Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer at 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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Full-time

Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic development and conflict mitigation.
• With the insurgency spilling over from the Northeast of Nigeria and causing displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs. With funding from institutional donors, foundations and private corporations, Mercy Corps continues to provide assistance to meet the basic needs of vulnerable populations in the areas of food security, shelter, water and sanitation, protection, and livelihoods.
• With the recognition of the protracted crisis in Northeast Nigeria, Mercy Corps’ strategy and expansion plans aim to address the root causes of the crisis and seek to build long-term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on the recovery of markets and livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, and youth empowerment with emphasis on adolescent girls and boys.
• With multiple funding streams from large institutional donors and foundations, Mercy Corps’ programs in Northeast Nigeria continue to scale up and serve communities by transitioning them from humanitarian aid to early recovery programs.

General Position Summary

• The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Officer is a key position in the Mercy Corps Nigeria Program Performance and Quality (PAQ) Unit.
• The position holder will support planning and execution of monitoring and evaluation, ensuring quality in accordance with accepted standards, providing essential feedback for learning, accountability and decision making on the Mercy Corps Nigeria’s THRIVE program (Transitioning Households to Recovery from Vulnerability - THRIVE) in Northeast Nigeria.
• The Senior MEL Officer will be responsible for supporting the MEL Coordinator to oversee the implementation of Mercy Corps MEL strategy and standards.
• S/he will ensure that performance monitoring and results reporting tools and processes across the entire program are in place, effectively implemented and well synchronized between program sites.
• The Senior MEL officer will be an integral member of the program team learning and reflection processes, leading discussions on program learning.
• S/he will be responsible for providing internal capacity building for program staff on monitoring and evaluation activities as well as review and develop the tools and reports necessary to meet Mercy Corps and donor reporting requirements.
• The Senior MEL Officer will work with the Mercy Corps program team as well as partner organizations to oversee and ensure the collection of quality MEL data for the program.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy and Vision:

• Ensure that the MEL systems for programs are in compliance with Mercy Corps’ global, regional and country policies, procedures, standards and strategic initiatives.
• Assist in program strategy design, planning and implementation to ensure adherence to Mercy Corps’ Minimum Standards, including the use of standardized tools, indicators, and documentation methodologies.
• Lead and support the design and implementation of assessments and other pre and post-data collection and analysis.
• Actively participate in any additional evaluation MEL activities including but not limited to baseline surveys, mid-term, end-line surveys, evaluations, households surveys
• Develop Data Quality Assessment Plans and lead in implementing plans.
• Work closely with the program teams and local partners, to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting of program activities and results.
• Support learning-to-action events, reflection sessions to analyze data for programmatic use and to document and incorporate lessons learned into program design, planning and implementation.

Data Management and Quality Controls:

• Assist program teams to develop and maintain knowledge and Information management systems to support data collection, reflection, analysis and reporting needs.
• Ensure quality control procedures and accuracy of entered data and compare it with the existing filing system to make sure all records are consistent and aligned.
• Provide support in the development of MEL Plans, tools, survey design, methodology, data analysis, and other services as may be required for program monitoring and evaluation.
• Ensure program teams (including partners) are compliant with donor monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements (adhere to donor MEL guidelines).

Technical Support:

• Play a key role in the development and review of program, sector intervention strategies and MEL frameworks and document changes to generate learnings and ideas for programs.
• Coordinate assessments, evaluations and monitoring surveys in area of operation. This will entail development of Scopes of Work, development of survey tools, trainings and management of data collectors, report writing and facilitating discussion on the results.

Documentation and Reporting:

• Regularly document lessons learned, best practices, program data analysis summaries, and evaluations and provide evidence-based information, success stories, case studies and other high-quality, results-based documentation.
• Produce quality program reports and support program teams to review and improve on the quality of reporting.
• Visit sites and partners to collect supplementary data, stories and conduct qualitative research both independently and in teams and support partner organizations with proper documentation and report generation.

Capacity Building and Mentoring:

• As needed, support in the training and oversight of enumerators for data collection.
• Build the capacity of all relevant team members (including partner staff) to develop and maintain an excellent MEL system, and facilitate periodic reflection and analysis of program monitoring information that feeds into programming and learning.

Internal and External Coordination:

• Maintain professional relationships with local government officials, private sector partners, NGOs, other development organizations, and civil society organizations.
• Maintain an active advisory role with the program and MEL team to help guide them towards robust and relevant data collection.
• Work with MEL and IT staff to maximize the value and utility of technology initiatives for effective MEL.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to credit Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its mission.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by his/her supervisor or representatives.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

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 Responsibilities

• MEL Officers
• Accountability
• Reports Directly To: MEL Coordinator
• Works Directly With: Program Managers, Strategic Learning Manager, Field Managers, Communication Teams, Technical Advisors, Program Teams, Program Support Teams

Knowledge and Experience

• Must hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Agriculture, Demography, Statistics, Business Administration or relevant field (MA/MSc/MBA or equivalent preferred).
• Three years of MEL experience (or similar) – preferably in Borno State.
• Previous experience working on USAID-funded programs preferred.
• Relevant experience in field survey/data collection techniques, data entry, data verification, analysis, and reporting.
• Good understanding and skills at data management.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of MS Office applications; knowledge of data science and programming is plus but not required.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis software such as Tableau, SPSS, and mobile data collection platforms preferable.
• Experience with market price monitoring and analysis.
• Experience with digital or technology platforms for program and MEL-related activities.
• Strong ability to work for cross teams.
• Communicates well with remote collaborators.
• Manages multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent oral and written English skills (demonstrate good writing skills).
• Fluency in Hausa is strongly preferred.
• Strong team coordination, listening, and consensus-building skills.
• Should understand concepts and demonstrate skills in monitoring and evaluation, results frameworks/program logics, and participatory monitoring.
• Experience with both quantitative and qualitative data collection and reporting techniques.
• Should be able to design and implement surveys, have knowledge of commonly used sampling techniques.
• Experience with facilitation, capacity building, formal and informal knowledge transfer, partnership strengthening, and empowering staff through opportunities for growth and development.
• Experience leading learning extraction, development and sharing as part of the monitoring and evaluation feedback process.
• Familiarity with data visualization and data analytics.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment

Success Factors

• S/he will be capable of multi-tasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive and a lot of energy, as well as have high emotional intelligence, constructive communication skills and proven experience with capacity building.
• S/he must have the confidence, and humility, to work effectively with a large variety of people who will be diverse culturally, economically and in social status.
• S/he must be sensitive to political and cultural nuance and able to consistently apply excellent judgment to a variety of demanding and fast-changing situations, as well as the ability to foster solid working relationships with Mercy Corps staff.
• Working as part of a team and coordinating with project personnel, as well as strong organizational skills, are essential to this position.
• S/he will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.
• A strong team member will be conscientious, with excellent judgment, capable of multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem-solving and attention to detail with strategic vision.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions:

• The position is based in Maiduguri, Borno state and it requires up to 30% travel to field offices in northeast Nigeria.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit 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.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Application Deadline  18th February, 2022.