Country: Kyrgyzstan
Closing date: 19 Mar 2017
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 in Kyrgyzstan has one overall ultimate goal to contribute to the strengthening of communities and institutions so they are better able to work together to build healthy, financially stable communities based on civil society principles. In 1994 Mercy Corps became one of the first international non-governmental organizations to work in the newly independent Kyrgyzstan. Today our programs reach more than 500,000 people in all major urban and rural communities of the country's seven regions. Mercy Corps Kyrgyzstan's current and recent programs focus on food security and nutrition; education; youth and stability; agricultural and economic development; peacebuilding; and emergency response.
Mercy Corps Kyrgyzstan's flagship program is USDA's McGovern-Dole Food for Education, a five-year program that is implemented country-wide supporting improved learning environments for children through enhanced school and at-home nutrition, school infrastructure and education policies working towards achieving sustainable school feeding programs. This core program was due to end in August 2016, but has been awarded a $5M 18 month extension. Another complementary project focuses on creating school orchards to help primary schools improve their access to nutritious foods.
General Position Summary
The Communications and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Manager is an important position in the Mercy Corps Kyrgyzstan program responsible for contributing to strategy discussions, internal and external communication strategies, and technical assistance on M&E for the portfolio. Mercy Corps seeks a self-starter with confidence and enthusiasm who can work collaboratively in a cross cultural environment.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Communications and reporting
- Ensure that the communication of Mercy Corps Kyrgyzstan's strategic framework, studies/ assessments, and other knowledge products are disseminated in a visible manner to key audiences (both internal and external).
- Help draft, edit, coordinate and prepare program and other reports in line with country program standards and donor requirements.
- Work collaboratively with national and international staff and mentor national staff to improve and develop communications skills in written, spoken and visual reporting and media.
- Capture and write up 'stories from the field' to articulate program activities in action and the 'how' and 'why' of project interactions that can be shared internally and externally.
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Monitoring and evaluation**
- Lead the institutionalization of learning in the program structure by supporting the program team to develop results frameworks, monitoring systems and feedback loops that enable for frequent and regular learning sessions and periodic activity redesigns.
- Provide leadership and training in the development of the M&E Plan, M&E tools, survey design, methodology, data analysis, and other services as may be required for program monitoring and evaluation.
- Manage the development and/or implementation of appropriate data management systems that provide access to timely, accurate, and meaningful data which is aligned with country strategic plans.
- Assist in the recruitment of competent M&E program staff and organize the program team to perform M&E activities.
- Build the capacity of all relevant team members and program partners staff to develop and maintain an excellent M&E system, including the periodic reflection and analysis of program monitoring data.
- Provide guidance, recommendations, supervision, and leadership to ensure that the M&E systems meet the needs of programs, managers, and senior leadership.
- Address shortfalls in monitoring, evaluation and information management that affect program implementation.
- Support the design and ensure the quality of the program evaluation, whether conducted in-house or outsourced, including tool development, field logistics, data analysis, and report writing, in partnership with program teams and Mercy Corps' HQ based Technical Support Unit (TSU).
Program implementation support
- Provide advisory and ad hoc support to projects and programs, as assigned by the Country Director.
Provide visibility and brand compliance support to all projects and programs
Coordination and representaionAssist with the coordination of the Mercy Corps country program with international and local agencies, Government ministries, and donors
May represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in coordination with the Country Director and the Senior Management Team.
Organizational Learning As part of our 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.
Accountability to Beneficiaries Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
Supervisory Responsibility: M&E Assistant
Accountability:
Reports Directly To: Country Director
Works Directly With: Country Director, Finance Director, Administrative Director, Program Directors/Managers and support staff in both head and field offices.
Knowledge and Experience
- Graduate degree in a directly related field, such as International Development, Public Policy, Economics, or Agriculture, with coursework in operations research, quantitative analysis, etc.
- Minimum 3-5 years of active communications and M&E work experience in development programming required; ideal candidate will have both theoretical and practical background in M&E and skilled in qualitative and quantitative M&E methodologies and techniques.
- Experience with programs focusing on youth, education and nutrition desired.
- Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods.
- Demonstrated awareness and responsiveness to gender and social issues in cross-cultural contexts and gender integration programming.
- Experience with a range of institutional donors such as USAID, USDA, UN agencies DFID and EC.
- Excellent computer skills, including experience with: Excel; PowerPoint; Publisher or equivalent layout tools; Access, SQL, or other database tools; and Stata, SPSS, or other statistical packages.
- Exceptional report development, writing and editing skills are essential, as is the ability to produce high-quality written products efficiently and regularly.
- Previous experience working in Central Asia and/or knowledge of the region is an advantage but not essential
- Fluency in spoken and written English. Russian and/or Kyrgyz language skills are desired.
Success Factors
The successful candidate will combine exceptional verbal and written communication skills with strong analytical skills and an interest in education and child nutrition. S/he will be an excellent thinker, communicator, multi-tasker and able to work in ambiguous situations and will also be tolerant and flexible, able to work in stressful environments and follow procedures. The successful candidate will be focused on team-building and capacity building of national staff and, as a team member, ensure the team produces top quality work. S/he will have or be prepared to rapidly develop a strong understanding of the cultural, political and religious environment in the region, and the ability to live and work successfully in those environments are essential.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in the capital and is an accompanied post. The position is based in the Mercy Corps Kyrgyzstan Bishkek office, located in northern Kyrgyzstan, with expectation of regular travel to all field offices and sites with extended stays in Osh, working out of the Mercy Corps Kyrgyzstan Osh office. Bishkek has access to basic amenities with both individual houses and apartments available, though occasional outages of electricity, water and gas are to be expected. There is an active community of expatriates in Bishkek.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of 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 MC's policies, procedures and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
PI96870335
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