Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor-Development Food Assistance Program, Uganda

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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.

We help people overcome poverty and conflict. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives. To grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. During our 34-year history, our work has improved more than 170 million lives in more than 115 countries around the world.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is responding to the Title II USAID/Food for Peace (FFP) funded Development Food Aid Program (DFAP) solicitation for Karamoja, Uganda. Currently, the draft Request for Application (RFA) and Country Specific Information (CSI) has been made available by USAID/FFP, and we expect a final RFA to be released to be released in February or March 2017. The DFAP is an integrated food security program that operates in both the agricultural and health sectors with a resilience focus. The program's ultimate goal is to improve food and nutrition security among vulnerable households. The program will focus on community level governance structures, preventing chronic malnutrition, water, sanitation & hygiene and sustainable livelihoods.

General Position Summary

The Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor is responsible for leading the overall integration of Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning in Mercy Corps' DFAP program. S/he is responsible for facilitating a participatory process in order to develop Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning strategies and frameworks tailored to this DFAP.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor shall closely work with Mercy Corps' Program Performance and Quality Team during the first year of the program. S/he shall support the different component leads/Managers of the DFAP to develop workplans with clear targets and timeframes including defined roles and responsibilities.

Essential Job Responsibilities

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

• Understand, maintain and innovate the technical components (including hardware, software,

database, etc.) MEL information and data management system that improves MC's ability to

implement quality programs through better collection, management, analysis and presentation of data, and represent impact to donor, government bodies, peer organizations and communities using standard technologies.

• Serve as technical advisor for technology for data management systems and real-time data flow, utilizing appropriate software platforms for cloud aggregation, data processing and manipulation, and data visualization and utilization. This includes learning and testing new software platforms, as well as working with tech partners, to develop both project and country level information management systems.
• Assist the DFAP team to integrate and utilize Mercy Corps' agency-wide software tool for Project Management (Tola Activity) and Data management (Tola Tables). This includes integration of other software platforms that allow for projects to complete a data flow “system,” as well as address Project Management needs unmet by Tola.
• Assist teams in setting up appropriate summary statistics and relational calculations in program databases and link them to tracking dashboards. Help develop the appropriate workflow.

MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

• Contribute to program-level M&E planning and system development at program start-up. Facilitate indicator planning, design and negotiation with USAID of the Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT), based on the USAID/FFP proposed format; define with the team program indicators and targets for all program years, based on the USAID/FFP guidance of standard required and applicable indicators; where applicable and desirable, include Mercy Corps Alpha Indicators (see the Design for Impact Guide – DIG).
• Lead the DFAP in the design of the detailed M&E plan, including design of data collection tools and methodologies, M&E workflow, data flow, data integrity, data quality assurance, database design and protocols, secondary research to inform baseline assessments and measurement frameworks, and ensuring alignment with Mercy Corps and Industry standards .
• Champion the inclusion of qualitative data collection and analysis for both direct and supplemental measurements of program performance. Train teams in appropriate methods for focus group discussion and key informant interviews and lead field-based qualitative data collection as needed.
• In coordination with MEL team, drive the capacity building of program staff on design and M&E concepts through trainings and new hire orientation, including designing and delivering formal trainings. Design comprehensive orientation for all new DFAP new staff.
• Work closely with the program's research partner to define and execute a research strategy including overseeing this partnership and its work.

• Contribute to program visibility and advocacy work by assisting in dissemination of program research and learning information. Represent Mercy Corps Uganda in M&E and research forums with the broader humanitarian community.
  Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country

• 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.

Supervisory Responsibility

Program M&E team

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Chief of Party

Works Directly With: DFAP component leads, DFAP field teams, coordination with other MEL teams in-country

Knowledge and Experience

• MA/S or equivalent experience in international development, economics, agricultural economics, statistics, bio-statistics, nutrition or other relevant subject with strong quantitative background, and at least six years of experience in progressively increasing M&E responsibility in international development projects. The candidate must have experience in leading the M&E of a large project.
• Strong conceptual knowledge about theories of change, logic model, food and nutrition security indicators, M&E plan, data quality assurance, data utilization, and gender integration into M&E.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in developing and operationalizing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan (please see the FFP M&E and Reporting Policy and Guidance for the components of an M&E plan).
• Demonstrated expertise and experience in developing and operationalizing routine monitoring system designed to track both output and outcome indicators.
• Strong quantitative background and demonstrated expertise in designing annual monitoring surveys including probabilistic sampling strategy and estimating sample size, developing appropriate weights, and analyze quantitative data.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing qualitative studies, in-depth knowledge about qualitative sampling, and experienced in using interview and interactive tools to generate qualitative information and analysis.
• Experienced in developing data quality assurance strategies, data management, and data visualization.
• Demonstrated expertise and experience in data utilization strategies and can creatively think about active data sharing techniques.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and other language(s), as required.
• Preference for experience in Food for Peace M&E frameworks.

Success Factors

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong facilitation skills.
• Ability and willingness to both lead and follow as appropriate.
• Has an internal and external network of experts to draw upon as needed.

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.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Kotido or Moroto, Karamoja, Uganda and will require travel throughout the program area. Security is improving, but can change quickly. Travel is restricted to the day-time only. Life in Karamoja is very basic with a few restaurants and other activities available. The nearest health care facility is in Moroto and Kampala. If based in Kotido it is unaccompanied. If based in Moroto, this is an accompanied post without schooling facilities.

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 MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

PI100053335

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