MEAL framework and activities have a completed Safeguarding Risks Assessment with clear mitigation measures identified and monitored.
• Liaise with key stakeholders, including other implementing organisations within the region and local authorities to explore synergies and avoid duplication of efforts, and with the Lumos Global Office to ensure MEAL plans’ alignment with Lumos standards and strategy.
• Co-lead a final mixed-method participatory internal review of the UNICEF project, with key lessons learned and recommendations for the model implementation and replication.
• Provide Lumos Kenya staff members with additional technical MEAL advice and support, including developing evidence and monitoring templates, databases and tracking tools as needed for the effectiveness of programme and projects implementation.
• Contribute to the adjustment of Lumos Kenya strategy and results frameworks (if needed), and annual plans based on evidence and learning.
• Integrate strong MEAL components into proposals, concept notes and annual plans, including quality logframes with “SMART” indicators and strategic objectives, monitoring and evaluation plans, and inclusion of M&E activities into project plans.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Essential:

• Advanced degree in Social Work/Sociology, Child Rights, Human Rights, International Development, or a related field with a strong understanding of international child rights frameworks and conventions. Monitoring & Evaluation certification or a post graduate diploma.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills and ability to work with a wide variety of experts across different countries;
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to gather, organise and consolidate, large amounts of information, produced in different contexts;
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications,knowledge-sharing networks, experienced in Microsoft Office software, word processors, spreadsheets and other tools;
• Fluent written and verbal English.
• Experience of working in global teams/ an international organisation, and supporting colleagues across a variety of projects, ideally in the fields of children’s rights or child protection.
• Minimum of 3 years of MEAL experience in designing MEAL plans, tracking indicators, leading quantitative and qualitative data collection, reporting and producing findings’ summaries to support decision-making and advocacy purposes (e.g. briefings, executive summaries, presentations).
• Proven experience of leading large surveys, including training data collectors, overseeing data collection, and implementing quality assurance mechanisms.
• Experience of managing and implementing digital data collection systems (e.g. Kobo Toolbox Microsoft Forms, others), including training others on how to use them.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, be process-oriented and results-focused, meet deadlines with flexibility, creativity, and high quality;
• Proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritise, be accountable for results, and focused on the details;
• Good relationship skills with ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Commitment to applying high standards in data protection and MEAL ethics.
• Willingness and availability to travel locally and internationally as required.

Desirable:

• Ability to prioritise and multitask while working on a variety of projects – particularly internationally;
• Ability to travel internationally as required;
• Experience of managing MEAL budgets.
• Experience of developing and implementing participatory MEAL frameworks and/or participatory MEAL methods, especially involving children and young people.
• Experience working with government agencies and international organizations as partners.

Other information

Location: Kenya

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract – 12 months with a possible extension conditional to funding availability

Working Pattern: Full-time (40 Hours/week)

• Establish effective and continuous monitoring systems to track Lumos Kenya programmes and projects in alignment with Lumos’ strategic objectives and standards, in collaboration with the Lumos Global MEAL team.
• Develop and lead Kenya programme’s MEAL Framework, including all Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning activities under the UNICEF and Embu programmes. Develop and strengthen appropriate data collection and monitoring tools, ensuring high-quality data is timely collected and available for regular monitoring, decision-making and reporting.
• Contribute to the development of quarterly and annual reports, reports to donors and other required reports.
• Support project reviews and evidence-based adaptations, and lead assessments, surveys, and data collection (including UNICEF baseline/endline and caregiver surveys) using data visualisation and analytical tools.
• In close collaboration with Safeguarding and GDPR Leads, ensure the programme’s MEAL framework and activities have a completed Safeguarding Risks Assessment with clear mitigation measures identified and monitored.
• Liaise with key stakeholders, including other implementing organisations within the region and local authorities to explore synergies and avoid duplication of efforts, and with the Lumos Global Office to ensure MEAL plans’ alignment with Lumos standards and strategy.
• Co-lead a final mixed-method participatory internal review of the UNICEF project, with key lessons learned and recommendations for the model implementation and replication.
• Provide Lumos Kenya staff members with additional technical MEAL advice and support, including developing evidence and monitoring templates, databases and tracking tools as needed for the effectiveness of programme and projects implementation.
• Contribute to the adjustment of Lumos Kenya strategy and results frameworks (if needed), and annual plans based on evidence and learning.
• Integrate strong MEAL components into proposals, concept notes and annual plans, including quality logframes with “SMART” indicators and strategic objectives, monitoring and evaluation plans, and inclusion of M&E activities into project plans.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work with a wide variety of experts across different countries
• Excellent analytical skills
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, knowledge-sharing networks
• Fluent written and verbal English
• Experience of working in global teams/ an international organisation
• Experience in designing MEAL plans, tracking indicators, leading quantitative and qualitative data collection, reporting and producing findings’ summaries
• Proven experience of leading large surveys, including training data collectors, overseeing data collection, and implementing quality assurance mechanisms
• Experience of managing and implementing digital data collection systems (e.g. Kobo Toolbox Microsoft Forms, others), including training others on how to use them
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures
• Process-oriented and results-focused
• Ability to meet deadlines with flexibility, creativity, and high quality
• Proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritise, be accountable for results, and focused on the details
• Good relationship skills with ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary and multicultural teams
• Commitment to applying high standards in data protection and MEAL ethics
• Ability to prioritise and multitask while working on a variety of projects – particularly internationally
• Experience of managing MEAL budgets
• Experience of developing and implementing participatory MEAL frameworks and/or participatory MEAL methods, especially involving children and young people
• Experience working with government agencies and international organizations as partners

• Advanced degree in Social Work/Sociology, Child Rights, Human Rights, International Development, or a related field with a strong understanding of international child rights frameworks and conventions.
• Monitoring & Evaluation certification or a post graduate diploma.
• Experience of working in global teams/ an international organisation, and supporting colleagues across a variety of projects, ideally in the fields of children’s rights or child protection.