Vacancy title:
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor

Jobs at:
Mercy Corps

Deadline of this Job:
Open

Duty Station:
MOROTO, Uganda

Job details:
Post: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor BASED IN MOROTO

PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY
The MEL Advisor plays a key role in the implementation of a five-year, $41 million USAID funded Food for Peace Activity (‘Apolou") to support agriculturalists, agro pastoralists, and pastoral households living across the districts of Amudat, Kotido, Kaabong and Moroto in the Karamoja sub-region of Uganda The program has four strategic objectives, and the Governance Manager will oversee strategic objective one:

•  Inclusive and effective governance contributes to improved food and nutrition security
•  Improved health and nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women, children under five, and adolescent girls in targeted districts
•  improved WASH conditions among targeted households
• Adolescent girls, adolescent boys, women and men access diverse and secure livelihoods, through improved capacities and strengthened market systems

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The MEL Advisor is responsible for leading the overall integration of Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning in Mercy Corps‘ Apolou program. S/he is responsible for facilitating a participatory process in order to develop Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning strategies and frameworks tailored to this DFAP. The MEL Advisor shall closely work with Mercy Corps’ MEL Technical Support Unit during the first year of the program. S/he shall support the different component leads/Managers of the DFAP to develop work plans with clear targets and timeframes including defined roles and responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
TECHNICAL

• Understand, maintain and innovate the technical component-its (including hardware, software, database, etc.) MEL information and data management system that improves MC's ability to implement quality programs through ‘better collection. management, analysis and presentation of data, and represent impact to donor, government bodies, peer organizations and communities using standard technologies.
• 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. This includes learning and testing new software platforms, as well as working with tech partners, to develop both project and country level information management systems
• Assist teams to integrate and utilize Mercy Corps’ agency-wide software tool for Project Management (Tola Activity) and Data management (Tola Tables). This includes integration of other software platforms that allow for projects to complete a data flow “system,” as well as address Project Management needs unmet by Tola.

MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

• Contribute to program-level M&E planning and system development at program start-up, including facilitation of thorough indicator planning, advising on designing data collection tools and methodologies, M&E workflow, database design and protocols, secondary research to inform baseline assessments and measurement frameworks
• 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. Ensure incorporation of agency's indicators wherever possible and appropriate into new tools developed during the startup phase.
•  In coordination with MEL Manager. 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 to create a dynamic, responsive M&E support unit through the considered use of MEL staff, through sharing of resources, time and efforts as a percentage of her/his collective efforts.
• Together with MEL Manager, proactively build a strong M&E community of practice among the program portfolio and foster opportunities for learning, crosspollination, and collaboration. Support the Director of Programs in the organizing and facilitation of regular program coordination meetings with senior program staff. Represent program in MEI, and research forums with the broader development community.
• Advise on improving country MEL initiatives by identifying and replicating best practices, field tested lessons learned, constructive/creative recommendations and encourage teams to embed them in their daily work.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• MA/S or equivalent experience in international development, economics, agricultural economics, statistics, bio-statistics, nutrition 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, The candidate must have experience in leading the M&E of a large project.
• 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 demonstrate expertise in designing annual monitoring surveys including probabilistic sampling strategy and estimating sample size, developing appropriate weights, and analyze quantitative data.

Job application procedure
To apply please visit www.mercycrops.org/carees