Zena Lyaga

I have over 15 years experience in Research, Monitoring Evaluation Accountability Learning (MEAL) – (Research design, data collection coordination, qualitative and quantitative analysis, technical report writing, designing MEL & MIS framework and theory of change, designing monitoring tools and approaches) and strategic planning and management (Developing strategic plans).:  Research, Monitoring Evaluation Accountability Learning (MEAL) – (Research design, data collection coordination, qualitative and quantitative analysis, technical report writing, designing MEL & MIS framework and theory of change, designing monitoring tools and approaches) and strategic planning and management (Developing strategic plans).

Gender: Experience spanning over 7 years in gender research (e.g. Baseline assessment Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Early Child Marriages in Narok; Gender mainstreaming and gender assessment needs (e..g. assessment of gender mainstreaming in malaria programming-findings advised the mainstreaming of gender in malaria country strategy-ICF Macro; evaluation of HILTI program a program aimed at empowering the vulnerable in Kiambu and Muranga communities in particular women and youth-Hand in Hand E.A etc,). End of project assessment on Gender Based Violence in Kibera-Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) 2014; Gender and youth researches in Somalia including Girl Child Education, Impact of COVID-19 on GBV in Somalia etc). I provided technical expertise in assessment design, coordination of data collection, analysis and technical report writing.

Population Health: Experience spanning over 20 years in: Reproductive Health (e.g. Linda Mama improving access to maternal health services –National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) 2019; Maisha HIV at the Workplace targeting public sector – National Aids Control Council (NACC)2018; Longitudinal and cross sectional research on Impact of Health Franchising on Uptake of Family Planning in Kenya –Population Services International/Kenya 2012-2015; Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Services in informal settlements of Nairobi and Mombasa aimed at increasing End of Project Evaluation - German Foundation for World Population (DSW)-2014; (Riders project aimed at increasing access to maternal health services in Makueni- End of Project Evaluation- Christian Aid August 2012; HIV Prevention and Awareness program in Nairobi and Kajiado aimed at creating awareness, increasing uptake of VCT and Comprehensive Care Centre services and the referral system-Trocaire 2014 etc.), Child Health (e.g. early childhood feeding practices in Kenya Baseline assessment-Family Health International (FHI) 2015; Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses-Busia and Siaya-End of project Evaluation National Council for Population and Development etc), Adolescent and Youth Health (e.g. HIV Comprehensive Education Program in Kakamega and Busia aimed at creating awareness among the adolescents and youth on sexual and reproductive health including HIV and STIs and advocating for youth friendly centres to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services among the youth- End term Evaluation –Anglican Development Services (ADS).  Demographic and Health Survey Somalia 2018-2021-United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA Somalia). Mental Health (e.g. Mental Health and Wellbeing Project under a consortium of 9 organizations funded by comic relief implementing prevention, care and advocacy programs across the country-technical assistance in MEL 2020-22). Health Impact Assessment Thwake Dam – Ministry of Water and Irrigation 2019 etc). My key roles in these assignment are research design, design of data collection tools, data management, management of data collection teams, data analysis and report writing. 

Systems Strengthening:  Experience spanning over 20 years in: Policy and strategies (e.g. Kenya Universal Health Care Policy 200-2030 2021 World Health Organization & Ministry of Health; Malaria Strategy 2015 ICF Macro International PIMA project –Mainstreaming gender in Malaria Program; Capacity Strengthening (e.g. PIMA Project – training health care workers on Malaria monitoring and reporting –ICF Macro 2014-2018; Capacity Project 2009-2011 Intra Health assess the performance needs of the health care workers across public and mission health facilities and provide recommendations to the government, donors and partners on areas that need to be improved. The assessments covered training and continuous medical education (CMEs), certification and performance in health facilities and facility infrastructure providing an enabling environment; Training Needs Assessment (e.g. Training needs of healthcare workers particularly in the care and treatment of HIV-advise on gaps in the training of health care workers-Baseline assessment – Maryland University- 2013). Policy and strategy monitoring for WFP’s Capacity Strengthening Project for the Kenyan National and County Government towards realizing Food and Security Nutrition.  I provided technical advice and training for these assignments.

food and nutrition security, climate change adaptation and resilience building:  Experience spanning over 5 years in: Policy and strategies (e.g. outcome monitoring and learning for World Food Program’s (WFP) Capacity strengthening of government institutions on drought reduction management (DRM), social protection, health and nutrition, humanitarian supply chain, school meals program, gender mainstreaming, MEL and MIS systems in 10 ASAL counties. (Tana River, Garisa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Samburu, Baringo, Turkana and Makueni. The project entailed developing the needed legal, policy, and strategic frameworks and training of county staff to enhance programing for achieving food and nutrition security which translates to resilience and climate friendly farming and practices-conducting periodic assessments, identify learning and advice WFP on gaps – WFP 2020-22; Research to identify scalable technologies and innovation in the Mandera cluster (Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia) on peace and Drought Risk Management- Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-2020). Program Review/Assessments (e.g. Ending Drought Emergencies in Kenya Mid Term Review-National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) 2021; After Drought Action Review NDMA 2020; Impact Evaluation Resilience and Economic Growth in the Arid Lands (REGAL) programming model-Baringo, Turkana, Marsabit-USAID 201; Implementation assessment of the Camel leasing project in Somaliland-an innovative project to build resilience among the pastrolist communities to mitigate drought – Research Triangle 2019-2021

etc). I provided technical expertise in assessment design, coordination of data collection, analysis and technical report writing. 

Livelihoods: About 10 years of experience in livelihood research (e.g Market Value Chain Analysis – Lower Nzoia Development Irrigation Program aimed at building the resilience of communities in Bunyala in Busia county and Rwambua in Siaya county-Ministry and Water and Irrigation & World Bank-2017-2018; Implementation Research Mifugo Kash Kash (MKK) (MKK) an innovative and ambitious pastoral livestock value chain financing, supply and marketing product that Crescent Takaful Sacco (CTS), with support from Mercy Corps, is piloting in Wajir County. The goal of the project is to finance small scale traders dealing with small ruminants (sheep and goats) especially women and youth through provision of micro financing-Mercy Corps 2016; Financial Diaries of the Poor-A longitudinal study to establish the spending and saving habits among low income earners in the urban and rural areas of Kenya, their financial inclusion status, social security/capital networks including NHIF-Digital Data Divide & Bankable Frontiers 2012-2013. Outcome assessment Promoting Inclusive Markets in Somalia (PIMS)- This project was aimed at improving production systems for fisheries, dairies, sesame growers in Puntland, South Central Somalia and Somaliland to improve yields. The project also addressed harvest, storage and marketing by providing knowledge to producers and traders on improved production, harvest and storage.  In addition, the project also linked the producers and traders to markets and suppliers of input.  The project also addressed issues of access to markets by rehabilitating roads- Development Alternatives Inc (DAI) Somalia 2018/2019 etc). All these programs included gender mainstreaming. I provided technical expertise in assessment design, coordination of data collection, analysis and technical report writing.

Demography: Kenya National Population and Housing Survey 2009 and 2019. Participated in the final technical review of the census questionnaire, training of trainers, coordinated the census exercise in Vihiga District (2009) and Kakamega County (2019), and in-depth analysis. 

Education: Socio-economic impact assessment of COVID-19 including education outcomes-Somalia; Determinants of Girl-Child Education-Somalia 2021. Assessment on Ethics Education in Secondary Schools in Kenya-National Organization for Peer Educators 2010; Public secondary schools’ assessment- to establish the state of public secondary schools in terms of enrolment, infrastructure, staffing and financing advised by the ongoing changes in education policy including introduction of 100 percent transition policy from primary to secondary in January 2019 – Kenya Secondary School Heads Association 2019.

1. Strategic Planning And Management

NG-CDF Kitui Rural Strategic Plan 2018-2022, Kitui Strategic Plan 2018-2022; Alego Usonga Strategic Plan 2013-2018, Kitui Central Strategic Plan 2013-2018, Mwingi West Strategic Plan 2013-2018, National Tourism Strategy 2013-2018.