About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps’ Ukraine crisis response seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Ukrainians and other conflict-affected people where they are: displaced inside Ukraine, refugees in Poland, Romania, and Moldova, or trapped behind frontlines. We aim to reach 500,000 vulnerable people with multi-purpose cash assistance, in-kind humanitarian support, and protection services across four countries. Almost all our impact will be delivered in partnership: with Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian and Moldovan civil society organizations through a granting program that matches humanitarian action with capacity strengthening, and with peer international NGOs through a consortium in Ukraine. 

Mercy Corps is focused on the emergency delivery of aid to the affected populations, primarily through Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and in-kind food and non-food assistance. Mercy Corps realizes that alongside ongoing emergency activities, it is essential to engage in resilience programming that will help conflict affected businesses and farmers in their recovery efforts. Therefore, Mercy Corps is planning to launch Ukraine Agriculture Support Program (UASP), that aims to increase economic stability and self-sufficiency, and facilitate early recovery for smallholder subsistence farmers and small and medium sized farming enterprises in targeted areas in Ukraine.

General Position Summary

The MEL Officer will assist in the development, and implementation of MEL system for the Ukraine Agriculture Support Program. He/She will be responsible for monitoring, evaluation, following reporting requirements, and standardization of data collection tools for the program’s key components, including support to household level subsistence farmers, as well as small and medium farming enterprises. He/She will also ensure the quality of MEL activities by setting adequate information management systems for all stages of data management, implement and oversee data quality audits and assessments, define and design processes and guidelines for data validation, verification and other quality standards as needed. The MEL Officer will support the MEL Coordinator to engage with Mercy Corps HQ Technical Support Unit in the analysis and use of program data within the program for learning and adaptation of program activities. He/She at the same time should promote Mercy Corps values through various entry points in the project and preserve staff moral and enthusiasm for the project work.

Essential Job Responsibilities

1.     STRATEGY & VISION

• • Ensure that the MEL systems for programs are in compliance with both donor`s and Mercy Corps’ global, regional and country policies, procedures, standards and strategic initiatives.
• • Assist in program planning and implementation to ensure adherence to Mercy Corps’ Minimum Standards, including the use of standardized tools, indicators, and documentation methodologies.
• • Support the design and implementation of assessments and other pre and post data collection and analysis.
• • Support learning-to-action events, reflection session to analyse data for programmatic use and to document and incorporate lessons learned into program design, planning and implementation.
• • Actively participate in any additional evaluation MEL activities including but not limited to baseline surveys, mid-term, PDMs, end-line surveys, evaluations, household surveys
• • Work closely with the program team and partners, to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting of program activities and results. 

2.     DATA MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY CONTROLS

• • Ensure quality control procedures and accuracy of entered data and comparing it with the existing filing system to make sure all records are consistent and aligned.
• • Provide support in the development of MEL Plans, tools, survey design, methodology, data analysis, and other services as may be required for program monitoring and evaluation.
• • Ensure program teams (including partners) are compliant with donor monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements (adhere to donor MEL guidelines). 

3.     TECHNICAL SUPPORT

• • Coordinate assessments, evaluations and monitoring surveys in area of operation. This will entail development of Scopes of Work, development of survey tools, trainings and management of data collectors, report writing and facilitating discussion on the results.

4.    DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING

• • Regularly document lessons learned, best practices, program data analysis summaries, and evaluations and provide evidence based information, success stories, case studies and other high quality, results-based documentation.
• • Produce quality program reports and support partners to review and improve on quality of reporting.
• • Visit sites and program participants to collect supplementary data, stories and conduct qualitative research both independently and in teams.

5.  CAPACITY BUILDING AND MENTORING 

• • Build the capacity of all relevant team members (including partner staffs) to develop and maintain an excellent MEL system, and facilitate periodic reflection and analysis of program monitoring information that feeds into programming and learning.

6.     INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COORDINATION

• • Maintain an active advisory role with the partners’ MEL teams to help guide them towards robust and relevant data collection.
• • Work with MEL and IT staff to maximize the value and utility of technology initiatives for effective MEL.
• • Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to credit Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its mission.
• • Perform any other duties as assigned by his/her supervisor or representatives. 

7.     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. 

8.     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.

9.     ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES

• • Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward 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

Reports Directly To: Resilience Program MEL Coordinator

Works Directly With: Ukraine Agriculture Support Program (UASP) Team, The Ukraine MEL and Technical teams, coordinates work with the regional and HQ-level counterparts on data, MEL and automation.

Supervisory Responsibility: None 

Knowledge and Experience

• • Academic background or equivalent experience in social science, economic growth, or other related field. Academic or formal training on technologies and monitoring and evaluation will strongly enhance the candidate’s ability to succeed in this job.
• • At least one year MEL experience (or similar, with data collection and management)
• • Relevant experience in field survey/data collection techniques, data entry, data verification, analysis, and reporting.
• • Good understanding and skills at data management.
• • Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of MS Office applications; knowledge of data science and programming is plus but not required.
• • PowerBI experience greatly preferred, or other familiarity with data visualization and data analytics tools.
• • Strong team coordination, listening, and consensus building skills.
• • Should understand concepts and demonstrate skills in monitoring and evaluation, results frameworks/program logics, and participatory monitoring.
• • Experience with both quantitative and qualitative data collection and reporting techniques.
• • Should be able to design and implement surveys, have knowledge of commonly used sampling techniques.
• • Experience with facilitation, capacity building, formal and informal knowledge transfer, partnership strengthening, and empowering staff through opportunities for growth and development.
• • Experience with digital or technology platforms for program and MEL related activities.
• • Communicates well with remote collaborators.
• • Manages multiple priorities and deadlines.
• • Excellent oral and written English skills (demonstrate good writing skills).
• • Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• • This position is open to Ukrainian nationals and/or permanent residents of Ukraine. Fluency in Ukrainian or Russian is required. 

Success Factors

S/he will be capable of multi-tasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive and a lot of energy, as well as have high emotional intelligence, constructive communication skills and proven experience with capacity building. S/he will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

A strong team member will be conscientious, with excellent judgement, capable of multi-tasking, prioritising, problem-solving and attention to detail with strategic vision.  S/he must have the confidence, and humility, to work effectively with a large variety of people who will be diverse culturally, economically and in social status. S/he must be sensitive to political and cultural nuance and able to consistently apply excellent judgment to a variety of demanding and fast-changing situations, as well as the ability to foster solid working relationships with Mercy Corps staff.  Working as part of a team and coordinating with project personnel, as well as strong organizational skills, are essential to this position.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

Mercy Corps has two positions of MEL Officer open – in Kyiv/ Dnipro/ Odesa. Accommodations are being defined and access to services – medical, electricity, water, etc is in place but may change depending on the situation. This position requires travel to surrounding areas, as security permits. Given the emergency context, this position requires flexible work schedules.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision.  Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Benefits

Mercy Corps is offering competitive 25 Benefits Packages (10 law statutory and 15 market competitive), including but not limited to the relocation, transportation, phone allowances, remote and flexible working modality, duty of care, well-being support, 24/7 free resilience consultations in addition to a salary offer. Team positive working environment in a well-established and growing international humanitarian organization with career development opportunities through our global talent development platform. 

PLEASE, APPLY: 

https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/MER1024MERCY/JobBoard/7a14d810-d41a-4542-9b9c-ba39a563b91a/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=e8fcad65-1747-4325-9773-cfaba7728d0f