Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Mercy Corps

Locations: Northern Nigeria and FCT

Project Summary

• The Feed the Future Nigeria Livelihoods Project is targeted at reducing levels of poverty among vulnerable households in 3 States and 6LGAs and 1 AC in Northern Nigeria and FCT.

General Position Summary

• The FFL Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Officer will support the project on all monitoring and evaluation needs across implementing area.
• S/he will support the Program Manager in ensuring timely and quality reporting.
• The MEL Officer will provide program staff with the information and training to capture monitoring metrics regularly and efficiently.
• S/he will support data collection, analysis activities and regularly providing technical oversight, problem-solving and support.

Essential Job Functions

• In coordination with program staff, adapt existing M&E systems to monitor and evaluate project activities and impact, in accordance with existing Mercy Corps DM&E guidelines.
• Manage capturing data across program interventions and analyze data collected during monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Oversee data tracking and analysis on regular basis and ensure that data and metrics in field reports are accurate.
• Write, edit, and summarize field reports to develop quality and informative monthly and quarterly reports for donors and internal teams.
• Work with the program team to identify opportunities to innovate M&E systems.
• In partnership with program team document lessons learned and best practices for dissemination within Mercy Corps, to donors, other agencies and interested parties
• Support pre and post monitoring, need assessments, survey, focus groups and evaluation or verification as well as other studies at the project level.
• Utilize standard Mercy Corps assessment tools and help in developing new tools.
• Provide input on the design and implementation of baseline studies, mid-term evaluations and final evaluations.
• Conduct regular field visits to meet the beneficiaries, coordinate with project officers, to capture data correctly and efficiently to ensure regular and accurate information.
• Track and report lessons learned, prepare success stories about the program and share with management for wider circulation.
• Work closely with program teams for filing/archiving documentation both soft copies and hard copies.
• Maintain relevant program and correspondence files related with DM&E.
• Manage M&E tasks related to closing out projects and checking final project evaluation documents.
• Adherence to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedure manuals;
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission in country of operation;
• Carry out any other duties as assigned.

The position will report to:

• Feed the Future Nigeria Livelihoods Project Manager and will working closely with MCNs MEL Manager and other M&E Officers (as and when required)

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S in relevant field or other similar field; MA/MS/MBA or equivalent preferred.
• At least 2 years of experience in development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation or other learning efforts is required.
• Experience developing and disseminating regular communication materials and updates
• Experience conducting rapid needs assessments.
• Experience representing the organization and its interests to a diverse range of local and international government officials, local civil society organizations, other international organizations, the media and the public.
• Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated training and facilitation experience
• Ability to work under pressure
• Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing
• Knowledge of statistical analysis software such as SPSS, EPI Info and mobile data collection platforms preferable
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills
• Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa is required (but not essential).

Success Factors

• Skilled writer and synthesizer of diverse and complex information, helping teams generate new insights into their work, the needs of their countries and the region, and how program impact can be scaled.
• Talent for organizing and cataloging information essential
• Sense of creativity essential
• Positive attitude and ability to work well on a team is essential
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required
• Ability to understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details
• Ability to work with diverse groups of people
• Conscientious, with an excellent sense of judgment