Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Mercy Corps

Location: Maiduguri

Program / Department Summary

• For years, the Northeast of Nigeria has been plagued by insurgency and a dire humanitarian crisis.
• The intense focus on humanitarian and counter-violence activities, coupled with increasingly complex conflict dynamics in the region, has exposed gaps in the international community’s response to new and emerging sources of violence.
• Tensions between IDPs and host communities, resistance of communities to accept former fighters and their victims, fear of IDPs to return home and face tensions with those who stayed behind - these are just several evolving sources of conflict.
• If these issues are not addressed in a timely manner through locally- owned solutions, they have the potential to intensify and worsen the on-going crisis in the NE.
• Therefore, a pool of strong local partners capable of addressing existing and newly emerging tensions and conflicts is essential to prevent NE from falling further into a vicious cycle of conflict and poverty.
• The North East Conflict Management and Stabilization Initiative is an expansion from a pilot phase implemented by a consortium from August 2016 to March 2017.
• The programme will result in increased peace within and between communities and increased confidence in government and security institutions to address the root causes of conflict and violent extremism in Borno State. 
• General Position Summary
• The Monitoring and Evaluation (ME) Officer will coordinate and collaborate closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation Project Manager on all aspects of monitoring, evaluation, learning, research, and information management. S/he will plan and implement activities that ensure adherence to Mercy Corps’ and UKAID standards, including the use of standardized indicators and documentation methodologies.
• Throughout the life of the program, s/he will be responsible for a) cross-cutting programmatic information management within the framework of the program; b) monitoring and evaluation; c) ensuring that information is shared and used for continuous improvement of ongoing programs, and d) is incorporated into reports.
• S/he will have responsibility for documenting programme impacts.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcome.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support. 

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL):

• Support the M&E Project Manager in ensuring that the overall goal and objectives of the programme are achieved.
• Support technically in the implementation of the M&E plan for the programme
• Develop and submit a quarterly capacity enhancement and assessment plan for project beneficiaries in the target communities. Ensure its implementation following approval. Document the process and submit evidence based monthly progress reports on each participant.
• Support the M&E Project Manager in organising and conducting capacity building sessions for programme team and / partner staff.
• Provide hands-on M&E technical support to the SPOs and partner staff at community level.
• Develop and submit to the M&E Project Manager your weekly and monthly activity plans in time for review and prior to implementation. Ensure all sectors are covered.
• Submit weekly, monthly, bi-annual and annual progress reports on the activity level indicators of the programme
• Work with the SPOs, partner staff and target communities to; develop community based monitoring plans and data capturing tools within two months of employment. Update and review every month over the programme period. 
• Support the M&E Project Manager in the implementation of Community Based Monitoring and Reporting System (CBMRS) document the process.
• In consultation with the M&E Project Manager and in joint collaboration with the sub grantee partners, assist in organising, coordinate the mobilisation of data enumerators, and provide requisite training, the data collection, processing, and management of data at field level.
• Support  workshops organised by the programme
• Participate at delegated field activities, meetings or events relevant to the programme and provide detailed report within a day of the activity.
• Support other Mercy Corps interventions within the programme area.
• Perform any other duties that are relevant to the attainment of the overall programme goal and objectives.

Management Information System:

• Ensure programme MIS is up to date, operational and accessible
• Coordinate monthly data upload and engage with state teams to ensure data availability and completeness
• Manage programme SMS aggregator and activity tracking system and provide regular feedback on performance
• Ensure data quality through regular data quality assessment visits to states and project communities
• Provide regular feedback to states on data quality and performance against project milestone

Research and Documentation:

• Coordinate and manage the administration of programme pre and posttest and matching interest to work assessment
• Coordinate data entry and archival of pre and posttest questionnaire and matching interest to work assessment
• Develop and dissemination monthly learning data and update of Performance data table
• Ensure proper storage of project evaluation data including pre and posttest, matching Interest to Work Assessment and school performance records
• Perform regular archival and retrieval of project documents, data, reports and email communications

Communication and Capacity Building:

• Actively participate in meetings and processes to promote effective program management (through strong ME practices)
• Strengthen staff capacity in interpretation and use of both routine data collection and periodic evaluation/assessment tools through comprehensive training and coaching.
• Improve data quality through supportive supervisory visits to implementing partner staffs and beneficiaries 
• Problem-solve with others to address shortfalls in monitoring, evaluation and information management that affect program implementation. 
• Utilize internal Mercy Corps global online information-sharing resources to enhance organizational learning.
• Support development of abstracts and success stories through provision of information and data

Team Management:

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation:

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

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.

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.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

• Postgraduate Degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, or relevant field, with a strong foundation in monitoring and evaluation
• Minimum of 4 years of M&E work experience in international development required; ideal candidate will have both theoretical and practical background in M&E
• Knowledge of program development, implementation, evaluation, and reporting.
• Experience supervising M&E teams and building team capacity to deliver high-quality results.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Excellent computer skills, including experience with: Excel, PowerPoint, and at least one statistical data analysis software
• Familiarity and experience in large-scale secondary education or school to work and especially targeting marginalized girls or young women programs preferred. 
• Experience working in Northern States of Nigeria.
• Fluency in written and verbal English required, Hausa/ Kanuri is an added advantage.

Success Factors

• The successful candidate will combine exceptional leadership, management and technical skills with a focus on innovative interventions to engage adolescent girls in informal education and skills building linked with private sector entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in a culturally and religiously conservative environment.  S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative and complex programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. 
• The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours .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.