Job Openings at Mercy Corps

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is seeking a Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation (MRELA) Officer for the FCDO-funded Border Security Programme (BSP).  Irregular migration and associated criminal activity in East Africa remain a complex and escalating challenge which leads to significant exploitation of vulnerable people on the move.  The planned Border Security Programme will take a multifaceted approach – integrating ‘prevention’, ‘prepare/protect’ and ‘pursue’. An important purpose of this programme is to support the pursuit of human traffickers and smugglers who are exploiting vulnerable populations on the move.  Initial interventions will take place in the Kenya border regions, with planned and phased expansion to Uganda, Ethiopia and possibly Somalia border areas. 

General Position Summary

The MRELA Officer plays a key role in Mercy Corps' programme quality assurance, accountability, documentation, and learning function, providing direct support to the BSP programme. Reporting to the Programme MRELA Manager, the position holder supports the design and implementation of monitoring, reporting, evaluation, learning, and adaptation activities, including ensuring data quality, generating evidence for adaptive management, and supporting accountability to participants, partners, and the donor.

The role combines hands-on data collection, facilitation of learning processes, and capacity strengthening of programme staff and implementing partners. Given the sensitivity of the programme's context and the vulnerability of its target population, the MRELA Officer is expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to ethical and responsible data practices throughout all aspects of their work.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY SUPPORT AND MRELA SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION

• Support the development, testing, and roll-out of MRELA tools and system components for the BSP programme, including data collection instruments, indicator tracking tools, and data management systems.
• Contribute to the development of intervention designs, sector strategies, and the MRELA framework.
• Support inputs into programme logic, theories of change, and review documents, helping to refine approaches to reflect monitoring evidence and learning.
• Support the program in ensuring adherence to Mercy Corps' MEL Minimum standards.

MONITORING & DATA MANAGEMENT

• Maintain an accurate and up-to-date indicator performance tracking table.
• Validate and verify results data received from implementing partners and grantees against primary source documents while applying systematic data quality checks.
• Implement a Data Quality Assessment (DQA) plan; conduct periodic DQAs and document findings, tracking corrective actions through to resolution.
• Conduct monitoring visits to programme sites and partner locations, collecting supplementary data and qualitative information, both independently and as part of programme teams.
• Maintain a secure, well-organized data management system that enables timely retrieval, analysis, and aggregation of programme data, in compliance with Mercy Corps' data protection and responsible data policies.
• Ensure monitoring approaches are protection-sensitive and responsive to the confidentiality and safety needs of beneficiaries in a trafficking and irregular migration context.
• Work with the MRELA Manager and programme staff to ensure activities are on track against targets, surfacing data-driven concerns through regular planning and review meetings.

EVALUATIONS AND ASSESSMENTS

• Support the planning, coordination, and supervision of programme assessments, evaluations and thematic research.
• Contribute to the development of Scopes of Work (SoWs), survey instruments, sampling methodologies, data collection protocols, and analysis frameworks for evaluations and assessments.
• Assist in the recruitment and training of data collection teams and enumerators.
• Supervise data collectors, and ensure they adhere to ethical and data protection standards.
• Support or manage the recruitment and day-to-day supervision of external evaluation consultants where required, ensuring deliverables meet quality standards and timelines.
• Contribute to and review evaluation reports, ensuring findings are evidence-based, clearly presented, and accompanied by actionable recommendations.

REPORTING

• Coordinate results reporting with consortium partners, tracking deadlines and ensuring adherence to reporting formats, indicator definitions, and quality standards.
• Support the timely production of donor reports, compiling, analyzing, and synthesizing quantitative and qualitative results data and contributing clear evidence-based narrative against agreed performance indicators.
• Review partner reports for data accuracy, completeness, internal consistency, and alignment with the programme's monitoring framework before consolidation and submission.
• Maintain well-organized documentation of all monitoring data, evaluation reports, and supporting evidence, ensuring all reported results are traceable to source documentation.

LEARNING, ADAPTATION, AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

• Maintain an up-to-date database that accurately reflects progress against programme indicators and learning outcomes, ensuring data is accessible to the programme team.
• Support facilitation of regular programme reflection and learning events to enable the team to analyse monitoring data and translate findings into adaptive management decisions.
• Document and support dissemination of programme lessons, good practices, and emerging insights in accessible formats for internal and external audiences.
• Contribute to the programme's learning and research agenda, supporting the identification of priority learning questions and the design of activities to address them.

CAPACITY BUILDING 

• Assess MEL capacity gaps among grantees and provide targeted training and coaching to build their ability to implement programme monitoring tools, manage data accurately, and produce quality reports.
• Support grantees in developing and maintaining effective MEL systems that meet programme standard.
• Build the capacity of all relevant team members to implement program-monitoring tools, accurately enter program data into relevant databases, and use monitoring evidence in programme planning and decision-making.
• Advise on and support the testing and adoption of appropriate digital technologies to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and security of MRELA functions.

STAKEHOLDER COORDINATION

• Maintain an active advisory relationship with the programme team, guiding staff toward robust, relevant, and ethical data collection practices at all stages of programme implementation.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with partner MRELA focal points to support coordinated MRELA activities.
• Participate in ongoing MRELA advisory and support activities for BSP programme staff and local partners, providing feedback on data quality and results at key programme milestones.
• Represent the MRELA function in programme planning and review meetings, presenting data-driven insights to support evidence-informed decision-making.

OTHER

• 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 or programming activities.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Safeguarding responsibilities 

• Actively learns safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility

Enumerators from time to time.

Accountability

• Reports Directly To: Programme MRELA Manager.
• Works Directly With: MRELA Manager, Programme leads; Programme partners and sub-awardees; programme leadership

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills   

• Bachelor's degree in social science, statistics, business administration, or a relevant field.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in programme monitoring and evaluation in an international development, humanitarian, or related context.
• Solid understanding of MEL concepts and frameworks, including programme logic, results chains, logframes, theories of change, and participatory monitoring approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to implement quantitative and qualitative data collection tools and working knowledge of sampling techniques.
• Strong data analysis skills; ability to work with both quantitative and qualitative datasets.
• Demonstrate knowledge of at least one data statistical analysis package (SPSS, STATA, Python, etc.)
• Experience with digital data collection platforms (preferably CommCare)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; ability to present complex data clearly and accessibly for diverse audiences.
• Experience working in counter-trafficking, migration, protection, or security-related programming is desirable.

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Programme / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is seeking a Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation (MRELA) Manager for the FCDO-funded Border Security Programme (BSP).  Irregular migration and associated criminal activity in East Africa remain a complex and escalating challenge which leads to significant exploitation of vulnerable people on the move.  The planned East Africa Land Borders Programme will take a multifaceted approach – integrating ‘prevention’, ‘prepare/protect’ and ‘pursue’. An important purpose of this programme is to support the pursuit of human traffickers and smugglers who are exploiting vulnerable populations on the move.  Initial interventions will take place in the Kenya border regions, with planned and phased expansion to Uganda, Ethiopia and possibly Somalia border areas.  

General Position Summary

The Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation (MRELA) Manager is a vital role within East Africa Land Border Programme and is responsible for cross-cutting programmatic information management, monitoring and evaluation, ensuring that evidence and information collected is reflected upon, used to improve ongoing programs, and is incorporated into consistently high-quality reports and programme adaptations. BSP is an adaptive, evidence-driven programme and MRELA results will drive programme direction. The MRELA Manager is therefore a critical and dynamic role integrated into the overall team to ensure efficient feedback and adaptation loops including through key programme review meetings.

The MRELA Manager supports the programme team in planning and execution of all monitoring and evaluation activities, ensuring quality in accordance with accepted standards, providing essential feedback for learning, accountability and decision making. The MRELA Manager ensures that the programme has a robust system in place to measure programme results, has a rigorous monitoring system that is regularly collecting performance data, that implementing partners have the skills to collect and report relevant data, and that monitoring and evaluation data is being used to inform programmatic decision-making.

The MRELA Manager works closely with the programme team to ensure that key research findings and learnings are effectively integrated and used for programme improvement.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND MRELA SYSTEM OVERSIGHT

• Ensure the programme's MRELA system complies with relevant Mercy Corps and FCDO policies, regulations, and guidelines; adapt the system design creatively to measure impact and assess evidence in a complex, adaptive programme context.
• Continuously review, refine, and maintain a fit-for-purpose MRELA system focused on utility and programme quality, providing the programme team and implementing partners with timely, actionable evidence to steer implementation, inform donors, and guide strategic decisions.
• Facilitate implementation of all MRELA activities as outlined in the programme's MRELA Plan.
• Collaborate closely with internal and external partners and stakeholders to ensure operational success across the consortium.
• Collaborate with programme management in regular review meetings to ensure monitoring evidence informs decision-making, including through comparison and synthesis of quantitative data, qualitative findings, and broader research evidence relevant to BSP's context.
• Work with programme management to proactively identify and address MRELA shortfalls that may impact programme outcomes; oversee the conduct of routine internal Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) and ensure actionable insights are implemented.

RESULTS-BASED MONITORING, DATA MANAGEMENT, AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

• Design, plan, and lead all MRELA monitoring activities; maintain and enforce standards for data collection in collaboration with implementing partners across the consortium.
• Coordinate and oversee implementing partners' MRELA efforts and any programme evaluation teams involved in data collection; ensure compliance with high data quality standards through regular reviews, field verification visits, and constructive feedback on methodologies and practices.
• Lead the collection, management, and analysis of all quantitative and qualitative data to assess programme performance and impact.
• Maintain overall responsibility for data quality control, including conducting systematic data verification, source document reviews, spot-checks, and other quality assurance activities to ensure all reported data is accurate, complete, and a true reflection of programme activities and results.
• Conduct regular site visits to programme locations to deepen understanding of activities, information needs, context, and emerging programme impact; triangulate monitoring data with field observations and partner reporting.

RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE GENERATION

• Support the design and application of qualitative research methodologies across the programme, while ensuring approaches are contextually sensitive and protection-compliant.
• Apply outcome mapping as a core framework for tracking behavioural and relational changes among the programme's partners.
• Use contribution analysis and other theory-of-change-based approaches to assess plausible links between programme interventions and observed outcomes.
• Triangulate qualitative and quantitative evidence to build a rich, multi-dimensional picture of programme performance and emerging impact; ensure qualitative findings are systematically documented and integrated into programme reporting and learning products.

EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENTS

• Lead and coordinate all programme evaluations and assessments and ensure rigorous instrument design, sampling, methodology, enumerator coordination, data analysis and quality outputs.
• Ensure gender, equity, and social inclusion (GESI) considerations are systematically integrated into evaluation design, data collection tools, analysis, and reporting.
• Facilitate results discussions and sense-making workshops following evaluations and assessments, supporting the programme team in interpreting findings and developing evidence-based recommendations.

LEARNING, EVIDENCE USE AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

• Lead the development and implementation of the programme's Learning Agenda.
• Facilitate structured learning and reflection processes to enable the BSP consortium to draw evidence-based insights and translate them into adaptive management decisions in a timely manner.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a knowledge management system that captures, organises, and disseminates evidence and lessons learned throughout the project to both internal and external stakeholders through appropriate channels and formats.
• Contribute to the development of high-quality learning products for internal programme use and for sharing with the external stakeholders.
• Support the programme team in embedding adaptive management practices, enabling systematic and documented adjustments to programme design and implementation in response to monitoring evidence, learning, and changing contextual conditions.

REPORTING

• Support the programme team in timely and accurate reporting; hold overall responsibility for providing results data, evidence, and analysis for all project reports including monthly, quarterly, annual, and final reports, in close coordination with the the programme’s leadership.
• Ensure all reported data is accurate, well-documented, and traceable to source documentation.
• Coordinate results reporting across consortium partners, ensuring adherence to required reporting formats and quality standards, and providing guidance and feedback to partner reporting teams.

DATA SYSTEMS

• In collaboration with relevant IT and data systems teams, serve as the programme's technical lead for management of data systems and real-time data flow, utilising appropriate software platforms for data collection, processing, visualisation and storage, and to enhance evidence utilisation and accessibility.
• Ensure robust data security and participant data protection measures are embedded across all data collection, storage, transfer, and sharing systems, in compliance with applicable data protection regulations.
• Train implementing partners on digital data collection platform use and support them in setting up dashboards and performance-tracking tools.
• Develop and optimise MRELA workflows and data pipelines to ensure efficient data collection, management, analysis, and reporting, while facilitating clear communication and collaboration among team members and partners.

CAPACITY BUILDING & TEAM DEVELOPMENT

• Assess MEL capacity gaps among consortium an downstream partners and provide targeted training and coaching to build their ability to implement programme MRELA tools, manage data accurately, and produce quality reports.
• Provide implementing partners with MRELA-related information, tools, and resources to enhance performance and achieve programme objectives.
• Collaborate with partner MEL staff to strengthen partner-level MEL systems, ensuring they are capable of meeting programme data quality and reporting requirements.
• Build the capacity and professional development of the MRELA team through regular coaching, mentoring, structured feedback, and workload support, nurturing a high-performing and learning-oriented team.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

 Actively integrate safeguarding principles and risk mitigation measures into all MRELA.

• Embed participant data protection standards across all data collection, storage, and sharing systems; ensure enumerators, field staff, and partners understand and adhere to data protection requirements.
• Uphold the values of Mercy Corps, including respecting the dignity and well-being of all participants and team members.
• Foster a culture of openness and accountability within the programme; encourage team members to report safeguarding or ethical concerns through appropriate mechanisms.

Supervisory Responsibility

MRELA Officer and CARM Officer

Accountability

• Reports Directly To: Senior Quality and Compliance Manager
• Works Directly With: Implementation and Partnership Manager, Programme Outcome leads; Programme partners and sub-awardees; Communications Specialist, Safeguarding focal points;

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our programme participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills   

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, monitoring and evaluation, statistics, international development, or a related field. A Master's degree in a relevant discipline is preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in programme monitoring, evaluation, learning, and adaptation, including designing and managing MEL systems, leading evaluations and assessments, managing MEL teams, and building staff and partner MEL capacity.
• Expertise in qualitative research methodologies, including outcome mapping, contribution analysis, participatory approaches.
• Demonstrated experience in mixed-methods research and evaluation, including experimental and quasi-experimental quantitative designs; ability to utilise statistical software for quantitative data analysis alongside qualitative analysis tools.
• Proven experience designing and managing baseline, mid-term, and endline evaluations, household surveys, and primary data collection exercises, including sampling methodology design and survey instrument development.
• High degree of digital literacy; demonstrated proficiency in at least one quantitative data analysis package (SPSS, STATA, R) and experience with mobile data collection platforms, preferably CommCare.
• Strong understanding of responsible data practices, data protection, and data security requirements, with demonstrated experience integrating these into data collection tools and field protocols.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; demonstrated ability to produce high-quality analytical reports and learning products, and to present complex findings to diverse audiences.
• Strong interpersonal, organisational, and team management skills; demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Excellent creative and conceptual skills.
• Track record of strong commitment to sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives and working as a team.

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The Position

The Senior Operations Coordinator is key person within the operations team, who coordinates effective program support. They share the overall responsibility for the coordination of Mercy Corps Kenya Administrative, Logistics, ICT, procurement and security functions under the direct supervision of the Country Director.

Essential Responsibilities

PLANNING

• Support program planning and proactively identify forthcoming operational and logistical resource needs.
• Enhance operational systems by collaborating with program teams to ensure seamless rollout, understanding, and consistent use of established processes.
• Coordinate facilities and office administration, IT, asset management, fleet operations, warehousing, and procurement functions.
• Work closely with program and finance staff to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps policies, Government laws and donor regulations.
• Coordinate program teams and other departments to clearly understand their roles in relation to operations by facilitating training, regular coordination meetings, procurement planning, and problem-solving initiatives that contribute to timely and effective program implementation.
• Partner closely with finance and compliance teams to identify and mitigate risks related to fraud, conflicts of interest, and potential legal issues arising from Mercy Corps’ activities.
• Support in developing operational budgets for country programs, contributing to both proposal development and broader financial planning.
• Represent the operations function, engaging in relevant external coordination forums such as Logistics Clusters, NGO working groups, and security platforms etc

SUPPLY CHAIN

• Coordinate logistics tenders, including vendor management and post-award performance monitoring.
• Guide operations teams on supply chain processes and responsibilities.
• Support Forecast monthly logistics costs for field offices to support budgeting.
• Assist in oversight and quality control in procuring durable equipment, with Operations Officers.
• Provide support for warehouse management and program stock tracking.
• Flag supply chain bottlenecks for resolution.

TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS

• Coordinate fleet requirements, effective planning, pooling, acquisition, insurance, and disposal.
• Oversee fleet documentation (logbooks, contracts, insurance) while ensuring proper maintenance of Mercy Corps vehicles and monitoring the condition of hired vehicles.
• Coordinate supply processes for vehicle-related consumables and accessories, including fuel, spare parts, toolkits, and first aid kits.
• Regularly review customs procedures and documentation, identify reliable freight forwarders, and track both domestic and international shipments.
• Provide logistics support to program teams while maintaining strong service standards.

ADMINISTRATION & FACILITIES

• Coordinate Mercy Corps’ facilities’ needs (offices, residences, and warehouses), including leases, contracts, and administrative policies, ensuring they meet staff and program needs.
• Supervise construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of all facilities to ensure they remain safe, functional, and compliant with organizational standards.
• Help ensure ICT systems are functional
• Monitor energy usage and backup systems at facilities.

ASSETS

• Oversee maintenance of accurate records of assets and equipment in line with policy.
• Coordinate tracking of equipment and inventory needs and disposal processes.
• Ensure all equipment and inventory are properly maintained and meet Mercy Corps’ safety and security standards.
• Support staff in proper use of organizational assets.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of asset management policies and procedures.

SECURITY AND SAFETY

• Support implementation of country security procedures
• Help collect and share safety information with teams.
• Assist in delivering security briefings to staff and management.
• Track and document safety incidents for reporting.
• Ensure offices comply with OSH requirements

TEAM COORDINATION

• Support in strengthening skills, clarifying roles, and career development in the Operations Team.
• Provide support in operations team activities, ensuring adherence to segregation of duties.
• Set clear expectations and provide regular feedback through one-on-one engagement and performance reviews.
• Assist in recruitment, onboarding, and supervision of team members as needed.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Administration Coordinator, Operations Officer, ICT Officer, Procurement officers.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Director

Works Directly With: Country Programme, Finance and Operations teams

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• BA/Supply Chain or Procurement, Finance, Business Administration or equivalent in relevant field
• At least 6 years’ experience with at least three years management experience in an INGO sector, including experience in operational support.
• Proven supervisory ability and/or technical skills combined with leadership.
• Experience in managing logistics, procurement and administrative processes.
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills, ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a very sensitive environment.
• Skills in managing, organizing, planning, and implementing assigned tasks under pressure with frequent and tight schedules.
• Strong ability to apply good judgement and decision-making skills in difficult and complex working environments.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills in handling management and coordination issues independently.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, especially MS Excel and Word.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• A demonstrated ability to multi-task and process information into action so as to not delay program activities.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required
• A clear understanding of procurement ethics and donor compliance is essential