Position Description

Location: Kala-balge LGA

Position Status: Full-time

 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 collaborate to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within, now and for the future. In Nigeria, Mercy Corps operates in over 13 states focusing on key thematic areas of humanitarian response, conflict mitigation and adolescent girls’ empowerment.

Program / Department Summary

The MEL Assistant will be based in either Rann to support the planned MEL activities in the LGA led by Mercy Corps and will provide context-specific humanitarian assistance. The Program will deliver a multi-sectoral emergency and recovery package targeting Dikwa among other LGAs. Mercy Corps has an established presence in all LGAs and will be delivering food, WASH, protection, nutrition, shelter/non-food item, and agriculture.

General Position Summary

The position holder will support the planning and execution of monitoring and evaluation, ensuring

quality in accordance with accepted standards, providing essential feedback for learning, accountability,

and decision-making for Mercy Corps Nigeria. S/he will be responsible for the following:

  • The MEL Assistant will work with the MEL Senior Officer as part of a team to operate the MEL system across the implementation locations.
  • The MEL Assistant is responsible for supporting Mercy Corps staff to regularly collect, enter, verify, analyze data, and make timely database adjustments to measure the impact of the program.
  • The MEL Assistant will work directly with the MEL Senior Officer and will closely coordinate with other program staff to help ensure monitoring and evaluation data is accurately incorporated into all reports and information products.

Essential Job Responsibilities

  • Understand and maintain MEL systems that improve Mercy Corps’ ability to inform program implementation, analyze data and represent impact to donors, government, partner organizations and communities.
  • Ensure all relevant program staff can utilize the database to analyze program information and results.
  • Regularly review data entered into the MEL system to locate and fix problems with data entry or integrity.
  • Manage regular synchronizations and backups of field data to cloud-based data management systems.
  • Troubleshoot front and back-end issues with the database, including any synchronization issues of field-level data.
  • Ensure field teams always have the most recent version of all MEL tools and documents.
  • Assist the team in improving the MEL system by identifying good practices, field-tested lessons learned and creative recommendations; share with and encourage staff to incorporate these in their daily work.
  • Review or edit data in reports as requested and required.
  • Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its mission.
  • Work as part of a team to facilitate and support MEL operations including baseline, end-line surveys, regular monitoring, data collection, analysis and reporting according to the M&E work plan.
  • Facilitate data analysis with the program implementation team as requested.
  • Conduct regular field visits to ensure all elements of the MEL system are utilized effectively by all stakeholders, assessing, and identifying breakdowns and areas that require clarifications and improvements.
  • Carry out any other duties as assigned or required.

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.

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.

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.

Accountability to Participants:

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times.

Knowledge and Experience

  • Must hold at least a bachelor’s degree, Higher Diploma, Ordinary Diploma or equivalent in Economics, Agriculture, Demography, Statistics, Business Administration, or a relevant field.
  • One year of MEL experience (or similar) – preferably in Borno State.
  • Attention to detail and patience to double-check data entry is essential.
  • Good basic math skills are essential and general knowledge of statistical principles is preferred.
  • Prior experience carrying out surveys or conducting qualitative and quantitative data collection.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skill in English language is required. Hausa and Kanuri language skill is preferred.
  • Intermediate computer skill in MS Office programs, particularly Excel, is required. Skills in other programs, such as Access or statistical packages is also desirable.
  • Prior experience with computerized data management systems is desired.

Reports Directly To: MEL Senior Officer

Works Directly With: MEL, Programs, Finance, and Operations

Success Factors

  • The ideal candidate will have a natural curiosity for quantifying and articulating the impact of Mercy Corps’ programs on individuals and in communities.
  • S/he will also have an interest in exploring the larger factors that influence the success of programs and the well-being of populations. A successful candidate will have skills and a passion for data collection and entry.
  • An ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary.
  • The most successful Mercy Corps staff 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.
  • Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs, MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times.

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 a 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, colour, 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

We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, 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. 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 (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org)

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.