Senior Associate – Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

                                          Senior Associate – Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

Position: Senior Associate – Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

Location: Remote, based in Kenya, preferably Nairobi, with regular in-person engagement and travel anticipated within and across countries.

Work Authorization: Candidates must have valid work authorization for Kenya

Contract Type: Full -time

Reports to: Head of Programs, NurtureFirst

About GDI

The Global Development Incubator, Inc. (GDI Africa) is a non-profit organization independently incorporated in Kenya in April 2017 and legally registered under the Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Act of Kenya. GDI Africa is governed by a locally constituted Board and directly employs over fifty staff across the country and the African region. GDI is renowned for launching and operationalizing initiatives aimed at systemic and scaled change. GDI's mission is to bring together ideas, leaders, and capital to build and scale the next generation of social solutions. More on GDI's approach and work can be found at: www.gdiafrica.org

About NurtureFirst

NurtureFirst is a systems change catalyst for home-based childcare (HBCC), the most prevalent

and least resourced form of early childhood care globally. Globally and locally, NurtureFirst

catalyzes the systems that make HBCC visible, supported, and sustainable. We partner with governments, funders, and communities to design and scale policies and practices that uplift HBCC providers and transform early childhood outcomes.

Our work operates at three interconnected levels:

• In-country systems change: We partner with governments, funders, and communities to design and scale policies and practices that uplift HBCC providers and transform early childhood outcomes. Currently operating in Kenya as our first country of focus, we plan to expand to additional countries over the next decade.
• Global movement-building: Alongside our country-level work, we are building a Global HBCC Alliance with partner organizations to elevate the visibility of home-based childcare worldwide, share evidence and best practices, and accelerate adoption of supportive policies across contexts.
• Learning & innovation:We generate, capture, and synthesize evidence and learning from both our country-level work and the global movement, sharing insights across these areas to inform practice, strengthen systems change, and shape the global movement. We test and refine innovative approaches and translate learning into practical tools, insights, and recommendations that can be applied across contexts.

NurtureFirst is currently incubated as an initiative of GDI and is in the process of independent registration, expected to be completed in late 2026.

Role Overview

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.

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.

Why NurtureFirst

• Contribute to a growing global movement to strengthen home-based childcare systems locally and globally.
• Help generate and use evidence that improves program practice and supports systems change.
• Work with governments, partners, and communities to improve outcomes for young children, caregivers, and HBCC providers.
• Grow with an organization at an important stage of development while strengthening its MEL practice.
  
  

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

NurtureFirst is committed to keeping children, families and home-based childcare providers safe from harm. Everyone who works with us is expected to share this commitment and to follow our Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. All successful candidates will be subject to safeguarding checks before starting.

How to Apply

If this role resonates with you and you meet the qualifications above, please submit a single PDF document containing your CV and a cover letter.

Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate your relevant experience for this role, including examples of work you have independently owned, how you have prioritized and solved problems with limited supervision, how you have contributed to team-level priorities, and how you have translated MEL expertise into practical results and decisions.

Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled and are to be submitted via https://www.gdiafrica.org/our-careers/