Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. 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 long term impact.
Mercy Corps works to alleviate poverty, suffering, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency operates programs in over 40 countries around the world. The Program Performance and Quality Unit (PaQ), which sits in the Programs Department, supports effective, efficient and equitable program performance through a culture of quality management, to achieve results for those who matter most - our program participants. The MEL Team of Mercy Corps supports both foundational and cutting-edge adaptive management approaches with design, monitoring, evaluation and learning functions as key processes and benchmarks to ensure evidence-based decision making for quality program implementation. The MEL Team’s work ranges from provision of technical MEL support to programs, integration of MEL technologies, implementation of learning mechanisms and platforms, implementation and support with data quality assessments, support with agency-level reporting and others.
The MEL Officer will cover two functions: firstly, s/he will support an 18-month project focused on creating a toolkit intended to outline how teams can integrate reduced access analytical methods (RAAM) into their MEL systems, such as rumor tracking, conflict mapping, and geolocating photos as well as quantitative approaches which include developing predictive models that identify contextualized indicators of market health. Secondly, the position will play a key role in the Organizational Outcome Measurement (OOM) workstream as part of the new 10-year agency strategy Pathway to Possibility by supporting the overall measurement process, working with country offices, identifying and gathering the evidence. S/he will also conduct data analysis, write case studies and various sections of the OOM report as instructed by the thematic lead.
The MEL Officer will play a crucial role in developing key tools for OOM and conduct qualitative analysis and case studies in the analysis stage of the project. Furthermore, they will develop indicator guidance notes across the four outcome areas.
Essential Job Responsibilities
RAAM Project Evaluation and CARM
Raam Grant Activity Coordination
ORGANIZATIONAL OUTCOME MEASUREMENT
Data Analysis and Project Learning
● Lead the development of case studies for OOM covering P2P outcome areas and cross cutting themes. Prepare case studies reports and summaries for the OOM report.
● Support the Data Analyst and Results Measurement Lead with collection, cleaning and management of programmatic data;
● Lead qualitative data analysis using MAXQDA for OOM.
● Participate in the implementation of the annual participant count, with tasks including dashboard co-creation, webinar organization and presentation, and data cleaning;
Knowledge Management
● Support the integration of organizational performance indicators (OPIs) in OOM recurrent reports.
● Develop guidance notes and PIRS for the new TheDIG indicators and contribute to the rebranding of the organizational tool, working closely with TSU, PAQ and SRU counterparts.
● Support the development of outcome areas’ theoretical frameworks, collaborating with TSU, SRU and other stakeholders.
● Work with PAQ and R&L leads to identify relevant data sources for OOM, conduct knowledge management of the various evidence pieces across the teams involved in OOM.
Communication and Learning
● Act as focal point for communication initiatives related to OOM.
● Support the OOM technical lead to develop a clear communication and learning plan for sharing the findings and recommendations of the OOM. Follow up with relevant PoCs to ensure their implementation and integration. Support the presentation of learning to MEL and technical communities of practice;
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.
Reports Directly To: Strategy Measurement Director
Works Directly With: RAAM Analytics Officer, RAAM Senior Researcher, RAAM MEL Technical Lead, Results Measurement Lead, personnel from different departments (operations, program, MEL) from Mercy Corps country teams operating remote programming and/or implementing RAAM pilots.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
Education: Bachelors and/or Masters degree in social science, international development or related field Required.
At least 2 years of demonstrated experience in NGOs or related in programmatic or HQ-supported MEL Required. Experience with humanitarian grant compliance Preferred.
Expertise and experience in producing data visualizations, communicating data findings. Required.
Technology and Data Literacy:
Excellent oral and written English skills. Required. Proficiency in Spanish or French is preferred.
The successful candidate will display a strong understanding of the RAAM project goals and a commitment to supporting the project objectives. They will be able to show past examples of work (paid or volunteer) that required them to keep detailed records, facilitate meetings and note-taking, conduct informational interviews, and be professional in their communications with all stakeholders. They will be able to flexibly and patiently coordinate meetings and virtual activities across multiple time zones. They will further display interest in and talent for communications, including drafting of articles or posts relating to the project, selection of graphics, etc.
The position is based in one of the locations where Mercy Corps has an office - Edinburgh, London, UK, Netherlands. The candidate must have a suitable environment for working remotely including physical space and a reliable internet connection. Mercy Corps will not provide resources for relocation to/from or within a country nor will it provide any benefits other than those specified in this position description.
Women, minority groups, people with different abilities are highly encouraged to apply. Captioning, assistive, and inclusive workspace accommodations are available at Mercy Corps offices.
This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear/read (captioning available), see, and lift small objects up to 5 lbs.
International travel for 1-2 weeks with at least one-month prior notice may be required and may include travel to support programs in fragile and/or conflict-prone zone.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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 Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
In support of our belief that learning organizations 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
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.
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.