Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact. Mercy Corps is a global team of development and humanitarian professionals working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. The mission is to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps works in more than 40 countries around the world, where over 5,400 team members work side by side with people living through poverty, disaster, violent conflict, and the acute impacts of climate change.

In Nepal, Mercy Corps began operations in 2005, and since then has implemented projects in the sectors of agriculture, food security and nutrition, financial services, youth engagement, and disaster risk reduction/ climate change adaptation. To date, this programming has reached over 900,000 people in 23 districts. We work with a range of donors in Nepal and have been a trusted prime partner of choice for FCDO for decades.

About The Programme

The FCDO has launched a call for proposals to select a lead Gender Based Violence Partner to deliver a key component of its Security and Justice Programme (SJP) in Nepal. The overall SJP will support the following outcomes – increased responsiveness of security and justice providers and increased prevention of GBV and wider security and justice problems.

This Scope of Work for the Lead GBV Partner envisages and sets out two phases:

• A preparatory project to be seed-funded by FCDO through an existing arrangement with UNOPS for up to £75,000 GBP from about 1 September 2023 to 31 March 2024
• A multi-year project directly funded by FCDO for up to £8m from 1 April 2024 to 31 December 2027

If selected, the multiyear programme will involve the following elements:

• To provide expertise and high-quality reporting on progress on the project’s results aligned with the SJPs results framework, disaggregating data based on gender, caste, disability and other relevant parameters and intersectionalities
• To act as a Fund Manager for downstream partners who have strong local networks and understanding, legitimacy and to ensure value for money
• To provide Technical Assistance to downstream partners and other key organisations and agency personnel
• To give support for downstream partners for organisational strengthening and sustainability in terms of core functions such as establishing baselines, financial management, reporting results, managing risks and other aspects of compliance
• To ensure systematic and continuous coordination and coherence with other components of SJP

General Position Summary

The MEL Manager is a member of a senior programme management team responsible for designing, leading, managing, and implementing SJP’s monitoring, evaluation and learning system, as well as targeted research components and a quality assurance mechanism. The MEL Manager will play a key role in ensuring high quality of programme implementation by providing timely and accurate analyses for adaptive management and data-based decision making. This role will also be responsible for leading the approach and mechanisms to ensure a holistic, meaningful, and localised Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation (CLA) approach throughout the life cycle of the programme and in close coordination with programme technical leads, partners, stakeholders, and the Government of Nepal. Support to information management, reporting, and technology applications will be key. The MEL Manager will be responsible for coordination and support of any external MET consultants. The MEL Manger is responsible for capacity building and mentoring for programme staff on themes related to monitoring, evaluation, accountability, reporting, and learning. As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance, safeguarding, and accountability are cross-cutting and core components of all Mercy Corps programmes, the MEL Manager is required to own these components and ensure they are integrated into his/her work area.

Essential Responsibilities

PROGRAMME MEL MANAGEMENT

• Design a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system in line with FCDO and Mercy Corps requirements.
• Oversee the implementation of the MEL system, ensure it is up-to-date and respond appropriately to the changing context and programme needs.
• Plan and lead all MEL activities, including assessments, evaluations, and research initiatives.
• Develop and regularly update a programme-level MEL Plan.
• Oversee data collection, validation, and analysis for programme performance indicators; ensure indicator results are regularly updated and reported on the internal Mercy Corps indicator tracking platform (TolaData).
• In cooperation with relevant technical leads, identify additional programme data needs and develop data collection tools to track contextual, qualitative, and other indicators as needed.
• Develop and operationalise relevant MEL SOPs and protocols, oversee their roll out and consistent implementation across relevant teams.
• Develop a detailed data flow process for the programme and ensure all stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities in the process.
• Develop standards and quality assurance mechanisms for all data collection and train relevant programme and partner team members to ensure consistent data quality.
• Oversee design and management of all programme databases and dashboards.
• Initiate and conduct regular internal data quality assessments.
• Perform spot checks on the team’s data collected and reports each month. Design and implement internal data quality assurance measures
• Develop and roll out a systematic monitoring visits plan for programme activities, including relevant tools and reporting mechanisms.
• Ensure program team members are fully aware of their MEL-related responsibilities and provide regular technical support, including to partner staff.
• Recruit and manage all subcontractors involved in data collection and evaluation activities, national and / or international.
• Conduct regular programme data analysis and present it to relevant programme teams, including appropriate visualisations such as PowerBi dashboards and tailored maps.
• Take on overall responsibility for programme reporting including monthly, quarterly, annual, final, and ad-hoc reports.
• Conduct regular visits to programme sites to conduct routine monitoring and provide required technical support to programme teams.
• Ensure all minimum Mercy Corps MEL Policy standards are met throughout the programme.

COLLABORATION, LEARNING AND ADAPTATION

• Design and oversee implementation of the programme Learning Plan, including internal and external learning events and products.
• Identify programme knowledge gaps and design appropriate learning and research activities.
• Oversee implementation of relevant research activities, including management of research entities and consultants, if applicable.
• Ensure that lessons learned throughout the project are captured and communicated to internal and external stakeholders through appropriate channels.
• Conceptualise and facilitate regular learning sessions with programme teams using relevant programme data (performance indicators, monitoring and assessment data, etc.).
• Provide required data to facilitate data-based programme adaptations, document the results, and close the learning loop.
• Liaise with various stakeholders, including FCDO, on relevant programme MEL issues.
• Represent the MEL Team on regular check-ins and field visits with FCDO, and in meetings with relevant government agencies.
• Represent the programme in relevant Mercy Corps and FCDO MEL / CLA initiatives and events.
• Oversee knowledge management for the programme using appropriate platforms (SharePoint and / or Google Drive).
• Identify and pursue external learning and research opportunities, such as relevant thematic conferences.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Identify and recruit qualified team members to ensure implementation of the programme MEL system.
• Directly manage MEL staff in day-to-day activities and provide technical oversight and support.
• Develop the capacity of the team, including partner MEL staff, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Ensure all team members have access to information, tools, and resources they need to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one-on-one meetings and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

SECURITY

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Given the nature of the work, all staff are expected to be flexible and may be asked to carry out duties which are not specifically listed above. The job description may be revised after discussion between the staff member and the organisation.

Supervisory Responsibility

Expected to supervise several direct reports. The number of direct and indirect reports will be determined at a later stage.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: SJP Team Lead

Works Directly With: SJP Team Lead, SJP Team Lead/Director, SJP Technical Leads, Mercy Corps Global MEL Team, Director of Programmes, CARM Advisor, Programme Managers, and Finance and Compliance Teams

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our programme participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• MA/S or advanced degree in statistics, economics, or relevant field with substantial course work in research and quantitative methods
• A minimum of 5 years of experience progressing to M&E management and designing and implementing M&E systems for development programmes
• Direct FCDO experience with MEL systems preferred
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• High degree of computer literacy; advanced Excel and Word skills are essential.
• Strong mathematical skills and experience with statistical analysis and statistical software.
• Experience with data visualisation software such as PowerBI is preferred.
• Experience with establishing data flow processes that incorporate digital data collection tools such as CommCare and Ona.
• Experience with ArcGIS or other geographic information systems preferred but not required.
• Direct experience with the full spectrum of data collection and analysis methods (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed).
• Fluency in written and oral English required; must be able to read and interpret documents and communicate effectively with others to perform job duties.
• Fluency in Nepali.
• Understanding of GESI and access to justice sectors preferred.

Success Factors

The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the cultural, political, security, and social environment of Nepal. S/he will be an excellent communicator, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. S/he will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures. The successful candidate will be focused on team-building and capacity-building of their team; be a strategic thinker, have strong skills in M&E for development programmes, and maintain a sense of humour.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is based in Kathmandu, Nepal, with significant travel required to programme locations across the country. This position requires approximately 50% travel to field offices and locations, some of which are easily accessible but many others of which are remote and require extended travel (by medium or small aircraft, vehicle on rough, windy, and/or elevated roads, and hiking) in areas that may be distant from amenities or healthcare. Climate conditions can include exceptional heat or cold, with some field sites at higher altitudes. This position is not eligible for hardship and/or R&R benefits.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organisations 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 organisation 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, colour, 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, programme 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.