The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Coordinator is a key position in Mercy Corps and is specifically pivotal to the implementation of the DREAMS MEL approaches, with a specific focus on market systems resilience measurement and learning. The MEL coordinator will work across component teams and with partners to ensure resilience-building efforts and their impact are effectively measured as well as support the resilience learning agenda. In coordination with the Project manager, she/he will be responsible for developing, coordinating, maintaining, and constantly improving the program wide  M&E systems using relevant knowledge and evidence to guide program strategy, support adaptive management and continuous improvement, and advance learning as well as implementing an internal MEL capacity building strategy that trains and mentors staff and promotes a culture of learning

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

STRATEGY & VISION 

• Set-up the MEL system, including all tools and data collection processes for program activities (Excel, Tola, Access, etc.).
• Work closely with the program teams and local partners, to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting of program activities and results.
• Coordinate reporting with local partners, specifically tracking deadlines, ensuring adherence to monitoring formats and requirements, ensuring reporting quality and accuracy, and periodic report writing, editing, and submission.
• Compile progress against indicators and report back to the team according to the monitoring plan.
• Develop and follow up the implementation of Data Quality Assessment Plan.
• Perform spot checks on the team’s data collected and reports each month.
• Work closely with the program team and partners ensuring we adhere to humanitarian principles, Mercy Corps’ gender policies, Do No Harm principles and beneficiary accountability standards;

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Build the capacity of all relevant team members to implement program-monitoring tools, accurately enter program data into relevant databases, and enable them to develop excellent reports and other documents.
• Build the capacity of consortium team and our local partner organizations through ongoing training and support on: monitoring tools, entering program data into databases, the development of reports and other documents.
• Collect, analyze and validate information and data on the performance indicators
• Document lessons learned and success stories on the project.
• Ensure adherence to program management minimum standards in carrying out his/her duties, advising and supporting other staff in the same as required.
• Take on overall responsibility for project reporting including Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Annual, Final and ad-hoc reports of the program.
• Other duties as assigned.

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• 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.

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.

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 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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, statistics, monitoring and evaluation, or related field is required or demonstrated equivalent work experience in the field.
• At least three years work experience in implementing practical monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management or database management in pastoral and agro-pastoral systems of Ethiopia;
• Demonstrated experience in monitoring routine data collection, data analysis and reporting against indicators at all levels.
• Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative survey implementation and support.
• Demonstrated skills in analyzing data, both qualitative and quantitative.
• Experience in the region is required; previous experience in arid and semi-arid parts of Ethiopia is preferred;