4-KAF Officer at Mercy Corps

Description

The primary responsibility will be to implement the Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) component of AgBase, with minimum supervision, from the beginning to the end, ensuring that they conform to the program objectives, and are executed efficiently. This includes building a strong day to day working relationship with program partners and the team, actively contributing in meetings and presentations. The position requires one to continually build their technical expertise, applying it to the work done for the program and partners.

In addition, the role will be supporting the Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism (CARM). S/he will be managing day-to-day accountability feedback that includes handling of partner feedback. S/he will also be responsible for internal and/or external referrals, to compile reports on feedback and provide recommendations to the programs for improving the response.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

MERAL:

• Support in research design, monitoring and evaluation activities that inform and improve each intervention.
• Manage research firms and consultants, ensuring high levels of coordination and integration into overall programming, as well as appropriate support for partners to deliver research projects and assignments on time & on budget.
• Support in the design and implementation of evaluations and assessments as outlined in the program proposal, drawing on appropriate research and survey tools and incorporating Mercy corps standards.
• Coordinate data extraction with partners, following principles of LEAN data, working under pre-agreed data collection frameworks which minimize new data collection from partners.
• Establish sound data collection, cleaning, managing, analysis and reporting strategies on required performance indicators
• Perform data analysis to capture behavioral, product performance and market insights, tied to AFA’s learning agenda and individual partner engagement research plans as necessary.
• Engage in relevant field research in support of data and information gathering.
• Act as the custodian of research data, ensuring adequate data protection procedures are maintained during data acquisition and adherence to mercy corps and global standards ensuring compliance and security procedures are maintained.
• Support in distilling insights and learning to ensure ecosystem impact, learning from implementation of successful models and program failures.
• Develop engaging content that resonates with different stakeholders, highlighting significant developments and success stories in the technology and innovation landscape.

 Administration

• Track and finalize contractual agreements, includes defining scopes of work and drafting service completions.
• Generate operations and finance requisitions for approval and payment/reimbursements.
• Interface with Finance, prepare cash flow projections and resolving deficits.
• Support in developing work plans and review of budget allocations on an ongoing basis in consultation with the director.

Influence & Representation:

• Work together with MCA MERAL Director, to identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments, and other stakeholders.
• Participate in a community of practice in developing insights and in conducting research activities that are the forefront of development thinking linking to industry leaders.
• Liaise with Mercy corps HQ M&E and research staff

 Supporting Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism (CARM)

• Design and implement CARM system and tools.
• Lead data entry and management of the CARM database.
• Maintenance of an effective record and filing system for all complaints solved and pending issues including correspondences and other related documents for quick and easy reference.
• Ensure that the feedback is kept confidential and access to that information is in line with the guidelines.
• Support partner and Program Teams on beneficiary accountability and learning systems.
• Provide timely feedback to the program teams on concerns raised by partners on program activities.
• Prepare reports on feedback, provide recommendations and share it with the program.
• In coordination with the program team all the actions taken for those feedbacks, and include them as appropriate in the CARM monthly report, and program donor reports.
• Provide feedback to the beneficiaries and stakeholders accordingly, whenever required.
• Train staff and partners on compliance and accountability tools, and other processes as required.

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 towards 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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Short-term individual consultants and firms.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

Reports directly to: Director, MERAL

Works directly with: Program Director, Deputy Program Director, Director MERAL, Strategic learning Lead, AgriFin Technical Team, Briter program team, Finance, and Operations staff.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Research Design and Methodology, Agricultural Economics, Statistics, or a related field (A Master’s degree in either of the fields would be an added advantage)
• At least 5 years’ experience in similar roles designing, managing and implementing results-based research activities, preferably a research agency or management consultancy.
• Experience working in the digital financial services, technology, and agriculture space, with private, public institutions in a development setup.
• Experience analyzing and presenting quantitative and qualitative data.
• Strong computer software skills with proficiency in relevant systems for data analysis, such as Excel, SPSS, STRATA and R programming and other data management systems
• Experience providing technical assistance and delivering trainings
• Well organized and can manage multiple projects at the same time.
• Experience in working with diversified teams
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work constructively in teams
• Allowed to work in Kenya, with experience in region preferred.