Location: Dhangadhi, Nepal- with frequent field visits.
Position Status: Full-time, Regular  
Salary Level: M1 

General Position Summary  

The M&E Coordinator will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the Monitoring and Evaluation aspect of the anticipated project, finalizing the M&E design and structure, supervising project's M&E team, M&E consultants and external evaluators, supporting monitoring and evaluation activities and liaising with field-level implementation partners. The M&E Coordinator will also ensure resources are disbursed so that the project meets performance-based targets on-time, within budget as per donor requirements. S/he will be responsible for producing documentation of all program activities, meeting reporting requirements and adhering to deadlines. S/he will analyze the efficiency of the project at the field level to report to the Team Leader and thereafter re-design activities, scale (up or down), and revise targets along with the Team Leader. The M&E Coordinator will support ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations 

As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance and M&E are cross-cutting components of all Mercy Corps program(s), the Senior Project Officer is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices and M&E systems are integrated into his/her work area.

Essential Job Responsibilities: The specific duties and responsibilities of the M&E Coordinator include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed
• Provide leadership to the project M&E aspect
• Ensure sectors use the necessary M&E systems and tools to inform and improve each individual program, as well as feed into the broader country-level MEL system and country strategy
• Actively participate in meetings and country-wide strategy sessions as required
• Work alongside the Team Leader in preparing the SoW, recruiting and selection process of the External Evaluators, project and partner M&E staff and M&E consultants as per need
• Act as a focal point for all day-to-day coordination with the external evaluator, following up reporting deadlines, ensuring adherence to donor and Mercy Corps requirements, and supporting the Team Leader’s oversight on the same

Monitoring & Evaluation And Reporting

• Lead the effective, proactive and iterative design of Key M&E requirements - log frame, M&E work plan, M&E framework, learning tools and ensure adherence to the M&E Framework following donor and Mercy Corps guidelines
• Lead the design of M&E tools with the support of the program team, guide data collection staff in using the tools, and ensure efficient data flow and quality
• Monitor project field activities regularly and provide recommendations to the Team leader on how the efficiency and effectiveness of the activities and budget use can be enhanced
• Provide strong field level leadership to ensure all data is captured as required, and provided to Team Leader on time, in the run-up to the submission of key reporting periods from the donor
• Ensure monitoring of field level program activities are delivered on time and to target and propose recommendations for improvements to the Program Team
• Ensure the spots checks as per the guidance on M&E Framework are adhered to by the M&E team
• Liaise with technical teams and staff at Mercy Corps HQ and in-country to develop M&E approaches, sampling methodologies and develop M&E thinking
• Undertake thorough analysis of the consolidated data received from the team, and thereafter produce narrative/ data reports to assist Program Management in assessing achievement of log frame targets and other program objectives, and review program design and planning
• Engage the project team in discussions on developments in thinking and backstop where necessary to ensure program quality
• Maintain a strong handle on the program database and provide data required for TOLA, Regional Quarterly Tracking Tool, and other broader M&E requirements
• Ensure project activities are representative of marginalized girls, their families, their communities, secondary schools, and their needs and align with Mercy Corps principles, values, and strategic plan
• Work alongside the Team Leader to produce high-quality donor reports and the production of technical and branding materials
  

Technology 

• Support the project team and MC team in results reporting thorough using technology i.e. TOLA, CommCare and ODK/ONA
• Liaise with relevant national and local partners and support their team to link the reporting system with MC centralized M&E system
• Provide regular mentoring and coaching to M&E team to build their capacity in using technology
  

Community Accountability & Reporting Mechanism 

• Ensure the program has at least 3 context-appropriate feedback channels. Likewise; face to face, phone, complain box, etc.
• Ensure the program is accurately reflected in the country CARM SOP
• Ensure any gaps identified in the feedback process, channel and mechanism are reported to the country CARM focal point and PM
• Complete program CARM checklist
• Ensure “Voice Boxes” are installed in all the target schools, so that students can express their concerns related to their schools  

Team Building & Capacity Strengthening 

• Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels, proactively seeking out capacity building opportunities and engaging in the career development of M&E staff
• Identify technical skills gaps of project staff to provide necessary support through training, workshops, and materials as per need
• Contribute to team-building efforts and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision- making processes
• Conduct capacity building of field and implementing partner staff on M&E concepts through designing and delivering formal training and orientation
• Provide technical support to the project and partner staff in reviewing project learning and understanding best practices, producing notes for a file on the same
• Assist the project team to organize program related events and event reports, in coordination with field staff
• Design and facilitate capacity building training to Mercy Corps and partner staff on data management and software
• Provide ongoing technical assistance to local partner staff, MC staff and community stakeholders on the implementation of the activities, both core implementation and M&E
• Implement and ensure all team members, including partners, are effectively using the performance planning and management system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback

Finance & Compliance Management

• Act as an M&E focal point for coordination with the donor focal person to ensure guidelines are adhered to and data quality is met
• Support the Team Leader to oversee the performance of the consortium partners, implementing partners, consultants and others, following up report submission as necessary and feeding up field-based concerns to the Team Leader where they may exist
• Work alongside the Team Leader to monitor adherence to the grant agreement, Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations
  

Representation & Coordination  

• Work alongside the Team Leader to ensure high-level learning products are produced to advocate program learning for greater leverage
• Work closely with the other similar project team including M&E Manager to manage the project's M&E system effectively
• Support the Team Leader in the development of communications and promotional materials and keep an updated “activity and results to date” sheet which is shared via cloud and regularly updated by all program staff
• Backstop the Team Leader as a representative of Mercy Corps and the project at government, donor, NGO, and other relevant events at the field level, particularly around project learning achievements and advocacy around this
• Lead the M&E tool and database management learning and sharing with other projects from MC, as well as other institutions working in the education sector in Nepal and abroad
• Ensuring efficient and effective coordination between the project team and M&E
• Work with the program team to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of program deliverables, which are consolidated and analyzed in a timely manner and to be integrated into donor reports
• Work closely with all field staff to ensure logical planning in order to generate and collect high-quality information and data towards solid results measurement
• Coordinate with the Team Leader on the activity level budget, advising the Team Leader where necessary and consulting with the same for decision making, ensuring collaboratively at the management level that program funds are spent efficiently and maximized so that activity milestones are met as per the work plan
• Coordinate with program and finance, administration and logistics staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support the field M&E activities including logistics, procurement, security, administration, and human resources, in support of the Team Leader

Security  

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

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 To Beneficiaries  

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward 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
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues
  

Safeguarding, Ethics & Integrity  

• All Mercy Corps staff members are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate the highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination
• Mercy Corps has zero-tolerance for abuse, sexual misconduct and sexual exploitation (PSEA) of the people we work with and our own staff members. All staff must commit to internal policies

Others  

• Ensure proper integration of child safeguarding and GESI aspects into sector-specific project planning and implementation.
• Support the Team Leader in the development of communications and promotional materials and keep an updated “activity and results to date” sheet which is shared via cloud and regularly updated by all program staff
• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to response as and when crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee, all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission
• Other duties as assigned by his/her supervisor and or Country Director

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Accountability
Reports Directly to: Team Leader 
Works Directly with: Senior Project Officers, other girls' education project team, Mercy Corps Field and HQ Team and local stakeholders

Knowledge and Experience 

• Master’s degree in Research Methodology, statistics, economics, social science, or related field
• At least 7 years’ professional experience in Program Implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Research
• Prior experience in designing surveys and research tools, studying critical program areas to incorporate lessons learned in the impact evaluation study.
• Experiences and advance skills in using technology for M&E i.e. online database management, designing survey (Quantitative and Qualitative)
• Strong qualitative and quantitative data handling and analysis skills
• Strong computer skills, including Nepali typing. Need mastery of MS Office software, specifically Excel
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members
• Experience facilitating and mentoring staff to build monitoring, evaluation, and learning skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills in Nepali and English required, including report development, writing, and editing
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills and the ability to work under tight deadlines and often stressful situations
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment

Success Factors: 

The successful M&E Coordinator will combine exceptional management skills and experience in building and maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will demonstrate strong public speaking and facilitation skills. S/he will have the ability to think creatively about operationalizing and improving the project M&E system. The M&E Coordinator will have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem-solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential

The most successful Mercy Corps staff 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. 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. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.