MERL Officer

Background:

Through a collaboration with GOPA Middle East, the SRTF seeks to hire motivated, self-driven individuals to fulfil leading roles of MERAL officer based in Jordan.

The Syria Recovery Trust Fund (SRTF) was established for the financing of reconstruction activities to rebuild the country and alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people as a result of the on-going conflict. The SRTF was created to provide the international community with a vehicle to offer financial support to the National Coalition for responding to the needs of the Syrian people.

The Management Unit (MU) was established to manage the Fund and its allocations to projects addressing reconstruction, recovery, and stabilization to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.

Governing bodies of SRTF are:

• The Steering Board (SB), with frequent meetings two times a year.
• The Management Committee (MC), meeting every three months.
• The Director General of SRTF (DG).​

​1. General

Under the guidance and supervision of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERLSH), the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer provides the necessary monitoring and reporting on project and services implementation using the SRTF results framework ensuring transparency and accuracy of projects and resources of SRTF programmes.

The MERL Officer is in close collaboration with the Programme Staff of the Management Unit as well as with the Independent Monitoring Agent (IMA) to exchange information and ensure consistent, reliable, and verifiable MERL reporting.

2. Key Responsibilities

The MERL Officer's responsibility is to coordinate and support the day-to-day implementation of the monitoring and evaluation of all project activities, in accordance with the respective results framework. The key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Maintain the programme-wide, consistent implementation of the SRTF MERL data management systems and procedures
• Apply and recommend improvements to the design/review of the SRTF MERL data management system and procedures
• Provide inputs in the collaboration with SRTF Programme staff and Implementing Entities in the drafting of project proposals with a focus on providing the results framework for each proposed project as well as assistance with MERL Plans where relevant
• Engage SRTF Implementing Entities (IEs), as required, either through the relevant SRTF Programme staff, or directly with the IE, for the purposes of:

(a) informing IEs of the reporting obligations and SRTF standards

(b) ensuring reporting adequacy and alignment with the SRTF MERL procedures, indicators, etc.

(c) discussing lessons learnt and developing implementation strategies to minimise similar challenges from arising in the future?

(d) any other business that may arise in the course of project implementation

• Coordinate the utilisation of field resources such as the Field Coordination Officers (FCOs) when required for data collection duties for monitoring and verification of project implementation
• Provide guidance with the design/development/review of key MERL tools for use by IEs, e.g., data collection, data reporting
• Provide training on all MERL tools to IEs, SRTF Programme staff, and any other persons utilising these tools
• Review and verify all monthly, quarterly, and annual reports – narrative and MS Excel data workbooks – from Implementing Entities and/or SRTF Programme staff to ensure accuracy and consistency across reporting periods of all active projects
• Provide all the required MERL inputs/sections for project final reports, project closure reports, etc. in collaboration with SRTF Programme staff
• Verify cleaned data and the capture of all MS Excel data workbooks in the MERL database
• Contribute, and support, the SRTF Independent Monitoring Agent (IMA) in the implementation of IMA tasks especially the review of the IMA Monthly Operations/Work Plans
• Provide inputs to the design and/or review of survey questionnaires to evaluate project outcomes/effects on SRTF beneficiaries
• Design/develop/review thematic maps required for reporting purposes to the SRTF Management Committee
• Mentor/coach the MERL Associate(s) as needed.
• Any other duties/tasks, relevant to MERL, that may be assigned by the MU management.

3. Competencies

Minimum Qualifications

• University degree in applied social science, engineering, economics, or related fields
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience, with a proven track record, in MERL data management systems, preferably in major, donor-financed emergency aid, or development funds, with local partners in developing countries
• Sound knowledge of project cycle management and/or results-based management
• Strong skills in the Microsoft Office package especially MS Excel, e.g., data cleaning; advanced formulae; pivot tables
• Comfortable with occasional travel as part of ToR scope of work, when required.
• Literacy in major database software and data management best practices
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Arabic
• Strong communications skills with a keen sense of ethics and integrity
• Experience working in an international environment, including NGOs, with participation in multi-discipline project teams from different cultural backgrounds

• Strong organizational skills, especially regarding storage and maintenance of digital files

Additional advantages

• Masters degree (or higher) from an international higher education institution
• Experience in GIS software (preferably qGIS)
• Intermediate programming skills in one or more of the following: SQL, Python, R, with a specific focus on data analysis and data visualisation software
• Experience drafting beneficiary-oriented surveys, plus know-how in analysis
• Experience working in MERL in the Syrian Arab Republic and/or any of the neighbouring countries
• Experience working in MERL in conflict, post-conflict, and/or fragile countries (other than the Syrian Arab Republic)

Personal characteristics:

• Self-motivated, results-oriented, and able to work in a team
• Able to multi-task across projects/tasks
• Meticulous and detail-oriented
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Strong desire to learn
• Professional attitude, and approach, to work

4. Reporting

For the everyday tasks, the mid-year review, and the annual performance evaluation, the MERL Officer reports to the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Section Head (MERLSH); and in the absence of the MERLSH, to the Chief Operations Officer (COO).

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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 based on race, color, gender, religion, age, ethnic origin, disability, or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Ethics. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and GOPA/ SRTF Project policies, procedures, values all the time and in all in-country venues.

GOPA/ SRTF Project has the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with GOPA/ SRTF Project at the same grade level and with similar job descriptions, experience, and educational requirements.

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOPA/ SRTF Project reserves the right to amend this document.

We can work together on it.

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