Monitoring, evaluation, and learning officer - ukraine response (moldova)

Location: Chișinău, Moldova
Position Status: Full time, Exempt
Salary Level: Level TBD

This position is for 6 months, with a possibility of extension depending on funding.
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. Now, and for the future.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps’ Ukraine crisis response seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Ukrainians and other conflict-affected people where they are: displaced inside Ukraine, refugees in Poland, Romania, and Moldova - or trapped behind the frontlines. We aim to reach 500,000 vulnerable people with multi-purpose cash assistance, in-kind humanitarian support, and protection services across four countries. Almost all our impact will be delivered in partnership with Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian and Moldovan civil society organizations through a granting program that matches humanitarian action with capacity strengthening, and with peer international NGOs through a consortium in Ukraine.

Position Summary
The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer will join the Ukraine response MEL Team and will work to identify data needs, help set up data systems and structures and oversee data management processes - including data collection, data analysis, reporting, and visualization. This position will conduct capacity building on MEL and MEL technologies and our implementing partner teams in the Ukraine Response.

What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone with a strong interest in data: collecting it, managing it, and using it in interesting ways and to improve our programs - and the lives of others. You must be willing to learn from our team and develop skills in field data collection and analysis technologies. Must have a personal commitment to data quality and security, an interest in quality improvement – and using data analysis to make decision-making easier, and more effective. Working collaboratively with teams of varying technical capacities will be a key part of this role so we’re looking for an independent problem solver who can ensure that program needs drive the technologies chosen and the support work conducted.
Any skills you have gained through education, volunteer, work, or life experience that are relevant for the position will be considered. Be sure to fully explain transferable skills and success factors and how they apply to this position in your cover letter and interview process.

Detailed Job Responsibilities
1. MEL Design & Planning:
● Support the MEL Manager and Senior MEL Officers in strengthening MEL components of the response.
● Support reviews and update of all MEL workplans, activities, and deliverables.
● Support the setup and refinement of the MEL system, including technology (TolaData, CommCare, Power BI, etc.) (We will train on all relevant platforms.)
● Support the management and development of response databases and assist with data filing.

2. MEL Implementation:
● Work closely with MEL staff to support the setup and deployment of appropriate MEL Technologies in the Ukraine response.
o This may include: (a.) Helping to test and translate MEL instruments, (b.) helping to set up MEL forms within technology platforms (ComCare, etc.), (c.) conducting data visualization with technology platforms like Power BI, (d.) testing and maintaining data flow processes, etc.
● Work with partner organizations who are engaged in data processes and management to ensure smooth and coordinated third party monitoring practices.
● Conduct occasional trainings for data collection and verification staff on identified tools.
● Conduct validation and data quality checks following Mercy Corps’ MEL policy requirements.
● Work closely with MEL and technical leads, conduct data analysis and help give feedback on data visualizations - and promote use of the data for program decision making.
o This may include participating in regional technical meetings to present data, assisting with learning sessions, and helping to conducting analysis of data with other MEL team members.
● Oversee the implementation of MEL Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and tools to ensure quality and consistency throughout the MEL process.
o This may include helping to conduct Data Quality Assessments, validation checks, re-analysis, etc.
● Help facilitate learning activities with program, operations and other units involved in the emergency response, such as after-action review, performance reviews, etc.

Knowledge & Experience
Required:
● Academic degree.
● Educational or prior professional experience in data analysis – qualitative and/or quantitative.
● Demonstrated experience in using digital data gathering tools of some kind (Ona/Kobo, ComCare, Google Forms, etc.).
● Experience or interest in working with databases.
● Proficiency in Excel, including using formulas and creating graphs.
● Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate data, identify errors and weaknesses, and conduct data cleaning and manipulation.

Preferred:
● 1 year of experience in international relief and development programming or similar positions preferred; especially in MEL or program management functions.
● Academic or formal training on technologies and M&E would be a great asset.
● Proficiency/knowledge of the following statistical package software (STATA, SPSS, R, etc) is preferred.
● Experience of using data visualization software (PowerBi, Tableau).
● Experience organizing, reviewing, and pursuing results around program learning questions, and supporting program teammates to do the same is preferred.
● Experience facilitating technical trainings and consultations strongly preferred.
● Experience in undertaking both quantitative and qualitative interviews is preferred.

Language Skills:
● Working knowledge of English or Romanian is required.
● Working ability in Russian or Ukrainian is required.