Senior Advisor for Evidence Use

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Position Title: Senior Advisor for Evidence Use
Location: Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
Mercy Corps is an organization driven by the belief that a better world is possible. Established with a mission to support communities, especially the most marginalized, in emerging from crises and building towards a more inclusive and resilient future, Mercy Corps operates under a 10-year strategy known as the Pathway to Possibility. This strategy focuses on four interconnected outcomes: security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security, Water Security, Economic Opportunities, and Peace and Good Governance. The organization emphasizes diversity within its teams, believing that varied backgrounds and perspectives enhance their impact and effectiveness. Mercy Corps is committed to being an evidence-driven organization, prioritizing the generation and use of evidence to improve programs, scale effective approaches, and influence others. The organization is actively pursuing global and regional Evidence and Learning Agendas to address knowledge gaps in its outcome areas, while also investing in measuring progress and enhancing data literacy across its operations.

Job Overview:
The Senior Advisor for Evidence Use will be the first full-time member of the newly established Evidence Use Team at Mercy Corps. This position is pivotal in finalizing and implementing the Evidence Use Strategy, which is designed to enhance the organization's ability to generate and utilize evidence effectively. The Senior Advisor will work closely with the Senior Managing Director for Research, Evidence, and Learning to lead prioritized projects that align with the strategic goals of the Evidence Use Team. The role involves convening an Advisory Group composed of diverse evidence producers and users within the organization to ensure that the strategy and implementation plan meet the needs of stakeholders. The Senior Advisor will focus on three critical functional areas: leading evidence synthesis and curation, designing tools and platforms for effective evidence use, and fostering a culture of learning and evidence use across Mercy Corps.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead and support the synthesis and curation of evidence to enhance the organization's ability to learn from and act on insights from various evidence sources.
• Design and socialize tools and platforms that facilitate effective evidence use and knowledge management within the organization.
• Cultivate skills and promote a culture of effective evidence use and organizational learning across Mercy Corps.
• Collaborate with the Senior Managing Director to finalize the Evidence Use Strategy and implementation plan.
• Convene and consult with the Advisory Group to gather insights and feedback on evidence use initiatives.
• Track, curate, and synthesize evidence and insights produced across Mercy Corps and the broader sector.
• Provide guidance and technical support to teams to strengthen their evidence use capabilities.
• Contribute to key strategic initiatives within the Evidence Driven Commitment.

Required Qualifications:

• Proven experience in evidence synthesis, knowledge management, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of the evidence use lifecycle and its application in programmatic contexts.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to design and implement tools and platforms that support evidence use.
• Experience in fostering a culture of learning and evidence use within organizations.
• Strong analytical skills to distill insights from complex data and evidence sources.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, public policy, international development, or a related discipline is required. A Ph.D. is preferred but not mandatory. Additional certifications in monitoring and evaluation, data analysis, or knowledge management would be advantageous.

Experience:
A minimum of 5-7 years of relevant experience in evidence synthesis, knowledge management, or a related field is required. Experience working in international development or humanitarian contexts is highly desirable. Proven track record of leading projects and initiatives that enhance evidence use within organizations is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to Mercy Corps' operational regions is considered a plus, as it may enhance communication with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and may involve occasional travel to Mercy Corps offices or project sites. The organization is open to recruiting internationally, and the compensation package will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits may include health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.