Sylvester Runyanga

Oversee the designing and implementation of a robust monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning framework on a Mastercard-funded women and youth entrepreneurship project in Kenya, Senegal, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, and South Africa. Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic projects, assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports. Establish and maintain a comprehensive database for storing and organizing MEL and CLA data, making it easily accessible to project staff and stakeholders. Provided training and capacity building on CLA and adaptive management methods and tools and best practices to staff, and other stakeholders. Support them to integrate and institutionalise CLA best practices as requested. Support the design of new programs by providing evidence of program impact and outcomes through MEL data and research and contributing to the development of logical frameworks, theories of change, and MEL plans in project proposals Responsible for the data analysis, writing, and review of the results and learning sections of program reports in collaboration with program staff, before submission to donor and ensure consortium partners’ compliance with internal data quality requirements and timely submissions for reporting Use data to document achievements, success stories, and best practices while coordinating and collaborating systematically and consistently with the Communications Specialist.

Co-designed, developed, and institutionalised monitoring and evaluation systems and approaches including the development of processes and tools for carrying out assessments and collecting data, and indicators/targets, that provided useful data for decision making, reporting, communications, and organizational learning. Coordinated and collaborated with consortium members to collect and analyze the project monitoring, evaluation data, and make recommendations to the Senior Management Team for necessary program adaptation. Worked with the Database Coordinator to establish and develop appropriate data and information management systems for program data and indicators. Supported project leadership to champion holistic approaches to collaboration, learning and adapting, including design and implementation of an action-oriented project research and learning agenda, and application of best practices in knowledge management. Managed proposal development process as assigned, ensuring that proposals meet funder specifications and deadlines; conducted researches and created drafts for proposal sections. Managed the overall implementation, coordination and finalisation of the project’s Endline evaluation, including coordinating with the SAGE consortium members and donors to compile inputs across the contract period and lead the quality assurance of Endline evaluation outputs including report, project document archiving and dissemination materials. Coordinated documentation of two project-learning papers and evidence generation for key internal and external audiences, including for donor reporting and advocacy work. Supported the Consortium Manager in preparing quarterly reports, annual reports and other performance evaluations to inform the donor and other stakeholders of project progress and results. Led the recruitment of MEAL staff and assessments of performance (appraisals), recognizing the team's strengths and deficiencies. Worked with SAGE staff to hold annual Pause & Reflect sessions, allowing the team to consider what’s working and what isn’t, and offering time for the project to pivot and adjust to changing contexts and new information throughout implementation.

Established systems for gathering, reporting, and analysing performance data for impact and sustainability of program implementation; i.e., coordinate and manage all MERL tasks/deliverables (s) for the project; ensure that all required reports/documentation for the internal management systems are produced according to stipulated FCDO guidelines. Provided technical assistance and coordinating with consortium partners to improve and utilize existing systems for the timely collection, management, analysis, and reporting of valid and reliable data that meet donor-reporting requirements. Led the implementation of the project MERL frameworks and MERL tools, including ensuring regular updates of the frameworks, MERL tools, and guidelines at the program area level. Plan and coordinate Data Quality Assurances, including survey auditing and data spot checks. Led the design, development, and finalized the revision of the results framework, including the identification/selection of appropriate performance indicators to report on established SAGE program outcomes.

Supported the Technical Leads and Chief of Party with the active implementation of their MEAL plans, ensure MEAL plans are updated and MEAL findings are in place for all donor reports. Coordination with VOTER partners, harmonizing M&E plans, data collection plans, and monitoring tools to track and monitor project performance and effectiveness and develop a VOTER Monitoring framework. Undertake project-specific MEL work as required, such as revising the project Theory of Change, refining a project’s monitoring and evaluation plan. Oversee the development and implementation of the Performance Monitoring Plan to efficiently track, use and disseminate performance indicators and results over the life of the project, including routine service delivery data reporting, baseline and end line assessments, and outcome evaluations. Create and maintain Performance Indicator Reference Sheets and a Performance Indicator Tracking Table based on the mandatory standard USAID indicators required to be reported on for VOTER.

Developed and the implemented appropriate and viable appraisal, monitoring and evaluation systems that are in line with the SOSCVZ MEAL procedures, Supported mid and end evaluation processes, including assessing the methodology before report finalization. Designed and developed multiple M&E tools for routine data collection exercises by program staff, e.g., Stakeholder Contact Form, Food and Cash Distribution List, and Registration Forms. Oversee the program’s CLA process in collaboration with the Project Manager; ensured that the program’s CLA approach is applied; worked with leadership team to apply program learnings.

Developed, maintained and improving systems to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness, strategic alignment, cost and overall impact of Lean Seasonal Assistance programming Oversee and take lead the systematic and continuous data collection and analysis on the progress of activities over time and monitor results in terms of timeliness, quality and accuracy in line with the logical framework approaches (LFAs), best practice and project management.  Tracked progress/results against Annual Work Plans and Results and Resources Frameworks.  Conducted field visits to monitor program activities/ Quality Checklists through qualitative and quantitative methods, thereafter produce and share reports with MEAL Coordinator and the program team.

Conducted process monitoring at community level on Cash/food distributions, gender and compliance issues, market conditions and anthropometric measures. Forged close collaborations with a wide range of government and stakeholders for responsive and effective planning, implementation, and monitoring and played a crucial role in development. Supported the development, review and finalization of key project documents; work plan and detailed budgets, Performance Framework, and M&E Plan.

Implemented monitoring and evaluation processes and systems to aid in project management, impact assessment, and learning. Analyses quantitative and qualitative data, drafts reports presenting the results of the analysis, and shares the findings in an appropriate format. Ensure after-action reviews and lessons learned exercises, including data collected through community-Based Feedback and Response Mechanism and other participative forms of community engagement and feedback collection.