Background

Population Council- Kenya (PC Kenya), a non-profit organization registered in Kenya, is leading an inter-regional consortium of Function-Oriented Impact Partner Organizations (IPOs) that comprises ThinkPlace Kenya, Le Barometre, and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) (the IPO). The IPO supports Mastercard Foundation’s Impact Strategy by conducting impact measurement and evaluation activities, in addition to supporting program design and learnings across the Foundation’s program platforms, namely, the Pan-Africa Program (PANA), Scholars, Secondary Education and Transition (SET), Higher Education Collaboratives and Strategic Initiatives (HECSI), and Strategic Partnerships and Innovations (SP&I). The geographic scope of programs supported by the Foundation cuts across 35 countries in Africa. The IPO supports the Foundation and its partners through:

Impact Technical Delivery, which includes supporting robust monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) processes that entail assessing the progress of programs in advancing the Foundation's charitable goals of financial inclusion and youth education, as well as achieving set targets across the various programmatic platforms.
Program Support, that entails supporting the development of strategies tailored to the unique needs of the Foundation’s partners and program participants through extensive evidence reviews, needs assessments, and participatory design methods to ensure interventions are designed to achieve impact in line with specific platform strategies and the Foundation’s charitable purpose.
Cross-cutting Support, which entails supporting field building and communications activities through training and knowledge sharing and reflection to promote adoption of best practices.
The IPO provides technical support to the Foundation and its implementing partners on strategies that strengthen theories of change (ToCs) and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks, including supporting refinement of ToCs, MEL key performance indicators (KPIs) and learning questions, in addition to tracking partners’ MEL capabilities, and providing technical support to strengthen those capabilities.

Scope of Work

PC Kenya is seeking the services of a professional consultant to support the IPO, the Foundation and its implementing partners. The purpose of the assignment is to support the IPO to establish and deliver a structured MEL accompaniment programme for Foundation implementing partners. The programme will strengthen partner-level MEL infrastructure, governance, systems, processes, capabilities and use of evidence for decisions and reporting. Support will be tailored to documented partner needs and will cover theories of change, MEL plans, indicators, learning questions, data architecture, participant-level records, data quality, data governance, analysis, reporting, learning and adaptive management. The consultant will work with the IPO to perform the following tasks:

Workstream 1: Inception, partner universe and prioritisation

Review the Platform framework, partner portfolio, IPO plans, relevant MEL guidance, Shared Measures 2.0 requirements, Comprehensive Approach to Reviews and Evaluation (CARE), Program Outcomes Assessment/ Data Quality Assessment (POA/DQA) findings, Fluxx/Daraja reporting requirements and existing partner MEL documentation.
Confirm the partners and programmes covered by the assignment.
Establish a partner-level MEL support register and prioritisation methodology.
Prepare a detailed workplan showing partners, needs, activities, dates, responsibilities, level of effort, intended results and dependencies.
Workstream 2: Partner MEL capability and system diagnostics

Assess the MEL capability, infrastructure and operational readiness of agreed partners.
Review partner ToCs, results chains, MEL plans, indicators, targets, learning questions, data tools, participant-management systems, reporting arrangements and evidence-use practices.
Integrate relevant DQA, POA and review findings into each diagnostic.
Produce an agreed improvement plan for each partner or coherent partner cluster.
Workstream 3: MEL framework and infrastructure strengthening

Support partners to refine and operationalise ToCs, MEL plans, indicators, learning questions, tools, protocols and reporting calendars.
Strengthen data architecture, participant-level records, data dictionaries, indicator reference sheets, collection processes, storage, access controls, cleaning, validation and documentation.
Clarify data flows and accountabilities between lead partners, sub-partners, collaboratives, IPOs, programme teams and the Foundation.
Support partners to establish practical DQA and data-correction routines.
Workstream 4: Measurement alignment

Support operational alignment with Shared Measures 2.0 and applicable Work-Enabling Outreach (WEO), Youth-in-Work (YiW), transitions, inclusion, institutional strengthening and systems-change measures.
Confirm indicator applicability, targets, disaggregation, sources, frequency, aggregation, attribution and reporting responsibilities.
Identify and address gaps between partner records, programme designs and Fluxx/Daraja reporting requirements.
Support credible treatment of collaborative contributions and risks of double counting.
Workstream 5: Learning and adaptive management

Support partners to strengthen learning agendas and routine evidence reflection.
Facilitate or support partner-specific working sessions, coaching and communities of practice.
Establish decision logs linking evidence and insights to adaptations.
Harvest cross-partner learning and prepare decision-ready briefs for programme and platform discussions.
Workstream 6: Monitoring, reporting and handover

Maintain the live partner support register and evidence repository.
Prepare monthly dashboards and quarterly analytical reports.
Document capability improvements, outstanding risks, decisions requiring escalation and support still needed.
Prepare an end-of-assignment synthesis, partner handover notes and recommendations for sustaining improved MEL functions.
Key deliverables

The consultant will document monthly progress, implementation and adaptations at partner level without replacing partner MEL staff or assuming Foundation programme-management responsibilities; will work through the IPO’s consortium governance; will tailor support where partner needs differ; and will distinguish clearly between partner action, IPO support, consultant input and Foundation accountability. The consultant will not certify data as credible without documented review; will not treat attendance at socialisation sessions as evidence of operational readiness; will not mark DQAs or MEL plans as complete without agreed closure evidence; and will not request personally identifiable data without authorised arrangements. A summary of key tasks, deliverables and projected due dates are outlined in the table below:

Activity 1: Inception, partner universe and prioritisation

Deliverable: Inception package (inception note, delivery methodology, quality assurance plan, support for MEL/impact work)

Projected due date: October 30, 2026

Activity 2: Partner MEL capability and system diagnostics

Deliverable: Partner MEL support register (a live tool containing ToC/MEL status, agreed support, planned/completion dates, evidence link and next actions)

Projected Due Date: November 15, 2026

Activity 3: MEL framework and infrastructure strengthening

Deliverable: Partner diagnostic and improvement plans (assessment findings, agreed improvements, success measures, evidence required, completion date, and sustainability requirements)

Projected Due Date: December 15, 2026

Activity 4: Measurement alignment

Deliverable: Strengthened partner MEL products (refined ToC/MEL plans, learning agenda, data collection tools, and reporting templates

Projected Due Date: March 31, 2027

Activity 5: Learning and adaptive management

Deliverable: Capability accompaniment and evidence of application (coaching and technical session records; participation records; adapted materials; completed partner assignments)

Projected Due Date: May 31, 2027

Activity 6: Monitoring, reporting and handover

Deliverable: Monthly and quarterly reporting (monthly dashboard, quarterly analytical report per partner and in aggregate), and final synthesis and handover.

Projected Due Date: Monthly, quarterly, end of assignment by (June 30, 2027) as appropriate

Roles and Responsibilities
The consultant will work as part of the IPO delivery structure and will not operate as an independent parallel support channel to Foundation partners. Partner engagement will be coordinated through the designated IPO lead and relevant Foundation Impact Delivery and programme focal points. Foundation teams retain responsibility for strategic direction, approval of Foundation standards and programme decisions. The IPO retains responsibility for consortium management, technical delivery, quality assurance and contractual performance. The consultant provides specialist technical capacity within this structure.

Quality Assurance

All partner diagnostics, MEL products, status updates and reports will undergo documented IPO technical, format and document quality assurance before submission. The review should assess completeness; internal consistency; alignment with agreed standards; traceability to source evidence; proportionality of claims; data protection; usability; clarity; alignment with required formats; and disclosure of any use of AI.

Ethical Requirements

The consultant will apply the Foundation’s approved ethical, responsible-data, safeguarding and data-protection requirements across all activities. The consultant must not request, receive, retain or transfer personally identifiable information unless this is specifically authorised and supported by approved arrangements. Any data governance, consent or safeguarding concern must be documented and escalated through the agreed mechanism.

Qualifications and Experience

The consultant should have the following minimum qualifications:

Advanced degree in program monitoring and evaluation, statistics, economics, development studies or social sciences.
Minimum 5 years prior experience working in MEL, impact evaluation, or strategic planning.
Prior experience designing and tracking theories of change, MEL frameworks, performance indicators, and adaptative management.
Experience mentoring or training teams or partner organizations on development of theories of change and MEL frameworks.
Excellent diplomatic, representational, problem-solving, management, and interpersonal skills.
Excellent written and oral communications skills in English, including quality writing and presentation skills.
High sense of attention to details and ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams across Africa.
Experience working with international organizations, NGOs, or in Africa.

Interested applicants are requested to submit applications through this email. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and will be required to present a valid Police Clearance Certificate.