Save the Children Data and Knowledge Management Officer Job in Nairobi, Kenya

Data and Knowledge Management Officer - Kenya Country Office
 

Team / Programme: Programme Development and Quality

Location: Nairobi, with regular travel to the field offices
 

Grade: TBC (Competitive Package)

Post Type: National 
 

Child Safeguarding: Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

Role Purpose: The Data and Knowledge Management Officer is responsible for the consolidation of Save the Children’s monitoring systems at the national level and for ensuring data quality. 

The Officer is responsible for proper data collection and management to ensure transparency and accountability of projects.  

He/she will assist in ensuring reliable analysis for reporting and project monitoring, particularly of Global Indicators, total reach and quality indicators according to SCI and global standards.

The Officer will regularly visit the field to provide backstopping to Programme Operations staff and routinely check data quality.

He/she will also manage knowledge generated by projects for future programme development (e.g. compiling and managing the Lessons Learned database from evaluations, maintaining electronic files of project assessments/mid-term reviews/evaluations/etc.) in close collaboration with the Accountability Coordinator.  

Scope of Role: 

Reports to: Programme Development Quality Manager

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. 

Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. 

Save the Children has an operational presence in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Meru and Wajir – with plans to expand into Bungoma and Turkana in 2014. 

We work through partners in many other parts of the country. Currently, we have a staff complement of approximately 240 staff and an operating budget of approximately US$21 million this year.

Staff directly reporting to this post: None

Key Areas of Accountability:

Data Management

• Maintain consolidated programme data files for the country as a whole (and data sets from the field), by sector and for key donors - especially for projects spanning more than one geographic region. 
• Produce monthly and quarterly dashboard and summary reports as outlined in the country MEAL framework.
• Ensure effective storage of assessments, surveys and evaluations and/or organizational knowledge in shared folders, and to use this knowledge base to promote learning across the organisation.
• Develop and maintain a system for archiving projects M&E guidelines, tools, data files, analysis files, reports and presentations.
• Prepare complete and high quality reports of SCI Global Indicators as per SCI guidelines, ensuring quality data from field offices and effective tracking at the national level.

Data Quality

• Monitor data collection through field visit and consistency checks. 
• Ensure visits to each Area office at least three times per year to audit data quality using spot checks and quality checklists.
• Work with the projects teams in producing and maintaining up-to-date Output Tracker and project monitoring plans (PMPs).
• Verify that Output Tracker is correctly managed for Emergencies, including the required quality indicators.
• Ensure that relevant data is timely computerised by the data entry clerks in order to respect reporting timelines.  Be able to sort data by gender for appropriate reporting.

Programme Quality Analysis

• Work closely with the PDQ staff to identify key thematic indicators to monitor for each sector (Health/HIV, Nutrition, Child Protection, Education, DRR/Resilience, WASH and Food Security and Livelihoods), consistent with SCI Global Initiatives, Global Indicators and industry standards.  
• Ensure that key indicators are tracked on a consistent basis and in a consistent manner across programmes.
• Ensure that each sector has programme quality checklists for programme activities and that they are regularly implemented, data consolidated, analysed and acted upon.  
• Verify that summaries are made, disseminated and used in decision making/feedback.
• Develop one-page summaries describing each project, key activities, approaches, outcomes and impacts.
• Participate actively in team planning and team coordination meetings to ensure that data collection and data management is considered in PDQ team activities, and shared with Programme Operations.

Knowledge Management

• Working closely with the MEAL Advisor, design SCI Kenya’s approach to knowledge management and learning, setting down the minimum requirements (following SCI MOS) and ensuring that it complements and forms part of the overall MEAL system.
• Ensure that a learning culture is fostered within the organisation and the knowledge management and learning is an integral element of programming.
• Maintain files of all project evaluations and, in coordination with technical / project managers, ensure lessons learned are incorporated into on-going and future work.  
• Capture and disseminate lessons learned from evaluations and follow up on action planning, maintain a Lessons Learned database.
• With the MEAL Advisor, feed into programme and proposal design to ensure that new programme design is based on previous learning, and includes SMART indicators and clear M&E systems.
• Ensure that technical advisors have easy access to learning documents for reference purposes.
• Work with PDQ Technical Advisors and Programme Managers to maintain a list of key research questions and potential research opportunities for the future.  
• Ensure that these questions are incorporated into proposals and project evaluations.

Capacity Building

• Identify capacity gaps and provide capacity building and technical support when relevant to the team of MEAL officers, data entry staff, field monitors and officers. Build capacity of the team to provide high quality data for the M&E systems.
• Train staff to use programme quality checklists, ensure consolidation into an analytical database and regular reporting for decision making.
• Provide training for partners in data collection, quality checks and analysis for reporting and programme improvement.

Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
 

Accountability:

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

Qualifications and Experience

• University Degree in Statistics/Computer Science/Mathematics/Population Studies or related fields and good understanding and interest for M&E systems in Education, WASH, Child Rights Governance, Children Rights, Health and Nutrition, Livelihoods and Food Security Projects.
• Training in Monitoring and Evaluation fundamentals.
• At least 5 years experience of working on M&E systems, preferably with international NGO or UN agency.
• Experience in assessment methodologies (PRA/PLA, RRA), organising and implementation of programme interventions. Experience in education, WASH, nutritional and health surveys highly preferred.
• Computer literacy, particularly in the use of MS Access, MS Excel, SPSS and/or Epi Info, Stata
• Proven data analysis (Qualitative and Quantitative) and report writing skills.
• Ability and willingness to make frequent field visits to the project sites for data verification (routine data audit checks) and technical support.
• Experience of reviewing and consolidating evaluations.
• Experience of designing and managing knowledge management systems, an awareness of learning methodologies and experience of leading learning events.
• Awareness of international quality standards (Red Cross Code of Conduct, Sphere Standard, HAP Standard) and proven experience of using these standards in practical ways to promote quality and accountable programming.
• Experience working with systems implementation and creating effective feedback loops, as well as data quality checks.
• Ability to summarise and communicate key findings for management decision making.
• Ability to work independently, but enlist the support and decision-making of senior management.
• Experience coaching and training staff, including design of short training sessions.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
• Ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets.
• Ability to present information in a succinct and compelling manner
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies
• Fluency in English and Swahili, both verbal and written, required.
• Commitment to Save the Children values and willingness to abide by Child Safeguarding Policy.

How to Apply

The application process is now open and will close on 16th December 2013 at 5.00 p.m. 

To apply for this position, please send a short cover letter and CV to Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org indicating the position title on the subject line.