Uganda: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor

This position is contingent on funding by the donor

PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006 and works to catalyse change makers within the Ugandan private sector, civil society and government to create economically dynamic, healthy and secure communities. Our works focus on building resilience and enable economic growth, improve opportunities to attain better health and nutrition, and improved governance and conflict management. We implement programs in the northern districts of Pader, Kitgum, Agago, Lamwo, Kaabong, Abim and Kotido with funding from USAID, USDA, Walmart Foundation, SDC, DFID as well as other private donations.

Mercy Corps, SNV, Concern Worldwide and Water For People have established a consortium to bid for the recently released USAID/Uganda RFA for $31,460,000 to accelerate sustainable improvement in quality, access and supply of water and sanitation services, and improve hygiene behaviors in Uganda.

USAID/Uganda's Uganda Sanitation Program (USP) will focus on improving access to sanitation, as defined under the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water and Sanitation (the JMP) with the objective of reducing the incidence of diarrhea and other disease related to poor sanitation while contributing to nutritional goals, in particular, and on ensuring that Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services are sustainable.

Under the above program Mercy Corps is looking for a qualified candidate to fill the position of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Adviser for this USAID funded five years USP program.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Adviser is a key position in the program responsible for elaborating systems for cross-cutting programmatic monitoring, evaluation, and information management, defining how collected information will be reflected upon, used for continuous improvement of ongoing programming, and incorporated into consistently high quality reports. S/he will be responsible for developing, along with project staff and technical support staff, the fully integrated Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system for the program. In addition, s/he will be responsible for putting in place a structure that will ensure that organized and actionable M&E information is provided to program managers and field offices in order to assist them to generate reports that are timely and of a high quality.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

M&E Plan

• Ensure that thate is a finalized monitoring, evaluation and reporting (MER) system. -
• Create a monitoring plan for program activities and quality, including appropriate methodologies and data collection frequency.
• Map key stakeholders needs, and stakeholder engagement and communication plan.
• Lead participatory and youth friendly consultation with women, men, girls, boys and people with disabilities
• Map data needs and flow and information management plan.
• Create action plan for data collection tool development and database development
• Prepare M&E Budget, procurement plan and capacity building plan, including M&E and gender capacity building.
• Prepare evaluation plan for outcomes, impact, and processes, including appropriate methodologies and sampling design.
• Develop an accountability plan for community feedback and participation.
• Prepare a staffing plan with completed job descriptions for key M&E staff including recruitment, SOW creation and on-boarding of an Evaluation Partner to conduct a baseline study, mid-term and final evaluation.
• Recruit a gender and age balanced M&E team.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (MER) System Development and Technical Oversight

• Ensure technical soundness of the M&E and reporting system and the technical performance of M&E activities.
• Collaborate closely with Chief of Party and M&E staff in developing and establishing M&E and reporting system and implementing mobile data collection tools that serve the needs of the program.
• Address shortfalls in monitoring, evaluation and information management that impact quality and affect program implementation.
• Support the continued development and adaptation of the M&E and reporting system, M&E tools, survey design, methodology, data analysis, and other services as may be required for program monitoring and evaluation.
• Ensure that monitoring systems meet the requirements of the donor and that performance results can be used for continuous improvement.
• Adapt existing Mercy Corps monitoring tools, and propose new ways of measuring change through the use of sex and age disaggregated quantitative and qualitative data collection tools, analysis of secondary data, and remote monitoring techniques.
• Manage the development and/or implementation of appropriate data management systems that provide access to timely, accurate, and meaningful data.
• Develop systems for data collection, analysis, and reflection, train staff to use them, and ensure that they are followed.
• Include data collection with vulnerable populations.
• Be responsible for compiling program-level M&E information for dissemination and use.
• Coordinate internal and external reviews and lead the analysis of findings, with a strong emphasis on learning.

Team Management

• Strengthen staff capacity, including M&E and gender capacity in qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation tools through comprehensive staff training and coaching.
• Facilitate capacity building and information sharing workshops with appropriate stakeholders, including potential partners.
• Supervise, lead, guide and support the M&E officers and GIS Specialists.
• Orient, train, and coach staff.
• Complete all performance management activities including: performance planning, monitoring, and annual performance appraisals.

Reporting

• Conduct program site visits to provide hands-on training to field staff on how to capture and organize information for accurate documentation and reporting.
• Coordinate with a variety of teams, to ensure that program teams have the necessary capacity and resources to produce timely and high quality reports that are responsive to USAID.
• Team capacity building through information-sharing and mentorship, coaching in report writing, and quality control of final written products.
• Assist the COP by monitoring and reporting on potential partners' M&E data and planning.

Coordination and Representation

• Actively participate in management meetings and program strategy sessions.
• Develop positive working relationships and coordinate/collaborate with partner organizations and international and national agencies active in the target areas.
• Participate in a variety of external forums/workshops/conference/sector coordination meetings to share best practices, (including M&E and gender best practices) and findings of the program with the government and development community.

Accountability:

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

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: M&E staff, including M&E officers and GIS specialists

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Chief of Party

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Country-level DPMELC manager, Program Managers and M&E and accountability officers and potential consortium partners.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's Degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, epidemiology, biostatistics, statistics, research methods or other closely related discipline and a minimum of five (5) years in M&E for health programs, demonstrating increased level of responsibility,

OR

• Bachelor's degree in statistics, biostatistics, social sciences and epidemiology and a minimum of eight (8) years in M&E for health programs, demonstrating increased level of responsibility.

PLUS

• Demonstrated experience working with multiple stakeholders, including experience with Government counterparts, will be an added advantage.
• Proven ability to articulate technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully moving evaluation and research findings to program actions.
• Strong interpersonal, writing and communication skills
• Experience with gender-responsive M&E.
• Experience with GPS and mobile-based M&E systems.
• Prior experience in staff development and participatory training.
• Excellent computer skills, including experience with: Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, SPSS, Access, ODK Collect or iFormbuilder, and any other statistical or data management packages.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required;
• Strong knowledge and experience of the context in Uganda is an advantage.
• Fluent written and oral communication in English is required;

SUCCESS FACTORS:

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws, security and gender integration protocols. As a key technical position, this person should have a strong understanding of program logic and should be able to express and document his/her ideas clearly and convincingly. 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. In Uganda, patience, diplomacy, tenacity, compassion, determination and a sense of humor are all success factors.

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The position in based in Kampala with 50%+ travel to the target districts. In Kampala the position is accompanied and secure. Housing is individual accommodation with freedom of movement beyond the house/office. There are three main International schools in Uganda. There is regular access to services - medical, electricity, water, etc. However, this position requires at least 50 percent travel by road to the target districts.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff 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.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=amFtYW5kYS4zNDQwMi4zODMwQG1lcmN5Y29ycHMuYXBsaXRyYWsuY29t