PaQ (MEAL) Coordinator - Partnership

"About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. As a result of the Syrian civil war there is a major humanitarian crisis. Mercy Corps, along with national and international partners, is working to address urgent humanitarian needs wherever they arise in the region.

 

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps’ Partnership Hub programming targets vulnerable conflict-affected populations, which involves working with our local partners to identify and build a network of agencies, community groups and former aid workers, who have effectively been able to provide life-saving support to populations facing life-threatening and unmet needs. Enhanced due diligence of partners and program stakeholders has informed partner selection and provides us with a high degree of confidence that we will work with local organizations that have the necessary experience, capacity, knowledge and networks to access underserved populations. Mercy Corps tailors capacity building plans and communication protocols to particular partners, locations and projects to mitigate risks and monitor program operations in the field. The Program Performance and Quality (PaQ) Coordinator role is to improve the technical quality of the partner and program Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system. The Coordinator will be also supporting Community Accountability and Response Mechanisms (CARM).

Important Note: the job duration will be until the end of the 31st of October, 2024 with no possibility of extension. 

Essential Job Responsibilities

Project Management (Partner Level)


Provide technical guidance to partners during the development of their project designs.
Support partners to conduct assessments, from design to implementation and analysis, ensuring that sound assessments are documented and  inform project design.
Ensure that partners develop logframes that are SMART and meet donor guidelines.
Work with partners to identify suitable indicators and systems for collecting and reporting.
Work closely with program teams to support partners to develop most appropriate participant targeting including criteria, selection, and verification, as well as tracking.
Support partners to develop, adapt and maintain M&E tools and systems, while also aligning with donor and Mercy Corps requirements.
In collaboration with the wider team, lead the process to create templates, formats, and guidance for sub-project data collection and reporting for use by selected partners.
Maintain oversight of data management systems and quality of reports produced by partners.
Provide guidance to partners about how best to staff and resources their project’s M&E needs.
During implementation, work closely with programs teams and partners to ensure the use of partner data for learning program adaptations, and decision-making processes.
Review partner reports, with focus on M&E section, to ensure monitoring activities are well planned and implemented on time.
Follow-up with partners on any issues that emerge from the reports, and work with them to realign or revise project plans as necessary.
Provide close monitoring and coaching of partner projects to ensure they remain relevant and feasible under contextual changes and provide strategic advice and support throughout modifications.


 

Capacity Strengthening Support to Local Partners


Work closely with partners and other programs team members to identify and prioritize capacity strengthening needs.
Work closely with partners and program staff to develop capacity strengthening plans for partners.
Develop systems for measuring and tracking partners’ progress in addressing priorities identified in their capacity development plans.
Work closely with other programs team members to ensure capacity strengthening activities are conducted as agreed, ensuring complementarity and cross-over of key learning messages.
Serve as the primary trainer for key topics including Beneficiary Feedback Mechanisms, Beneficiary Identification, Verification, and Tracking (BIVT), and Assessments.
Identify, prepare, adapt and constantly refine resources, materials and tools to strengthen the capacity of local partners in protection and project management to ensure they are in line with global and Mercy Corps best practice.
Ensure that partners are familiar with and able to effectively utilize project templates and/ reporting platforms. With the partners, review or edit data in reports as requested and required.
Train, advise and mentor partner staff on ‘promising practices’ in M&E, with a specific focus on approaches and activities appropriate for working in conflict.
Support local partners’ efforts to develop or strengthen their own M&E systems, effectively analyze project data, and use it to drive decision-making.
Work closely with project teams to track and analyze the impact and quality of support provided and make necessary programming changes if required.
Support partners to conduct frequent reviews and reflection aimed at improving performance, ensure a coherent and comprehensive project is implemented, lessons are learned, and experiences shared across the project team.
Use coaching and mentoring techniques to provide on-going technical assistance to protection partners throughout sub-grant lifecycle and in line with agreed-upon capacity development plans.
Contribute to the measurement and evaluation of capacity strengthening outcomes of partners.


 

Project Partnership & Capacity Strengthening


Provide support to the partner selection process, from design of Call for Application tools to providing leadership during the technical scoring and justification steps.
Contribute to the further refinement of the partnership & capacity strengthening model and tools.
Contribute to Mercy Corps Syria’s partnership strategy.
Provide support to other partnership teams on some of the program's best practices.
Work together with the PaQ Manager and the CARM Advisor to develop CARM Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) on the Partner level.



Follow up with partners relevant staff to ensure that the field has a functioning CARM system and is dealing with complaints and feedback received.
Organize and execute regular lessons learned and reflection sessions with partners and programs.
Share evidence-based recommendations that contribute to the overall program adaptation.
Lead the implementation of MC’s ASPIRE tool with program partners and program team.


 

Information Management (IM)


Convert and digitize tools to be used on data collection platforms: ONA, KoBo, CommCare.
Manage surveys and data collected on the used platform.
Support the PaQ Manager in developing the desired dashboards on Tableau and PowerBI.
Upload and archive project and MEL document into the organization's drive/sharepoint.
Acquire, clean and analyze data as requested by the PaQ Manager.


 

Team Management


Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Hire, orient and lead team members if necessary.


 

Organizational Learning 

As part of Mercy Corps’ 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. Take initiative to find required training/on-line learning needed to improve his/her professional performance.

Accountability


Reports Directly To: PSP PaQ Manager.
Supervisory Responsibility: Senior M&E Officer / M&E Officer.
Works Directly With: PaQ team, Program teams, IM team, Technical Advisors.


 

Knowledge and Experience


BA/S degree in research methods, social sciences, economics, epidemiology, related education sector or another relevant field required.
Minimum Four (4) years’ experience in planning, monitoring and evaluation of programs (designing logframes, Indicator plans, evaluations, assessments) or similar fields..
Minimum 4 years’ experience in working with quantitative and qualitative data (survey designs, sampling, data analysis).
Proven experience in remote management, remote data collection and data management.
Proven experience in mobile data collection, data management and data visualization.
Proven report/research writing skills are required.
Commitment to working together with partners, training and developing capacity in MEL is required;
Demonstrated ability to collaborate closely with a broad range of stakeholders in different geographic locations, experience with remote management or monitoring a plus;
Active knowledge of humanitarian standards and codes, including SPHERE, HAP is an asset;
Proven experience with the MS Office software (i.e. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is required;
Knowledge of the Syrian conflict context a plus; and
Fluent Arabic and English languages, both written and spoken, are essential.


 

How to apply:

Preferable to receive CVs before Wednesday March 13 ,2024.

*If you are interested, kindly apply as soon as possible, since resumes will be reviewed on rolling basis. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted before the submission deadline.

“Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision, and we encourage people from all backgrounds, especially women, to apply.”

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

 

Success Factors

In addition to a strong technical background in Monitoring and Evaluation, the ability to multitask, innovate, and effectively communicate key information in support of changing program activities is necessary. Attention to detail and patience to work through data results. A willingness to take initiative, creatively solve problems, juggle multiple priorities under pressure, and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations is also essential. An interest in and commitment to growing and enhancing impactful programming and supporting a team is essential. Sensitivity to multicultural humanitarian and development work and ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles are all critical. Most importantly, the successful candidate will be a team player and committed to the overall objectives of the supported project/s. The PaQ Coordinator must be willing to travel to other Mercy Corps offices in the region as necessary (less than 10% of time).

 

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This is an accompanied position based in Amman, Jordan with an estimated 40% travel required to more austere locations in North East Syria and other Mercy Corps offices. 

 

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

 

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
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