Summary
Date Posted: Monday, May 22, 2023 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action - helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Working in Uganda since 2006, Mercy corps has applied market-driven solutions to communities across the country, equipping individuals and households with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to generate improvements in their access to markets, livelihoods, health, nutrition, and security, to improve their overall resilience. Our programs focus on:

Program Summary
Serving on the frontlines of the hardest hit communities by climate change, as in Northern Uganda, Mercy Corps, Energy 4 Impact (E4I), Simusolar, and Tulima Solar are witnessing first-hand the detrimental impacts of the unfolding climate crisis and the multifaceted ways that this is impacting smallholder farmers. The Pump-Up Uganda project seeks to enable farmers in Northern Uganda (Yumbe and Gulu areas), including women, youth, and refugee farming communities to build resilient livelihoods and to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change. We aim to do this by supporting viable investments in climate resilient technologies such as solar water pumps (SWPs) coupled with best practices in climate smart agriculture (CSA) and integrated water resource management.

The project will be implemented by a consortium led by Mercy Corps, as the administrative partner; Energy 4 Impact, Mercy Corps’ energy access platform, which will provide business model and technology advisory services; and Tulimasolar and Simusolar as commercial partners. The Pump-Up project will improve capacities of the commercial partner to adapt and localise their product in Yumbe and Gulu areas by improving their PAYGO consumer financing offer and developing cost-effective and inclusive go-to-market and sales strategies. The project will support the commercial partner’s goal to increase its reach and market traction in Northern Uganda (currently at 38% of total sales) by adding an additional 430 SWPs over 3 years by: 1) diversifying value chains and market segments to reach SHFs, women, youth, and refugee communities, 2) adopting engagement terms and exploring financial products suitable for women and youth, 3) holding demonstration events that increase awareness and adoption. Altogether, these efforts will help to establish an enduring foundation to reduce vulnerability to climate change for SHFs by facilitating inclusive access and uptake of SWPs coupled with the promotion of best practices in CSA and integrated water resource management.

The project aims to reach 2,220 people with opportunities for increased income and/or improved livelihoods (555 female and 888 youth); create 50 decent jobs (15 female and 30 youth); and support 500 SHFs including women and youth to engage in off-season production. Pump Up will run from 01 July 2023 to 30 June 2026 for a total duration of three years.

General Position Summary
The Senior MEL Officer will contribute to the quality assurance of program implementation and ensure that the program is meeting its deliverables, as well as developing tools and reports to demonstrate the impact and results of program implementation. S/he will develop and maintain data management systems. The MEL Officer is responsible for supporting the program by regularly collecting, entering, verifying, and analyzing data and work with the program team to make timely adjustments to measure the impact of Mercy Corps’ programs and to ensure M&E data is accurately incorporated into all organizational reports and information products. S/he will ensure the collection and analysis of useful, timely and actionable information for managers and decision-makers, and contribute to the frequent review, reflection, and key learning processes to improve performance.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Monitoring and Evaluation
• Work with program teams, partners, and M&E focal points to integrate M&E into ongoing project/program planning and implementation systems and ensure adherence to Mercy Corps M&E minimum standards.
• Lead the development of appropriate monitoring, tracking, and reporting systems, tools and templates that enhance monitoring of project outputs and quality, generate quality evidence on project impact and promote and ensure use of data for decision-making processes.
• Support the program in developing and promoting the use of standard indicators, tools, and forms (as appropriate) and M&E practices across the project/program and coordinate the collection of information required for country-level management.
• Coordinate assessments and evaluations.
• Ensure that monitoring plans are developed for the program and ensure that regular monitoring visits are conducted by MEL staff to the different project locations, ensure that minimum standards are being met, and that reports are shared with the program teams.
• Work with partners and program team to gather success stories and anecdotal evidence of program impact to share for outreach and with donors.

Data Analysis and Reporting
• Work as part of a broader team to design, facilitate and support data collection and analysis systems including baseline, annual, and end line surveys, regular monitoring, data collection and analysis, feedback, and reporting.
• Generate data reports (tables/graphs/reports) from the database at regular intervals, ensuring reports/information are available for program implementation staff as required.
• Facilitate data analysis with program implementation team as required.
• Conduct regular field visits to ensure all elements of the data system are being utilized effectively, assessing, and identifying breakdowns and areas that require clarifications and improvements.
• Coordinate with field team and partners to implement system corrections and adjustments, solving operational issues and documenting actions taken and next steps.
• Work with program teams to ensure data analysis and reports are integrated into programmatic decision making to improve impact of the program.
• Contribute to monthly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements.
• Report program achievements on TOLA, Activity Info, and other relevant reporting mechanisms.

Capacity Building
• Conduct needs assessment for the partners, MEL team and partners and determine a M&E training plan and tools to support staff.
• Conduct needs assessment to implement an induction on M&E and a training plan to inform the importance of M&E and how information feeds into the program.
• Develop training material and implement training plan based on the assessment needs and gaps of partners and M&E focal persons.
• Build the capacity of all relevant team members to develop and maintain a robust M&E system.
• Review partner reports and provide feedback and comments to improve reporting quality.
• Adapt existing protocols and plans to mentor and coach colleagues to build their capacity to enable them to develop high quality reports.

Database Management
• Develop and manage a program database that improves Mercy Corps’ ability to inform program implementation, analyze data, and represent impact to key stakeholders.
• Contribute to understanding of and support for mobile data collection hardware and software, including tools such as ONA/ODK, Commcare, Tableau, PowerBI etc.
• Ensure all relevant program staff can utilize the database to analyze program information and results.
• Design, adapt and maintain the database in conjunction with the MEL team to match strategic program or implementation changes.
• Review data being collected to locate and fix problems with data entry or integrity.
• Document database contents, protocols, and update manuals for smooth functioning of the data management system.
• Manage regular synchronizations of data.
• Troubleshoot front and back-end issues with the database, including any synchronization issues with field-level data entry.

Accountability
• Coordinate with the team to build systems that promote beneficiary accountability by ensuring that communities participate in initial assessments and program design.
• Coordinate with program teams to ensure that communities are informed about our programs and what we do, are aware of their entitlements, are comfortable to give feedback and that feedback is used to improve the quality of our programs.
• Ensure that Mercy Corps’ Community Feedback and Accountability Mechanism is clearly communicated to project beneficiaries, and that the hotline numbers are visible to end beneficiaries throughout the program.
• Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equality Policy.
• Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other assigned tasks, as necessary.

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
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, preferable in social sciences, development studies, business administration, public administration, international development, or other relevant disciplines with a postgraduate diploma in monitoring & evaluation and project management.
• A minimum of 4 (years) relevant experience in M&E and/or other relevant experience.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of market systems development programs is preferred.
• Fluent in both spoken and written English; ability in local languages in the program target areas is an added advantage.
• Previous experience working with international and/or local NGOs.
• Advanced computer skills and experience developing data management systems including ONA/KoBo/ODK, and Power BI are required.
• Extensive experience in the field survey/data collection techniques, data entry, data verification, management, and analysis.
• Strong team coordination, listening, and consensus building skills.


Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 48

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure

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