Job type: Full-time
Job DetailsDescriptionMONITORING, EVALUATION, LEARNING, AND ACCOUNTABILITY (MEAL) OFFICER– GIRL-H PROGRAM
Position Description
Location: Kigoma, Tanzania
Position Status: Full-time, Regular
Report to GIRL-H Meal Specialist
Current team Member: New position
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. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have a long-term impact.
Mercy Corps implements a variety of programming throughout the Africa Region in response to the diverse humanitarian and long-term development needs of the region and is committed to delivering high-impact programming that reaches communities or individuals in need, wherever they are. Mercy Corps is duly registered in Tanzania under the NGO Act No. 24, 2002 since 9th June 2011 with certificate of registration No. 00NGO/00004646. For the past 13 years, Mercy Corps has been implementing programs across agriculture, livelihoods, and governance in Tanzania. Mercy Corps has built a robust and diverse portfolio in Tanzania that is working to address structural causes of poverty and injustice and to strengthen systems that enable men, women, and children to access opportunities, participate in and contribute to peaceful democratic processes, and thrive in the face of ecological and social change. To do this, we deliver integrated programming to strengthen market and governance systems, address the root causes of conflict, and equip vulnerable populations- in particular youth, women, adolescents, and marginalized communities- with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to be healthy, productive and to drive the development of their communities. We work closely with the private sector, civil society, and governance structures at local and national levels to facilitate change and ensure that opportunities are inclusive for all Tanzanians.
Program / Department Summary
Girls Improving Resilience through Livelihoods and Health (GIRL-H) is a five-year, multi-country program being implemented in Uganda, South Sudan, Nigeria and now expanding to Tanzania. As a one-year pilot program In Tanzania, the program aims to improve the well-being of adolescent girls, boys, and young people with diverse identities, which makes them have unique and distinctive needs and capabilities, by increasing their access to skills and knowledge, health resources, formal education, and economic opportunities. GIRL-H also fosters an enabling environment by working with communities to transform unhealthy social norms and create opportunities for adolescent girls, boys, and young people to access education and economic opportunity through an integrated approach to programming. Key to GIRL-H is a robust learning and research agenda that reaches across four focal countries to contribute to the evidence-based on what works to secure access to opportunities for adolescent girls, boys, and young people within the most marginalized communities and to better understand their contribution to household resilience. This evidence and learning will be shared to elevate Mercy Corps’ influence in the program participant’s space and to bolster fundraising efforts to scale the model. In coordination with local implementing partners in Kigoma, the Senior Program Officer will support in the routine implementation of the GIRL-H program activities.
General Position Summary
Under the direct supervision of the GIRL-H Program Manager and GIRL-H Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning Manager, the GIRL-H Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Accountability (MEAL) Officer will support the program team with technical oversight and direction on all monitoring and evaluation needs across implementing areas. S/he will support the GIRL-H Program Manager in ensuring timely and quality reporting. The MEAL Officer will support the provision of program staff with the information and training to capture monitoring metrics regularly and efficiently. S/he will coordinate and support quality data collection and analysis of activities and regularly provide technical oversight, problem-solving, and support to the GIRL-H activities in Tanzania.
The MEAL Officer will work directly with MEAL Officers of the local partner organizations in Kigoma region, Tanzania to ensure quality assurance of GIRL-H program implementation. S/he will contribute to the monitoring and evaluation functions related to tracking GIRL-H program progress and quality through program log frame, which provides an overview of a program’s goal, activities, and anticipated results while identifying how results will be monitored. S/he will be responsible for collecting useful, timely, and actionable information for management, and contribute to the frequent review, reflection, and key learning process to improve performance.
The GIRL-H MEAL Officer will oversee and ensure the collection of quality M&E data for the GIRL-H program, document M&E plans for the program, and develop the data management systems. S/he will assist in implementing review and learning processes (e.g., complaints mechanisms, feedback loops, lessons learned documentation and sharing, etc.). S/he will work closely with the local implementing partners and other stakeholders involved in program implementation in order to ensure a coherent and comprehensive program is implemented, lessons are learned and experiences are shared across the various sectors and program teams. The GIRL-H MEAL Officer will support the activities of the external evaluator in the review of tools which will form the basis of program monitoring and on-the-job assistance for local implementing partners.
Additionally, the position requires management and analysis of cloud-based datasets for timely, and often real-time, visualization and utilization. The GIRL-H MEAL Officer will work with the GIRL-H Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning Manager to continue to develop an end-to-end standard for mobile data, which includes building and maintaining dashboards of program progress and performance, linkages of CommCare data to other efficient platforms. Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) is key to Mercy Corps programs, therefore the MEAL Officer is required to own this component and ensure GESI sensitivity is integrated into his/her work area.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability, and Learning
- The GIRL-H MEAL Officer will work with the GIRL-H Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning Specialist to develop appropriate monitoring, tracking, and reporting systems, tools, and templates (including an M&E plan) that enhance monitoring of program outputs and quality, generate quality evidence on program impact, and promote and ensure the use of data for decision-making processes.
- Work with the GIRL-H Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning Specialist to develop, manage, and maintain up-to-date GIRL-H Program databases that reflect progress through Monitoring, including Sex and Age Disaggregated Data (SADD) participants counts, and facilitate timely information updates, data quality assurance, sharing of information and learning, etc, while ensuring consistent and accurate transfer of data from both physical and virtual assessments and monitoring tools to internal databases.
- S/He will carry out regular monitoring and field visits to Kigoma region and program communities for spot checks, data collection and validation through post-distribution monitoring, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews, including data validation, assuring quality control measures, timely data submission in coordination with the local partners MEL Officers.
- S/He is responsible for data indicator tracking and analysis, linking it with evidence on a regular basis, and ensuring that data and metrics in field reports are accurate.
- Remain updated with developments among the Mercy Corps GIRL-H community and agency-wide MEAL trends and resources, and ensure that the local implementing partners MEAL team are applying Mercy Corps guidance and policies appropriately and in a timely manner.
- Play a key role in the development and leading in the review of result chains, intervention strategies, M&E frameworks, and document changes to generate learnings and ideas for the GIRL-H programs.
- While ensuring quality data collection for program activities, and monitoring the quality and completeness of data sets, the GIRL-H MEAL Officer will further ensure the timely preparation of data analysis at the area level and share with the Research and Evidence Director for consolidation of internal and external quality and informative monthly and quarterly reports.
- S/He will lead and also participate in the development and implementation of assessments, studies, surveys, and data collection methodologies.
- S/He will work with the local implementing partners MEAL Officers and Program teams to integrate M&E into the GIRL-H program planning and implementation systems and ensure adherence to Mercy Corps M&E minimum standards.
- Coordinate with the MEAL Officers of the local implementing partners in Kigoma to ensure timely quality data collection and entry.
- Support use of digital data collection for M&E needs wherever possible.
- Support documentation of program progress through tracking attendance sheets, photos, etc.
- Lead in the development of reports on monitoring findings and program participants’ stories.
- In conjunction with the GIRL-H Program Manager, lead in Lessons Learned sessions and disseminate results across the teams.
Data Analysis and Reporting
- Support the program team in data collection and data analysis.
- Liaise with other program teams and M&E staff as required to ensure that the program databases complement and align with each other. This will ensure that data on program outputs and program impacts are aligned and reported together.
- Coordinate with the GIRL-H program team and the local implementing partners team to review indicator updates on a monthly basis.
- Generate and integrate data reports in the form of tables, graphs, charts, narratives, and appealing visuals from the program databases at regular intervals, ensuring reports/information are available for program implementation staff as required, and to fulfill internal and external reporting requirements.
- Facilitate data analysis with the program implementation team as requested, while reviewing and editing data in reports as requested and required.
- Contribute to program achievement reporting on Power Bi, Activity Info, and other relevant reporting mechanisms.
- Support in the intra-agency referral mechanism.
Capacity Building
- The MEAL Officer will strengthen the capacities of all relevant team members to develop and maintain a robust M&E system, and to implement program-monitoring tools, accurately enter program data into relevant databases, and enable them to develop excellent reports and other documents
- S/He will strengthen the capacity of local implementing partners in the area of M&E and reporting.
- Support timely production of weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual donor reports based on agreed performance indicators.
- Adapt existing protocols and plans to mentor and coach colleagues to enable them to develop high-quality reports.
- Facilitate periodic reflection and analysis of program monitoring information that feeds into programming and learning
Accountability to Program Participants
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participants’ communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field activities.
The GIRL-H MEAL Officer will ensure that Mercy Corps’ Community Feedback and Accountability Mechanism is clearly communicated to program participants and that the hotline numbers are visible to end participants throughout the program. S/He will ensure all activities are gender-sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy, apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities.
Influence and Representation
- Support and coordinate field learning visits to counties, communities, partners, and external visitors, such as donors and media, in collaboration with the country coordinator.
- Support the country coordinator and GIRL-H Program Manager in coordination and communication of field activities with other non-governmental organizations, and government partners for effective synergy, thereby avoiding service duplication, but enhancing support for an enabling environment for GIRL-H program interventions.
- Establish and maintain a productive working relationship with country the GIRL-H Program Manager, local implementing partners, and stakeholders, and work in unison to develop complementary joint monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management structures where possible.
Ethics and Integrity
All Mercy Corps staff are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate the highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero-tolerance for any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment, or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination.
Security
Ensure data protection policies are adhered to, establishing security controls for software, hardware, and archive beneficiary databases.
Organization 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.
Supervisory Responsibility: None.
Reports Directly To: GIRL-H Meal Specialist with strong dotted lines to the Senior Program Officer
Works Directly with: Program Officers, local implementing partners field team (Program, MEAL, Finance, HR, Operations), and global GIRL-H technical team.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills- Must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in social science, Statistics, Business administration or relevant field
- At least 4-5 years of program monitoring and evaluation experience
- Should understand concepts and demonstrate skills in monitoring and evaluation, project cycle, results chain and frameworks, participatory monitoring
- Should be able to design and implement surveys, have knowledge of commonly used probability and purposive sampling techniques
- Must have good writing and analytical skills
- Should have knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data collection, reporting techniques. S/he should understand and be able to apply basic measures of central tendency and spread
- In addition to Microsoft Excel, the incumbent should demonstrate fluency in use of at least one data management software including MS Access, SPSS, and STATA.
- Knowledge about CommCare and PowerBi is required.
- Must be fluent both spoken and written English and Swahili
Success Factors
The successful GIRL~H MEL Officer will be bright, energetic, hard-working and eager to learn. S/he will take a deep personal interest in humanitarian and development assistance. S/he will be attentive to detail and ability to carry out assigned tasks in a timely manner and according to a very high standard of quality. S/he will be creative and flexible, contributing to developing and encouraging new and innovative solutions, but at the same time will not have any difficulty in adhering to systems and procedures. S/he will strictly follow all protocols related to safety and security and holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modeling Mercy Corps’ values.
An excellent team and interpersonal relationship skills, with demonstrated ability to work effectively in complex environments is key.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Kigoma region, Tanzania and shall be supporting other counties thus this will involve regular travels to these counties.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed. Team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respect local laws, customs, and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues. Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision.
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 OpportunityMercy 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 a 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 based on 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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]
How to Apply:
This is Full-time Job, To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.
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