Uganda: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer-Multiple Vacancies based in Acholi, Lango and Karamoja (Open to Uganda Nationals Only)

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 is an international, non-governmental humanitarian relief and development agency with headquarters in the UK and USA operating in over 44 countries. The agency exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Mercy Corps’ work emphasizes community-led, market-driven interventions through public, private and civic sector partnerships. After more than a decade of operation in Uganda, the Mercy Corps country team has differentiated itself as a forward-thinking, market-driven agency, having implemented or currently implementing nearly 40 programs, valued at over $141 million, changing the lives of over 2.5 million Ugandans and refugees. In Uganda, some of our donors include USAID, SIDA, DFID, WFP, US Department of State; MasterCard Foundation, and ECHO. With over 20 programs and projects currently in operation in 30 districts, Mercy Corps’ strategic objectives include the following:

1. Strengthen market systems that enable inclusive economic growth and resilience.

2. Catalyze strengthening of governance structures to prioritize and advocate community needs, make informed decisions and allocate resources in a participatory, transparent and accountable manner.

3. Build capacities of institutions and promote opportunities for communities to attain better health, nutrition and sexual reproductive health outcomes.

4. Meet the immediate needs of refugees and host communities while strengthening market systems and resilience capacities.

5. Increase Mercy Corps Uganda’s organizational capacity to attract, build and retain diverse, motivated and dynamic professionals across all functions for quality programming. General Position Summary

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning Officer (MEL Officer) is a key position in program quality assurance, accountability, documentation and learning unit, which exists to support program design and implementation. The MEL Officer will be responsible for supporting their supervisor (typically a MEL Manager or Program Manager) to oversee the monitoring and data collection of a project, lead regular and annual field based household and group interviews, analyze data to provide insight to project team, and contribute to report writing. S/he will ensure that performance monitoring and results reporting tools and processes across the entire program are in place, effectively implemented and well synchronized between field sites. The MEL Officer may supervise teams of enumerators in data collection, data analysis, and reporting. The MEL Officer may work with a number of local partners in the MEL process, including private sector actors, community based organizations and other international NGOs. The MEL officer will be an integral member of the team learning and reflection processes, leading discussion on beneficiary feedback.

This recruitment is an open recruitment, which may result in a position available at any of the programs in Mercy Corps’ portfolio in any field office location, if and when the need arises. Applicants should be aware of the need for flexibility on the location and the technical sector of the program.

Essential Job Responsibilities

· Ensure that MEL systems are in compliance with Mercy Corps global, regional and country policies, procedures, standards and strategic initiatives. Lead the development of MEL system design, indicator and other MEL plans as needed.

· Assist in program strategy design, planning and implementation to ensure adherence to Mercy Corps’ Minimum Standards, including the use of standardized indicators and documentation methodologies.

· Support design and implementation of assessments and other pre, ex-ante and post data collection and analysis.

· Support the supervisor in coordinating and leading components of the baseline, mid-term evaluation and final evaluation, along with other key research activities.

· Support learning-to-action events, reflection session to analyze data for programmatic use and to document and incorporate lessons learned into program design, planning and implementation.

· Coordinate reporting with local partners, specifically tracking deadlines, ensuring adherence to formats and requirements, ensuring reporting quality and accuracy, and periodic report writing, editing, and submission.

· Compile progress against indicators and report back to the team according to the monitoring plan.

· Develop accountability and transparency mechanisms for the program and orient staff as well as local partners on the same.

· Perform spot checks on the team’s data collected and reports each month.

· Actively participate in household identification and verification of households that participate in the Activity.

· Build the capacity of all relevant team members to implement program monitoring tools, accurately enter program data into relevant databases, and enable them to develop excellent reports and other documents.

· Build the capacity of our local partner organizations through ongoing training and support on: monitoring tools, entering program data into databases, the development of reports and other documents.

· Ensure adherence to program management minimum standards in carrying out his/her duties, advising and supporting other staff in the same as required.

· Disseminate research learnings and recommendations to team members, beneficiaries and other relevant audiences.

· Other duties as assigned.

Finance & Compliance Management

· Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to food security programming.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility

Supervision of enumerators collecting field data as needs arise.

Accountability

Reports Directly to: MEL/Program Manager

Works Directly with: Programs, Operations and Finance teams

Ethics and Integrity

All Mercy Corps staff member are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination.

Knowledge and Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in management, statistics, economics, social science or related field.

· At least 3 years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation of nutrition, food security, agricultural livelihoods or value chain development programs.

· Good understanding and skills at data management.

· Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of MS Office applications.

· Strong knowledge of mobile data collection tools and best practices. Experience with case management systems preferred.

· Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

· Strong team coordination, listening, and consensus building skills.

· Fluent in both spoken and written English.

· Able to drive a motorbike safely, valid license. Preferred but not required.

Success Factors

The successful MEL Officer will combine exceptional management skills and experience in building and maintaining partner relationships. S/he will have an ability to think creatively about operationalizing and improving the M&E system of the program. S/he will have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. A good sense of humor and the ability to learn from mistakes also goes a long way! Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. 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 locations

How to Apply: All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their E-mail applications including a cover letter clearly stating the salary requirements, updated CV (with three professional referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates addressed to the Senior HR and Legal Manager, Mercy Corps Uganda to: ug-mcjobs@mercycorps.org. Deadline for Submission: Close of business on Monday, September 30th 2018. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.