Mercy Corps Nigeria Recruits Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Advisor

Mercy Corps is an international NGO that is dedicated to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Our core values includes: building intrinsic value and dignity of human life. And are awed by human resilience, and believe in the ability of all people to thrive, not just exist, that all people have the right to live in peaceful communities and participate fully in the decisions that affect their lives.

We value stewardship of the earth's health, pledging to accountably and efficiently preserve and manage its resources and believe that it is our duty to be effective stewards of the financial resources entrusted to us.

We are currently recruiting for the position of:

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Advisor - Economic Development and Youth

Tracking Code: 218359-927
Location: Abuja

Job Description
This position is contingent upon funding and donor approval of the successful candidate. Previous work experience in Nigeria is a must. This position does not offer expatriate

Position Summary

• The Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Advisor will provide leadership in all aspects of monitoring, evaluation, learning, research, and information management.
• The MEL Advisor will coordinate closely with the Program Manager and the Country Representative to plan and implement activities that ensure adherence to Mercy Corps’ and DFID standards, including the use of standardized indicators and documentation methodologies.
• Throughout the life of the program, s/he will be the senior leader responsible for a) cross-cutting programmatic information management within the framework of the program; b) monitoring and evaluation; c) ensuring that information is shared and used for continuous improvement of ongoing programs, and d) is incorporated into reports.
• S/he will have responsibility for leading research efforts, networking with research agencies, documenting project impacts, and overseeing field-based M&E staff.

Job Functions

Technical Leadership –Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Ensure that the ENGINE program captures and reports upon high-quality, verifiable data using valid and appropriate qualitative and quantitative tools that meet the requirements of both DFID and Mercy Corps.
• Adapt existing Mercy Corps and DFID monitoring tools, as well as propose new ways of measuring change through the use of both quantitative and qualitative data collection tools, analysis of secondary data, and, where appropriate, remote monitoring techniques.
• Establish and manage a database to track progress towards meeting project goals and objectives.
• Participate in the preparation of high-quality quarterly and annual reports.
• Coordinate internal and external reviews of information collected and lead the analysis of findings, with a strong emphasis on learning.
• Make performance results available to relevant program teams so that they can be used for continuous improvement.
• Lead on collecting, aligning, and reporting relevant program indicators as part of Mercy Corps’ global Mission Metrics initiative.

Communication and Capacity-Building

• Actively participate in meetings and processes to promote effective program management (through strong MEL practices) across the entire country portfolio.
• Strengthen staff capacity in qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation tools through comprehensive training and coaching.
• Problem-solve with others to address shortfalls in monitoring, evaluation and information management that affect program implementation.
• Utilize internal Mercy Corps global online information-sharing resources to enhance organizational learning.
• Participate in M&E-related working groups and maintain close working relationships with MEL counterparts in other relevant international NGOs, local NGOs, and associations in Nigeria.

Research Coordination

• Develop and manage effective longitudinal research methods to accurately track beneficiaries over the life of the project.
• Maintain regular contact with relevant research agencies, including through relevant research partnerships, and help to increase the skills and product quality of these organizations.
• Coordinate with Mercy Corps’ HQ-based Technical Support Unit (TSU) to guide process of ex-ante, ex-post and midterm evaluation from the design, implementation and documentation phases.
• Liaise with other research organizations to ensure coordination of efforts.

Accountability to Beneficiaries:
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our participants 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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Postgraduate degree in development studies, social sciences, or relevant field, with a strong foundation in research methods, statistics, measurement, and evaluation.
• Minimum 3-5 years of M&E work experience in international development required; ideal candidate will have both theoretical and practical background in M&E and skilled in qualitative and quantitative M&E methodologies and techniques.
• Knowledge of program development, implementation, evaluation, and reporting.
• Experience supervising M&E teams and building team capacity to deliver high-quality results.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills, including experience with: Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Epi-Info, Epi-Data, SPSS, Access, SQL, and any other statistical packages.
• Demonstrated understanding of intermediate and advanced statistics and the ability to summarize, generalize, and make predictions from large data sets.
• Ability to conceptualize, plan and implement program activities creatively, as well as possess the ability to analyze data and utilize lessons learned for the continuous improvement of program implementation and to promote a culture of learning.
• Familiarity and experience large-scale secondary education or school to work and especially targeting marginalized girls or young women programs preferred.
• Experience working in the Middle Belt and Northern States of Nigeria.
• Fluency in written and verbal English required. Hausa language skills desired.

Living/Environmental Conditions
This position will be based in Abuja with up to 50% travel primarily to locations within the Middle Belt and Northern States, where security is at times high-risk. Security in Abuja is generally good, although petty crime is a problem. Housing, health care, water, electricity and consumer goods are all reasonably accessible and there are good international and domestic travel options from Abuja Airport.

Application Closing Date
27th December, 2012

Method of Application
Qualified and Interested Candidates should submit applications which will include a one-page cover letter with salary requirements, CV with references, original transcripts, degree certification and NYSC Certificate
Click Here To Submit Application Online

Only Shortlisted Candidates will be Contacted