FORSA - Monitoring & Evaluation Assistant

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, civil society and economic development initiatives. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Libya. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps is running community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they have emerged. Until recently Mercy Corps’ focus had been on programs aiming to bolster civil society and give voice to under-represented groups through the empowerment of young leaders. Recently, the program portfolio has expanded in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria.  The emergency response component of the portfolio will be an increasing focus and driver of programming in Lebanon.

The conflict in Syria has resulted in a steady increase in Syrian refugees to Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.  All refugees who have entered Lebanon are staying with host families or in rented accommodation.  As numbers rapidly increase, humanitarian conditions are deteriorating.  The burden on host communities and the financial and emotional stress on refugees and their hosts is tremendous. Mercy Corps is responding to these needs by addressing urgent basic needs, protection as well as the psychosocial impact of the conflict and displacement.  A growing programmatic focus is on mitigating the emerging tensions between hosts and refugees, particularly over economic resources, by addressing both livelihood opportunities and conflict mitigation capacity.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

Working under the direction of the MEL Manager, the M&E Assistant is expected to contribute to the quality assurance of program implementation in Beirut and other areas covered by the program and ensure that Mercy Corps programs/projects bring a significant contribution to reducing poverty, building secure productive and just communities, and playing a leading role in transforming Mercy Corps programs in Lebanon.

S/he will contribute to monitoring, evaluation and learning functions related to tracking project progress and quality, collecting useful, timely and actionable information for managers and decision-makers, and contribute to the frequent review, reflection and key learning process to improve performance. S/he will assist in developing review and learning processes (eg. complaints mechanisms, feedback loops, lessons learned documentation and sharing, etc.) S/he will work closely with partners involved in program implementation in order to ensure a coherent and comprehensive program is implemented, lessons are learned and experiences shared across the various sectors and program teams.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Assist in conducting routine program data collection (such as baseline, endline and follow-up surveys);

• Conduct regular monitoring visits to program activities to support quality implementation and feedback loops to program to learn and enhance impact of program;
• Ensure that program data are entered and updated on a timely basis;
• Support indicator tracking and reporting;
• Translate questionnaires and other relevant documents from English to Arabic and vice versa, as needed;
• Support research and study activities on MEL related issues.

Accountability

• Coordinate with the team in the office to build systems that promote beneficiary accountability by ensuring that communities participate in initial assessments and program design;
• Coordinate with program teams to ensure that communities are informed about our programs and what we do, are aware of their entitlements, are comfortable to give feedback and that feedback is used to improve the quality of our programs;
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

None

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: FORSA MEL Manager

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• At least 2-3 years of experience in Monitoring and Evaluation and Reporting;
• Computer and data management skills;
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methodologies required;
• Team player who takes initiative, is a problem-solver and able to multi-task;
• Effective verbal and written communication skills;
• Written and oral communication skills in Arabic and English.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized.
• Previous experience or knowledge with mobile data collection tools will be considered an asset.

SUCCESS FACTORS

• Conscientious, with excellent judgment;
• Multi-tasking, prioritizing and simultaneous attention to detail are essential;
• S/he must have the confidence, and humility, to work effectively with a large variety of people who will be diverse culturally, economically and in social status;
• S/he must be sensitive to political and cultural nuance and able to consistently apply excellent judgment to a variety of demanding and fast-changing situations;
• Ability to foster solid working relationships with government counterparts, teammates, local partners and others.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently;
• S/he will have the ability to comfortably adapt to a quickly changing environment with a sense of urgency, humor, and curiosity;
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent writing skills – ability to write in a variety of styles for multiple audiences;
• Able to work remotely with a geographically dispersed team;
• Able to manage several projects simultaneously and under pressure of deadlines.

The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability; thrive in evolving and changing environments; make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.