Short Term Assignment (STA)-Dreams-TZ Program Mid-term Evaluator
Description
Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Position Status: Temporary (Short Term Assignment)
Salary Level: 5-6
Risk Level: ☐ Level 3 ☐xLevel 2 ☐Level 1
(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.
Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.
Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data)
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.
DREAMS-Tanzania
The Delivering Resilient Enterprises and Market Systems (DREAMS-TZ) Program is a four-year innovative solution aimed at driving self-reliance for 150,000 naturalized and host community Tanzanians living in and around settlements of Ulyankulu, Mishamo, and Katumba. DREAMS layers two evidence-based models—poverty graduation and market systems development—to allow ultra-poor households to regain the dignity that comes from providing for one’s family. Ultimately, DREAMS aims to create an ‘ecosystem of market opportunities that allows communities to generate sustainable income through engagement in multiple viable livelihood strategies, diversifying their risk by undertaking on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm activities that boost earnings and household economic resilience.
The Position
The evaluator shall work with the DREAMS-TZ team to assess the overall design, implementation, learning, and emerging results of the DREAMS-TZ Program as it progresses toward achieving intended outcomes and longer-term resilience objectives. The evaluator will be expected to propose where additional data collection or analytical work is required to answer the evaluation questions adequately. Given the breadth and complexity of the Program, not all questions listed below are expected to be addressed in equal depth. During the inception phase, the evaluator will prioritize a subset of core evaluation questions and sub-questions based on learning value, feasibility, available evidence, and strategic decision-making needs.
Essential Responsibilities
- Lead the entire planning, design, and execution of the DREAMS-TZ program mid-term evaluation in collaboration with the consortium of MEAL and the program team.
- Examining progress and early signals of change against the DREAMS-TZ Theory of Change, results framework, and key assumptions, with particular attention to how strategies and intervention models have evolved.
- Assessing contribution rather than attribution, recognizing that observed changes in market systems, poverty graduation, institutional behavior, and community practices are shaped by multiple interacting actors and external factors.
- Emphasizing learning, adaptation, and system-level understanding, including how the program has responded to uncertainty, contextual shocks, and new evidence, rather than attempting summative judgments of impact.
- Prioritizing qualitative inquiry and sense-making, complemented by selective use of quantitative and monitoring data where available, to generate rich, contextually grounded insights into Program design, implementation quality, and emerging outcomes.
- Applying mixed methods and triangulation, combining document review, qualitative fieldwork, participatory reflection, and secondary data analysis to strengthen the credibility and usability of findings.
- Facilitate capacity-building sessions with MEL and the program team on market systems change monitoring.
- Provide technical support by reviewing the existing MEL system, tools, and processes to enhance program learning, reporting, and program adaptation.
- Plan, facilitate, and execute internal and external assessment report dissemination sessions for learning and stakeholders' validation.
SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES
- Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
- Practices the values of Mercy Corps, including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
- Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.
Supervisory Responsibility
None.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: DREAMS-TZ program manager
Works Directly With: The Senior MEAL coordinator, and all Consortium MEAL lead
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.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
- Master's or higher in MEL, social/development/economic/environmental studies, or related fields
- 7–10+ years of experience in Program evaluation, including mid‑term reviews of multi-component Programs
- Proven application of theory‑based and mixed‑methods designs
- Demonstrated experience evaluating resilience/economic Programming integrating Poverty Graduation and MSD
- Strong analytical and report‑writing skills with a record of high‑quality evaluation reports for INGOs/donors
- Experience collaborating with INGOs, donors, or consortia.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
- Experience with market system-oriented evaluation approaches (e.g., contribution analysis, Outcome Harvesting)
- Familiarity with OECD‑DAC evaluation criteria and donor standards
- Experience engaging government, private sector, and community structures
- Knowledge of livelihood systems and market dynamics in similar contexts
- Demonstrated integration of gender, conflict sensitivity, and inclusion into evaluation design and analysis.
Success Factors
The team member should exhibit the ability to identify gaps for capacity development—particularly in the MEAL operation and systems functions—which depend on their ability to communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and use analytical abilities. S/he should demonstrate a highly innovative approach and solutions to challenging programming problems, as well as a track record of multitasking, initiative, and accountability. Have excellent management and leadership abilities to guide the consortium team toward the intended aims and objectives of the current tasks. Show sensitivity and eagerness in completing tasks on time.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Tabora, and it requires up to a minimum of 50% travel, which may include travel to relatively remote locations where program activities are actively implemented, particularly in the Tabora and Katavi regions.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
Team Engagement and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).