ABOUT THE JOB

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer leads the direct implementation of all MEL processes and activities required to improve programme quality over the course of project implementation, and ensure and demonstrate positive impact on beneficiaries’ lives. S/he works under the direct supervision of the Senior MEL Officers for Emergency, Protection and Livelihoods, and under the overall leadership of the Head of MEL. S/he plays a key role in ensuring that the learning system helping Programme teams to make iterative improvements to design and implementation is functional and effective at all times. With guidance from their supervisors at Country-level, the MEL Officer has non-sector-specific, area-level responsibilities, i.e. s/he is responsible to conduct all field monitoring and evaluation activities and requirements for all projects and programmes present in their area of operation, through the application of an integrated Strategic and Operational MEL Framework for 2018. This includes, among other responsibilities, tracking area-specific project activities and measuring progress against indicators in close collaboration with the Programme teams, carrying out all field data collection, monitoring exercises and evaluation plans as instructed by HoMEL and SMELOs, supporting data analysis and reporting efforts at area level, disseminating monitoring and evaluation findings with MEL and Programme teams at country- and area-level, and ensuring follow up and documentation of action taken. S/he will responsible for the timely reporting on project results & indicators in programme locations as well as findings of monitoring missions, recommendations and action taken; s/he will submit daily updates and weekly reports to the relevant Senior MEL Officer(s). Finally, she will also assist in strengthening DRC Afghanistan accountability mechanisms at area-level in close collaboration with the Complaints Response Mechanism Officer by acting as CRM Area Focal Points.

 Responsibilities:

Implementation of Project MEL systems for all programmes in respective area

• Implement MEL Plan-compliant MEL processes for the collection, analysis and usage of data to measure progress against indicators and promote programmatic learning.
• Plan according to priorities set by the SMELOs and HoMEL, including dissemination of work plans and respondent lists in advance
• Work in very close collaboration with Programme teams, following their work plan and adapting MEL work plan accordingly
• Conduct regular monitoring missions of all project activities present in respective areas, as per MEL SOPs for each programme
• Conduct all post-monitoring and evaluation data collection as per plan / Scope of Work  
• Prepare and share weekly activity reports with SMELOs and HoMEL

Data collection tools development and use

• Assist SMELOs and HoMEL in the development of relevant and quality data collection tools for quantitative and qualitative research, e.g. baseline /endline surveys, needs assessment questionnaires, PDM tools, FGD and KII guides etc
• Lead on translation of necessary documents such as data collection tools and databases
• Support IMO in digitization of questionnaires using online platforms
• Lead field testing of questionnaires and provide feedback to SMELOs and HoMEL after piloting phase
• Conduct all field data collection, monitoring exercises and evaluation plans through mobile data collection and paper forms

Data management, analysis and use

• Conduct systematic data quality checks and cleaning procedures before uploading any quantitative data to online server
• Ensure consistent and accurate transfer / upload of data from tablets to servers
• Ensure transparent, accurate and timely entry of data into databases as instructed by SMELOs and HoMEL, if paper forms used
• Assist IMO and SMELOs in basic quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• Closely coordinate with relevant programme staff to ensure project-relevant information is shared and used to properly track progress of projects in the appropriate tracker at area- and project-level
• Feed the Programme teams, SMELO and HoMEL with successes observed and challenges encountered in the field, lessons learnt and recommendations on best practices to implement in the future in a Monitoring Follow Up report after each monitoring mission
• Collaborate with Programme teams at area-level to ensure actions are taken based on MEL findings and recommendations, and document such actions in a Monitoring Follow Up (MFU) sheet

Reporting

• Create short memos on quantitative datasets and qualitative transcripts

Accountability

• Act as Complaints Response Mechanism Area Focal Point, including reception and registration of complaints into CRM Database
• Submit Area-level CRM database to Country CRMO   for consolidation on a weekly basis

Technical management and capacity-building

• Assist in training programme staff and external enumerators on data collection methods, tools and techniques as appropriate whenever involved in data collection.

Other

• Assist in other tasks as required by the Head of MEL, including extensive support to all programmes/sectors and other areas whenever deemed necessary