Monitoring Evaluation & Learning (mel) Specialist

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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.

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004, working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector, and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. With the launch of Mercy Corps Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize its three-year strategy with a vision to enhance the resilience of climate- and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises.

In Ethiopia, our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas:

• Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets.
• Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food.
• Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and
• People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use.

Currently, we operate in six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara, and South Ethiopia. Working with a diverse base of donors, Mercy Corps Ethiopia empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives, and transform their communities for good.

Location:

Jigjiga, Somali Region

Position Status:

Full-time

Salary Level:

Grade 4

Safeguarding Risk Level:

High

Program / Department Summary

Enter Energy Ethiopia (EE-E) is a six-year initiative (2020 – June 2026) that promotes private sector-led renewable energy infrastructural investments for the electrification of humanitarian settings, actors, and operations in Ethiopia. To this end, EE-E has decided to support the commercial deployment and operations of a solar PV-based hybrid mini-grid serving the host and refugee communities of Sheder.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

Strategy & Vision:

• Develop M&E Plan(s) for programs and proposals.
• Establish a robust system for collection, reporting, and validating program data, utilizing platforms such as Excel, Tola, Access, CommCare, Power BI, etc.
• Work closely with the program teams and local partners to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of program activities and results.

Coordination, Monitoring & Reporting:

• Coordinate reporting with local partners, including tracking deadlines, ensuring adherence to monitoring formats and requirements, and ensuring reporting quality and accuracy.
• Compile progress against indicators and report back to the team according to the monitoring plan.
• Integrate program indicator plans on TOLA and regularly update data and evidence on the platform.
• Manage data collection activities, evidence tracking, and real-time dashboard management, review and present data to program staff, manage evaluation in collaboration with the Country Data Analytics manager.
• Consolidate program MEL data against the stated program objectives, indicators, and targets, conduct a review session with the program team to analyze gaps, progress, and success.
• Develop a Data Quality Assessment Plan.

Data Integrity:

• Conduct routine spot checks on the team's monthly data collection and reporting.

Evaluation Activities:

• Lead and actively engage in supplementary evaluation M&E activities, including baseline, mid-term, and endline surveys, evaluations, and household surveys.

Support CARM Implementation.

• Collect feedback or complaints from the program participants and close the feedback loop.
• Record feedback in the program level database.
• Sensitize community, program participants, and program teams on CARM.
• Prepare and send monthly CARM report digitally using CommCare.
• Conduct field visits, spot checks, and follow up on specific feedback cases.
• Capture programmatic adaptation as the result of CARM.

Additional Roles:

Knowledge Management:

• Develop, document, and disseminate program learning briefs, success stories, and lessons learned.
• Collaborate with the country PaQ team to publish knowledge products.

Capacity Building:

• Identify training needs within the program team and local partners related to M&E activities.
• Deliver training sessions to build the capacity of team members and partners in effective monitoring and evaluation practices.

Data Visualization:

• Utilize data visualization tools to present M&E findings in a clear and accessible manner.
• Develop interactive dashboards utilizing Power BI and/or Microsoft Azure, along with visual reports, to effectively communicate program progress and showcase its impact.

Feedback Mechanism:

• Establish and manage a robust feedback mechanism within the program.
• Systematically collect, analyze, and use feedback for program adaptation and improvement.

Risk Management:

• Contribute to the identification and analysis of potential risks to program success.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies in collaboration with the program team.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with other departments and programs within Mercy Corps, fostering cross-functional learning and integration of best practices.

Innovation:

• Explore and introduce innovative technologies and methodologies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of M&E processes.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging tools for improved data collection and analysis.

Adaptive Management:

• Support the program team in implementing adaptive management principles, utilizing M&E findings for real-time decision-making and adjustments to program strategies.

Community Engagement:

• Facilitate community engagement activities related to M&E, ensuring the active involvement of beneficiaries in the monitoring and evaluation process.
• Promote transparency and accountability to the communities served.

By incorporating these additional roles, the MEL Specialist will contribute to a more comprehensive and impactful monitoring and evaluation framework within the Enter Energy Ethiopia Program.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

GEDSI (Gender, Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion)

Be a thought partner in the recruitment of a diverse team and promoting an inclusive and safe work environment, including supporting early career team members to fulfill their professional goals. Lead by example to promote gender equality and an inclusive workplace culture in day-to-day interactions with team members, partners, and program participants.

Security

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.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility:

None

Reports Directly To:

Program Coordinator of the Enter Energy Ethiopia Program

Dotted Relationship To:

Country MEL Manager

Works Directly With:

Team Lead, Program Coordinator, Program Officer, all team members of the HumEn PLC, and team members of other programs, and Field Office Area Manager.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S or equivalent, preferably in economics, statistics, and other development studies.
• 4 years M&E experience.
• Fluent in both spoken and written English language with excellent knowledge of Somali language.
• Previous experience working on donor-funded programs in refugee contexts preferred.
• Demonstrate proficiency in field survey/data collection techniques, data entry, verification, and analysis using mobile data collection platforms/tools such as CommCare, ODK, Survey CPO, and expertise in statistical data analysis software like SPSS, STATA, and others.
• Good understanding and skills at data management.
• Strong computer literacy with full knowledge of MS Office applications.
• Strong team coordination, listening, and consensus-building skills.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position will be based in Jigjiga, Somali Region with regular travels to the field to project operational areas. This position requires up to 50% of travel by air and road to field offices in relatively secure environments. 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.

Ongoing Learning

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.

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 Opportunity

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.

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 the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. 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 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.

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