Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Specialist

Position : Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Specialist

Location: Jigjiga, Somali Region

Open Position: One

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.

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently in six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regions, and Addis Ababa City Administration – Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic directions focus in promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improved natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response.Program / Department Summary

Enter Energy Ethiopia (EE-E) is a five-year initiative (2020 – 2025) that promotes private sector-led renewable energy infrastructural investments for the electrification of humanitarian settings, actors, and operations in Ethiopia. To this end, EE-E has decided to support the commercial deployment and operations of a solar PV-based hybrid mini-grid serving the host and refugee communities of Sheder.

General Position Summary

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist will work with the Mercy Corps program team as well as our local partner organizations to manage and ensure the collection of quality M&E data for the program. The MEL Specialist will be responsible for supporting the Enter Energy Ethiopia Program to lead and manage the monitoring and data collection of the project, lead the required surveys, 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 the two program sites. The MEL Specialist will be an integral member of the project team and be responsible to lead the learning and reflection processes throughout the life project cycle and collect feedback from program participants and other stakeholders.

Essential Job Responsibilities Strategy & Vision

• Develop M&E Plan(s) for programs and proposals.
• Develop a system for reporting and validating program data (Excel, Tola, Access, etc.)
• Work closely with the program teams and local partners, to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting of program activities and results.
• Coordinate reporting with local partners, specifically tracking deadlines, ensuring adherence to monitoring 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 Data Quality Assessment Plan.
• Perform spot checks on the team’s data collected and reports each month.
• Actively participate in any additional evaluation M&E activities including but not limited to baseline, mid-term, and endline surveys, evaluations, and household surveys.

Program Management

• Contribute to learning/research agenda.
• 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.
• Document lessons learned and success stories on the project.
• Ensure adherence to program management minimum standards in carrying out his/her duties, advising and supporting other staff in the same as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project 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 equality and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with team members, partners, and program participants.

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.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program coordinator of the Enter Energy Ethiopia Program

Works Directly With: Team Lead, Program coordinator, Program officer, all team members of the HumEn PLC, PaQ Director, Country MEL Manager, and team members of other programs, and Field office Area Manager.

SUPPORT CARM IMPLEMENTATION

• Collect feedback or complaints from the program participants and close feedback loop
• Record feedbacks in program level database
• Sensitize community, program participants and program teams on CARM
• Prepare monthly CARM report
• Conduct field visits, spot checks, and follow up on specific feedback cases
• Capture programmatic adaptation as the result of CARM