Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Associate
Location: Kenya
Type of Employment: Contract
Time Commitment: Full time
Industry: Nonprofit/International Development/Social Entrepreneurship
Employer: Village Enterprise
Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL ) Associate
Department: Country Programs
Position Type: Full-time.
Reports to: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer.
Direct Reports: Enumerators.
Location: Busia, Isiolo, Kisumu, Kakuma (Assigned duty station; extensive travel to data collection sites)
About Village Enterprise
Village Enterprise Kenya is a leading economic inclusion organization dedicated to ending extreme poverty through entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and access to markets. Village Enterprise is implementing ASCEND - Advancing Scalable, Cost-Effective Entrepreneurship through Digital Innovation - a three-year, multi-country initiative across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia.
ASCEND will scale Village Enterprise's digitally enabled approach to poverty graduation, combining entrepreneurship and livelihood development with digital learning, savings, coaching, financial inclusion and market access. The project will use technology and data to increase the reach, quality and cost-effectiveness of delivery while maintaining strong participant engagement and programme quality.
The project will support 21,600 businesses and 64,800 households, reaching an estimated 388,800 lives across the four countries. At least 80% of direct participants will be women.
ASCEND is both a major delivery initiative and an important opportunity for Village Enterprise to demonstrate how digitally enabled Graduation programming can achieve quality, scale and cost-effectiveness across diverse operating contexts.
Project and Position Overview:
Village Enterprise is implementing ASCEND - Advancing Scalable, Cost-Effective Entrepreneurship through Digital Innovation - a three-year, multi-country initiative across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia.
ASCEND will scale Village Enterprise's digitally enabled approach to poverty graduation, combining entrepreneurship and livelihood development with digital learning, savings, coaching, financial inclusion and market access. The project will use technology and data to increase the reach, quality and cost-effectiveness of delivery while maintaining strong participant engagement and programme quality.
The project will support 21,600 businesses and 64,800 households, reaching an estimated 388,800 lives across the four countries. At least 80% of direct participants will be women.
ASCEND is both a major delivery initiative and an important opportunity for Village Enterprise to demonstrate how digitally enabled Graduation programming can achieve quality, scale and cost-effectiveness across diverse operating contexts.
Position Summary
The MEL Associate is the frontline lead for field data collection and quality assurance across one or more assigned Village Enterprise projects. Functioning as a MEL Associate, the role organizes and supervises part-time enumerators, coordinates field assignments, conducts verification and spot checks, and ensures accurate, ethical and timely submission of monitoring and survey data. Documents field observations and develops report for both field learnings and activity.
Reporting to the MEL Officer, the MEL Associate translates approved data collection plans into daily field activities, coaches enumerators, troubleshoots Taro Works data capture and synchronization, performs basic data checks and Stata-supported analysis, and promptly escalates quality, safeguarding, security and research-protocol concerns. The role does not independently change sampling, survey instruments, indicators or approved research protocols.
Responsibilities
1. Enumerator Supervision & Field Deployment (30%)
* Supervise enumerators assigned to one or more projects, including daily deployment, attendance, productivity, conduct and field safety.
* Prepare practical data collection routes, schedules and assignment plans, considering geography, languages, accessibility, sampling instructions and approved budgets.
* Train and coach enumerators on questionnaires, interview techniques, informed consent, Android devices, TaroWorks, safeguarding and respondent confidentiality.
* Conduct regular accompaniment, observation and feedback sessions; flag persistent performance issues to the MEL Officer.
* Lead regular enumerator briefings, document challenges and coordinate corrective action within approved procedures.
2. Data Collection, Verification & Quality Assurance (30%)
* Coordinate and, when required, personally conduct quantitative and qualitative field data collection, including baseline, midline, endline, and routine monitoring.
* Carry out approved business and savings group spot checks, back-checks, re-interviews and source verification without compromising respondent independence.
* Review submissions daily for completeness, accuracy, consistency, valid identifiers, duplicates, unusual patterns and adherence to sampling protocols.
* In collaboration with the MEL Officer, test the new or updated data collection tools to assess for the flow, skip logic, and synchronization error.
* Ensure daily review and timely synchronization of approved Taro Works forms and reconciliation of relevant Salesforce records with the MEL Officer and Systems team.
* Document data quality findings, corrections and audit trails; escalate suspected fabrication, protocol deviations or unresolved discrepancies immediately.
* Apply informed consent, safe interviewing, data minimization and confidentiality requirements to every field interaction.
3. Digital Data Management, Stata & Reporting (15%)
* Maintain accurate enumerator assignment trackers, field progress summaries, verification logs and device inventories using approved tools.
* Use Stata as a mandatory working tool for basic data cleaning, validation, descriptive summaries and checking anomalies under MEL Officer guidance.
* Provide timely weekly field progress and enumerator feedback reports, and monthly summaries of findings, risks and recommended improvements.
* Escalate data collection delays, incomplete submissions, device failures, synchronization issues and resource constraints with documented proposed actions.
* Protect data files, access credentials and respondent information; use only authorized storage, sharing and retention procedures.
* Assign and unassign data collection tools in Salesforce, and other objects as guided by the MEL Officer.
4. Research, Monitoring & Learning Support (10%)
* Implement field components of approved monitoring and evaluation studies, following survey scripts, sample lists, randomization control trial (RCT) and research protocols exactly.
* Facilitate approved focus group discussions, key informant interviews, participant feedback and other qualitative data collection as assigned.
* Transcribe all the qualitative data collected within their respective projects or region of operation and share verbatim reports with MEL Officers for analysis
* Support participant and enterprise follow-up, business health verification and savings group monitoring in coordination with project teams.
* Capture operational insights, emerging trends, and success stories without presenting unverified observations as established findings.
* Support MEL learning sessions and field-level testing only as authorized by the MEL Officer.
5. Enumerator Capacity, Coordination & Community Liaison (10%)
* Orient new enumerators and deliver refresher coaching on ethical data collection, translation consistency and digital tools.
* Coordinate with Field Associates, Business mentors, Project Officers and community representatives on access and logistics while preserving MEL independence.
* Explain the purpose of approved data collection to participants and local authorities without making commitments beyond delegated authority.
* Help ensure safe and inclusive interviews for participants with different language, literacy and accessibility needs.
* Support equipment readiness, logistics and field training requirements in coordination with the MEL Officer.
6. Safeguarding, Compliance & Resource Stewardship (5%)
* Ensure enumerators comply with Village Enterprise safeguarding, code of conduct, consent, security and data protection policies.
* Immediately refer safeguarding concerns through designated reporting channels; do not independently investigate allegations.
* Track approved enumerator travel, supplies, devices and field expenditure documentation and flag variances promptly.
* Escalate incidents affecting enumerator safety, respondent welfare, data integrity or research ethics without delay.
Requirements
Required Qualifications & Experience
• Diploma or bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Economics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Information Management or a related field.
• At least 1–3 years of relevant field data collection or monitoring experience, including demonstrated ability to lead or coach enumerators.
• Mandatory working proficiency in Stata for data cleaning, validation and basic descriptive analysis; candidates must demonstrate competence through a practical assessment.
• Practical experience with TaroWorks, Salesforce or comparable mobile data collection tools and information management systems; strong Excel and Android skills.
• Understanding of survey sampling, informed consent, respondent confidentiality, data quality assurance and basic qualitative research techniques.
• Strong communication and field coordination skills, proficiency in relevant local language(s), and willingness to travel extensively in assigned rural geographies.
To Apply:
Interested and qualified candidates who meet the set criteria are invited to send their Cover Letter and CV (Maximum 3 pages) including 3 referees, on the online platform. With the subject line: "Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Associate – Busia, Kisumu, Isiolo, Kakuma. please specify preferred job location.
Village Enterprise is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Village Enterprise provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Village Enterprise does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Village Enterprise will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship to daily operations. Village Enterprise is a corruption, solicitation, and bribery-free organization. Neither Village Enterprise nor any of its employees or associates’ charges money to job applicants before, during, or after the recruitment process. Please report any malpractice through our safeguarding toll-free hotline 0800724810
Safeguarding Statement:
Village Enterprise is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees, volunteers, Visitors, associates (consultants, service providers and suppliers) and partners to uphold this commitment and adhere to our safeguarding policies and code of conduct. Village Enterprise has zero tolerance for any form of abuse, exploitation, or harassment.
All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, which may include reference checks with previous employers, verification of qualifications, and criminal record or background screening where required by law
Benefits
To be communicated
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested and qualified candidates who meet the set criteria are invited to send their Cover Letter and CV (Maximum 3 pages) including 3 referees, on the online platform. With the subject line: "Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Associate – Busia, Kisumu, Isiolo, Kakuma. please specify preferred job location.
https://villageenterprise.careers.flair.hr/positions/a78Jw00000Ew1WjIAJ