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 implements high quality- analytical work in tough environments and have been operating in Uganda since 2006 and currently manage a range of programs in Acholi, West Nile and Karamoja sub- regions with funding from a host of donors. In October 2017, Mercy Corps was awarded a 5 year USAID/ Food for Peace- funded program working in 6 districts in Karamoja (Amudat, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong, Karita and Karenga), the Apolou Activity. The Activity goal “improved food and nutrition security” has four purposes with cross cutting themes of gender and youth and resilience:
- Inclusive and effective governance contributes to food and nutrition security
- Improved health and nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women, children under five, and adolescent girls
- Reduced incidents of WASH related disease
- Improved livelihoods and incomes support household food security
Apolou is implemented by a consortium of actors led by Mercy Corps, including Save the Children, Whave Solutions, three local partners (KAPDA, NARWOA and Riam Riam) and Tufts University’s Feinstein International Centre (FIC).
General Position Summary
The MEL Director is a member of the Senior Management Team and will work directly with the Chief of Party (CoP) to develop high quality M&E and Learning systems to elevate the profile of the five-year $41 million dollar USAID/ Food for Peace (FFP) Development Food Security Assistance Program (DFSA), titled “Apolou”, and the $5 million “Resilience Challenge Fund” program funded by the USAID Center for Resilience. The MEL Director will supervise a specialized team to develop information systems that drives program implementation and direction, manage high level relationships with research and learning agencies, and ensure that the program’s data sets are of the highest quality and reliability.
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The MEL Director will also be tasked to support the CoP to identify and build strategic partnerships with key peer organizations, government and donor agencies, private sector actors and research and academic institutions, and represent the program as directed in regional, national and international forums. You will adopt an act- learn- innovate strategy: act –capture evidence through action, creating evidence base for what works and other learning; learn – develop rigorous research and learning agendas; and innovate – drive new business and activate partnerships for innovative resilience-focused programming.
Essential Job Responsibilities
STRATEGY AND VISION:
· Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives.
· Assist in the development of annual, integrated strategic work-plans for the program.
· Lead the development of cutting-edge M&E and Learning systems.
· Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING
· Lead M&E planning and system development. Lead on indicator planning, design and negotiation with USAID of the Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT), based on the USAID/FFP proposed format; define with the team program indicators and targets for all program years, based on the USAID/FFP guidance of standard required and applicable indicators; where applicable and desirable, include Mercy Corps Alpha Indicators (see the Design for Impact Guide – DIG).
· Lead in the design of the detailed M&E plan, including design of data collection tools and methodologies, M&E workflow, data flow, data integrity, data quality assurance, database design and protocols, secondary research to inform baseline assessments and measurement frameworks, and ensuring alignment with Mercy Corps and Industry standards.
· Champion the inclusion of qualitative data collection and analysis for both direct and supplemental measurements of program performance. Train teams in appropriate methods for focus group discussion and key informant interviews and lead field-based qualitative data collection as needed.
· In coordination with MEL team, drive the capacity building of program staff on design and M&E concepts through trainings and new hire orientation, including designing and delivering formal trainings. Design comprehensive orientation for all new staff.
· Work closely with the program’s research partner to define and execute a research strategy including overseeing this partnership and its work.
· Contribute to program visibility and advocacy work by assisting in dissemination of program research and learning information. Support the development of quarterly newsletters, special interest studies, and other learning products to produce high-quality learning outputs that can be used for program decision-making, as well as for positioning and influencing at regional, national and international forums.
· Represent Mercy Corps Uganda in M&E and research forums with the broader humanitarian community.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
· Understand, maintain and innovate technical initiatives (including hardware, software, database, etc.)
· MEL information and data management system that improves Apolou and RCF’s ability to implement quality programs through better collection, management, analysis and presentation of data
· Represent impact to donor, government bodies, peer organizations and communities through the development of high-quality learning briefs and documents
· Serve as technical advisor for technology for data management systems and real-time data flow, utilizing appropriate software platforms for cloud aggregation, data processing and manipulation, and data visualization and utilization, including CommCare and Tableau integration
· Assist teams in setting up appropriate summary statistics and relational calculations in program databases and link them to tracking dashboards.
· Provide overall leadership and management of the MEL team, and be accountable for maintaining data integrity and quality, and the development of high-quality learning products.
· Work closely with the program team to develop capacity of staff to engage in the M&E systems for better “informed” decision-making at all levels.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
· Accountable to manage a team of MEL specialists responsible for data integrity, qualitative assessments, development of positioning and influencing products as a key outcome of the program’s learning agenda.
· Be an active member of the program SMT, working closely with Implementation Director, Technical Director, Program & Quality Manager, the Gender Advisor, and the Senior Governance Adviser.
· Coordinate and deliver support visits, training workshops and sharing/designing tools and resources that facilitate team capacity-building in MEL systems
· Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach impact.
· Document processes and achievements to ensure best practices are captured and disseminated. This will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting activity adjustments in keeping with on-going learning.
· Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
· Ensure effective and compliant allocation of resources towards meeting objectives.
· Support the CoP manage the Mercy Corps Technical Support Unit (TSU), national and international consultants as needed to accomplish objectives of selected components.
· Assist in the development of detailed implementation plans, flowing from annual strategic work- plans, and ensure timely and compliant delivery.
· Work with the Program Quality Manager on developing and documenting monthly, quarterly and annual reports capturing program impact, influence and innovation.
· Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
· Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and, ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
· Coordinate with Human Resource (HR) team to support the recruitment process by providing orientation, professional development and ongoing training of staff so that they have the quality and technical capacity necessary to ensure the successful implementation of activities.
FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
· Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to USAID programming.
· Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
· Facilitate liaising and maintaining strong relationships with donors and partners, jointly identifying opportunities for influence and demonstrating impact
· Represent Mercy Corps Uganda in strategic internal and external high-profile resilience and program events and conferences, including with donors, higher-level government stakeholders and multilateral institutions.
· Connect our thought leadership and influence agenda to representation and outreach efforts.
· Identify strategic partners for building collaboration and facilitate outreach and coordination efforts.
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 partners and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Supervisory Responsibility
Supervises the CLA Manager, M&E Manager, Database Officer and Database Assistant, and a team of M&E Officers and Assistants.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Chief of Party, Apolou
Collaborates With: Apolou / RCF SMT, and with global and regional MEL teams/specialists
Knowledge and Experience
· MA/S or equivalent experience in international development, economics, agricultural economics, statistics, bio-statistics or other relevant subject with strong quantitative background, and at least six years of experience in progressively increasing M&E responsibility in international development projects.
· Strongly preferred the candidate comes with experience in leading and managing USAID DFSA and resilience programs.
· Strong conceptual knowledge about theories of change, logic model, food and nutrition security indicators, M&E plan, data quality assurance, data utilization, and gender integration into M&E.
· Demonstrated experience and expertise in developing and operationalizing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan (please see the FFP M&E and Reporting Policy and Guidance for the components of an M&E plan).
· Demonstrated expertise and experience in developing and operationalizing routine monitoring system designed to track both output and outcome indicators.
· Strong quantitative background and demonstrated expertise in designing annual monitoring surveys including probabilistic sampling strategy and estimating sample size, developing appropriate weights, and analyze quantitative data.
· Demonstrated expertise in designing qualitative studies, in-depth knowledge about qualitative sampling, and experienced in using interview and interactive tools to generate qualitative information and analysis.
· Experienced in developing data quality assurance strategies, data management, and data visualization.
· Demonstrated expertise and experience in data utilization strategies and can creatively think about active data sharing techniques.
· Experience in international development and humanitarian assistance in East Africa is preferred.
· Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate processes to use research and M&E to improve program learning and adaptive management.
· Strong representation, networking and facilitation skills. Proven ability to synthesize and communicate complex subjects/topics effectively to multi-stakeholder groups.
· Effective verbal and written communication in English, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills.
· Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods.
· Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a diverse, geographically spread team.
Success Factors
The successful candidate will apply a strong combination of program leadership and relationship-building skills with an outstanding ability to contribute to innovation, influence and impact across a set of complex contexts and multi-sector programs. With a high capacity to deliver results under tight deadlines with multiple priorities, the MEL Director will have the ability to strategically develop and guide a course of action for Mercy Corps’ complex MEL systems. Commitment, flexibility and openness to new practices, concepts, ideas and change for continuous improvement will serve the position and team well. Public relations skills are integral success factors in this position. Excellent negotiation and communication skills will foster the development of donor and partner relationships.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The MEL Director is an accompanied position and is based in Kampala with 50% travel to domestic sites. Travel to other locations for regional representation may be required. At times evening and weekend work may be required to meet deadlines and at times of shocks and stresses.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA to a field posting. 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.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
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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. 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.