Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Lead - Gulu

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 now, and for the future.

Programme Summary

Present in Uganda since 2006, Mercy Corps Uganda’s aim is to catalyse change through the Ugandan private sector, civil society, and government to create resilient, economically inclusive, healthy, and secure communities.

We have 15 programmes across Uganda with a total portfolio value of $80m, including support from FCDO, USAID, US State Department, French Development Agency, Conrad Hilton Foundation and other private sector foundations. With a strong presence across the country, we have offices in Kampala, Rhino Camp, Yumbe, Moroto, Kotido, Amudat, Kaabong, Karita, and Karenga.

The Climate Smart Jobs Programme (CSJP) is a £39 million four year FCDO funded programme that seeks to grow climate smart agribusinesses to create jobs, support climate smart land management and services, as well as innovation on climate adaptation and mitigation, and remove barriers that stop businesses from getting deals done. Under Component (4) of the CSJP: Climate Smart Land Management Services, (worth approx. £8.5m) Mercy Corps will lead a consortium of partners to implement three overall outputs  under the ‘REVIVE’ programme, focusing on stimulation of supply, demand, and a supportive enabling environment for improved ecosystem services across Northern Uganda. 

General Position Summary

The Technical Lead for Monitoring, Results and Learning will design the M&E Plan and Learning Plan. S/he will set the technical direction for the programme’s key learning questions, coordination of information sources , analysis of trends, and contribute to the programme’s political access and influence (PAI) strategy. The Lead will be responsible for ensuring that the consortium shares learning from the pilots to support scalability by partners, and other key stakeholders. S/he will contribute to the compilation of programmatic reports to the donor (quarterly and annual).

Key responsibilities

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Design and maintain the M&E Plan of the REVIVE programme;
• Set up the MEL system of the programme, including the set up of technology for MEL and TolaData maintenance, ensuring they are compliant with donor and Mercy Corps’ requirements;
• Lead systematic reviews of relevant theory and evidence to help identify core learning questions and working hypotheses
• Guide the design and implementation of quantitative and qualitative data collection tools and analyses;
• Lead the monitoring and evaluation milestones related to the REVIVE programme, including baseline, midline and endline, final evaluation, MEL-related formative studies and recurring monitoring activities
• Managing the production of external-facing learning products targeted to a wide variety of stakeholders and audiences.

Learning

• Facilitate learning sessions with programme team and external stakeholders to reflect on evidence and drive planning and implementation of programme inputs and activities
• Develop and oversee the implementation of a REVIVE learning plan based on the evidence knowledge gap of the REVIVE Theory of Change
• Support the development, management and coordination of knowledge management databases and tools.
• Support Mercy Corps intentional learning and continuous improvement culture by contributing to strategies to monitor, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of programme efforts through activities such as after-action reviews, quarterly reviews, internal performance review.
• Participate in the facilitation of strategic planning sessions.
• Provide leadership, training and mentoring in the development of learning plan, tools, survey design, methodology, data analysis, and other skills required for assessing the impact of the program.
• Conduct training sessions with partners about the various learning and knowledge management tools.
• Assist with conceptualizing enhancements to the knowledge management tools and processes.
• In coordination with partners, help develop Knowledge, Learning and Communication activities that reflect industry standards in climate resilience, knowledge transfer and application
• Provide technical advisory services on the design and implementation of digital knowledge/data management systems.

Team Management:

• Develop and implement plans to mentor and coach staff to build their capacity
• Foster a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence
• Lead a MEL team
• Ensure coordination with MEL staff across partners.

 

Accountability:

• Collaborate with Community Accountability and Response Mechanism (CARM) staff members to strengthen systems to promote accountability to participants and communities
• Support programme teams to ensure communities understand their rights and are comfortable to provide feedback to Mercy Corps on MEL processes and program activities.
• Ensure all MEL activities are gender sensitive and in adherence with Mercy Corps’ and FCDO Gender Policies
• Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure that MEL activities do not have adverse effects on communities.
• Support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in design, monitoring and evaluation of projects.

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 Programme Participants

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

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: MEL Officers (2)

Reports Directly To: Team Leader

Works Directly With: All team members of the REVIVE programme, including partners, Deputy team leader and program officers/assistants, Technical leads and advisor, Research team, Operations, HR and Finance teams, Mercy Corps Desk team

Knowledge and Experience:

• 8+ years experience in Designing and Implementing approaches to MEL
• 5+ years experience in senior management roles and demonstrable team management skills
• Experience working for FCDO funded programmes preferred
• Proven ability to produce final documents (such as learning agenda logframes, M&E Plan AMEPs, etc.) for donor consumption required
• Experience with theoretical and practical background in MEL and knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodologies and techniques used - required
• Successful experience with the adoption of mobile data collection tools like Open Data Kit (ODK) and ability to use data visualization software (e.g. PowerBI) preferred
• Thematic experience in climate programming and knowledge of Ugandan context preferred
• Proficiency in English.

Success Factors

• High-level communication skills.
• Strong time management and prioritisation skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Self-motivated, but able to work within a team.
• Experience working towards achieving set targets and exceeding them.
• Demonstrated self-reliant problem-solver.

Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking
• Results-oriented
• Impact and Influence
• Collaboration/Teamwork
• Adaptability/Change Management
• Communication skills

Living Conditions/Environmental Conditions

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Lead position will be based in Gulu, Uganda with at least 40% travel to domestic sites. Travel to other locations for regional representation may be required. At times evening and weekend work may be required to meet deadlines and at times of shocks and stresses.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA to a field posting. 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. 

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organisations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe  and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional  manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and  values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Please note that this position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

Closing date for applications: March 18th 2022