Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Coordinator Ukraine At Norwegian Refugee Council

Duty station: Kyiv, Ukraine.

1. Background/Context

The role of the CO Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Coordinator is to support with the establishment and implementation of systems to promote evidence-based decision-making, programme and project performance, and internal management across Ukraine’s four area offices. The MEL Coordinator will contribute to quality programming through supporting access to and promoting use of relevant and timely information (both on the output and outcome-levels) on programme scale, relevance, and effectiveness. Within this context, the MEL Coordinator will provide technical support to in-country staff pertaining to MEL and build capacity to apply effective, cost-efficient and contextualized MEL systems in adherence to NRC global MEL policies and framework.

The MEL coordinator role has a technical accountability to the MEL manager at country office and will work closely with area-level MEL teams to harmonize MEL plans, systems, and processes as necessary.

In the initial phase of the recruitment process, priority will be given to national staff in accordance with NRC’s nationalization strategy, while consideration of international candidates will be based on specific needs.

1. Generic Responsibilities

The following is a brief description of the role:

• Support and contribute to the development and implementation of MEL systems, including Standard Operation Procedures, guidance and workplans in alignment with global NRC MEL framework and discussions with technical teams, soliciting inputs from area offices.
• Actively contributes to grants-related tasks such as proposal and log frame development and reporting, in consultation with program staff at area- and country-levels.
• Participate in programme design and proposal discussions, including theory of change development, log frame design and budgeting for MEL as requested.
• Work with local partners to ensure adequate MEL systems, processes, and SoPs are in place. This includes conducting inductions on MEL requirements as outlined in the PIA and conducting organizational assessments to identify areas for improvement or knowledge sharing.
• Support programme staff in planning for and executing MEL activities, including, data collection methodology and tools and data management, analysis and use in coordination with technical leads.
• Support the implementation, dissemination and use of evaluations, assessments and monitoring data in programme development, adjustment or review.
• Contribute to organisational learning through supporting specific analysis, facilitating lessons learned discussions/debriefs and reports. This includes presenting and discussing output/outcome results on the AO and CO levels, particularly during project review/grants opening/closure meetings and data interpretation sessions using effective visual aids, dashboards, reports, and factsheets as necessary.
• Capacity building and training of programme and MEL support staff on NRC MEL systems, processes, and requirements.
• Contribute to the design of MEL staffing structure and resourcing, including collaboration with programme staff to identify and plan for MEL needs.

1. Specific Responsibilities

• Develop assessment tools, methodologies, sampling strategies, and necessary guidelines to ensure collection of output and outcome indicators in consultation with other MEL and program colleagues.
• Design and implement relevant learning plans (with support from MEL and program technical leads) on area- or country-level to assess linkages between the achievement/non-achievement of outputs and outcomes across projects and core competencies, including factors for the results.
• Support partner organizations to understand core MEL and reporting requirements, including usage of GORs bulk-uploading forms and assessment tools and methodologies. This is done in collaboration with the IM team.
• Support data quality and compliance checks, including validation processes for monthly GORs reporting and quarterly project participants counting on the area- or country-level. This includes liaising with relevant CCS and area offices to validate data accuracy and completeness.
• Lead the documentation and provision of timely MEL reports/dashboards/factsheets/learning papers that facilitate evidence-based decision-making, both internally within NRC Ukraine and externally with partners and donors. This includes completion of data analysis of outcome data.
• Identify knowledge gaps and provide capacity building and training for MEL and programme staff to ensure proper functioning of required MEL activities throughout the project cycle management.
• Work closely with partners’ programme/MEL teams, where relevant, to ensure smooth function of the MEL system including internal and external reporting. This includes the adoption of NRC mandatory indicators and donor requirements.
• Facilitate and coordinate third party monitoring requests in collaboration with area-offices MEL/project teams as necessary.
• Actively participate in project review/grants closure/opening meetings with inputs on data accuracy, completeness, and quality of NRC and donor requirements.

1. Professional Competencies

• At least 3 years’ experience in an international NGO preferably in an emergency or post-conflict setting, including M&E capacity and systems development and team management.
• Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of principles and current approaches to monitoring and evaluation in emergency and development programs, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Understanding of data and information needs for programme management and decision making.
• Experience in facilitating the capacity building efforts of diverse colleagues, preferably including local partner agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring and other formal and non-formal methods.
• English language proficiency.
• Analytic and computer skills, including MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access) and quantitative analysis.
• Desirable: experience using SPSS, STATA, Power BI, GIS.
• Higher education preferably within the field of social sciences, statistics, research, international development or economics, or other related fields of study.
• Knowledge of humanitarian context in Ukraine and NGO operation dynamics.
• Technical competency and prior experience implementing various programme evaluation methodologies and approaches.

Find more details about the role HERE.

1. What We Offer

• Duration and Type of contract: Fixed term for one year with possibility of extension.
• Salary/benefits: According to NRC salary scale, terms and conditions.
• Duty station: Kyiv, Ukraine.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC HERE.

Important information about the application process:

• Internal candidates only: please click on the suitcase icon labelled “I am an employee” to be redirected to NRC’s internal careers site.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

NRC has been present in Ukraine since 2014. Since the escalation of the war in 2022, we have been continuously scaling up our response across the country and working with national partners.

Eight years of conflict in the east of Ukraine escalated into a full-scale war on 24 February 2022, causing death, destruction and displacement for millions of people across the country. 17.6 million people were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023, including 6.3 million internally displaced people and 11.3 million people who returned or remained home. Almost 16 million people received humanitarian assistance in 2022.

Throughout the winter months, the Russian Federation attacked critical energy infrastructure, leaving thousands with no heating, water or gas. Many residential buildings were also damaged and destroyed, killing and injuring civilians and forcing millions more to leave their homes. While indiscriminate attacks continued in different regions of Ukraine, the south was struck by the Kakhovka Dam breach on 6 June 2023, causing flooding and the displacement of thousands of people in the area, and leaving many regions without access to clean drinking water. Those who decided to remain are struggling to access food, water, health care, education and other essential services.

The most vulnerable people are still in need of safe housing, protection services and livelihoods support among other needs. Displaced people in rural areas are also struggling to access services. Many of those in need of assistance live in the areas beyond the control of Ukrainian government, where the response is limited due to access constraints.

• Learn more about NRC HERE and NRC Ukraine HERE.

Internal candidates are encouraged to apply, and we are also open to external applicants who can show a commitment to NRC and being part of a challenging, but important mission to make a difference.

NRC might review applications before the advertised deadline, therefore interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.