Emergency Response MEL Consultant

Description

Background: 

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. 

Purpose / Project Description: 

Mercy Corps is responding to the crises caused by the devastating consequences of the war in Gaza. As of today, the alarming escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip has caused more than 40,000 deaths and 90,000 injuries among civilians and displaced more than 1.7 million people in multiple waves from North to Center, and then to South. 85% of Gaza’s population is internally displaced, with more than 1.5 million people sheltering in Rafah, which is now the most overcrowded governorate in the Strip (five times its pre-conflict levels). We expect to significantly increase our delivery of lifesaving assistance when there is consistent, safe humanitarian access, with a focus on multi-purpose cash assistance and on the provision of essential items such as food, hygiene supplies, shelter materials, and other WASH interventions. . 

 

Mercy Corps has a deep history of work in Gaza, having operated there since early 90s, with a focus on humanitarian and cash assistance, and skills and job training. We currently have 56 team members in Gaza and 46 team members in the West Bank & Jerusalem. 

  

  

Consultant Objectives: 

The Emergency Response Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Consultant position is a key function in the Mercy Corps Palestine Program Quality, Evidence, and Learning (QEL) Unit. S/he will be responsible for providing comprehensive MEL support to MC Palestine’s Emergency Response in Gaza, supporting planning and execution of monitoring and evaluation, ensuring quality in accordance with donor and internal standards, and ensuring the operation of technical MEL systems critical to the implementation and evaluation of the program. Additionally, the consultant will contribute to broader learning initiatives, support accountability and demonstration of impact, and inform decision-making around implementation and Response Strategy (re)design. The Emergency Response MEL Consultant will be responsible for providing internal capacity building for team members on MEL best practices and minimum standards, developing and/or operationalizing the necessary tools, as well as documenting the MEL systems and processes used in the ER for team reference. 

 

The Emergency Response MEL Consultant will work with the Mercy Corps Emergency Response (ER) team as well as ER partner organizations to oversee and ensure the collection, analysis, and use of quality MEL data. The consultant will ensure that performance monitoring and results reporting tools and processes across the entire program are in place, effectively implemented, well synchronized between program sites, and clearly documented and socialized to ensure sustainability.  

   

Consultant Activities and Deliverables: 

STRATEGY, VISION, & DESIGN 

• Ensure that the MEL systems for the Gaza Emergency Response are in place and in compliance with Mercy Corps’ global, regional and country policies, procedures, and standards.
• Assist in program strategy design, planning and implementation to ensure adherence to Mercy Corps’ Minimum Standards, including the use of standardized tools, indicators, and documentation methodologies.
• Lead and support the design and implementation of assessments and other pre and post data collection and analysis across humanitarian emergency response in Gaza.
• Support learning-to-action events, reflection session to analyze data for programmatic use and to document and incorporate lessons learned into program design, planning and implementation.
• Develop Data Quality Assessment Plans and lead in implementing plans.
• Work closely with the program teams and local partners, to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting of program activities and results.
• Play a key role in the development and review of Emergency response program, sector intervention strategies and MEL frameworks and document changes to generate learnings and ideas for innovation.
• Lead the assessment of partner MEL capacities and support them in identifying priority areas to be included in a partner capacity strengthening plan.

DATA COLLECTION, MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEMS 

• Lead efforts on the development of MEL Plans, tools, survey design, methodology, data analysis, and other services as may be required for the Emergency Response monitoring and evaluation.
• Assist program teams to develop and maintain knowledge and Information management system to support data collection, reflection, analysis and reporting needs.
• Actively participate in any additional MEL activities including but not limited to baseline surveys, mid-term, PDMs, end-line surveys, evaluations, household surveys
• Develop and use qualitative data collection tools, such as interviews and focus group discussions, to support answering “how?” and “why?” questions related to the program, partners, and program results
• Ensure quality control procedures and accuracy of entered data and comparing it with the existing filing system to make sure all records are consistent and aligned.
• Ensure program teams and partners are compliant with donor monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements (adhere to donor MEL guidelines).

DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING 

• Lead on the documentation of established MEL systems and processes for the Emergency Response, ensuring these are clear, accessible, and socialized and can thus contribute to sustainable, effective MEL over time.
• Regularly document lessons learned, best practices, program data analysis summaries, and evaluations and provide evidence-based information, success stories, case studies and other high quality, results-based documentation.
• Produce quality program reports and support program teams to review and improve on quality of reporting.
• Visit sites and partners to collect supplementary data, stories and conduct qualitative research both independently and in teams and support partner-organizations with proper documentation and report generation.

CAPACITY BUILDING AND MENTORING 

• As needed, support in the training and oversight of enumerators for data-collection.
• Build the capacity of all relevant team members (including partner staff) to develop and maintain a high-quality MEL system, and facilitate periodic reflection and analysis of program monitoring information that feeds into programming and learning.
• Lead the implementation of the MEL components of the partner capacity strengthening plan

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COORDINATION 

• Maintain professional relationships with MC colleagues and emergency response partners in the ground.
• Maintain an active advisory role with the program and MEL team to help guide them towards robust and relevant data collection.
• Work with MEL and IT staff to maximize the value and utility of technology initiatives for effective MEL.

Perform any other duties as assigned by his/her supervisor or representatives. 

                  

Timeframe / Schedule: 

The consultancy will be full time for a period of three months. 

The Consultant will report to: 

The Consultant will report to Senior Advisor for Program Quality, Evidence, and Learning and work closely with the Gaza Emergency Response Team, regional and country leadership, and relevant HQ departments. 

   

Required Experience & Skills: 

• Master’s degree in management, Engineering, Business Administration, Economic Development, Business Development, or a combination of experience and education in relation to project management.
• 7-10 years’ proven experience in monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian and development projects including reporting for- complex projects. Previous work with USAID funded programs is preferred.
• Experiences in monitoring or management of projects in the field of social and economic recovery programs.
• Understanding of the social, political, and economic context of the Palestinian territories, especially in the Gaza Strip.
• Strong capacity in mobile data collection and case management systems (CommCare and ONA), data visualization and dashboard (PowerBI), system automation, data analytics techniques and donor reporting.
• Strong capacity in setting up M&E systems, formulating indicators, setting targets, and indicators measurement and reporting.
• Excellent writing skills especially in baseline, post distribution monitoring reports, and end-line reports.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of MS Office applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Understand concepts and demonstrate skills in monitoring and evaluation, results frameworks/program logics, and participatory monitoring.
• Experience with both quantitative and qualitative data collection and reporting techniques.
• Should be able to design and implement surveys, have knowledge of commonly used sampling techniques.
• Experience with facilitation, capacity building, formal and informal knowledge transfer, partnership strengthening, and empowering staff through opportunities for growth and development.
• Experience leading learning events, development and sharing as part of the monitoring and evaluation feedback process.
• Experience with market price monitoring and analysis, and cash distribution programming.
• Excellent oral and written English and Arabic required.
• Previous knowledge of Mercy Corps and/or Mercy Corps Palestine teams and processes considered an asset.

 

  

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.  

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. 

Safeguarding & Ethics 

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues. 

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