Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director, ICEA - Iraq

Monitoring & Evaluation Erbil, Iraq

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Description

Contingent upon donor funding
 

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every member feels they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have a long-term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003, implementing relief and development programming, more than a third of which has focused on the specific needs of internally displaced persons. Mercy Corps Iraq’s goal is to work with new and existing civil society, public and private sector partners to meet immediate and long-term needs by strengthening communities’ ability to rebuild amidst increasing crises. Mercy Corps Iraq focuses on (1) a relief-to-resilience pathway to meet the needs of conflict-affected communities leveraging agency expertise in conflict management and civil society development (2) a humanitarian response that empowers conflict-affected populations to meet their own needs (3) partnering with conflict-affected adolescents to address their diverse needs, promoting leadership and linkages with civil society. 

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps is seeking a senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director who will support the implementation of an anticipated five-year USAID-funded Iraq Civic Engagement Activity (ICEA). The proposed program will foster a more politically engaged citizenry in Iraq, enhancing trust and participation in the country's democratic processes. This activity seeks to elevate civic literacy, empower citizens to actively engage and contribute to discussions on issues of concern, equipping citizens with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate effectively in the democratic processes. This includes fostering awareness of governmental processes, promoting access to accurate media content, facilitating increased engagement with government entities at various levels, and empowering citizens to participate in public life. The expected result is a more resilient and participatory democracy in Iraq, with a particular emphasis on empowering underrepresented groups.
The MEL Director will be responsible for oversight of Activity-level monitoring and evaluation - including qualitative inquiry and ensuring that a robust MEL system provides evidence needed for learning and adapting throughout the program life-cycle. This includes developing systems, instruments, methods and tools to track and aggregate data across activities, managing performance reporting to USAID and coordinating the sharing and dissemination of information and emerging practices to key stakeholders. The MEL Director will also be responsible for the capacity building and mentoring strategy for program staff and partners on themes related to monitoring, evaluation, accountability, reporting, and learning.

Essential Job Responsibilities

 
MEL STRATEGY AND PLANNING
  • Set up and oversee the timely implementation of MEL systems, including developing and updating the Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP), including review of its results framework, indicators, baseline and periodic data collection strategies and methodologies, data flow chart, data protection plan, M&E Technology Plan, and Learning Plan.
  • Ensure all MEL policy related deliverables are met, including monitoring activities, evaluations, learning events and initiatives, quarterly/ annual reviews, Data Quality Assessments (DQAs), and all reporting requirements. 
  • Ensure an Indicator Plan built in or uploaded to TolaData, reflecting sex and age disaggregation (SADD) for relevant indicators, and all results for all indicators are updated regularly in TolaData to fulfill the program's monitoring, evaluation, and learning needs, as outlined in the M&E, Learning, and Technology Plans. 
  • Design & lead Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation (CLA) efforts, strategy and approaches, including pause and reflect sessions, by working closely with the COP and technical team on using evidence to verify the program design and inform decision making.
  • Oversee the quarterly program review sessions using an up-to-date Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) from TolaData to understand progress against baselines and stated targets.
  • Oversee data collection, analysis, management, visualization, mapping, and reporting on quantitative and qualitative indicators related to the program’s overall operational context, and performance.
  • Harmonize the MEL system across consortium partner systems and other external systems, as relevant.
  • Maximize the use of participatory methods in MEL data collection
  • Ensure the quality of MEL implementation for the Activity, consistently reviewing and adapting the MEL systems and tools to the needs of the changing programmatic context. This includes proposing and monitoring financial and human resources needed to successfully implement the AMELP.
  • Ensure that personal protection is included in data collection (direct and remote), storage, and presentation of those data.
  • Work across the Activity to promote a culture of learning, adaptation and inclusion.
  • Tailor evidence-based learning to diverse audiences, decision-makers, and stakeholders.
  • Ensure final, internal performance review (FIPR) is conducted and includes final measurements on all indicators and documentation of lessons learned, and ensure findings are shared with Mercy Corps, local partners, stakeholders, and program participants.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
  • As part of the Program File, ensure MEL folders for indicators are created and structured to store all raw and analytic datasets / evidence, data collection tools, analysis workbooks, and any other MEL related documentation. 
  • Ensure all data and information in MEL folders and in TolaData are up-to-date and securely stored.
  • Ensure data management processes (collection, cleaning, analysis, storage, reporting, and visualization) are functioning in all Activity locations to provide quality data within deadlines.
  • Ensure data quality through routine internal Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) as required by the Mercy Corps MEL Policy, and make adjustments as needed.
  •  Ensure the Activity adheres to Mercy Corps’ MEL and Program Record Retention and Responsible Data Policies.
  • Develop reporting templates that facilitate the acquisition, aggregation, and flow of information and learning within the program as well as externally.
  • Maintain a comprehensive reporting and accountability schedule as well as review program reports to ensure reports contain accurate, clear, and high-quality data presented in the proper format.
  • Support knowledge management efforts and encourage effective utilization of evidence and learning for adaptive management practices and designing resource mobilization efforts.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
  • Support country team in adhering to Mercy Corps MEL Policy and donor policies and procedures.
  • Contribute to efforts to build a culture of adaptive management, evidence and learning, along with strong MEL capacity and practices.
  • Oversee the Activity MEL team and sub-contractors, such as external evaluators and enumerators.
  • Collaborate with Regional counterparts to ensure adequate support, training and professional development opportunities available to MEL team members.
  • Use competency-based approaches to build the capacity of all relevant Activity and partner team members to develop and maintain a high-quality MEL system, which integrates regular reflection, learning, and adaption through analysis of quantitative and qualitative data and other knowledge gained through implementation of the AMELP.
  • Conduct field monitoring visits with technical teams and partners, building their capacity to eventually assume responsibility for producing periodic progress reports.
  • Promote staff accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one-on-one meetings and performance reviews.
  • Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
  • Collaborate with technical leads across the consortium and build processes for regular feedback to ensure effective and adaptive management.
  • Present program MEL to external MEL and research stakeholders to influence decision-makers and promote collaboration and shared learning.
  • Actively collaborate with regional and global counterparts to promote the use of MEL best practices and lessons learned.
  • Participate in the conceptualization and development of standalone Program level MEL evidence products in collaboration with regional and global Evidence and Learning team.
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.

 

Supervisory Responsibility

MEL Managers, MEL officers and MEL assistants on the MEL Team

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Chief of Party
Works Directly With: The ICEA Implementation Team
 

Knowledge and Experience

  • Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, including proven experience managing MEL staff
  • MA/MS in research methods, statistics, economics, monitoring and evaluation, or other relevant field preferred
  • Experience managing MEL and activities under USAID-funded programs
  • Proven success in designing, implementing, and overseeing program MEL systems from startup to closeout.
  • Experience with and commitment to adaptive management and collaborative, learn, adapt (CLA) processes.
  • Research skills, including participatory qualitative and quantitative methodologies and techniques, planning and managing surveys, and developing and refining data collection tools.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and a proven ability to network and maintain effective working relationships with diverse actors.
  • Previous experience in Iraq or similar context is essential.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; fluency in Arabic highly desired.
 

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively to achieve sustainable impact and enhance long-term resilience. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results. They will understand the larger picture while remaining focused on problem solving and effectively navigating complex and sensitive political, conflict, and security dynamics. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Erbil and requires up to 50% travel to other locations in Iraq. 
  
The role is unaccompanied, eligible for R&R breaks, and hardship, and housing is provided in shared group housing in Erbil and when travel outside of Erbil is required. The team member must follow all security protocols at all times.  
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
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.
 
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
 
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
 
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
 
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
 
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
 
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.

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