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 SUMMARY

Mercy Corps has been operational in Sudan since 2004 and currently leads humanitarian assistance and longer-term development efforts in conflict-affected South Darfur, Central Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Kassala, Gedaref, and Khartoum States, supporting host communities, IDPs, returnees and refugees. Mercy Corps’ current areas of programming include food security and livelihoods, WASH, health, nutrition, peace building and protection, resilience, and Market Systems Development.

Enhancing Community Resilience (SOMOUD) is a two-year, $70 M USD food security Activity in Kassala, Northern and River Nile States of Sudan and focuses on improving production, yields and post-harvest in key staple crop value chains namely sorghum, millet, and wheat. The Activity is funded by World Bank and implemented by World Food Program (WFP) and Mercy Corps. Activities are designed to increase smallholder farmers' access to key inputs, knowledge, and skills through expansion of last mile agent networks and community extension training. The Activity will also provide support to producer groups to reduce post-harvest losses through the provision of equipment / training. Small and medium enterprise agribusinesses provide a critical cornerstone in key value chains within Sudan and act as a focal point for aggregation, processing, and distribution. They provide a critical link between smallholder farmers / producer cooperatives and consumers organizations. Mercy Corps will facilitate to build/rebuild existing/ new productive relationships with different key private sector actors and expand critical micro small and medium enterprise agribusinesses, including the establishment of a business development grant facility. A particular focus will be given on linking IDPs with consumer organizations so that they can access affordable and high-quality food.  

THE POSITION   Summary

The Monitoring Evaluation Learning (MEL) unit exists to strengthen the monitoring efforts of Mercy Corps’ programs. The MEL unit provides technical support service to programs. The aim of the MEL unit is to assist programs in specific activities that help quantify, analyze, and document the output, outcome and impacts of Mercy Corps’ programs including data collection, data management, data analysis, and mapping. The MEL Unit conducts surveys, manages program data, maps program activities, provides reports and participates in monitoring evaluation and learning activities. Mercy Corps is looking for an experienced, qualified and business minded Sudanese to fill the position of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer. 

The MEL Officer position will serve as the focal point for all SOMOUD monitoring activities and a coordinating role for MEL assessments, monitoring and reporting. Reporting to a MEL Coordinator, this is a technical position working in close collaboration with the SOMOUD team to ensure that all program needs are being met and that data collection, analysis, storage and reporting is as planned. The MEL Officer will provide leadership, management and technical support in the design and implementation of SOMOUD MEL system. S/he will support the MEL Coordinator and MEL Manager in training and supervising enumerators for all programs and field offices. S/he will also support the development of MEL plans and conduct research/studies. S/he will ensure that learnings are generated and shared back with SOMOUD program teams and work closely with the team to liaise with relevant authorities and other organizations to ensure the implementation of quality programs.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

Support the design of the MEL system

• Work closely with the MEL Coordinator on the design of County and Program-level MEL system.
• Support in design or review of strategic and thematic area specific results chain and / or Theory of Change (ToC) and identify the assumptions that underpin the expected pathways of change, and subsequently direct data collection efforts to test those assumptions, for SOMOUD. 

Support the management and implementation of the MEL system 

• In coordination with the MEL Coordinator and Program Managers, ensure that all program MEL plans are implemented.
• Manage all operations related to MEL according to individual program MEL plans, budgets and implementation strategies. 
• Monitor program implementation, measure impact and calibrate program strategies and implementation accordingly. 
• Ensure continued re-evaluation of program activities and that achievements and best practices are captured and disseminated with resulting activity adjustments.
• As part of the learning function, seek to identify learning points across the range of work carried out, and identify opportunities to share this learning with program teams.
• Implement a robust research design to assess the impact of the program on participant’s economic and non-economic outcomes over time. Tracking of outcomes and impact will be conducted via outcomes surveys for both youth and market actors.
• Oversee data management (collection, cleaning, entry, storage and maintenance of approved databases etc.) including timeliness and completeness of reporting.
• Collaborate with SOMOUD team to provide weekly, monthly, quarterly and any other reports as required. Analyze and provide summarized reports as requested.
• Coordinate with SOMOUD team to ensure regular monitoring is being performed as scheduled and that data collection is adequately completed.
• Serve as a liaison between Mercy Corps program staff and collaborating research institutions for data-based research projects, as directed by the SOMOUD Project Lead.

Support MEL Team Management

• Working under the MEL Coordinator, s/he will be responsible for the performance management of enumerators and data collectors in the field.
• Track and advise on MEL staffing needs and manage the recruitment and training of enumerators when necessary to ensure volunteers are of the quality and capacity for successful implementation of activities. 
• Facilitate capacity building and technical assistance for MEL staff from program and implementing partners, to improve the quality of monitoring data and maximize program-wide learning.

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.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work

• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: MEL assistants and enumerators (if/when hired)

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly to: MEL Coordinator 

Works Directly with: All SOMOUD program team members, other MEL staff and support functions.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PARTICIPANTS AND STAKEHOLDERS

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION & TRANSFERABLE SKILLS 

• A graduate degree in statistics, quantitative Economics, Information Technology, Computer science, Development economics or related field
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in M&E
• Wide experience in design and execution of monitoring and evaluation systems is essential and experience in working in consortia or partnerships is an added advantage. 
• Proven technical experience in monitoring and evaluation of market facilitation, development programs, livelihoods, agriculture and value chain, climate smart, resilience programming is an added advantage.
• Practical and theoretical knowledge in program monitoring and data collection methods, including interview techniques. 
• Experience in building and maintaining effective partnerships with implementing and strategic partner agencies, and government authorities and counterparts.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of statistical packages for data analysis is required.
• Experience with mobile data collection, 
• Strong English writing and speaking, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills is required.

SUCCESS FACTORS 

The ideal candidate will have a natural curiosity for quantifying and articulating the impact of Mercy Corps’ programs on individuals and in communities.  He/she will also have an interest in exploring the larger factors that influence the success of humanitarian and development programs and the well-being of populations affected by natural disasters. S/he will undertake innovative approaches, be agile in the conceptualization of new program ideas and will be well versed in strategic thinking, planning and monitoring frameworks. A successful candidate will have skills and a passion for data collection, entry, and analysis as well as the ability to mentor others in these areas. This position requires the ability to work effectively in a team as well as assume individual responsibility for supervision and specific reporting tasks.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

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.

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. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

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.

LIVING CONDITIONS / ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The position is based in one of the SOMOUD operating states of Kassala, River Nile or Northern.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short term assignment 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.