Monitoring, Evaluation, & Learning (MEL) Analyst (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the URL link provided below)

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.

The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)

Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently works in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps is committed to generating positive opportunities for women, men, boys and girls from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities, with a strong focus on engaging youth.  Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping build secure, productive and just communities. Our programs in Lebanon focus on Economic Growth, Governance and Social Cohesion, and Humanitarian Response. The Mercy Corps Lebanon team consists of over 50 staff working across two offices throughout Beirut and the Bekaa Valley. Mercy Corps Lebanon’s humanitarian portfolio centers on cash assistance, building on its global expertise.

The Position (General Position Summary)

The MEL Analyst will be responsible for leading the monitoring, evidence generation, and learning efforts across Mercy Corps' cash assistance and emergency response programs. This role will ensure that all MEL activities are aligned with program objectives and contribute to evidence-based decision-making and adaptive program management. This will include ensuring the quality of the program’s MEL activities, information management via the programs reporting system (which may be tied with Mercy Corps’ proprietary TOLA systems), and geographic information systems, where applicable. In the event of an emergency response, the MEL analyst will also act as the MEL response lead and will think of how the program can and should measure outcome oriented results so the program can speak to larger level results

Working in close collaboration with implementing partners, consortium members, and Mercy Corps teams, the MEL Analyst will ensure the development and implementation of robust monitoring frameworks, data collection tools, and learning strategies that meet donor, programmatic, and global MEL standards.  The MEL analyst will oversee programmatic learning agendas, research, and evaluations. They will lead on developing a clear MEL workplan for the program. They will also ensure that data is available at key decision-making moments and will promote use of the data for learning and adaptive management practices at all levels of decision. The role will also contribute to standardization of MEL approaches across the cash and emergency portfolio, and support continuous learning through data analysis, reporting, and knowledge sharing.

Essential Responsibilities (Example Section Below - Adapt to Specific Role, Safeguarding Responsibilities are required for all roles)

MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

• Serve as the consortium and projects technical lead in the design, implementation, and regular updating of MEL tools and systems for cash and emergency programs.
• Develop and maintain program-specific MEL plans, including detailed indicators, data collection methodologies, and reporting schedules.
• Coordinate routine data collection, analysis, and visualization of key program indicators, ensuring timely and high-quality reporting.
• Ensure MEL systems capture both output and outcome-level results, with a strong focus on learning and accountability.
• Supervise the day-to-day work and train MEL project team members and partners on their MEL responsibilities;
• Coordinate the work of all contractors/enumerators involved in data collection activities and review their standards for data collection;
• Oversee and support the implementation of post-distribution monitoring, market assessments, needs assessments, and verification processes.
• Lead on the design and execution of learning agendas, including lessons learned reviews, reflection sessions, and knowledge dissemination.
• Coordinate the maintenance, roll out and use of the cash program learning agenda with the program team and the regional team as well as Mercy Corps’ senior management and the LCAT team;
• Ensure that lessons learned throughout the project are captured and communicated to internal and external stakeholders through appropriate channels; and facilitate learning sessions as needed.
• Lead consortium and project level final evaluations, and coordinate with program team and consultants as needed.

DATA MANAGEMENT and REPORTING

• Manage program MEL databases, dashboards (e.g., PowerBI), and reporting tools (e.g., TOLA, ActivityInfo), ensuring data quality, privacy, and integrity.
• Produce high-quality analysis and reports for internal use, donor reporting, and decision-making.
• Provide timely and accurate inputs into program reviews, donor reports, and learning products.
• Work closely with program staff to integrate MEL findings into program design and adaptive management.

PARNTERNSHIP AND CONSORTIUM COORDINATION

• Support MEL capacity building of local partners and consortium members through training, mentoring, and co-development of tools and methodologies.
• Coordinate data flows, indicator tracking, and reporting contributions across implementing partners.
• Ensure consistency and quality of MEL approaches across consortium members, promoting harmonization and shared learning.
• Act as the MEL focal point for assigned cash and emergency response programs, representing MEL efforts in coordination forums and working groups.

LEARNING & ACCOUNTABILITY

• Facilitate participatory MEL processes that involve community members, partners, and program staff in assessing results and informing program improvements.
• Coordinate with the Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) team to ensure feedback mechanisms are integrated into MEL systems.
• Ensure MEL activities are gender-sensitive, conflict-sensitive, and aligned with Mercy Corps’ Do No Harm principles and data protection policies.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Supervise the work of the cash program MEL team and assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance and reach objectives;
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews;
• Contribute to creating and sustaining a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence;
• Hire, orient and lead MEL team members as necessary;
• Coordinate the capacity building of MEL team members in coordination with the PaQ team, including by delivering of MEL trainings for teammates and enumerators on data collection and data analysis tools;
• Coordinate the production of a needs assessment for the implementing partners and determine a M&E training plan and tools to support staff;
• Contribute to building the capacity of all relevant MEL team members to develop and maintain a robust M&E system, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development;
• Review partner reports and provide feedback and comments to improve reporting quality

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

MEL officers

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Project Manager

Works Directly With: Snr Grants coordinator, regional team, LCAT team, program team

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

• • BA/S or equivalent, preferable in social sciences, business administration, public administration or international development or other relevant disciplines required. MA/S in similar relevant fields strongly preferred;
  • At least 3 to 5 years of experience building or operating MEL systems in humanitarian programs, with cash programming MEL experience being a great asset.
  • Experience working in target areas (Bekaa and Baalbek El-Hermel) is an asset;
  • Experience working with MEL for cash and voucher assistance programming is a strong asset;
  • Extensive experience with field survey/data collection techniques, data entry, data verification, and analysis;
  • Proven use of technology for MEL functions;
  • Previous experience working with international and/or local NGOs;
  • Advanced computer skills and experience developing data management systems such as Commcare/ODK/KOBO/ONA are required;
  • Advanced data visualization skills and experience using PowerBI or similar software are an asset;
  • Strong team supervision and capacity building, coordination, listening, and consensus building skills;
  • Ability to prepare clear and concise reports;
  • Ability to manage and meet deadlines and to work independently on multi-task load;
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills;
  • Fluency in written and oral English and Arabic required;
  • Experience in quantitative and qualitative research is an advantage;

Success Factors

The successful MEL analyst will be bright, energetic, hard-working and eager to learn.  They will take a deep personal interest in humanitarian and development assistance. They will be attentive to detail and able to carry out assigned tasks in a timely manner and according to a very high standard of quality. They will be creative and flexible, contributing to developing and encouraging new and innovative solutions, but at the same time will not have any difficulty in adhering to systems and procedures. They will strictly follow all protocols related to safety and security, and holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Mercy Corps’ values.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is based in Zahle, Lebanon. The person will be required to spend at least 50% of their time in the relevant field offices in support of cash and humanitarian activities. The current cash program is in Bekaa, with possibility of expansion to other areas.

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 and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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 Efficiency 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 that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different 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.

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).