Job Description
JOB DESCRIPTION
Position: Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) Manager
Division: Technical Department
Position Location: Juba, with frequent travel to the field
Supervised by: Deputy Country Director
Supervises: MERL Team (currently 4 employees)
Background
Pact is a capacity development INGO that has been operating in South Sudan and Sudan since 2002. Pact’s vision for South Sudan is an empowered, prosperous and inclusive society living in peace and harmony. Pact seeks to realize this vision by enabling communities to be in charge of their own social and economic development by; developing capacities, strengthening networks and partnerships, improving livelihoods, transforming conflicts, and promoting good governance
General Scope of Position
The MERL Manager is a member of the Technical Team and is expected to provide leadership in the design and implementation of MERL systems to ensure Pact and its implementing partners provide compatible data supportive of Pact and donor reporting requirements. The MERL Manager is responsible for developing and implementing methodologies and standards (in line with Pact and donor requirements) for tracking and evaluating program activities. The MERL Manager will promote capacity strengthening in the Pact staff team and partner and grantee organizations through mentoring, coaching and training in monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning and ensure staff have the technical skills and knowledge to provide increasingly professional and technical programmatic MERL support.
Responsibilities and Tasks
General
- Work closely with the Pact Results and Measurement Team to provide data for the global indicators and project quality reviews;
- Provide and coordinate technical assistance to program managers and new business development;
- Evaluate results achieved by programs and partners against agreed targets and track overall progress in achieving the program targets;
- Ensure that, in general, project monitoring arrangements comply with the project grants agreements and, in particular, the provisions of this agreement are fully observed in the design of project MERL plans;
- Capture lessons learned and best practices. Provide documentation and dissemination of information; develop presentations, abstracts, articles, etc.;
- Carry out routine data audit to ensure that project data meet the data quality standards;
- Conduct periodic formative evaluations and monitor for result;
- Provide thought leadership to the MERL Team.
MERL Systems and Tools
- Design and implement M&E systems that will generate timely information and feedback to project counterparts at all levels, and to management and donors;
- Develop tools, standards and measures for tracking and reporting institutional results and ensuring the quality of institutional strengthening technical assistance;
- Develop and use comprehensive data capture tools and oversee the design and updating of the database management and to increase the access and use of quality program data for decision making;
- Provide leadership and technical guidance for the preparation of quarterly and annual and other required reports. Proactively work with Technical Team and Program staff to collect and prepare performance data for these reports.
Capacity Development
- Provide MERL capacity building for partners and staff to ensure quality data collection, analysis, and use for decision making and timely report writing;
- In consultation with the Capacity Development Team and other members of the Technical Team, develop a plan for project-related capacity-building on MERL and for any computer-based support that may be required;
- Provide support and build capacity of the project country-level MERL and Programs staff as applicable, and provide feedback to the leadership team on results and best practices.
Working with Partners
- With the implementing partners, review their existing approaches and management information systems and agree on any required changes, support and resources;
- Assist in the preparation of work plans of partners and grantees consistent with the strategic objectives and results expected of projects and programs, and support monitoring of the implementation of approved work plans.
Communication
- Prepare reports on MERL findings, as required, working closely with Programs and other Technical Team members, Project staff and implementing partners.
- Undertake regular visits to the field to support implementation of MERL and to identify where adaptations might be needed.
- Guide the regular sharing of the outputs of MERL findings with Program staff, implementing partners and primary stakeholders.
- Check that monitoring data are discussed in the appropriate forums and in a timely fashion in terms of implications for future action. If necessary, convene such discussion forums to fill any gaps.
- Work internally within Pact as well as with partners and grantees to design and review evaluation instruments e.g. questionnaires, interview guides, surveys, observational checklists, etc., coordinate the collection of data, monitor data quality and analyse findings.
- Ensure Pact’s activities are complementary to efforts of other donors and those of other NGOs and public sector organizations. Coordinate with key partners in monitoring and evaluation efforts.
Management
- Supervise all MERL staff; design and track their monthly work plans and monthly reports; conduct annual performance reviews; and with HR lead on the recruitment of new MERL staff as needed;
- Coach, mentor and provide feedback to MERL Team.
- Link with Program and other Technical staff around special Pact initiatives such CBO Excellence Initiative, etc., NBD, and other cross-cutting issues;
- Finalize Country Office M&E Core Indicators and continue to refine these to ensure that all Pact and partner, and project and program indicators contribute to the delivery of the Country Office Strategy;
- Contribute to the development/review of Country Office Strategy and provide M&E input into the development of annual implementation plans.
Minimum Qualifications
- BA and 4+ years of relevant experience (or equivalent)
- At least 2-4 years of experience managing data intensive programs and designing M&E systems;
- Experience with qualitative and quantitative M&E data collection and analysis methods, including tracking outcome indicators and conducting program evaluations utilizing mixed method
- Ability to work independently, take initiative and manage a variety of activities concurrently
- A strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a high profile, fast-paced environment
- The logical framework approach and other strategic planning approaches
- Proficiency in SPSS, Excel, Word, and other MS Office software required
- Ability to travel regularly and at short-notice
Preference for:
- A solid understanding of rural development, with a focus on participatory processes, joint management, and gender issues;
- Familiarity with and a supportive attitude towards processes of strengthening local organizations and building local capacities for self-management;
- Ability to effectively interact with different stakeholders, especially primary stakeholders;
- Proven management skills; ability to build capacity of junior colleagues in technical areas; and good teamwork/teambuilding skills;
- Experience of working in a conflict or post-conflict environment and willingness to travel to remote parts of South Sudan.
- 1-2 years of development experience in an overseas setting, preferably sub-Saharan Africa;
- Fluency in English and proficiency in at least one other language;
- Experience with evaluation using quasi experimental design desired;
- Experience with governance, livelihoods or capacity development measurement strongly desired;
- Proficiency with GIS systems or NVivo qualitative data analysis desired.
- Experience with facilitating learning-oriented analysis sessions of MERL data with multiple stakeholders;
- Demonstrated experience with information analysis and report writing;
Core Values
Pact employees embrace the following core values as representatives of the institution:
- All people have a right to participate in decisions affecting their lives
- Gender equity is mandatory for social transformation
- Resources are allocated in a transparent manner, guided by accountability to our clients and Pact’s role as steward of resources intended for the poor
- Diversity in background, gender and age strengthen our capacity to be wise managers of public and private funds
- Teamwork and collaboration shape our day-to-day working relationships
- Innovation and risk taking to achieve impact and broad scalable results drive strategic priorities
- Gathering and sharing information are primary roles for all employees
- Staff growth and advancement are a priority, including training and professional skills building to increase knowledge and competence and to stay abreast of new developments, especially in technology
- A healthy balance between work and life outside of work must be maintained for work satisfaction and fulfillment.
Disclaimer: This job description summarizes the responsibilities assigned to the position; however it does not contain an all-inclusive list of responsibilities. Periodically, employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise. Employment at Pact is a voluntary “at will” relationship.
To Apply, please visit Pact’s job board at: http://www.pactworld.org/cs/job_openings_list. Only resumes received via Pact’s online system can be considered.
