Meal/Communication Lead

Since 1979, we have helped people grappling with the toughest hardships survive – and then thrive. That’s the heart of our approach: We help communities turn crisis into opportunity. Throughout our history, Mercy Corps has demonstrated innovation, timeliness, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing realities. Mercy Corps has worked in Tanzania since 2006, focusing primarily on three thematic areas: (1) food security, (2) governance and peace, and (3) economic opportunity and livelihoods. Youth and women are at the center of all programming in Tanzania. Through these programmes Mercy Corps supports and builds the capacity of government at the national and local levels, and of communities - making sure that they can address the challenges facing them. The Agrifin programme for example connects smallholder farmers with technology and financial services to boost productivity. Mercy Corps Tanzania is part of the FCDO-funded Collective Resilience Against Extremism (CREATE), a multi-country program that aims to mitigate the drivers, enablers, and narratives of violent extremism in East Africa (targeting Mtwara, Kigoma, Mwanza, and Tanga in Tanzania specifically). Through localized strategies, CREATE focuses on strengthening and supporting societal bonds to prevent the recruitment of vulnerable individuals to violent extremist organizations.

The ProgrammeFunded by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the anticipated WAJIBIKA programme will promote a more open, inclusive society in Tanzania where government demonstrates greater accountability to the needs of its citizens. Wajibika will deliver this impact via three strategic outcomes to support 1) effective civic space and inclusive political processes 2) media freedom and access to information, and 3) Government of Tanzania (GoT) knowledge, will, and capacity for public service reforms. Wajibika is divided into three components aligned with the three outcomes. The first two components require indicative activities and delivery partners to be outlined at the bidding stage. The final component is a flexible, demand-led facility to tactically support GoT, FCDO, and SDC with research and technical assistance to drive governance innovation.

General Position SummaryThe MEAL & Communications Lead will provide oversight of project-level monitoring and evaluation activities within the WAJIBIKA Programme, ensuring the quality of the project’s MEL activities and information management. The MEAL/Comms Lead will also oversee and ensure coordination of the various technical areas across the three components of WAJIBIKA and with partners. This role is responsible for the capacity strengthening and mentoring strategy for the whole programme team (including partners) on monitoring, evaluation, accountability, reporting and learning. The MEAL/Comms Lead will ensure overall that WAJIKBIKA is a flexible and agile programme responsive to changing contexts and that there is a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with FCDO/SDC and GoT interests.

Essential Responsibilities STRATEGY AND PLANNING

• Work with WAJIKBIKA programme team to develop a comprehensive MEAL Strategy (to be reviewed by and agreed with FCDO/SDC)
• Work with WAJIBIKA programme leadership and partners to develop a comprehensive Communications Strategy ( to be reviewed by and agreed with FCDO/SDC)
• Lead on measurement and analysis of key performance indicators to inform strategic decision making and manage VfM throughout the programme

  PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT AND MEL ACTIVITIES

  • Set-up the MEAL system, including all tools and data collection processes for programme activities.
  • Oversee the implementation of the MEAL System and Strategy
  • Plan and lead all MEAL activities with a MEAL team and partners
  • Develop Scopes of Work for various evaluations, studies, and oversee their implementation. This may entail recruiting consultants, or leading and implementing those studies internally with the programme’s and partners’ MEL team members (including baseline, mid-term, final evaluations, topic-specific studies and others).
  • Coordinate and play a role in assessments, evaluations and studies as requested. If these are externally outsourced, coordinate and collaborate with external consultants and stakeholders to ensure effective delivery
  • Collect, analyze and validate information and data on the performance indicators
  • Ensure that lessons learned throughout the project are captured and communicated to internal and external stakeholders through appropriate channels
  • Periodically synthesise learning from MEL and other programme datasets, document and share at relevant country, regional and agency meetings, ensuring that knowledge is adequately documented and distributed. Use learning and data in consultation with technical staff and externally in line with the Communications Strategy
  • Take on overall responsibility for project reporting including Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Annual, Final and ad-hoc reports.
  • Address any other task assigned by the COP/Programme Director
  • Create intentional learning opportunities as well as ad-hoc learning gatherings to leverage and promote cross-team learning with partners and other relevant counterparts. May also include programme participants where and as relevant .
  • Ensure quality of data in compliance with MEL Policy, including leading on coordination for quarterly programme review meetings, regular Data Quality Assessments, record retention, and a final internal performance review.
  • Collaborate with the Finance Wajibika team and the MEL team at the HQ to set up and implement a VfM framework to generate cost data and inform programme adaptation MEL SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
    • Develop and build out an adaptive MEL system to monitor programme impact in line with Mercy Corps and FCDO standards and guidance.
    • Serve as a member of the programme’s Senior Management Team, making sure that leadership has access to programme data while driving discussions around data interpretation and adaptive management.
    • Develop and implement action plans to ensure MEL data security, data quality, and responsible data handling processes.
    • Collaborate with Community Accountability and Response Mechanism (CARM) staff members at the mission level to strengthen systems to promote accountability to participants and communities
    • Liaise with HQ MEL and Data Automation teams for system improvement and major updates.

      TEAM MANAGEMENT

      • Directly manage MEAL staff in day-to-day MEAL activities, as well as provide technical oversight of additional MEAL staff located in field offices and/or with partners [sub-contractors]
      • Strengthen the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
      • Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
      • 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 as necessary. Given the nature of the work, 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 organization.

        Supervisory ResponsibilityWAJIBIKA MEAL and Communications Team

        Accountability Reports Directly To: Team Lead (Programme Director) Works Directly With: All WAJIBIKA team, plus partners; Regional and HQ MEL teams;

        Accountability to Participants and StakeholdersMercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program 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 Knowledge and Experience

        • BA/S or equivalent, preferable in MEL, social science, business administration, public administration or international development. MA/S in similar relevant fields preferred.
        • 7-10 years of professional experience in a relevant field.
        • A minimum of 5 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation management including relevant experience building and managing an M&E system and team, relevant experience supervising data collection and data validation exercises, and building staff capacity.
        • Knowledge of MEL donor requirements, in particular FCDO or other EU and US donors, or NGO preferred.
        • Experience with ArcGIS or other geographic information system preferred but not required.
        • Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
        • High degree of computer literacy; Excel and Word skills are essential.
        • Ability to manage and meet deadlines.
        • Ability to work independently on multi-task load.
        • Excellent Communication and organizational skills.
        • Fluency in written and oral English and Kiswahili. Must be able to read and interpret documents, and communicate with others as necessary to perform job duties effectively.
        • Experience in Tanzania or other East Africa country preferred
        • Basic mathematical skills and able to perform job specific mathematics with experience in statistical analysis and statistical software.
        • Should also have experience in experimental design of evaluations.

          Success Factors The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Tanzania. The candidate will be an excellent communicator, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. The candidate 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 national staff; be a strategic thinker, have strong skills in design monitoring and evaluation of development programs and maintain a sense of humor.

          Living Conditions / Environmental ConditionsMercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a short-term assignment. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs, and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues. Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

          Ongoing LearningIn 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 & InclusionAchieving 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 OpportunityMercy 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 & EthicsMercy 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. 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.