Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director, Food Basket Activity - Nigeria

About Mercy Corps

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 member feels they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have a long-term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and its influence spreads across the continent. Yet, inequality and insecurity have consistently undermined Nigeria's development. Mercy Corps Nigeria was established in 2012 to respond to these challenges. The Nigeria team is headquartered in Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with programming across 16 states of Nigeria. Mercy Corps works with communities to build economic opportunities, enhance water security, drive peace and good governance, and ensure food security. Our activities are building resilience through an integrated approach, helping communities– and the most marginalized within them– cope, adapt, and thrive in the context of numerous shocks and stresses. With a strong and growing team, Mercy Corps works to achieve the vision of a Nigeria in which all people are empowered, engaged, resilient, and secure.

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director to support the implementation of the anticipated five-year USAID/Feed the Future-funded Food Basket Activity. The Food Basket Activity will increase the productivity and competitiveness of selected value chains (rice, maize, and horticulture) and market systems in targeted areas of Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Plateau states of Nigeria.
The MEL Director will be responsible for oversight of Activity-level monitoring and evaluation—including qualitative inquiry—ensuring that a robust MEL system provides evidence needed for learning and adapting throughout the program life-cycle. The MEL system should be robust enough that data can be used as part of an impact evaluation.
The MEL Director’s role is to also oversee and ensure coordination of the various technical areas across the MEL staff of the Project, and other relevant Project staff and components. The MEL Director is responsible for the capacity building and mentoring strategy for program staff on themes related to monitoring, evaluation, accountability, reporting, and learning.

Essential Job Responsibilities

MEL STRATEGY AND PLANNING

• Set up and oversee the timely implementation of MEL systems, including the Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP), M&E Technology Plan, and Learning Plan.
• Oversee data collection, analysis, management, visualization, mapping, and reporting on quantitative and qualitative indicators related to the program’s overall operational context and performance.
• Harmonize the MEL system across consortium partner systems and other external systems, as relevant.
• Maximize the use of participatory methods in MEL data collection.
• Ensure the quality of MEL implementation for the Activity, consistently reviewing and adapting the MEL systems and tools to the needs of the changing programmatic context.
• Ensure systems are established and maintained to collect sex- and age-disaggregated data to ensure that the project team can design gender-sensitive, and socially inclusive.
• Ensure that personal protection is included in data collection (direct and remote), storage, and presentation of those data.
• Tailor evidence-based learning to diverse audiences, decision-makers, and stakeholders.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

• Ensure data management processes (collection, cleaning, analysis, storage, reporting, and visualization) are functioning in all Activity locations to provide quality data within deadlines.
• Ensure data quality through routine internal Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) as required by the Mercy Corps MEL Policy and adjust as needed.
• Ensure the Activity adheres to Mercy Corps’ MEL and Program Record Retention and Responsible Data Policies.
• Develop reporting templates that facilitate the acquisition, aggregation, and flow of information and learning within the program, as well as externally.
• Maintain a comprehensive reporting and accountability schedule and review program reports to ensure reports contain accurate, clear, and high-quality data presented in the proper format.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Oversee the Activity MEL team and sub-contractors, such as external evaluators and enumerators.
• Use competency-based approaches to build the capacity of all relevant Activity and partner team members to develop and maintain a high-quality MEL system, which integrates regular reflection, learning, and adaption through analysis of quantitative and qualitative data and other knowledge gained through implementation of the AMELP.
• Promote staff 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.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Collaborate with technical leads across the consortium and build processes for regular feedback to ensure effective and adaptive management.
• Present program MEL to external MEL and research stakeholders to influence decision-makers and promote collaboration and shared learning.
• Actively collaborate with regional and global counterparts to promote the use of MEL best practices and lessons learned.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Supervisory Responsibility

MEL Managers, MEL officers and MEL assistants on the MEL Team

Accountability

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, including proven experience managing MEL staff.
• MA/MS in research methods, statistics, economics, monitoring and evaluation, or other relevant field preferred.
• Experience managing MEL and activities under USAID-funded programs.
• Proven success in designing, implementing, and overseeing program MEL systems from startup to closeout.
• Experience with and commitment to adaptive management and collaborative, learn, adapt (CLA) processes.
• Research skills, including participatory qualitative and quantitative methodologies and techniques, planning and managing surveys, and developing and refining data collection tools.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and a proven ability to network and maintain effective working relationships with diverse actors.
• Experience and understanding of market-system development interventions and how these are monitored and evaluated
• Previous experience in Nigeria or similar context is essential.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively to achieve sustainable impact and enhance long-term resilience. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results. They will understand the larger picture while remaining focused on problem solving and effectively navigating complex and sensitive political, conflict, and security dynamics. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The MEL Director is based in Kano. This position requires 60% of time for travel by flight or road to field offices which have varying degrees of insecurity.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders


Ongoing Learning

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Equal Employment Opportunity

Safeguarding & Ethics