Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Coordinator NWS

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

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war over five years ago, Mercy Corps has worked to address the urgent needs of over 4 million people both inside Syria and in neighboring countries. North West Syria for more than three years operating focusing on lifesaving and basic needs. The program implemented direct and with local and regional implementing partners (IPs) and managed remotely from Amman, Jordan.

General Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager, MEL Coordinator will work with the PaQ Unit as part of a team to operationalize and improve MEL systems in NWS for direct implementation. The MEL Coordinator is expected to manage remotely the M&E team and ensure the overall field implementation is planned and timely organized. This role might require building the capacity of the team members, and will consistently ensure that MEL systems and tools implemented across the teams for direct programming. S/he will support on MEL related grants reporting by preparing well-structured comprehensive and analytical reports, including the evaluations and assessment reports/designs. The M&E Coordinator will also supervise Monitoring and Evaluation Officer(s) serving as a link between the planning to field implementation of the MEL activities, which are closely coordinated with the program teams. The selected candidate will ensure that thorough analyses (mainly quantitative, but qualitative as well) are performed by the MEL officer as part of his/her role. These analyses expected to inform the programs department about current indicators’ status as well as any factor that may be contributing or hindering the achievement of impact indicators. The MEL Coordinator will work closely with PaQ NWS manager to assist program managers and grant acquisition officer in developing logframes, setting indicators, designing Indicator Tracking Tables and the Indicator plans.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

Support to Direct project MEL System

• Understand, maintain and innovate a MEL system that improves Mercy Corps’ ability to inform program implementation, analyse data, and represent impact to donors, government, colleague agencies, and communities themselves for direct implementation.
• Design, adapt and update logframes, indicator plans, and indicator tracking tables to match strategic program or implementation changes.
• Draft baseline, midline and endline; ToR and methodology. Develop necessary quantitative and qualitative tools and sampling strategies, lead on data analysis and reports write up.
• Lead on developing quantitative and qualitative data collection tools for ad-hoc requests from program managers.
• Ensure all relevant program staff are able to utilize the system to analyse program information and results. In addition, the field teams always have the most recent version of all MEL tools and documents.
• Document MEL system contents, ToRs and update manuals for smooth functioning
• Support in revising MEL Strategy.
• Advise the NWS PaQ manager and programme managers on how certain program changes or additions might affect the system.
• Review collected information in the M&E system regularly in order to locate and fix problems with information collection or integrity.
• Work as part of a team to lead and support MEL operations including planning, baseline and endline surveys, regular monitoring, data collection and analysis, feedback and weekly reporting according to the MEL work plan.
• Support the MEL field team and programme team to implement M&E system corrections and adjustments, solving operational issues and documenting actions taken and next steps
• Follow-up with relevant stakeholders on agreed upon system corrections, adjustments and actions, informing and strategizing with the PaQ Manager. Updating the MEL work plan as necessary.​

Capacity development of team and IP(s)

• Train field staff qualitative and quantitative data collection tools, and other processes as required.
• Support M&E field officers on conducting trainings for M&E field assistants, and program field team.
• Follow up on trainings by mentoring staff/partners to develop identified technical skills one-on-one.
• Assist the team in improving MEL initiative by identifying good practices, field tested lessons learned, and creative recommendations; share with and encourage staff to incorporate these in their daily work.

Community Accountability and Response Mechanism

• Integrate accountability into MEL systems and tools that are compliant with Mercy Corps Syria CARM Manual and Donors’ requirements.
• Understand and apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities.
• Work together with the CARM Officer to ensure that the field has a functioning CARM system and is dealing with complaints and feedback received.

Program-level results measurement and reporting

• Support MEL team on M&E related grants reporting by preparing well-structured comprehensive and analytical reports, including the evaluations and assessment reports/designs.
• Perform thorough analyses (mainly quantitative, but qualitative as well). These analyses expected to inform the programs department about current indicators’ status as well as any factor that may be contributing or hindering the achievement of impact indicators.
• Based on analytical findings, advice the PaQ Manager and programme managers on how certain program changes or additions might affect the program’s objectives.
• Coordinate with Information management team for cross cutting areas.
• Ensure that Success Stories are collected, finalized and shared with programs.
• Act as a link between MEL system processes/results and reporting, feeding information to online systems to help ensure accurate information is incorporated into all reports and information products.

Representation and Coordination

• Participate in and support internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops, including with MEL team in Mercy Corps’ other Syria Response Offices, as required.
• As required by the supervisor, attending Mercy Corps at donor meetings, and government and sectoral coordination fora/meetings.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission or put the team, assets and mission at risk.
• Assist in any other task or duty assigned by the supervisor.

Program Management

• Play a key role in compiling field data for MC’s own narrative reporting to the donor, using online systems to help ensure accurate information is incorporated into all reports and information products.
• Produce analytical summaries: graphs, charts, tables, narratives and appealing visuals, as requested, to fulfill internal and external reporting requirements.
• Promote and ensure use of data for decision-making processes through facilitating data reflection meetings and integrate monitoring and evaluation into ongoing project planning and implementation, in line with Mercy Corps MEL minimum standards.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Team Management

• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Support M&E field officers on conducting trainings for M&E field assistants, and program field team.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

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.
• 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.

Accountability

• Reports Directly To: PaQ NWS Manager
• SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: M&E field team
• Works Directly With: NWS PaQ director, PaQ NWS team, Program managers, Program team, IM team.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S degree in research methods, social sciences, economics, epidemiology, related education sector or other relevant field required.
• Minimum three (4) years experience in planning, monitoring and evaluation of projects/programs (designing logframes, Indicator plans, evaluations, assessments) or similar work in for-profit sector
• Minimum 4 years experience in working with quantitative and qualitative data (survey designs, sampling, data analysis).
• Proven experience remote management and in remote data collection and data management.
• Proven experience in mobile data collection, data management and data visualization
• Proven report/research writing skills are required (an evidence of previous writing samples might be requested).
• Commitment to working together with partners and training and developing capacity in MEL is required;
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate closely with a broad range of stakeholders in different geographic locations, experience with remote management or monitoring a plus;
• Ability to manage quantitative data while not losing sight of the bigger picture and meaning;
• Active knowledge of humanitarian standards and codes, including SPHERE, HAP is an asset;
• Familiarity with the MS Office software (i.e. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is required;
• Knowledge of the Syrian conflict context a plus; and
• Arabic and English language written and spoken is essential.

Success Factors

In addition to a strong technical background in Monitoring and Evaluation, the ability to multi-task, innovate, and effectively communicate key information in support of changing program activities is necessary. Attention to detail and patience to work through data results. A willingness to take initiative, creatively solve problems, juggle multiple priorities under pressure, and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations is also essential. An interest in and commitment to growing and enhancing impactful programming and supporting a team is essential. Sensitivity to multi-cultural humanitarian and development work and ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles are all critical.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

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