Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer

World University Service of Canada (WUSC - EUMC)

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer will provide leadership on MERL activities and ensure quality oversight in order to meet project obligations and donor requirements. The MERL Officer is expected to provide technical expertise to ensure efficient, effective and timely planning and execution of the various project MERL processes and activities. Specifically, the MERL Officer is responsible for the following:

• Develop and regularly update the MERL Plan, in line with GAC s Results-Based Management (RBM) principles, as well as organisational requirements;
• Ensure that all MERL-related tasks (such as planning, coordination of monitoring and data collection activities, training of staff, etc.) are effectively carried out in accordance with the project s MERL plan;
• With the support of the Global MERL team and of other TAs (technical advisors), contribute to the development of the learning agenda for the project and to the identification of learning partners as appropriate;
• Promote the active participation of partners and stakeholders in country in all phases of the development and implementation of the MERL plan (from the design of the MERL plan itself and its tools, to the data collection exercises; from data analysis, to the dissemination and use of findings), providing support and capacity building as necessary and appropriate;
• Support WUSC (and partner) team, and implementing partners to plan for and execute MERL-related activities;
• Develop and regularly update all MERL tools and systems (including the Performance Management Framework) linked to key indicators for the purpose of informing program activities and reporting to the donor, and supporting continuous evidence-based learning and adaptive management in the process;
• Provide high quality technical support on planning, development and implementation of the MERL plan to project staff and partner staff; and
• Ensure regular communication and coordination with regard to the collection and exchange of MERL-related information with project staff and key stakeholders, as well as with WUSC (and partner) global team.
  
  
  
  

MERL Tools Design and Quality Assurance:

• Develop and periodically review monitoring tools for routine tracking of activities and collecting of program data;
• Provide technical support and capacity building as needed to ensure project tools are being used effectively by project and partners staff and that the collected data are used for learning and adaptive management, as well as for planning and reporting to the donor and other external audiences;
• Ensure that tools in use meet the needs of the project and that staff have the capacity to utilise them effectively for reporting and monitoring of progress;
• Identify training needs of staff working on the project and recommend actions for improving MERL capacity;
• Ensure that data collected are reliable, accurate and complete to the extent possible in the project context; and
• Apply a continuous improvement approach toward all data collection processes.
  
  
  
  

Data Collection:

• Ensure that MERL activities are completed in a timely manner to contribute to high quality evidence-based learning, planning and reporting;
• Oversee on-going data collection processes, analyses and validation for project evaluation and learning purposes;
• Identify monitoring needs based on program implementation and collect data that effectively inform on-going progress;
• Ensure that accurate and complete MERL-related files and databases are set up, maintained and updated;
• Support qualitative data collection for the purposes of documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, case studies and stories of change; and;
• Support planning, logistics and coordination of WUSC (and partner) staff and project consultants or technical assistance visits as required.
  
  
  
  

Reporting:

• Ensure timely and regular MERL data are shared with project colleagues to feed into reporting cycles in an efficient and timely manner, in accordance with organisational and donor s standards;
• Strengthen and harmonise data collection processes across project partners, including standardising tools, templates, and reporting timelines to improve data consistency, quality, and efficiency;
• Ensure that regular updates on project MERL processes are communicated and shared with project staff across all partner organisations as well as with key stakeholders;
• Maintain and regularly update the PROUD and take lead in the compilation of high quality and evidence-based donor reports;
• Respond to requests for information from WUSC (and partner) staff, project partners, and WUSC Senior Management; and
• Undertake any other tasks assigned by the line supervisor.
  
  
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of 4-6 years of experience in the field of monitoring and evaluation of development programs;
• Experience working with international development partners, international non-governmental organizations and donors, ideally with Global Affairs Canada (formerly known as DFATD or CIDA);
• Experience with RBM concepts and principles is required;
• Experience in both quantitative and qualitative methods and tools for data collection and analysis is required;
• Experience working with ethnically diverse communities and with projects implementing gender mainstreaming strategies;
• Experience with open source data collection tools and data management softwares (preferred);
• Understanding of climate adaptation and/or agro-forestry programs (preferred);
• Experience supporting multi-country and multi-language programs (preferred);
• Adherence to the Gender Equality approach and the values of social inclusion

Education

- B.A./M.A. in Monitoring & Evaluation, Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Public Administration, International Development, Research Methods, or a related field, or equivalent mix of education and experience

Language/s:

• Demonstrated high level written and verbal communication skills in English/Arabic