Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (MAIDA) at Mercy Corps

Program / Department Summary

• The MAIDA programme will directly support the recovery of at least 70,000 women, men, girls and boys who are returnees, IDPs and members of host communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in southern and central Borno State.
• The objective of MAIDA is to increase the social cohesion and resilience to economic, social and climate related shocks in Borno State in an environmentally-conscious way.
• Four interrelated and mutually reinforcing intermediate outcomes will contribute to achieving this objective. First, MAIDA will restore and improve rural livelihoods in an ecologically sustainable manner by enabling households to take advantage of existing and new agricultural market opportunities. In parallel, adolescents and youth will be empowered as economic actors in their communities through access to employment, diversified livelihood opportunities, vocational training and business development initiatives.
• These outcomes will be reinforced by improved access to social protection and community-based services for women, youth, adolescent breadwinners and other at-risk groups. Finally, overall social cohesion will be strengthened within and between conflict-affected communities and environmental resource management will be improved in areas of displacement and return.
• Sectors of intervention will include market-led and climate-smart livelihood and employment opportunities, vocational training for youth, social and economic protection and community reintegration and peacebuilding.
• Economic recovery activities will build resilience through Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) market systems-based models, reducing poverty by enhancing the ways that poor and vulnerable households interact with markets.

General Position Summary

• The Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer is responsible for supporting the Programme Director in ensuring performance monitoring and results reporting across the entire MAIDA program are in place, effectively implemented and well-synchronized.
• Throughout the life of the program, s/he is responsible for: a) cross-cutting programme information management; b) monitoring and evaluation of programme activities and impact; c) promoting learning and the use of data to improve programme performance; and d) producing qualitative and quantitative reports.
• The Senior M&E Officer will manage all M&E activities, including the collection and analysis of data, within an assigned geographic region.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Support the Country MEL Manager & Programme Director in the development of effective M&E tools that can be implemented by field staff and partners.
• Support the technical implementation of the M&E plan for the programme in an assigned target area.
• Lead capacity building sessions on data collection, processing and management for programme team and partner staff.
• Provide hands-on M&E technical support to the Senior Programme Officers, M&E Assistants and partner staff at LGA and community levels.
• Work with the SPOs, M&E assistants, partner staff and target communities to develop community based monitoring plans and data capturing tools.
• Submit weekly, monthly, bi-annual and annual progress reports on activity-level indicators for the programme.
• In consultation with the MEL Manager and in joint collaboration with partners, assist in mobilization and coordination of data enumerators and provide training on data collection, processing and management at the field level, as required.
• Support the implementation of baseline, midline and endline surveys, research projects and other data collection processes, as required.
• Conduct analysis of programme data as requested.
• Identify areas for programme improvement based on data collected and report back to SPOs and programme management.
• Ensure programme MIS is up-to-date, operational and accessible.
• Coordinate monthly data upload and engage with LGA and sector teams to ensure data availability and completeness.
• Ensure data quality through regular data quality assessment visits to LGAs and project communities.
• Provide regular feedback to teams on data quality and performance against project milestones.
• Develop and disseminate monthly learning data and performance dashboard to all programme staff.
• Ensure proper storage of project evaluation data.
• Actively participate in meetings to promote the integration of MEL practices into effective program management.
• Strengthen staff capacity in interpretation and use of both routine data collection and periodic evaluation/assessment tools through comprehensive training and coaching.
• 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 qualitative and quantitative information and data.
• Write reports as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

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.
• Work closely with Mercy Corps Nigeria country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its implementation process.

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

• Degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Statistics 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.
• Experience working in North East Nigeria preferred.
• Knowledge of mobile and digital data collection and management tools preferred.
• Fluency in written and verbal English required.
• Fluent oral communication skills in Hausa and Kanuri required.

Success Factors

• The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary.
• 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.