PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps leads humanitarian assistance and recovery efforts in areas affected by Sudan’s 21-year civil war - the same areas where today’s peace is most fragile. Mercy Corps’ goal in Sudan is to support the transition to a fair and lasting peace. Our team is working hand in hand with communities to facilitate the transition from relief assistance to development. Our recovery projects improve the capacity of communities to accommodate returnees and pave the way for their peaceful reintegration. Our developmental projects support county governance capacity building to improve the delivery of basic services and increase the participation of national civil society organizations representing marginalized groups. Our market based livelihoods program provide cutting edge approaches to increase youth employment and SME sector in South Sudan.
The current portfolio of programs are funded by the European Commission, OFDA and UNHCR
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
Reporting to the Deputy Country Director, the DM&E Manager will have overall responsibility to ensure new program design, quality and timely monitoring and evaluation of program performance and supervision of DM&E officers. The primary goal of this would be ensure Mercy Corps’s sustained ability to effective track and monitor its program activities as well as developing the ability for dissemination and sharing of best practice and lessons learned to ensure quality program delivery. S/he will provide support and/or lead needs assessments and provide substantial input into the design of new programs in the region in line with and supportive of wider Mercy Corps goals and missions.
The DM&E Manager will work closely with Mercy Corps Program Team Leaders to develop monitoring tools, train program staff on the use of these tools and ensure frequent capturing of program data/information using the tools agreed upon. In coordination with program managers, s/he will ensure grant specific assessments and surveys are undertaken, oversee the development of data gathering tools for the same and liaise directly with the external consultants/program staff to ensure the assessments/surveys are successfully completed and findings disseminated.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Design
- In collaboration with the Deputy Country Director, design and implement needs assessments and provide information to support the design of new programs and proposals
- Conduct assessments and surveys, data analysis for Mercy Corps internal surveys and act as the focal point for external consultants for evaluations
- Design and develop performance management plans for each program and field site. Identify and design key outcome and impact indicators and targets for each project component and for each level of the objective hierarchy.
- Create and maintain an M&E system for the program to demonstrate outputs, outcome, impact and lessons learned.
- Designing effective program monitoring tools and data collection tools and procedures to track performance.
- Design and application of relevant program/ project databases and data manipulation systems as per the requirements of the Program Managers and Teams
- Conducting regular field monitoring visits to assess progress on the ground and promote compliance by project impact and deliverables
- Accurately analyze data and make recommendations to improve program effectiveness and efficiency.
- Develop a Reporting Calendar for the organization and ensure effective tracking and planning to ensure timely reports internally and externally.
- Provide accurate data for donor reports and support Program Managers in collating and finalizing donor reports
- Collect, compile and analyze reports prepared by implementing partners and prepare consolidated progress reports in accordance with approved reporting formats.
- Write and edit narrative success stories for donors and marketing purposes
- Provide proposal writing assistance as required
- Develop an organization wide M&E system and country strategy.
- Coordinate M&E with national M&E systems being developed and ensure organizational learning to improve program quality and sustainability.
- Assists in the development of terms of reference for baselines, evaluations, and Special Studies in order to monitor programs and strategic developments.
- Build capacity of staff and local partners on M&E tools, data management, data analysis, basic surveying and sampling techniques, report writing techniques and requirements for Mercy Corps and
- Recruit, train and supervise M&E staff required for current or future programs
- Other duties as assigned.
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 towards 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.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: 1 DME Officer. DM&E Officers for projects in the pipeline
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Deputy Country Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: M&E Officer, Program Managers, Finance and Operations Team
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- MA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development preferred
- 2-3 years’ experience in international relief and development in Africa, preferably including Sudan
- Experience designing or evaluating multiple sectors including market based livelihood programs, civil society strengthening, peace building etc.
- 2-3 years experience of staff team-building
- History of working effectively and respectfully with host country government, INGO and NGO partners
- Experience working with programs in politically-turbulent and post-conflict environments
- Demonstrated ability to support complex programming and meet tight deadlines
- Skills in Arabic and/or local languages (see geographic areas listed above) preferred
SUCCESS FACTORS:
- Ability to effectively carry out duties as outlined.
- Willingness to learn and work in accordance with Mercy Corps policy.
- Demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities if necessary.
- A high professional standard of activity implementation, strong interpersonal and intellectual skills.
LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
The position is unaccompanied and will be based in Malual Kon in southern Sudan. Living conditions are basic.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY 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.
Please apply directly at: http://goo.gl/qcmUP
Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.
