Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Communications Manager
Mercy Corps drives high quality, analytical work in tough places. We have been operating in Uganda since 2006 and currently manage a breadth of programs in Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions with funding from a basket of donors. We partner with a range of private, public and civil society actors to systemically broaden opportunity for people across northern Uganda. Much of our work focuses on crowding-in private sector actors to deliver highly demanded but poorly supplied products and services that enhance the growth and competitiveness of the agricultural sector and improve the overall quality of life for the poor. Our work is market-oriented and consistently innovative, dynamic and unique. We seek team members who fit this profile and who can think creatively and critically to drive our work forward.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps aims to create a culture of learning. We consistently adapt our program thinking to best support new and innovative approaches to development that are best-fit for the fragile, post-conflict settings where we work. Quick feedback loops and associated project adaptation improve the quality of our interventions and the overall effectiveness of our strategies. Our capacity to capture and to incorporate our learning is essential to our success, as is our ability to communicate our challenges and achievements to a broader audience. Accordingly, Mercy Corps Uganda is working to integrate monitoring and evaluation in a different way. We hold all team members responsible for capturing learning frequently and for adapting overall project strategy and day-to-day intervention tactics quickly. It will be the primary responsibility of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Communications (MELC) Manager to facilitate this process.
The MELC Manager will oversee monitoring, evaluation, learning and communications for all Mercy Corps Uganda programs. In the first year this position will provide critical support to two programs in the Acholi sub-region, the USDA-funded Revitalizing Agricultural Incomes and New Markets (RAIN) and the USAID/FFP-funded Healthy Practices, Strong Communities (HPSC) programs, facilitating and articulating improved learning within and across the programs, our country office and externally. The MELC Manager will work with staff to capture learning from the field, to guide tool development and to support strategy and tactic adjustment as needed. The MELC Manager will frequently write and edit reports, assessments, analyses, stories and other learning to articulate our work, and will hold primary responsibility for the quality of all program evaluations.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Lead the institutionalization of learning in program structures by supporting program teams to develop feedback loops and systems for frequent and regular learning sessions and periodic activity redesigns;
Support the design and ensure the quality of all program evaluations, whether conducted in-house or outsourced, including tool development, field logistics, data analysis, and report writing, in partnership with program teams;
Prepare, write and edit reports, assessments, analyses and stories that capture learning and drive project decision-making;
Prepare accurate and timely project documentation and communication that contribute to a learning organization;
Work with Team Leaders to support the creation of strategy and activity reports;
Capture and write up 'stories from the field' to articulate market facilitation in action and the 'how' and 'why' of project interactions with market actors that can be shared internally and externally;
Introduce the program to relevant stakeholders and foster ongoing positive cooperation with these stakeholders;
Work closely with Mercy Corps Uganda Newsletter editorial team and participate in submission of articles pertinent to all programs;
Build staff capacity in the areas of quality report writing, learning and documentation and presentation skills;
Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its mission;
Other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: MEIM Coordinator
ACCOUNTABILITY
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: RAIN/HPSC COP,Acholi Program Manager, SUSTAIN COP, LINKAGE Program Manager, EMD Program Manager, Chief Learning Officers and other M&E staff, DCD, all program teams
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 program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
A BA/S or equivalent in journalism, international relations, development studies or related field;
At least four years of experience, preferably with experience in developing countries;
Superb English verbal and written communication and presentation skills required;
Strong understanding of data analysis and statistics;
Strong familiarity with program evaluation techniques ranging from randomized control trials to quasi-experimental participatory assessment methods;
Ability to communicate with donors, private sector and civil society partners and host government representatives;
Highly analytical with a willingness to acquire expertise in different communication, learning and development approaches;
Demonstrated flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to learn and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment mandatory;
Self-starter, with strong capacity for critical thinking and problem solving;
Ability to focus on day-to-day tasks at hand while also working towards longer-term objectives with an understanding that these will change continuously;
Demonstrated capacity to generate and to translate innovative ideas into practical development approaches as well as marketable investment proposals and concepts;
Strong multi-tasking and prioritization skills as well as a demonstrated attention to detail are necessary;
Demonstrated ability to follow procedures, to meet deadlines, to work independently and to work cooperatively with team members is required;
Willing to travel frequently and extensively in remote areas with basic services;
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful candidate will be an excellent and persuasive writer; be able to work with teams and individuals across a breadth of geographic areas concurrently; have a demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program environments; be focused on team-building and capacity-building of national staff; and have excellent information management skills. The individual will be strategic thinker able to bring ideas to implementation. S/he will have an outstanding ability to design innovative evaluations that respond to current needs and reinforce the future program structure of Mercy Corps in the country.
As we use a facilitative approach to development in almost all programming in the fragile environments in which we work, we face the typical challenges of attributive evaluation accompanying market development programs while facing an even stronger burden of proof to show that our approach is valid (even more effective) in the Acholi and Karamoja contexts. Another success factor for this position will thus be the selection, adaptation and application of appropriate evaluative techniques that help the country office plausibly demonstrate and document the impact of our programming.
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This position is based in Kitgum Town, determination will be made after one year if there is a more suitable site to be based. Kitgum Town Council is the capital of Kitgum District in Acholi sub-region, with a stable security situation and basic amenities following reconstruction and resettlement after years of disruption due to conflict between the Ugandan government and the Lord's Resistance Army. Kitgum has basic health services and no international schools. The town is small but there is an INGO presence with some expatriate staff. Restaurants and diversions are available. Water and electricity are generally available with occasional outages. The position requires frequent travel to field sites across Acholi and Karamoja where one will encounter more basic living conditions, as well as to the country office in Kampala. Mercy Corps has a large, well equipped field office in Kitgum.
Kitgum is an "accompanied, spouse/partner only" post.
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.
Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.
How to apply:
APPLY VIA URL:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjo...
Deadline: 29 march 2013
