*This position is for 4 months
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.
Program / Department Summary
The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team enhances Mercy Corps’ ability to deliver high impact programming by supporting the generation and use of high-quality data for decision-making. It forms a critical component of the broader agency Strategy and Learning Initiative that seeks to drive more significant evidence-based decision-making for greater program impact and accountability. The MEL team works directly with agency leadership – in country and at headquarters – to strengthen MEL by positioning it as a strategic functional area that is a critical mechanism for learning and is a part of good business practice for the agency. The team represents Mercy Corps externally to ensure our experience helps shape the relief and development field and to ensure that Mercy Corps keeps abreast of developments in donor and peer agency approaches to monitoring and evaluation.
General Position Summary
The MEL Advisor role is a field-based position meant to support the MEL team to implement sound M&E systems, including the Tola roll out, use data for decision making and conduct training as needed. The role is further designed to support the core programs performance requirements (e.g., indicators and program design, program quality, and program management principles, adaptive management). The rollout will include engagement with M&E staff and program managers, assessment of the current state of M&E and train staff in adopting M&E best practices. The MEL Advisor will need to engage with field leadership to nurture and help develop an effective, impact-driven leadership culture.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Participate in Tola Readiness and Roll Out
- Review Tola Readiness Assessments.
- Conduct regional webinars on topics related to understanding and implementing the Tola.
- When possible co-facilitate Tola trainings.
Program Support
- Work with M&E staff and program management on otherwise building the culture of adaptive management, evidence and learning in each country in the region, and supporting better overall performance of the country team in these areas.
- Conduct initial orientations and on-boarding of new program staff (esp. M&E, program managers, and country leaders) – promote tools like DIG, M&E tools, and PM@MC.
- Be trained PM@MC facilitators and provide a backstop for in-country training, and support in specific PM@MC topics as needed.
- Conduct PM@MC gap analyses with PM@MC specialists, and help countries develop action plans for correcting gaps, and developing plans for monitoring adherence to PM&MC minimum standards.
- Conduct program quality reviews including implementation quality, meeting of minimum standards, quality of M&E data collection and analysis.
- Assist country team make use of M&E data and contribute to evidence-based learning at all levels.
Organizational Learning
- As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: MEL Manager
Works Directly With: Program Managers and MEL Team
Knowledge and Experience
- BA in international development or other relevant social science and MA preferred.
- 5 to 7 years of experience working in international relief and development programs, with at least four years focused on providing M&E technical support to field programs, and at least three years working overseas preferred.
- Demonstrated skill with program design, including assessments, proposal development, indicator selection and M&E planning.
- Demonstrated skill and experience with facilitating program design processes, logical frameworks, theories of change, and overall program logic.
- Experienced in training and capacity-building in person and remotely and fostering a collaborative relationship with field practitioners and management.
- Experience with data analysis and presentation using Excel, Access, and advanced data analysis and visualization packages. Additional software and technical skills (databases, mobile technology, and statistical packages) are essential.
- Experience designing practical and effective monitoring systems, including data and database management systems.
- Strong communication skills; able to work remotely with a geographically dispersed team.
Success Factors
The successful candidate should be a strong team player, with good communication and diplomatic skills. They should be able to facilitate complex team dynamics and achieve aims, have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, good organizational skills and ability to work independently, with a strong commitment to advancing learning in international development through monitoring and evaluation. They should be active within the M&E and learning community and have strong relationship-building skills and commitment to working collaboratively.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in (Monrovia, Liberia) and it requires up to 50% travel to field offices.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.