The Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (SMEO) will work under the supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager and in close coordination with the M&E Officer, Program Manager, Mercy Corps STEM II field team, project partners, HQ technical units and the programme’s external evaluator to help execute STEM’s II monitoring and evaluating system, reporting and coordination needs. 

The SMEO will be directly responsible for coordinating the data collection, cleaning, analysis and reporting process as per the project work plan. S/he will also be responsible to conduct spot checks to measure activity quality which will help inform the implementation team. In addition to this s/he will also be responsible for building the capacity of partners M&E team in assessment, data collection and cleaning. S/he will also support the M&E Manager to document intervention results, knowledge management and collaborate on any assessments, research and learning studies. 

The SMEO will work closely with M&E designated staff in the field and will support the M&E Manager in meeting reporting requirements, serving as the program focal person for all activities related to monitoring, results measurement and communications in field office.  

As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance and MEL are cross-cutting and core components of all program, the SMEO is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices and MEL systems are integrated into his/her work area

Essential Job Responsibilities:

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Senior M&E Officer include, but are not limited to, the following: 

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed. 
  
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.  

Programme Management:

• Create a quarterly M&E work plan in coordination with the M&E team
  
• Work alongside MEM and MEO to develop/adapt tools for each activity and assessment and guide data collection staff/enumerators in using the tools, and thereafter produce narrative/ data summary reports to assist Programme Management in assessing achievement of work plan, log frame targets and other programme objectives
  
• Track the tool roll out and data flow process by working closely with the programme staff to generate and collect required information and data in the process of measuring results
  
• Work with the program team, especially the partner M&E staffs and implementation team to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of activity deliverables, which are consolidated and analyzed in a summary report and to be provided to the M&E Manager 
  
• Conduct regular activity monitoring and ensure that the implementation team is updating the standard monitoring form
  
• Work closely with all MC Program and partners staff to Develop accountability and transparency mechanisms for the program and orient MC-N and implementing partners on the same
  
• Work closely with the Financial Services and Vocational Training lead to ensure quality M&E tools are created and implemented, and processes are being followed for all training related activities
  
• Work closely with the Education Coordinator to ensure quality of school level activity (EGAP Upgrade Award monitoring, Teachers training and gap assessment, Girls Club pre-posttest, Club-Classroom monitoring, etc)
  

Documentation and Communication Support:

• Support Programme Management on devising clear and effective communication plans/strategies
  
• Work with PM and MEM to design project factsheet and visibility materials
  
• Ensure that all activity report and M&E assessments are properly documented online and in hard copies
  
• Take a lead role and provide technical support to STEM II program officers and partner staff at field in reviewing programme learning and understanding best practices and lessons learned
  
• Communicate activity and monitoring results with the programme stakeholders at the field
  
• Support the Programme Manager in the development of communications and promotional materials and keep an updated “results to date” sheet which is shared regularly with all programme staff
  

Others:

• Ensure GESI sensitive monitoring and evaluation process (for e.g.: ensure disaggregated data and information is regularly collected, analyzed and updated to monitor the progress of the program implementation, by closely working with other team members including GESI
  
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to the program and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
  
• Other duties as assigned by the M&E Manger
  
• Team Management 
  
• Support the M&E team to document the achievement of performance-based targets and outcomes 
  
• Coordinate field level reporting in close collaboration with the Deputy Programme Manager- - ensuring deadlines are met, quality and accuracy data and reporting standards are upheld, and formats and requirements are adhered to
  
• Conduct capacity building of field and implementing partner staff on M&E concepts through designing and delivering formal trainings
  
• Liaise with technical teams and staff at Mercy Corps in-country to develop TOLA and any other ad-hoc M&E approaches
  
• Share STEM II learning with the programme team as required
  

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming
  
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget
  

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
  

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
  

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Accountability:

Reports Directly to:  Monitoring and Evaluation Manager

Works Directly with: M&E Team, Programme Manager, Deputy Programme Manager and partner M&E focal

Knowledge and Experience:

• Under Graduate degree in management statistics, economics, social science or related field
  
• At least 3 years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation of education, livelihoods, and value chain development programs
  
• Excellent spoken and written English and Nepali language skills and ability to interact effectively with international and national staff
  
• Strong analysis (quantitative and qualitative) and reporting skills
  
• Good understanding and skills at data flow management
  
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications
  
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to multi-task and process information into action as to not delay program activities
  
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members
  
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment
  

Success Factors:

The successful SMEO must be a dynamic and effective individual who has a sound understanding of monitoring systems, assessment and processes that includes, but is not limited to, recommending appropriate methodologies and tools of measuring indicators, and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data as a means of informing implementation team in decision making processes. 

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. 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