Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. Our vision is to enhance the resilience of climate and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently we operate in the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Addis Ababa city administration working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps is seeking candidates for a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist who will support and lead the MEL Activities of Humanitarian Response to the Crisis in Afar (HURECA) in Aba’la, Afar Zone 2. This will require close cooperation with HURECA technical experts and other technical field level staff, in Addis Ababa, as well as partners and stakeholders.

He/she will work closely with the HURECA program manager, Humanitarian Program Manager and Humanitarian Programs MEL Manager to coordinate the collection, compilation, consolidation, and analysis of data, while monitoring HURECA project implementation in three woredas in Afar Zone 2. The position requires key skills in mobile data collection (Open Data kit (ODK) ,ONA, MEL tools, experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning of Humanitarian Reponses, facilitation and planning; expertise in relationship management within the team, with partner organizations stakeholders, beneficiary community members; and strong capacities in project MEL related areas. He/she will lead the HURECA MEL system for indicators tracking & reporting, including evidence gathering, reflective practice, lessons learned generation, success stories documentation, and dissemination; and the implementation of communication and feedback mechanisms with HURECA partners, stakeholders, and beneficiaries.

ESSENTIAL J OB FUNCTIONS:

MEL Implementation and Review-working closely with the HURECA program manager, Humanitarian Programs Manger and Humanitarian MEL Manager in Addis Ababa, the candidate will lead the implementation of the HURECA MEL strategy in Afar region, ensuring all partners and their staff understand the strategy and its work plan. He/she will also ensure that the MEL strategy and MEL activities are monitored and reviewed periodically to make changes based on regular staff, partners and stakeholders’ reflections and lessons learned. He/she works with the program manager to make sure that cross learning and coordination takes place among technical teams in the field. He/she will lead the Tola Data for indicator tracking and reporting.

Oversight of M&E Plan Implementation– working closely with the HURECA program manager, Humanitarian Programs Manger and Humanitarian MEL Manager, the MEL Specialist will lead the implementation of the M&E plan at field level by collection, compilation and consolidation and analysis of data in the Afar Zone 2. The MEL Specialist works closely with the project team to ensure data is timely and accurate from partners, following up and doing data audits when necessary. The MEL Specialist monitors other programmatic compliance at field level through document audits using a variety of methods and assists partners in performing random spot checks and assessments as planned.

Information management, dissemination, and feedback

• In coordination with technical teams put together monthly updates from the region and other reports as required, especially summarizing monthly lessons learned and disseminating these with partners.
• Provides weekly updates for Program Manager, Humanitarian Program Manager and MEL manager in Addis Ababa to share with partners and stakeholders.
• Assists technical teams in developing, implementing, and analyzing sub-activity evaluations and to alert technical teams of results provided by the online information system.
• Organizes feedback sessions and other platforms at regional level with partners, beneficiaries, and stakeholders (private and public sectors), and, with the assistance of the MEL manage, and MEL Specialist ensures responses are provided timely.
• Collects and documents case studies, success stories and shares with internal and external audiences.
• Ensures regular and timely reporting from project staff and implementing partners by monitoring receipts of monthly, quarterly, and annual activity progress reports and following up with the project staff and implementing partners on non-reporting.
• Staff Training and Capacity Building-Builds the capacity of all relevant team members to develop, review, and maintain an excellent M&E system, including regular reflection and analysis of program monitoring data and production of evidence-based recommendations and reports on timely basis.
• He/she provides ongoing capacity building for incoming staff on M&E and assists program team and technical learning. He/she organizes other capacity building activities with the Humanitarian Programs MEL manager in Addis Ababa.
• Evaluation and Assessments–Play a central role in supporting the baseline and final evaluations and work with partners in the design, field-testing, data collection and analysis of any additional evaluation initiatives that may be required at program level.
• 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.
• Other duties as assigned by the Program Manager and Humanitarian Programs MEL manager in Addis Ababa.

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: No

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Manager

Works Directly With:

• Humanitarian Program MEL manager, HURECA Program
• Manager, CARM office, Country PaQ team, Program officer.

Job Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, statistics, monitoring and evaluation, international development, communications, or related field is required or demonstrated equivalent work experience in the field.
• Three to five years relevant field management experience, especially in the areas of monitoring and evaluation and learning and knowledge management.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
• Previous experience working on USAID funded programs strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to professionally and appropriately represent the organization and negotiate with a diverse range of government officials, local organizations, donors and other groups for outcomes in the best interest of program implementation.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills are necessary.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English, including report development, writing, and editing.

Success Factors:

• Conscientious, with excellent judgment
• Display an entrepreneurial spirit that is both creative and flexible. We are looking for a motivated individual, who is eager to learn and share knowledge and who can balance working independently and in a team environment.
• Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.
• 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.
• Ability to foster solid working relationships with USAID, host Government, beneficiary communities, and partner organizations.
• Ability to work as part of a team and coordinate with project personnel.
• Strong organizational skills.