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.

We help people overcome poverty and conflict. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives. To grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. During our 34-year history, our work has improved more than 170 million lives in more than 115 countries around the world. Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

Position Title:   Collaboration, Learning, Adapting (CLA) Officer

Duty Station:  Dire Dawa

 Open Position:  1

General Position Summary

The Collaboration, Learning and Adapting Officer (CLA Officer) will work with PARA site team. Mercy Corps is looking for individuals who will have responsibility to support technical teams in targeting, monitoring of activities, performance checking, and outcome monitoring.

Essential Job Responsibilities

1. Support targeting of beneficiaries for project interventions – Working together with the field technical team and government counterparts, the incumbents will participate in the targeting of beneficiaries (including collecting data from said beneficiaries) for the project interventions:  Financial Services, Rangeland Management, Climate Information, Job & Employment Creation beneficiaries and other project activities.
2. The position holder is responsible to upload all approved Concept Notes for the Somali/Oromia region to agency measurement system (TOLA), ensure that all the monitoring data and evidences are collected, stored on the system
3. Ensure all necessary documents for program management are properly filed and kept both in hard and soft copy as per the requirement by Mercy Corps project management standards (PM@MC).

4.      Manage monitoring of activities – The incumbents will be responsible for establishing and monitoring beneficiaries (individual and institutional) data base in the aforementioned intervention areas, gather pieces of evidence for innovative ways to manage risk, PARA program development gains & policy level impact, achievement of output & outcome level quantitative and qualitative indicators, and performances of challenges encountered in the overall project activities.

1. Involved in the development and implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation systems, including indicators, data collection, analysis and reports as required by Mercy Corps, donor and government;
2. Compile presentations and updates on progress, successes and challenges as required by the managers, donor and government;
3. Ensure appropriate regular monitoring and timely submission of all necessary reports in line with donor, Mercy Corps and government reporting schedules and deadlines;
4. Provide timely updates to program coordinator on progress of program areas
5. Document and disseminate best practices and lessons learnt;
6. Develop and maintain effective information database for the project in Somali region operational area

Capacity-Building

1. Identify and recommend areas for specific training and capacity-building, both for staff and target communities to cluster manager
2. Outcome monitoring and evaluation – CLA officer will be in charge of collecting baseline data from a sample of beneficiaries and follow up with them post-intervention.
3. 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.
4. Be a team player –PARA as a complex project requires more efforts to work closely together, communicate regularly and professionally for smooth implementation of activities.
5. Other duties as assigned by the supervisor and CLA Specialist.

Staff Training and Capacity Building

●       Work closely with CLA and MEL teams to develop and deliver staff/partner trainings, improving capacities in monitoring and evaluation and database management: data collection, entry, verification and analysis; and other identified needs

●       Follow up on trainings by mentoring staff/partners to develop identified technical skills one-on-one

Link M&E Results to Reporting

●       Review or edit data in reports as requested and required

●       Produce analytical summaries: graphs, charts, and tables as requested to fulfil reporting requirements

●       Other duties as assigned and agreed upon

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.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

1.      Bachelor’s Degree in social sciences, statistics, monitoring and evaluation, or related field is required or demonstrated equivalent work experience in the field.

2.      At least three years’ experience in monitoring

3.      Demonstrated experience in reviewing data for quality and accuracy.

4.      Experience writing short technical reports

5.      Previous experience working other international NGOs are strongly preferred

6.      Proficient in tablet-based data collection

7.      Effective English oral and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills are necessary

8.      Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required

9.      Ability to meet deadlines; work independently and cooperatively with team members.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

·        Ability to work as part of a team and coordinate with personnel.

·        Conscientious, with excellent judgment

·        Display an entrepreneurial spirit that is both creative and flexible. S/he will combine strong communication skills, creativity, initiative, participatory leadership and tactful decisiveness to assist in the development and implementation of Mercy Corps’ M&E strategy

·        Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision 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 host Government, beneficiary communities, and partner organizations

·        Strong organizational skills.