Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager

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Position Title: Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager
Location: Ouagadougou
Country: Burkina Faso
Deadline Date:

Job Details

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 over 40 countries worldwide. The organization partners with local communities to implement bold solutions that help individuals and families overcome adversity and build stronger, more resilient communities. With a mission 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 face of global challenges.

Job Overview:
The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager will play a crucial role in the USAID-funded Sahel Regional Resilience Activity (SRRA). This program aims to enhance resilience in the Sahel region by equipping individuals, households, and communities with the tools to mitigate, adapt to, and recover from various shocks and stresses. The Senior MEL Manager will be responsible for providing technical expertise and quality oversight to ensure the effective implementation of MEL strategies across multiple awards under the SRRA. This position requires a strong focus on data generation and analysis through a mixed-methods M&E system, which will inform program adaptations and improvements. The Senior MEL Manager will also lead a team dedicated to supporting the Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (CLA) Manager in providing technical assistance to Associate Awards, ensuring that they effectively utilize CLA to enhance their outcomes. The role is pivotal in building a robust MEL system that integrates both qualitative and quantitative monitoring, thereby fostering a culture of learning and evidence-based decision-making within the program.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior MEL Manager will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Designing and revising strategic MEL documents such as the MEL Plan, theory of change, performance indicator reference sheets, and logframe.
• Overseeing the establishment of all principal MEL system components, including monitoring protocols, data management, and M&E budgets.
• Developing standard operating procedures and tools for MEL, particularly in contexts of insecurity and political risks.
• Implementing participant-based surveys, including designing questionnaires and analysis plans.
• Collaborating with the CLA Manager to promote learning initiatives and ensure that monitoring data informs program management.
• Cultivating an M&E working group to harmonize strategies and reinforce evidence generation.
• Serving as a senior leader on the SRRA Learning Council, advocating for localization and data-driven management.
• Co-designing qualitative data collection methods to supplement program performance measurements.
• Alerting senior management to any issues affecting program implementation in accordance with the Theory of Change. 1
• Ensuring compliance with USAID policies and Mercy Corps M&E standards.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the Senior MEL Manager position must possess a robust set of qualifications, including:

• Proven experience in designing and implementing MEL systems for large-scale development or resilience programs.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to conduct both quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and operationalizing comprehensive MEL plans.
• Experience in managing teams and building capacity among M&E and non-M&E staff.
• Familiarity with theories of change, logic models, and data quality assessments.
• Knowledge of gender and youth integration in M&E systems.
• Excellent networking and stakeholder engagement skills.

Educational Background:
The ideal candidate should have a relevant educational background, typically including a Master's degree in a related field such as international development, social sciences, or public policy. Advanced training in monitoring and evaluation methodologies is highly desirable, as is a strong understanding of resilience programming and development practices.

Experience:
Candidates should have substantial experience, typically at least 5-7 years, in monitoring, evaluation, and learning within the context of international development or humanitarian assistance. Experience in managing MEL for multi-year projects funded by major donors, particularly USAID, is essential. Proven track record in leading teams and managing complex MEL systems is also required.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, and proficiency in French is highly desirable given the regional context of the Sahel. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Burkina Faso, Chad, or Mauritania would be an asset.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and may involve travel to various locations within the Sahel region. The Senior MEL Manager will be expected to work collaboratively with both national and international staff, promoting a culture of learning and adaptive management. Compensation and benefits will be commensurate with experience and in line with Mercy Corps' policies.