Mercy Corps announces vacancy for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist. Interested candidates can apply for the job. Read the full article below for the job details.

Knowledge and Experience

• Master’s degree in international development, program management or other relevant field
• 5-7 years of monitoring and evaluation professional experience with positions of progressively greater responsibilities.
• Excellent spoken and written English and Nepali language skills and ability to interact effectively with international and national staff.
• Strong team coordination, listening, and consensus building skills.
• Strong track record of training and building capacity of local staff in remote areas.
• Experience in coordinate mobile data collection tool/digital platform (online and/or offline modes)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and/or statistical analysis using software such as Stata, SPSS, or others is desirable.
• Good understanding and skills at data management..
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to multi-task and process information into action as to not delay program activities
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Previous experience with US government-funded grant (USDA, USAID, etc.) rules, regulations and requirements is preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Willingness to travel domestically across program districts as needed. (More than 50% travel).

Essential Job Responsibilities

The specific duties and responsibilities of the MEL Specialist include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategy & Vision

• Provide overall leadership to the program on MEL and CARM systems and processes.
• Lead the development and implementation of the programs MEL and CARM systems.
• Ensure effective, proactive and iterative design of the MEL and CARM system in the program and support program team to integrate the MEL and CARM system throughout the program implementation.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Actively participate in meeting and strategy sessions for the program.

Technical Leadership

• Set-up the MEL and CARM system, including all tools and data collection processes for Mercy Corps’ component of the program.
• Design, set-up and manage the software system, CommCare, that Mercy Corps will be using to track beneficiaries and other data. Train relevant partner staff on its use.
• Lead the development of the program’s MEL and CARM Plan, with the implementing partners.
• Plan and lead all MEL and CARM activities including assessments, evaluations, routine monitoring (i.e. PDM) and develop standards for data collection.
• Build the capacity of all relevant program program team members and partners on the MEL and CARM systems and responsibilities.
• Update MEL, CARM and program management systems to reflect program progress and needs; enforce proper usage of these systems by all program staff.
• Collate, analyze and validate information and data received from assessment, evaluations and regular monitoring activities.
• Collage and analyze CARM data received from individual partners and present pattern analysis and recommendations back to the program.
• Present data analysis and periodic reporting, in consultation with technical staff, to the program team, implementing partners and WFP. 
• Ensure that lessons learned throughout the program are captured and communicated to internal and external stakeholders through appropriate channels.
• Conduct planning and progress review meetings; ensure regular analysis and adaptation based on data, especially with a dedicated GESI-focus.
• Provide guidance, recommendations, supervision, and leadership to ensure that the MEL and CARM systems meet the needs of programs, managers, and senior leadership.
• Adhere to all Mercy Corps procurement, logistics and administrative regulations related to programming
• Develop and manage a clear system for tracking and reporting against deliverables; and support in ensuring timely submission of high quality donor reports.

Program Management

• Contribute to program implementation to ensure adherence to Mercy Corps, donor and international standards, including the use of standardized indicators and documentation methodologies.
• Lead the institutionalization of learning in the program structure by supporting the program team to develop and understand the programs results/monitoring framework, monitoring systems and feedback loops that enable learning and adaptive management.
• Support the implementation of MEL and CARM systems at field level through proper orientation and backstopping.
• Ensure that the MEL and CARM data trends is presented in a report and shared with the program team regularly to ensure timely integration of learning into activity adaptation and identify program priority.
• Work with technical sector teams to support in developing, understanding and implementing specific sector MEL requirements and toolkits.
• Address shortfalls in MEL, CARM and information management that affect program implementation.
• Ensure the Team Leader/Program Manager has sufficient data and analytical narrative to include in donor reports.

Coordination & Representation

• Represent MEL and CARM progress to donors.
• Share the learning from the program with the greater humanitarian community within Nepal as well as regionally and globally as relevant.
• Participate in program planning and review workshops and meetings.

Teambuilding and capacity strengthening

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify.
• problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Facilitate trainings and regular coaching sessions to ensure all program staff are concurrent with MEL systems, tools and methodologies.
• Strengthen the capacity of all staff’s understanding of and contribution to the MEL.
• Serve as an overall member of the Mercy Corps Nepal team, including participation with various team building and capacity strengthening initiatives.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In a 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. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, youth engagement, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

Click here to apply

Application Deadline: Monday 20th March,2023