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.

THE DEPARTMENT AND 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 and its one of the subunits under the Program Performance and Quality (PaQ) department.

 The aim of the MELunit 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 MEL Officer. 

The MEL Officer position will serve as the focal point for all SPARK 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 SPARK 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 SPARK 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 SPARK program teams and work closely with the team to liaise with relevant authorities and other organizations to ensure the implementation of quality program

Work closely with the MEL Coordinator on the design of County and Program-level MEL systems

  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 SPARK.

Support the management and implementation of the MEL systems 

 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 the SPARK team to provide weekly, monthly, quarterly, and any other reports as required. Analyze and provide summarized reports as requested. 

 Coordinate with the SPARK team to ensure regular monitoring is being performed as scheduled and that data collection is adequately complete.

Serve as a liaison between Mercy Corps program staff and collaborating research institutions for data-based research projects, as directed by the SPARK Project Lead.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION & TRANSFERABLE SKILLS 

1. A graduate degree in statistics, quantitative Economics, Information Technology, Computer science, Development economics or related field 

2. At least 3 years of relevant experience in M&E 

3. 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.

 4. Proven technical experience in monitoring and evaluation of market facilitation, development programs, livelihoods, agriculture and value chain, climate-smart, and resilience programming is an added advantage.

 5. Practical and theoretical knowledge in program monitoring and data collection methods, including interview techniques.

 6. Experience in building and maintaining effective partnerships with implementing and strategic partner agencies, and government authorities, and counterparts. 

7. Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of statistical packages for data analysis is required. 8. Experience with mobile data collection, 9. Strong English writing and speaking, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills is re

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.