Description

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.

Program / Department Summary

The $41 million USAID Food for Peace Activity (Apolou) and the $5 million USAID Resilience Challenge Fund (RCF) Activity support agriculturalists, agro-pastoralists, and pastoralist households living across the districts of Amudat, Kotido, Kaabong, Karenga, and Moroto in Karamoja.

Apolou is implemented by a consortium of actors led by Mercy Corps, including Save the Children, Whave Solutions, four local partners (KAPDA, NARWOA and Riam Riam), TUNADO, FIDA Uganda, Strong Minds and Tufts University’s Feinstein International Centre (FIC). Apolou’s goal is to “improve the overall food and nutrition security of vulnerable households in Karenga, Kaabong, Kotido, Moroto and Amudat districts within the Karamoja region,” and has major 4 objectives as follows:

1. Inclusive and effective governance contributes to food and nutrition security
2. Adolescent girls, Pregnant and Lactating Women, and Children under 5 are nutritionally secure
3. Reduced incidences of WASH related diseases
4. Improved livelihoods and income support household food security

The RCF program works in the districts of Kaabong and Amudat, with the goal to “Improve the veterinary governance and increase public and private investment in disease prevention, surveillance, control and response systems to strengthen productive assets for improved resilience in Karamoja.” RCF has the following objectives:

1. Increased domestic resource allocation into animal health services in Karamoja
2. Central and local government develop animal health services capacity-strengthening plan for the Karamoja region
3. Disease control plan for economically prioritized diseases (PPR and FMD) developed and implemented
4. Private sector animal health development strategy developed and rolled out

General Position Summary

The MEL Assistant will work with the Mercy Corps Apolou Activity team as well as the partner organizations to ensure the collection of quality MEL data. The MEL Assistant will be responsible for supporting the MEL officers to oversee the routine monitoring, data collection and verification processes in the different Apolou implementation sectors and areas. The MEL Assistant will supervise enumerators conducting qualitative and quantitative data collection exercises as well as lead the MEL learning processes including conducting KIIs, FGDs and other data collection assignments as assigned. The MEL Assistant will offer support to Apolou Community Accountability Reporting Mechanisms (CARM), Quality Assurance and Environmental Compliance functions as needed.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Apolou team and local partners, to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting of program activities and results.
• Manage regular synchronisations and backups of field data to cloud-based data management system.
• Work on maintaining participant tracking systems, with a primary focus on providing high quality data to program teams.
• Proactively work to contribute in the development and improvement of the system’s functionality, enhancing data quality, and identifying areas of improvement well in time
• Work closely with program teams in devising new ways, and processes to improve efficiency of data collection processes, and quality of collected data.
• Maintain confidentiality and observe data protection and associated guidelines at all times.
• Perform spot checks on the team’s data collected.
• Ensuring accuracy of entered data and comparing it with the existing scheduling system to make sure all records are consistent and aligned.
• Support in the review and checking of data generated being in line with the M&E reporting requirements.
• Troubleshoot front and back end issues with the database, including any synchronisation issues of field-level data.
• Work as part of a team to facilitate and support MEL operations including baseline, annual and end line surveys, regular monitoring, data collection, analysis and reporting according to the MEL work plan.
• Ensure proper coordination and mobilisation of the participants during data collection assignments
• Ensure proper custody, safety and maintenance of all the phones and tablet
• Support in receiving, translation, documenting and forwarding feedback from various channels to the CARM Officer for further action. This is to ensure that no feedback is lost and every feedback responded to.
• Support the CARM officer in organizing and leading in community sensitization activities and follow-up.
• Comply with and ensure compliance of global data protection and privacy standards such as the GDPR while confidentially receiving, follow up on, and reporting CARM feedback received.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to food security programming.

 Ethics and Integrity

• All Mercy Corps staff are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to 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
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies

 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 Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward 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.
• Sensitise communities on Apolou's CARM system and encourage them to share feedback through the promoted channels.

Other:

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission
• Other duties assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Accountability

Reports Directly to: MEL Officer (Kotido)

Works Directly with: MEL Director, MEL Manager, CLA Manager, MEL Officers, Technical team members, Implementation team members

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Management, Statistics, Economics, Social Science or related field.
• Good understanding and skills at data management, data flow and Prior experience with computerized data management systems.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of MS Office applications, expert knowledge of Excel and the use of CommCare, Ona, ODK and other mobile data collection platforms is required.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Strong team coordination, listening, and consensus building skills.
• Fluent in both spoken and written English. Fluency in spoken N’Karamojong is a must.
• 1-2 years of experience working in the NGO sector in M&E, community development or economic and market development.
• Prior experience carrying out surveys or conducting qualitative and quantitative data collection.
• Strong analytical skills coupled with a solid understanding of quantitative indicators and data collection strategies.
• Able to drive a motorbike safely and valid license required or willingness to obtain in the first 6 months of employment

Success Factors

The successful MEL Assistant will combine exceptional communication and analytical skills and keen attention to detail. Fluency in N’Karamojong is mandatory. S/he will have the ability to think creatively about operationalizing and improving the MEL system of the program. S/he will have proven experience with cross-cultural teams, mobilizing communities and supervising data collection assignments. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. A good sense of humor and the ability to learn from mistakes also goes a long way!

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Moroto, Kaabong or Kotido. The regions are secure with access to most basic amenities.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. 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 locations.