Monitoring & Evaluation Officer (ECPN) at Mercy Corps

Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps works in fragile and conflict-affected environments. While we recognize that these are difficult places to operate, we believe that transitional environments - countries affected by civil wars, economic and political crisis, or natural disasters - offer tremendous opportunities for positive change. Since the late 1990s, Mercy Corps has managed over 100 peacebuilding projects in over 30 countries and regions, making Mercy Corps a true leader in the field. We currently implement 34 peacebuilding programs globally.
• In Nigeria, Mercy Corps is currently implementing several conflict management programs, focused on reducing violent conflict between farmer and pastoralist communities, preventing election-related violence, and increasing peace between religious groups.
• Mercy Corps has added to its portfolio of conflict management in the Middle Belt of Nigeria with the program Engaging Communities for Peace in Nigeria (ECPN), funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This two-year program aims to reduce violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt states by peacefully preventing and resolving farmer-pastoralist conflicts. The program works in select Local Government Areas in Benue and Nassarawa, with the following planned outcomes: 1) Communities increase their capacity to resolve disputes in an inclusive, sustainable manner; 2) Communities build trust across lines of division through creating shared social and economic opportunities; and 3) Communities engage local authorities and neighbouring communities to prevent conflict.

General Position Summary

• The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer will ensure that M&E systems, procedures, performance monitoring and results reporting are in place, effectively implemented and well synchronized with all MCN conflict management projects. The M&E Officer will be responsible for supporting the Program Manager and MEL Manager to ensure that program decisions are based on quality, up-to-date evidence and will promote an atmosphere of constant learning within the project team. The M&E Officer will travel frequently to Middle-Belt states of Nassarawa and Benue at different times.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• M&E System Maintenance - Collaborate closely with colleagues and partners in maintaining the M&E system serving the needs of the overall program. Harmonize with other Mercy Corps Nigeria conflict management projects and partners’ approaches with utility and program quality in mind, providing the Program Manager and the team real time information that can steer program implementation as well as improves the ability to analyze and represent impact to donors, government, colleague agencies, and communities themselves.
• Staff Training and Capacity Building - Support the project team to build the capacity of all relevant team members as well as partner staff to maintain an excellent M&E system and enable them to develop high quality reports and other documents.
• Monitoring and Learning - Implement data collection, analysis, reporting, and sharing of all monitoring activities to ensure quality implementation and sound management decisions.  Ensure that monitoring systems meet donor requirements.

Grants and Reports Management:

• Provide training and support to local partners in monitoring and reporting.
• Regularly conduct project site visits in order to maintain current information for accurate documentation and reporting.
• Assist in training colleagues and partner teams, as necessary.
• Any other duties related to grants and program reports.
• Assist the program implementation team in timely and accurate reporting to donors.

Representation:

• 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.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• Participate in coordination meetings as requested by the ECPN Program Manager.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate community meetings, events, and trainings as required.
• Ensure implementation of activities is on time, target and budget.
• Liaise with ECPN partner organizations and potential resource persons as needed.
• Support the Program Manager in overseeing the performance of project implementation by partners, and conduct frequent field visits to project sites.
• Other duties as assigned by the Program Manager.

Organizational Learning:

• As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

Knowledge and Experience

• Fluency in Hausa and English, both written and spoken.
• BA/S or equivalent in Conflict Management, Social Sciences, International Development or other relevant field.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience working in the non-profit sector in monitoring and evaluation, ideally in conflict management/peacebuilding, community development, or economic and market development.
• Prior experience of carrying out surveys, conducting interviews, and undertaking assessments.
• Understanding of qualitative and quantitative indicators and measurement strategies for collecting data regarding both types of indicators.
• Experience working in rural areas in Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt.
• Experience working in a multi-organizational team (international and national partners) is a plus.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing.
• Computers skills - word-processing and spreadsheets experience required.  Computer database experience preferred.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

Success Factors

• The successful M&E Officer will combine exceptional monitoring and evaluation technical skills with an ability to move tasks forward in a difficult, unpredictable environment.
• An ideal candidate will be conversant with the challenges inherent in peacebuilding work and will be a self-starter who has participated in grassroots development efforts.
• S/he will have an outstanding ability to support innovative and complex programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and excellent attention to detail are essential.