Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager At Mercy Corps

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every member feels they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have a long-term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been a fixture in Somalia since 2005, implementing projects that target hundreds of thousands of vulnerable households. Our work focuses on improving access to basic services and overcoming vulnerabilities caused by civil conflict and natural disasters. We achieve this through interventions in four key sectors: water security, peace and governance, economic opportunity, and food security. Our programs are designed in an integrated manner, incorporating new methodologies like Emergency, DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction), and Resilience frameworks. Mercy Corps’ operations in Somalia are firmly rooted in a robust framework of socio-political analysis and risk management systems, ensuring compliance with Somali Federal Government (FGS) laws, internal accountability standards, and donor requirements. Mercy Corps Somalia has over 100 field staff based in field operations in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Kismayo, and Baidoa with programs funded by multiple donors including USAID, FCDO, SIDA, SDC, AFD, and the UN.

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager who will provide overall oversight of the country-level monitoring and evaluation department. The MEL Manager will be responsible for ensuring that a robust MEL system provides the evidence needed for learning and adapting throughout the program life-cycle. The MEL system should be robust enough that data can be used as part of an impact evaluation.

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager is an important position in the Mercy Corps Somalia program responsible for providing oversight of country-level monitoring and evaluation (M&E) department staff, ensuring the quality of the portfolio’s M&E, and the timely delivery of M&E reporting to donors, as well as information management via Mercy Corps’ proprietary TolaData software, geographic information systems (GIS), and other systems the MEL Manager may design and implement. The MEL Manager is also responsible for the capacity building and mentoring strategy for Mercy Corps Somalia staff on themes related to monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning, and adaptive management.

Essential Job Responsibilities

MEL STRATEGY AND PLANNING

• Set up and oversee the timely implementation of MEL systems, including the Indicator Tracking Tool (ITT), Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP), M&E Technology Plan, MEL Plan, and Learning Plan.
• Oversee data collection, analysis, management, visualization, mapping, and reporting on quantitative and qualitative indicators related to the program’s overall operational context, and performance.
• Establish a data-visualization agenda that prioritizes and schedules the release of paper and digital products reflecting program activities and impact.
• Harmonize the MEL system across consortium partner systems and other external systems, as relevant.
• Maximize the use of participatory methods in MEL data collection
• Ensure the quality of MEL implementation for the Activity, consistently reviewing and adapting the MEL systems and tools to the needs of the changing programmatic context.
• Ensure systems are established and maintained to collect sex- and age-disaggregated data to ensure that the project team can design gender-sensitive, and socially-inclusive.
• Ensure that personal protection is included in data collection (direct and remote), storage, and presentation of those data.
• Tailor evidence-based learning to diverse audiences, decision-makers, and stakeholders.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

• Ensure data management processes (collection, cleaning, analysis, storage, reporting, and visualization) are functioning in all program locations to provide quality data within deadlines.
• Ensure data quality through routine internal Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) as required by the Mercy Corps MEL Policy, and make adjustments as needed.
• Ensure the Activity adheres to Mercy Corps’ MEL and Program Record Retention and Responsible Data Policies.
• Develop reporting templates that facilitate the acquisition, aggregation, and flow of information and learning within the program as well as externally.
• Maintain a comprehensive reporting and accountability schedule as well as review program reports to ensure reports contain accurate, clear, and high-quality data presented in the proper format.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Oversee country MEL team and sub-contractors, such as external evaluators and enumerators.
• Use competency-based approaches to build the capacity of all relevant MEL staff and partner team members to develop and maintain a high-quality MEL system, which integrates regular reflection, learning, and adaption.
• Promote staff accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one-on-one meetings and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Collaborate with Program/Technical leads across programs and build processes for regular feedback to ensure effective and adaptive management.
• Present Country MEL to external MEL and research stakeholders to influence decision-makers and promote collaboration and shared learning.
• Actively collaborate with regional and global counterparts to promote the use of MEL best practices and lessons learned.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility

MEL Coordinator, Senior MEL officers, and MEL Officers on the MEL Team

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Programs

Works Directly With: Program Team Leaders, Project teams, Somalia SMT, Regional Program Team, HQ/RO Technical Support Unit, ESA Program Officers, and additional headquarters-based support departments as needed.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, including proven experience managing MEL staff
• MA/MS in research methods, statistics, economics, monitoring and evaluation, or other relevant field preferred
• Experience managing MEL and activities funded by USAID, FCDO, SIDA, etc.
• Proven success in designing, implementing, and overseeing program MEL systems from startup to closeout.
• Successful experience with the adoption of mobile data collection tools like Open Data Kit (ODK) and ability to use data visualization software (e.g., PowerBI)
• Experience with and commitment to adaptive management and collaborative, learn, adapt (CLA) processes.
• Proven ability to produce documents (such as learning agenda, and M&E Plan) for donor consumption
• Research skills, including participatory qualitative and quantitative methodologies and techniques, planning and managing surveys, and developing and refining data collection tools.
• Possess the ability to analyze data and utilize lessons learned for the continuous improvement of program implementation and to promote a culture of learning
• Excellent quantitative skills and experience with statistical packages including Stata and/or SPSS, and GIS tools like QGIS, ArcGIS
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and a proven ability to network and maintain effective working relationships with diverse actors.
• Experience and understanding of market-system development interventions, resilience programming, and how these are monitored and evaluated
• Ability to work in a sometimes-solitary environment with moderate to high levels of insecurity and significant restrictions on personal movement.
• Demonstrated ability to work in complex programming and volatile environments
• Previous experience in Somalia or a similar context is essential.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem-solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively to achieve sustainable impact and enhance long-term resilience. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results. They will understand the larger picture while remaining focused on problem-solving and effectively navigating complex and sensitive political, conflict, and security dynamics. The most successful Mercy Corps team 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.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The MEL Manager is based in Mogadishu. This position requires 60% of time for travel by flight to field offices which have varying degrees of insecurity. Accommodation is provided in group housing. The MEAL Manager will support activities throughout Somalia. Mobility in Somalia is restricted and must first be cleared with the Security Advisor. This is an unaccompanied post and eligible for Hardship and R&R. Standard Somali workweek is Sunday – Thursday.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respect local laws, customs, and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

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

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.