Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant (North)
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do
their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome
diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have a long-term impact.
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In
disaster, in hardship, and more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into
action, helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities now and for the future.
Mercy Corps has worked in Jordan since 2003 to implement a variety of programs funded by global
public institutions, as well as private donors, to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable populations, build
cohesive and civically engaged communities, and increase inclusive economic opportunities. Mercy
Corps’ current portfolio in Jordan focuses on three domains: resilient individuals, strong communities
and governance, and environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Mercy Corps
integrates crosscutting themes of youth, gender equality and empowerment, governance, natural
resource management, and technology.
The Program / Department / Team
Informal Livelihoods Advancement Activity (Iqlaa (is a five-year USAID-funded program that aims to
support Jordan's home-based businesses (HBBs) and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) to grow,
transform, and become resilient to future shocks. HBBs and MSEs are essential drivers of employment
and economic stability in Jordan. Micro and small enterprises represent 98 percent of all businesses in
Jordan and compose half of the country’s private sector employment. Therefore, the Iqlaa approach
places formal and informal Jordanian HBBs and MSEs on a path to recovery, stabilization, and growth,
focusing on four critical sectors: agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and services, with special attention
to technology development and implementation.
Iqlaa works to implement best practices in crisis response, enterprise strengthening, inclusive job
creation, and financial sector development within a market-systems development (MSD) framework and
leveraging innovative behavioral change methodologies to facilitate long-term, sustainable changes in
the behaviors or stakeholders and beneficiaries that align better with the current needs of Jordan’s
MSEs. Iqlaa will offer bundled support through technical assistance and grants. The program will work
with market sector actors to offer five main grants: formalization, start-up funding, business Growth,
innovation & Scale, and Technology Integration.
The Position
The role of the Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant entails providing support for the implementation of
the Iqlaa program. Working closely with the Senior MEL Officer and the M&E Officer, the assistant will
assist in carrying out regular monitoring and evaluation activities for the program. This includes
conducting monitoring visits across implementation sites and aiding in the collection of evaluation and
learning data. The M&E Assistant will also be responsible for ensuring proper documentation and filing
to uphold the program's adherence to the agreed-upon minimum standards. While reporting directly to
the Senior MEL Officer, the assistant will collaborate closely with other members of the Program team.
Initially, the M&E Assistant will be based in Irbid but will be required to work at the Amman office for the
first months, for a period ranging from 3 to 6 months.
Essential Responsibilities
● Liaise with MEL focal points across sites and the program’s MEL units.
● Conduct the MEL-related data collection across the activity implementation locations, which
includes quantitative and qualitative data collection in addition to their initial analysis
● Handle the data entry process, forms, and inputs where needed.
● Ensure the validity and reliability of the entered data by intensely engaging in the data
management process and through field visits or real-time data monitoring.
● Plan and oversee the data collection process in close coordination with the programs team and
partners to ensure the quality of the collected data in a timely and appropriate manner.
● Responsible for undertaking the monitoring of program activities across targeted sites.
● Monitor and troubleshoot data collection-related issues and report them back to the Program
Quality and Learning (PQL) unit and Ensure adherence to participants’ data protection
protocols.
● Support the field team with uploading and reviewing the filled forms.
● Support in providing MEL training and refreshers.
● Review data following translation to ensure that translation is accurate and faithful to raw data.
● Support maintaining the program database and suggest ways to improve its utility and
functionality.
● Lead the facilitation and coordination of field visits for Mercy Corps staff and donor agency
visitors, if needed.
● Support in conducting quarterly learning reviews and final internal learning reviews.
● Support in preparing the logistics for the PQL-related activities.
● Coordinate the implementation of surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, and follow-up
on evaluation exercises for various initiatives under the program.
● Support ensuring compliance with relevant Mercy Corps New MEL policy and donor policies
and regulations.
● Actively participate in Jordan MEL community of practice and support other MEL teams where
needed.
● Participate in developing data collection tools and instruments – including digitized data
collection methods i.e., ODK collection using XLS forms – and assist in piloting the data
collection tools.
● Conduct monthly check-in on the data and ensure having regularly cleaned data.
● Facilitate documentation, program data, lessons learned, and best practices for internal and
external sharing.
● Support in preparing weekly, quarterly, and annual progress reports.
● Participate in overseeing the external evaluation field activities.
● Develop MEL-filed reports.
● Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
Reports Directly to Senior Monitoring, evaluation, and Learning Officer.
Works Directly with PQL Director, Senior MEL Coordinator, MEL officers, IM coordinator, IM
officer, CLA manager, Program team, outreach team, Partners team, MC senior MEL Manager,
and MC-PAQ Director.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our
program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards
guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities
as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field programs.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
● Minimum BA degree in Sociology, Economics, Statistics, Industrial Engineering, or other
relevant fields.
● One year of experience in supporting monitoring and evaluation of development and/or relief
programs and/or data collection and management and database management systems for
larger organizations, preferably in a humanitarian or development context.
● Demonstrated skills in data collection, statistical analysis methods, qualitative analysis methods,
and database management.
● Demonstrated skills in research.
● Excellent writing skills, including reports, best practices, case studies, etc.
● Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word
● Proficiency in developing XLS forms and using ODK is required.
● Fluency in Arabic and English.
Success Factors
The MEL Assistant should have a commitment to humanitarian and development principles, willingness
to learn new skills and methodologies, Ability to work under pressure, independently and with limited
supervision and within a team, demonstrate great analytical and reporting skills, problem-solving skills
and have a commitment to his/her work and daily tasks.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Irbid, Jordan, and it requires up to 60% travel to northern governorates to
support implementing the program activities.
The M&E Assistant will be based in the Amman office for the first months, for a period ranging from 3 to
6 months.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the
communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities
that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment
to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking,
we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex
challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives
and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best
work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion are a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening,
and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We
actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger
and have a sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal
employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the
basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or
ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other
protected group in the locations where we work.
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 the 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 adhere to the Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and
values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning
courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
