Senior MEL & Communications Manager (Project Monitoring, Evaluation, Knowledge and Management Officer) – SADEP

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.

DEPARTMENT/ PROGRAM SUMMARY

Mercy Corps has been present in South Sudan since 2005 and acts on behalf of people who have become displaced and disenfranchised by the ongoing conflict. With funding from a multitude of donors including the UK Department for International Development (DFID - FCDO), Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), European Union, NORAD, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Private Foundations, Mercy Corps has been able to empower people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. In South Sudan our work focusing on the delivery of timely humanitarian interventions, improving food security and livelihood options through and market systems development, and governance for supporting civil society empowerment  With emphasis on conflict-affected youth, women, as well as IDPs and host communities, we champion and lead state-of-the art relief and recovery approaches through gender mainstreaming, market systems development, partnership, addressing root causes, adaptive management, and resilience approaches.

The Sustainable Agricultural Development Project (SADEP) is a seven-year initiative jointly designed by IFAD and the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of South Sudan. Its goal is to contribute to lasting peace and poverty reduction by enhancing resilience, food, and nutrition security for rural communities in four counties across Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, and Jonglei States. SADEP will support approximately 18,700 households (about 122,200 people), primarily smallholder farmers and fishing communities engaged in sorghum, groundnuts, sesame, and fisheries value chains. SADEP is structured around three core components plus emergency response. Component 1 strengthens community-driven planning and promotes climate-adaptive, nutrition-sensitive agriculture and sustainable fisheries through climate-smart practices, improved seeds, extension services, and community-led fisheries management. Component 2 complements this by investing in inclusive, climate-resilient community infrastructure and improved post-harvest technologies, with a strong focus on women and youth. Component 3 focuses on institutional strengthening, policy support, and effective project coordination to ensure sustainability, alignment with national systems, and efficient implementation.

The Position

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Knowledge and Management (MEKM) Officer will be responsible for coordinating the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the SADEP project M&E and learning system. The officer will oversee the monitoring and evaluation of project progress, facilitate evidence generation and knowledge management, and ensure timely communication of project activities, achievements, and lessons learned. The MEKM Officer will work closely with the Project Manager, project teams, and stakeholders to enhance learning, improve project performance, and support evidence-based decision-making.

Essential Responsibilities

Monitoring and Evaluation System Management

• Design, implement, and maintain a robust project M&E system to track progress against SADEP objectives and targets.
• Ensure timely collection, processing, validation, and storage of project data.
• Support the development of performance indicators, baselines, targets, and milestones.
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits and ensure data quality assurance.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Facilitate the generation, documentation, and dissemination of lessons learned, best practices, and success stories.
• Support knowledge-sharing initiatives across project teams and partners.
• Promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making within the project.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis using statistical packages (e.g., SAS, SPSS, Advanced Excel) and other software.
• Prepare periodic M&E reports for management, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Support the design and execution of surveys, assessments, and evaluations, including baseline, midline, and endline studies.

Research and Evaluation

• Plan, design, and conduct research studies to assess project outcomes and impacts.
• Provide recommendations for project improvement based on evaluation results.
• Collaborate with external evaluators, consultants, and partners as needed.

Capacity Building and Compliance

• Provide guidance and training to project staff on M&E tools, methodologies, and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with donor reporting requirements, organizational policies, and national regulations.
• Support the Project Manager in integrating M&E findings into project planning and decision-making.

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: SADEP Project Manager

Works Directly With: Director of Programs

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

• Postgraduate degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Demography, Population Studies, Statistics, Economics, Rural Development, or related fields from a reputable university.
• At least (Eight) 8 years of direct experience in a position of monitoring and evaluation of rural development and national Projects
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing M&E systems for multi-faceted rural development projects.
• Proven experience in data processing and management of large-scale surveys.
• Demonstrated experience of at least 3 years of application of Computer statistical packages and/ or data analysis software (e.g. SAS, SPSS, and Advanced Excel) and basic computer skills (word-processing, power point, and databases)
• Additional training in impact evaluation, IT applications for M&E, or related fields is an advantage.
• Strong research skills, including formulation, design, implementation, analysis, and presentation of study results.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; fluent in English.
• Proven integrity in handling public resources and executing duties.
• Strong interpersonal and team management skills.
• Results-oriented, able to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

Success Factors

Success in this role requires the ability to manage and sustain a comprehensive M&E system while translating complex data into actionable insights for decision-making. The MEKM Officer must be skilled in both technical data analysis and knowledge management, demonstrating integrity, attention to detail, and reliability in handling sensitive information. Effective interpersonal and communication skills are essential to collaborate with project teams, stakeholders, and donors. The officer must be results-focused, able to work independently under tight deadlines, and committed to fostering learning and continuous improvement within the SADEP project.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Juba and it requires up to 40% field travel to support project delivery, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. 

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]).