Please note that this position is contingent on receipt of program funding.
PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Youth Education and Empowerment for Somalia (YES) program is a proposed five-year $16-18 million program to support formal and non-formal secondary education, vocational training, and economic opportunity for out-of-school youth in Somalia. The non-formal and youth engagement component aims to increase job placements, salaries/wages and self-employment opportunities for Somali youth through the provision of market-driven skills training, business training and linkages to credit, business development support and job placement services. The Specialists role is, primarily, to support the YES program and the country programs. It entails giving direction, setting appropriate standards, facilitation and training. It is not one of management or hands-on work in the field unless in a training context or when deployed to assist in establishing a response.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The M&E Specialist will provide leadership to the entire YES program, including all sub-grantees, in developing program level M&E systems that enable clients and stakeholders to analyze and effectively represent program results in a synchronized manner. Ensure that monitoring systems meet the requirements of USAID and reported with quality and evidences. Lead the process of conducting the project baseline, mid line and end line surveys for impact level indicators and continuously improve the databases, and YES progress tracking and recording systems, working closely with program staff, partners and USAID. Establish the M&E system serving the needs of the overall YES program - both for portions of the program being directly implemented by Mercy Corps and for the substantial sub-grant program. The system must be designed and maintained to harmonize program approaches of all YES implementers with utility and program quality in mind, providing managers and their team’s real time information that can steer program implementation as well as improve our ability to analyze and represent impact to USAID, government, colleague agencies, and communities themselves. The system must include a variety of methodologies (both quantitative and qualitative) and also must engage communities. Play a central role in supporting the baseline, external mid-term evaluation and final evaluation as well as lead the design, field-testing, data collection and analysis of any additional evaluation initiatives that may be required.
The Specialist also produces regular reporting to USAID and responds to information requests, and thereby works closely with the communications team to ensure that program information is managed in a controlled and efficient manner. As such, this collaboration results in a positive program public image, and the design of a communication plan to build public, private and political support for implementing various reforms under this program.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Completing periodic reporting requirements, as required by USAID and program management. Reports are generally required on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
- Collecting and tracking program information in coordination with senior program management and component staff.
- Drafting, editing and producing written briefers or reports on program as necessary to promote project objectives and disseminate information to USAID, USG, or Somali audiences.
- Identifying and analyzing program information needs and working to address them.
- Identifying and analyzing factors for program success or potential obstacles to meeting program objectives and coordinating with senior management and components.
- Identifying, defining, and validating, in discussions with senior management and program component managers, the performance measures most appropriate and useful to program management.
- Outlining formats and procedures for collection and reporting of activity and program performance data, and providing instructional materials or training on such procedures.
- Maintaining close and continuous liaison with senior management, component staff to manage program reporting and information dissemination, along with key data-based indicators of programs’ performance.
- Provide leadership in finalizing the monitoring and evaluation plans of sub–grantee partners, ensuring right quality of monitoring indicators, data collection tools and methods for reporting. Provide training and support to partners on monitoring sub-grant activities against the PMP.
- Working closely with the Communications Team to ensure project results and reports are properly disseminated internally and externally.
- Participate and provide input to program strategy, including necessary adjustments or refinements to work-plans, the performance management plan, and other strategic programmatic documents.
- Lead production and editing of program reports pegged to particular calendar events that raise the profile of Mercy Corps Somalia programs.
- Complete field monitoring and evaluation trips (50% of time/yr.) for the completion of special assignments and reports, in combination with field office M&E capacity-building for the production of quality M&E data, reporting, and learning.
- Advise and collaborate closely with the program managers and senior management in building the capacity and performance of field teams in relevant areas of monitoring and evaluation.
- In liaison with CoP, engage with relevant Mercy Corps TSU counterparts on planning and programs of mutual and strategic importance and benefit.
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 towards 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.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards 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: None
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: YES Chief of Party
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Other program technical leads (Education, Infrastructure, M&E), as well as operation staff in the country and field offices.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- MA/S or equivalent in International Development or a related field required; coursework in research and evaluation methodologies and statistical analysis is preferred.
- Minimum 7 years relevant field or management experience of complex, multi-dimensional programming; previous experience working on USAID-funded programs strongly preferred.
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in designing and implementing practical monitoring and evaluation systems. Experience within an umbrella mechanism is a plus.
- Proficiency using one of the common statistical analysis software packages is required (SPSS, Stata, SAS or EpiInfo); preference given to candidates with familiarity with GIS systems.
- Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required. Experience living and working in challenging environments preferred.
- Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communications skills
- Ability to work independently and as a virtual team member.
- A full commitment to Mercy Corps core values and humanitarian mandate.
- Extensive travel experience preferred.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful M&E Specialist will possess in-depth expertise in the monitoring and evaluation of development programs in conflict affected countries. S/he will combine strong communication skills, creativity, initiative, participatory leadership and tactful decisiveness to assist in the development and implementation of Mercy Corps’ M&E strategy. S/he will have demonstrated skill in training and M&E capacity development of field staff, proven experience in developing and working with data management systems including databases, web-based tools or other MIS solutions, as well as proven experience in designing and implementing M&E activities and indicators, as well as analyzing the data collected. 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 M&E Specialist will be based in Hargeisa, and support activities throughout the country. This is an unaccompanied post in a highly insecure environment. This position is eligible for Hardship and R&R.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of 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.
Please apply directly at:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjo....
Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.
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