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 help people overcome poverty and conflict. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives. To grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. During our 34-year history, our work has improved more than 170 million lives in more than 115 countries around the world.

Position Title: Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Communication Specialist

Duration: 18 months

Position Status: Contingent on funding

Program Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 and acts on behalf of people who have become disenfranchised and poor. We stand with Ethiopia to find and access opportunities, and to be part of lasting and meaningful transformation in the country. Mercy Corps seeks to be influential with government and development actors towards a more resilient country where poverty is tackled through the eyes of those who understand it best. This translates into ensuring that the population is financially stable, healthy & nourished, educated & unformed, and that natural resources are accessible, shared and utilized sustainably.

Mercy Corps anticipates 18 months, 10 million-dollar USAID funded initiative focused on: Improve short-term food security, nutrition, and WASH outcomes for vulnerable households, sustain and increase food production by farmers and livestock producers while fostering a shift to more resilient production practices; female and male youth TOPs have improved capacity to make a successful transition to alternative livelihoods. The program will operate in multiple pastoral regions across Ethiopia.

Mercy Corps is looking for individuals who will have responsibility to support technical teams in monitoring, evaluation, learning and communications activities.

General Position Summary

The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Communication Specialist will be based in Addis Ababa at the supplemental fund program on a full-time basis and reports to Crisis Response Team Lead and technically to MEL Manager. S/he directly works with: Crisis Response Team Lead, MEL Manager, CARM advisor, Learning and communications specialist. The general duties and responsibilities of the Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Communication Specialist are to provide oversight of project-level monitoring and evaluation activities within the supplemental fund Program, ensuring the quality of the project’s MEL activities, information management via the programs reporting system (which may be tied with Mercy Corps’ proprietary Tola systems), and geographic information systems (GIS), where applicable. The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Communication Specialist’s role is to also oversee and ensure coordination of the various technical areas across the MEL staff of the Project, and other relevant Project staff and components. The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Communication Specialist is responsible for the capacity building and mentoring strategy for program staff on themes related to monitoring, evaluation, accountability, reporting and learning.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Program Management

• Set-up the MEL system, including all tools and data collection, analysis and reporting processes for program activities.
• Develop and review frequently the Project’s MEL Plan including Data Management Plan
• Oversee the implementation of the MEL System (TolaData, CNMS, IPTS and CARM).
• Plan and lead all MEL activities including the baseline, midterm, and final evaluations, and develop standards for data collection.
• Supervise all sub-contractor involved in data collection activities including the baseline, midterm, and final evaluation teams, and review their standards for data collection.
• Train project team members and partners on their ME&L responsibilities
• Direct manage MEL staff in day-to-day MEL activities, as well as provide technical oversight.
• Update MEL and project management systems to reflect program progress and needs; enforce proper usage of these systems by program staff.
• Collect, analyze, and validate information and data on the performance indicators
• Present data analysis and periodic reporting in consultation with technical staff
• Ensure that lessons learned throughout the project are captured and communicated to internal and external stakeholders through appropriate channels
• Liaise with various stakeholders and project-related donors on relevant program MEL concerns.
• Take on overall responsibility for project reporting including Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Annual, Final, and ad-hoc reports.
• Address any other task assigned by the Crisis Response Team Lead.
• Given the nature of the work, staff are expected to be flexible and may be asked to carry out duties which are not specifically listed above.

Internal and external communications

• Provide leadership in updating and implementation of a Mercy Corps Ethiopia and donor Communication Strategy and Plans
• Ensure adherence to Mercy Corps and donor branding and marketing standards, maintaining quality across materials, events, and other media.
• Oversee the development of publications, materials, and other products from design to writing, editing, branding and distribution
• Work with country PaQ team and Crisis Response Team Lead in the production of quarterly newsletter and donor reports.
• Manage special events and relationships that include facilitate government, corporate, donor, and other high level official visits to project sites and head office.
• Build the capacity of all relevant team members in communications, including Donor regulations and technical abilities such as photography, videography, developing messages and materials for program activities.
• Mercy Corps institutional linkage: directly work with Mercy Corps communications and learning specialist to ensure Mercy Corps Ethiopia communications materials are linked to MC Ethiopia, donor and MC Global communications initiatives.

Information management, dissemination, and feedback

• In coordination with technical teams and MEL and CARM officers and specialist, 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 to Crisis Modifier Team Lead and RIPA 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 team lead and MEL manager, 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 parthners by monitoring receipts of monthly, quarterly and annual activity progress reports and following up with the project staff and implementing parthners on non-reporting.
• Conducts quality control tests on all incoming data.

Team Management

• Recruit, manage and support capacity building of MEL team members working on the RIPA and Crisis response portfolios.
• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles, and assist with career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• 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.
• Train program team members and partners on their MEL responsibilities.

Influence and compliance management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to humanitarian and Crisis Response programming.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
• Influence and representation
  Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall program targets and donor obligations are met.

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Be a thought partner in the recruitment of diverse team and promoting inclusive and safe work environment including supporting early career team members to fulfil their professional goals)
• Lead by example to promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with team members, partners and program participants

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.
• 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.

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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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.

Job Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S or equivalent, preferable in Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, business administration, public administration, or international development. MA/S in similar relevant fields preferred.
• 8 years of professional experience in a relevant field for international development programs; USAID or another donor, or NGO preferred.
• A minimum of 4 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation management on humanitarian response programming.
• Experience with QGIS or other geographic information system preferred but not required.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
• High degree of computer literacy; Excel and Word skills are essential.
• Ability to manage and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently on multi-task load.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Fluency in written and oral English and Amharic languages. Must be able to read and interpret documents and communicate with others as necessary to perform job duties effectively.
• Basic mathematical skills and able to perform job specific mathematics with experience in statistical analysis and statistical software.
• Should also have experience in experimental design of evaluations.

Success Factors

• Business minded, entrepreneurial, adaptive, curious, great problem-solving skills, unafraid to ask questions, and results motivated.
• Tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and networking skills with a wide range of private, partner and NGO-sector actors.
• Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).