Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager

Job Posting Organization:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization founded on the belief that a better world is possible. Established to address the challenges faced by communities in disaster and hardship, Mercy Corps operates in more than 40 countries worldwide. The organization partners with local communities to implement bold solutions that help people overcome adversity and build stronger communities from within. Their mission is to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps is committed to fostering sustainable development and resilience in the communities they serve, ensuring that their efforts lead to lasting change.

Job Overview:
The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager position is crucial for the success of the EU-funded SMART program, which aims to strengthen markets, agroecology, resilience, and employment in Sudan. The MEL Manager will provide leadership and technical support to the program's MEL function, addressing critical gaps identified in the program's monitoring and evaluation processes. This role involves leading a review of existing MEL systems, ensuring that they align with program objectives and donor expectations. The MEL Manager will also be responsible for developing a time-bound MEL strengthening plan and implementing priority actions to enhance the program's performance. The position is designed as a remote role with periodic travel to program locations in South and Central Darfur, allowing the MEL Manager to support MEL system strengthening, data quality assurance, and capacity building. The MEL Manager will ensure that monitoring evidence and learning are systematically used to inform program decision-making and improve the quality and impact of program implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The MEL Manager will oversee the program's MEL system, ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps and EU policies. They will continuously review and refine the MEL system to provide timely, actionable evidence for program implementation. The MEL Manager will facilitate the implementation of all MEL activities as outlined in the MEL Plan and collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure operational success. They will design and lead all MEL monitoring activities, maintain data quality standards, and conduct regular site visits to deepen understanding of program activities. The MEL Manager will also support qualitative research methodologies, lead program evaluations and assessments, and ensure gender, equity, and social inclusion considerations are integrated into evaluation design. They will develop and implement the program's Learning Agenda, contribute to knowledge management, and support timely and accurate reporting of results data. Additionally, the MEL Manager will assess capacity gaps within the MEL team and provide targeted training and coaching to enhance performance.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in social sciences, monitoring and evaluation, statistics, international development, or a related field, with a Master's degree preferred. A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in program monitoring, evaluation, learning, and adaptation is required, including experience in designing and managing MEL systems, leading evaluations, and building staff capacity. Candidates should have expertise in qualitative research methodologies and demonstrated experience in mixed-methods research and evaluation. Proficiency in quantitative data analysis and mobile data collection platforms is essential, along with a strong understanding of responsible data practices and data protection requirements. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are necessary, as well as strong interpersonal and team management skills.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor's degree in social sciences, monitoring and evaluation, statistics, international development, or a related field. A Master's degree in a relevant discipline is preferred, indicating a higher level of expertise and understanding of the complexities involved in monitoring and evaluation within development programs.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in program monitoring, evaluation, learning, and adaptation. Candidates should have a proven track record of leading MEL for development and early recovery programs, with specific experience in managing MEL teams and building capacity among staff and partners. Experience in designing and managing evaluations, conducting household surveys, and primary data collection exercises is essential, as well as familiarity with statistical software for quantitative data analysis.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, with excellent written and oral communication skills required for producing high-quality analytical reports and presenting findings to diverse audiences. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not specified as mandatory for this position.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Zalingi, Central Darfur, and requires up to 40% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations. The living conditions for this role are in individual housing with access to good medical services. Mercy Corps emphasizes ongoing learning, allowing team members to dedicate 5% of their time to personal and professional development activities. The organization is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, providing equal employment opportunities, and ensuring the safety and dignity of all individuals involved in their programs.