PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The MEL Officer provides technical leadership in monitoring, evaluation, and learning across all of KITUO’s programmes and projects. The position ensures that robust, evidence-based MEL systems are in place to track programme performance, support organizational learning, and demonstrate accountability to beneficiaries, donors, and other stakeholders.

The role is directly linked to KITUO’s core programmatic outcomes  including the delivery of legal aid, advancement of public interest litigation, community legal empowerment, and advocacy for structural justice reforms. Robust MEL is essential to demonstrating the impact of KITUO’s work in these areas, identifying what works, and enabling evidence-based adaptation of programmes.

The MEL Officer will transition KITUO from fragmented, project-based data systems to a cohesive, integrated, and rights-based MEL architecture, while championing a culture in which data is actively used for programme improvement, strategic decision-making, and accountability to communities served. The role has the authority to set MEL standards, approve data tools, and enforce MEL compliance across all programme teams.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

MEL Systems Design and Management

• Lead the design, development, and continuous improvement of MEL systems across all programmes and research projects.
• Develop and review results frameworks, logical frameworks, and theories of change in collaboration with programme teams.
• Translate programme requirements into functional system specifications and user-friendly data collection solutions, ensuring integration with KITUO’s Legal Case Management System (LCMS) and other institutional data platforms.
• Oversee the configuration and deployment of digital data collection tools, including mobile-based platforms, electronic registries, and interoperable digital ecosystems.
• Maintain and regularly update a comprehensive MEL plan for all active projects, aligned with donor requirements and KITUO’s strategic plan.
• Champion cross-cutting themes including gender equality, disability inclusion, age-responsiveness, and legal empowerment  in MEL system design, indicator development, and data analysis.
• Set and enforce MEL standards, approve data collection tools, and ensure MEL compliance across all programme teams.

Data Collection, Management, and Quality Assurance

• Develop and standardize data collection tools, survey instruments, and case-tracking registers appropriate to each programme area.
• Establish and enforce data quality assurance mechanisms, including validation rules, routine audits, and data cleaning protocols.
• Supervise and coordinate data collection activities across field teams, programme staff, and community-based monitors.
• Maintain centralized, well-organized databases for the storage, retrieval, and analysis of programme data.
• Disaggregate all programme data by gender, age, disability status, geographic location, and other relevant equity dimensions to support inclusive and rights-based programming.
• Strengthen data backup, recovery, and cybersecurity measures to safeguard organizational data assets.

Reporting, Analytics, and Knowledge Management

• Lead the development of periodic programme reports monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual  submitted on time and to the standard required by internal management and donors.
• Produce data visualizations, dashboards, and automated reporting systems to support evidence-based decision-making at all levels.
• Document lessons learned, best practices, case studies, and success stories drawn from programme implementation.
• Support the preparation of donor reports by consolidating performance data, narrative updates, and indicator progress.
• Share MEL findings, programme outcomes, and learning with communities and beneficiaries as part of downward accountability commitments, using accessible and appropriate formats.
• Contribute to knowledge products such as policy briefs, learning papers, and programme evaluations.

Evaluation and Learning

• Plan and coordinate internal and external evaluations, including baselines, mid-term reviews, and end-line assessments, within agreed project timelines.
• Develop evaluation frameworks, terms of reference for evaluations, and data collection instruments.
• Facilitate after-action reviews, reflection sessions, and organizational learning events to embed lessons into programme design.
• Actively use evaluation findings to inform programme adaptation, resource allocation, and strategic decision-making  not merely for documentation purposes.
• Collaborate with programme teams to incorporate evaluation recommendations into ongoing and future programming cycles.
• Support research initiatives that generate evidence on effective legal empowerment, access-to-justice, and community advocacy strategies.
• Maintain a structured learning agenda aligned with KITUO’s strategic plan priorities and donor accountability commitments.

Capacity Building and Technical Support

• Provide ongoing technical support and mentorship to programme and research teams on MEL systems, digital tools, and data quality standards.
• Develop user guides, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and training materials for data collection and reporting.
• Conduct regular training sessions for staff, paralegals, and community-based monitors, with a focus on building sustainable internal MEL capacity.
• Clarify supervisory responsibilities for any data clerks, MEL assistants, or interns assigned to the MEL function, and provide direct day-to-day supervision as applicable.
• Support the onboarding of new programme staff on KITUO’s MEL frameworks, tools, and data culture.

Partnerships, Donor Engagement, and Compliance

• Liaise with donors, partner organizations, and sub-grantees on MEL requirements, reporting standards, and compliance expectations.
• Support the alignment of KITUO’s MEL systems with donor reporting frameworks, international best practices, and sector-specific standards in legal aid and access-to-justice programming.
• Participate in consortium-based MEL processes, joint evaluations, and multi-organizational learning activities.
• Represent KITUO in MEL-related forums, technical working groups, and sector networks.
• Contribute to proposal development by providing MEL design inputs, indicator frameworks, and results measurement strategies.

Safeguarding, Ethical Data Practices, and Institutional Compliance

• Uphold and enforce KITUO’s safeguarding policies in all data collection and MEL activities, particularly when working with vulnerable populations including refugees, survivors of GBV, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities.
• Obtain and document informed consent from data subjects prior to data collection, in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 2019, and organizational policies.
• Establish clear protocols for handling sensitive data relating to legal cases, client identities, and personal circumstances, ensuring access is limited to authorized personnel only.
• Contribute to risk assessments, safeguarding compliance reviews, and the implementation of accountability-to-affected-populations (AAP) frameworks.
• Adhere to all internal organizational procedures, HR regulations, procurement policies, and ethical guidelines.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum Academic and Professional Requirements
• A Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Health, Information Management, or a related field from a recognized university.
• Additional training or certification in digital data systems, data engineering, or MEL frameworks is an added advantage.
• A minimum of two (2) years of progressive experience in monitoring and evaluation, data management, or MEL systems design.
• Demonstrated experience in the non-profit, legal aid, access-to-justice, or human rights sector is highly desirable.
• Experience working with multi-donor programmes and complex data environments is required.