Research and MEL Officer (Applications will only be accepted if submitted online, through the URL link provided)

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. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps is committed to generating positive opportunities for women, men, boys and girls from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities, with a strong focus on engaging youth.

• Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping build secure, productive and just communities. We do this through
• Addressing the humanitarian and protection needs resulting from crisis situations for the most vulnerable communities
• Enabling local communities, civil society and government to better prevent and respond to conflict, address needs and deliver sustainable development solutions
• Promoting economic growth and catalysing economic opportunities for vulnerable, under-employed groups in Lebanon

The Mercy Corps Lebanon team consists of over 150 staff working across five offices throughout Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, Tripoli and the Bekaa Valley.

Program / Department Summary

The Performance and Quality (PaQ) unit collaborates with program teams, supporting departments and partners to use evidence to design and deliver relevant and impactful programs that improve the lives of beneficiaries. The PaQ unit supports team development and assists teams to stay accountable to the principles of good program management, as well as to our end beneficiaries and other stakeholders.  The PaQ unit consists of the Director of Programs, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Advisor, the MERL technical specialist, the Reporting and IM Coordinator, and the Communications and Media Coordinator.   

Mercy Corps is currently implementing a three year program (FORSA, Fostering Resilience by Strengthening Abilities), until the end of 2019, focused on skills training and employment growth to mitigate risks for instability and conflict in the target areas. The Program aims to support Lebanese communities, Palestinian and Syrian refugees in Zahle, West Bekaa, Chouf, Jezzine and Saida to address their economic needs through vocational training, access to employment, support for small and medium businesses, and capacity building to Public and Private TVET centers. The program is focused on the Agriculture, Construction and Environment Sectors.

General Position Summary

The Research and MEL Officer will support the PAQ team on research and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities with a key focus on the FORSA program’s stability research and learning agenda. As such, one example of the Research and MEL Officer’s key responsibilities is to carry out data collection for the FORSA program’s stability research, including collecting quantitative data and supporting the team conducting economic choice games, including data entry, analysis and cleaning. The research extends to a second Mercy Corps program (MOST). The Research and MEL Officer will work with both the FORSA and MOST teams across program areas in the Bekaa, South Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, and North Lebanon to support MEL staff from both programs in conducting the research.

A secondary function of the role will be to support the PAQ team on cross-program research and MEL activities where needed, including collecting quantitative and qualitative data, creating, cleaning and maintaining databases, and analyzing and visualizing data.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Be fully familiar with on-going MC research, including goals, objectives, and expected results.
• Collect quantitative data for research purposes.
• Prepare, organize, and conduct research sessions with participants.
• Record findings and log issues and challenges, including reasons why people do not attend research sessions.
• Debrief on results with program staff and ensure transparent communication of results and challenges.
• Clean collected data and analyze for preliminary reporting.
• Hold the research feedback hotline and respond to participant feedback.
• Liaise with external researchers, with HQ research staff and with program MEL staff.
• Organize and conduct key informant interviews and focus group discussions where needed.
• Participate in other research activities to support program staff where needed.

MEL

• Support programs in designing tools and strategies to implement learning agendas and implement these strategies in the field.
• Collect, clean, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data for learning agendas.
• Support on organizing and conducting program evaluations, including liaising with consultants on external evaluations.
• Assist in designing and conducting spot checks, monitoring and assessments.
• Produce analytical summaries: graphs, charts, tables, narratives and appealing visuals, as requested.
• Tracking the implementation of program MEL activities, including baselines, endlines, post-distribution surveys, etc. as specified by indicator plans.
• Reviewing and maintaining digital filing systems for MEL tools and documentation.
• Organize and conduct key informant interviews and focus group discussions where needed.
• Assist in any other MEL task or duty assigned by the supervisor.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

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.
• 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.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning Advisor

Works Directly With: MERL Technical Specialist, FORSA program team, MOST program team, Other program teams where needed

Knowledge and Experience

• The candidate should possess at least a Bachelor degree in Social Sciences or any relevant discipline. 
• At least 1 year of work experience in relevant field (research, MEL) is required. 
• Prior experience of carrying out surveys, conducting interviews, and undertaking assessments are essential. 
• Strong Arabic communication skills – both written and oral is required.
• Strong English communication skills are an asset.
• Ability to work independently, if and when required, and to come up with creative ideas to resolve work-related problems.

Success Factors

The successful Research and MEL Officer will be bright, energetic, hard-working and eager to learn.  S/he will take a deep personal interest in humanitarian and development assistance.  S/he will be attentive to detail and able to carry out assigned tasks in a timely manner and according to a very high standard of quality.  S/he will be creative and flexible, contributing to developing and encouraging new and innovative solutions, but at the same time will not have any difficulty in adhering to systems and procedures.  S/he will strictly follow all protocols related to safety and security, and holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Mercy Corps’ values