Monitoring And Evaluation Officer-Gcap

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT 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, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Egypt. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps promotes economic development and increased opportunity for marginalized communities while responding to emergencies as they have emerged. Until recently Mercy Corps’ focus has focused on bolstering civil society and give voice to under-represented groups through the empowerment of young leaders. In 2012, the program portfolio shifted in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria and Mercy Corps in Lebanon has solidified its emergency response programming while integrating longer-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Governance and Conflict Resolution, and Livelihoods. The conflict that began more than three years ago in Syria has resulted in a steady increase in Syrian refugees to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. To date, more than one million refugees have fled to Lebanon, and the numbers continue to mount. Most 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 are tremendous. Mercy Corps is responding to these needs by addressing urgent basic needs, child protection as well as the psychosocial impact of the conflict and displacement. In this perspective, the overall objective of the Governance and Community Action Programme (GCAP) is to empower vulnerable communities and municipalities to de-escalate conflict and mitigate tensions caused by the Syrian crisis. GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY: Working under the direction of the GCAP Project Manager, the M&E Officer is expected to contribute to the quality assurance of program implementation for Mercy Corps and NGO partners. S/he will contribute to the monitoring and evaluation functions related to tracking program 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 be responsible for creating tools and systems to track output and outcome level progress against indicators, coaching field teams in using the tools and methods of data collection for both Mercy Corps and NGO partners. S/he will work closely with the Tripoli team members as well as Beirut colleagues and partners involved in project implementation in order to ensure a coherent and comprehensive project is implemented, lessons are learned and experiences shared across the various sectors and program teams. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Monitoring and Evaluation• Conduct timely data collection, entry, analysis, quality assurance, sharing of information and learning, etc.;• Develop M&E tools and systems that track: i) peacebuilding initiatives; ii) disputes resolved iii) public participation in community activities; iv) local government financial and operational capacity;• Manage program databases to facilitate timely information updates, data quality assurance, sharing of information and learning, etc.; Update and maintain the project indicator tracker;• Work with program team to integrate M&E into ongoing program planning and implementation systems and ensure adherence to Mercy Corps M&E minimum standards;• Generate quality evidence on project impact and promote and ensure use of data for decision-making processes;• Coordinate with partner organizations to ensure data is collected on time and entered in a timely manner;• Lead in designing and conducting assessments and evaluations, training program teams to assist;• Support and train Mercy Corps, NGO partners, local community, and government stakeholders in using openly accessible mobile software as a basic Early Warning and Early Response system and the different tools used;• Contribute to understanding of and support for mobile data collection hardware and software;• Develop a monitoring plans and conduct regular monitoring visits to the different project locations;• Write up beneficiary stories from the field;• Document project progress through tracking program work plan, attendance sheets, photos, meeting notes, etc.;• Liaise with other Mercy Corps teams globally to identify best practice and lessons learned to benefit the program;• Gather complaints from the field and follow up based on the Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism (CARM);• Implements Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity policy and applies Do No Harm approaches. Data Analysis, Reporting and Evidence Based Advocacy• Support project team in data collection and data analysis;• Handle the Data of partners.• Liaise with other project teams and M&E staff as required to ensure that the project databases complement and align with each other.• Coordinate with Monitoring and Evaluation staff to review indicator updates on a monthly basis. Generate data reports (tables/graphs/reports) from the project databases at regular intervals;• Develop program operational reporting templates for partners that facilitate the acquisition and aggregation of information in programs;• Review or edit data in reports as requested and required;• Produce analytical summaries: graphs, charts, tables, narratives and appealing visuals, as requested, to fulfill internal and external reporting requirements and advocacy purposes;• Contribute to UN tracking systems, updating program achievements on a monthly basis;• Other tasks as required. Accountability• 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. ACCOUNTABILITY:REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Project ManagerWORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program Manager, Assistant Project Manager, M&E Teams, GCAP staff, and partners. KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: • BA/S or equivalent in conflict resolution studies, development studies, social work, social sciences, human rights, or other relevant field required, MA preferred;• At least 2 years of experience in Monitoring and Evaluation, and in reporting;• Advanced computer and data management skills;• Experience with qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methodologies required; Statistical analysis experience preferred;• Team player who takes initiative, is a problem-solver and able to multi-task;• Advanced written and oral communication skills in Arabic and English.• Experience working on peacebuilding issues preferred;• Details-oriented and highly organized. SUCCESS FACTORS: • Conscientious, with excellent judgment;• Multi-tasking, prioritizing and simultaneous attention to detail are essential;• Committed to support the communities and ready to have flexible schedule;• 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 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 work 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.