Purpose
This position will work as part of the Mercy USA’s strategy to
support a culture and practice of reliable planning, monitoring, evaluation and
reporting (PMER) in Kenya and Somalia.
The position should ensure that PMER systems and capacity
building effectively serve Mercy USA’s objective, and adhere to Mercy USA’s
guidelines and policies.
Background
Background
Mercy-USA for Aid and Development is an international non profit
making organisation that is dedicated to alleviating human suffering and
supporting individuals and their communities in their efforts to become more
self-sufficient.
Incorporated in the State of Michigan in 1988, Mercy-USA's
projects focus on improving health, nutrition and access to safe water, as well
as promoting economic and educational growth around the world.
Key working relationships Reports to: Director of Programs
Internal: PMER team members, programme officers, programme area technical leads, Regional leadership and M&E counterparts,
External: UNICEF, MoH/MoPHS, OFDA/USAID and other Partners
Primary responsibilities
Responsibilities for this position include:
Key working relationships Reports to: Director of Programs
Internal: PMER team members, programme officers, programme area technical leads, Regional leadership and M&E counterparts,
External: UNICEF, MoH/MoPHS, OFDA/USAID and other Partners
Primary responsibilities
Responsibilities for this position include:
- Serve
as the Mercy USA’s focal point for M&E, coordinating M&E
implementation, capacity building, sharing and learning.
- Coordination
within Mercy USA to ensure accurate, thorough and useful monitoring and reporting
of project activities and impacts, both internally and externally. This
includes particularly close collaboration with the County level programme
managers, and the Regional PMER focal person to ensure that the monitoring
data is collected and included in the reports for the program’s operation.
- Spearhead
the development of M&E systems with standard procedures and processes
to ensure credible, reliable, timely and cost-effective monitoring data to
facilitate informed ongoing management decisions, strategic planning and
uphold accountability.
- Coordination
and oversight of Mercy USA program evaluations, ensuring that they are
timely, useful and ethical, upholding the criteria and standards as
defined in the Mercy USA’s Framework for Evaluation. This includes ToR
preparation for, and the management of, programme surveys (e.g.
baselines), real-time evaluations (RTEs), midterm and end-of-project
evaluations, special studies, and other components of the M&E system
as technical assistance needs arise; using a range of quantitative and
qualitative methods and various participatory methodologies to monitor
performance.
- Lead
the adaption or development of specific planning, assessment, monitoring
and evaluation and reporting tools for consistent and quality data collection,
coherent with and reinforcing Mercy USA’s guidelines for M&E and
reporting.
- Assist
Mercy USA in the identification of potential implementation problems and
bottlenecks, articulate these and ensure institutional knowledge continues
to be strengthened.
- Provide
technical guidance to programme staff in incorporating appropriate M&E
systems into projects/programmes based on needs, Mercy USA and donor
requirements, resources and capacities. This includes: Adequate needs
assessment for informed program management decisions, the use of project
and programme log frames according to the Mercy USA guidelines.
- Prepare
and train staff, primary stakeholders and implementing partners, as
necessary, on project/programme design, monitoring and evaluation concepts,
skills and tools.
- Establish
an inventory of reliable, secondary data sources of key statistics to
contribute to M&E, and to reduce the use of time and resources in
primary data collection, as well as the negative impact (assessment
fatigue) among the target populations
- Routinely
perform quality control checks of M&E work, overseeing the recording
and reporting of progress and performance of the operation compared to
targets.
- Provide
technical M & E support to regional management team and feed into
regional quarterly review meetings.
- Support
capacity building of Mercy USA and other partners for data analysis and
utilization at district level
- Network
and coordinate with MoMS/MoPHS, the UNICEF and other international
organizations to: maximize the coordination and collaboration of data
collection and efficient use of time and resources, and to reduce data
collection duplication and the negative impact (assessment fatigue) among
the target populations, ensure that Mercy USA is kept up to date with
contemporary issues and best practices-related relief and recovery
M&E, quality and accountability.
- Introduce
and/or maintain M&E forums among Mercy USA and its stakeholders, both
partners and beneficiaries, to discuss and support quality programming and
accountability standards.
- Ensure
that lessons learned from programme M&E to improve future programme
selection, design and implementation. This includes liaison with external
organizations to identify and distribute good M&E practices in M&E
and contribute to knowledge sharing.
Duties applicable to all staff
1. Actively work towards the achievement of the organisation’s
goals.
2. Abide by and work in accordance with Mercy USA
principles.
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities
that may be assigned by the line manager.
Qualifications and Skills
Qualifications and Skills
Education
- Bachelors
degree or higher in social sciences, development economics or a related
area (Master’s degree preferred)
Experience
- Minimum
of three years’ relevant experience working in the field of emergency
health and nutrition intervention monitoring and research.
- Experience
conducting M&E in humanitarian relief and development sectors,
preferably with experience in emergency nutrition monitoring
systems.
- Experience
working in Somalia, and remote areas of Kenya( preferable)
- Experience
working on USAID/ UNICEF funded or international development project is
desirable;
- Demonstrated
technical capacity to provide support and guidance to project staff on
design, monitoring and evaluation;
- Experience
in designing M&E organization-wide systems;
- Experience
in designing M&E methodologies and tools and the ability to coach and
train others in their use;
- Demonstrated
capacity to coordinate evaluations, including experience developing
evaluation terms of reference and recruiting and managing consultants;
and
- Extensive
knowledge of logical framework and results framework planning and
evaluation methodologies and the ability to coach and train others in
their use;
Skills and Knowledge
- Detailed
knowledge of log frame and results framework project design, planning,
monitoring and evaluation methodologies and the ability to coach and train
others in their use;
- Experience
supervising needs assessments and surveys, and quantitative data
analysis.
- Experience
in social research methodologies, including highly-developed analytical
and communication skills and the ability to assimilate and process
information for wide-ranging audiences.
- Ability
to train project/programme staff on various M&E aspects.
- Strong
commitment to Mercy USA Fundamental Principles and Code of Conduct, and
the ability to uphold them at all times with all stakeholders
(beneficiaries, volunteers, colleagues and partners).
- Basic
understanding of legal framework of humanitarian operations, as well as
gender, child protection, social or human vulnerability issues.
- Excellent
data management, communication, and organization skills are
essential.
- Knowledge
of data analysis software (e.g. SAS, SPSS Epi Info, ENA for SMART) and
basic computer skills (word-processing, spreadsheets, and databases) is
required;
- High
standards of integrity, professionalism, and impartiality;
- Knowledge
of media and/or social change M&E
- Detail-oriented
and highly organized, with a proactive approach
- Professional
fluency in English and competency in report writing.
- Strong
interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with and motivate
colleagues to achieve shared goals.
- Strong
capacity to handle complex tasks independently, multi task and prioritize,
and meet multiple deadlines on time.
- Excellent
verbal and written communication skills required.
- Extremely
strong time management and organizational skills with very close attention
to detail.
- Able
to work in a stressful environment and remote areas with limited access to
basic facilities.
- Willingness
to travel within Kenya and Somalia
How to apply:
Application procedures
Application procedures
Interested candidates should submit their application material
to Mercy USA Human Resource Department: wnjiru@mercyusa.org. by close of business
Friday , May 30th 2012
This should include: Cover letter clearly summarizing your
experience as it pertains to this job , current and expected salary who we may
contact and Curriculum Vitae with three professional references (as one
document)