Background:
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.
Purpose / Project Description:
Mercy Corps is responding to the crises caused by the devastating consequences of the war in Gaza. As of today, the alarming escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip has caused more than 30,000 deaths and 70,000 injuries among civilians and displaced more than 1.7 million people in multiple waves from North to Center, and then to South. 85% of Gaza’s population is internally displaced, with more than 1.5 million people sheltering in Rafah, which is now the most overcrowded governorate in the Strip (five times its pre-conflict levels). Part of Mercy Corps response is The Gaza Protection Consortium (GPC) which is an integrated humanitarian program that is run by a coalition of four organizations: Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) – lead organization, Mercy Corps, Humanity and Inclusion (HI), and Médecins du Monde-France (MdM-F). The GPC aims to provide aid to the most vulnerable populations affected by extreme poverty, humanitarian crisis, food insecurity, and violations of basic rights. The program provides
integrated cash assistance, protection, and health services, as well as preparedness activities to the people of the Gaza Strip.
Consultant Objectives:
The GPC MEAL Consultant will work under the guidance of the Consortium Chief of Party and the Mercy Corps Senior Advisor for Program Quality, Evidence, and Learning to support the quality development and management of the MEAL system for the Consortium as a whole, working closely with partners and building capacity across the Consortium. This includes coordinating existing MEAL processes, developing new tools and systems and working with partners to extract and analyze data. The GPC MEAL Consultant is hosted by Mercy Corps and serves all four Consortium partners in an equal manner. The Consortium MEAL Consultant is a member of the Consortium Secretariat, along with the Consortium Chief of Party and Consortium Finance and Partnership Coordinator (both hosted by NRC). The MEAL Consultant is also part of the Consortium Management Unit (CMU) and leads the MEAL Technical Working Group (TWG). He will work with the consortium MEAL teams as well as Mercy Corps Emergency Response (ER) team and partner organizations.
Consultant Activities and Deliverables:
The Consultant will:
- Chair and coordinate the MEAL TWG of the Consortium, including MEAL colleagues from all partners.
- Work with the MEAL TWG, including MEAL focal points from each partner, to develop and implement Consortium MEAL tools and processes needed to the current response of the GPC.
- Ensure coordination between the MEAL TWG, Chief of Party, and the other TWGs.
- Represent the work of the MEAL TWG at CMU meetings.
- Coordinate key existing MEAL processes and tools through the MEAL TWG, including joint baseline assessments and learning exercises.
- Ensure that joint MEAL processes are inclusive of all GPC partners and that everyone is kept informed.
- Support the partners’ MEL teams in drafting, proofreading, and reviewing the baselines, Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM), and end-lines.
- Own the overall Consortium indicator tracking tables and ensure monthly updates. Ensure that indicators are defined appropriately and where possible that methodologies are standardized between partners. Collect needed data on regular basis and maintain up-to-date ITT with supporting documentation.
- Advise on appropriate data collection and sharing technologies, including database storage and management, and contribute to its development and improvement.
- Lead the development and implementation of new joint MEAL processes and tools, working closely with the MEAL TWG and Consortium Manager.
- Support the design and implementation of assessments and other pre and post data collection and analysis across humanitarian emergency response in Gaza.
- Support the efforts on the development of MEL Plans, tools, survey design, methodology, data analysis, and other services as may be required for the Emergency Response monitoring and evaluation.
- Work to establish the systems and processes needed for effective information sharing on results and learning with the CMU, Consortium Steering Committee (SC), and other TWGs.
- Work with each key group in the Consortium (CMU, SC, TWGs) to identify, extract and formalize the information they need from the available data, particularly for communications, donor reporting, and fundraising.
- Test and deploy analyses of data to reinforce the programming and strategic objectives of the Consortium.
- Engage regularly with each group to identify their needs in terms of data and analysis.
- Analyze the consolidated consortium outputs (all components) to respond to reporting needs and specific requests from partners.
- Contribute to Consortium strategic thinking by substantiating relevant information in close collaboration with the Consortium Manager.
- Support the CMU and SC in managing and visualizing data that can help improve the Consortium practices and its reporting to donors and other stakeholders.
- Engaging with external stakeholders generating data such as OCHA, Clusters, Cash Working Group (CWG), etc.
- Monitor data generated by other organizations and identify what can be useful for the Consortium.
- In collaboration with the Consortium Chief of Party, liaise with other stakeholders to develop synergies for data collection and analysis.
- Other Essential Duties.
- Ensure that effective systems are in place for the adequate management of human resources, financial and operational field support functions.
- Review and support country team adherence to Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
- Capture and disseminate best practices on MEAL and Program systems across Mercy Corps and other GPC teams to ensure the highest quality and standards.
- Support Mercy Corps initiatives for human resources, including safeguarding and diversity, and talent development.
- Collaborate with Mercy Corps HR to access high-quality learning opportunities, with a special emphasis on national team member development.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Consortium Chief of Party and Mercy Corps.
Timeframe / Schedule:
The consultancy will be full time for a period of three months, from mid-November 2024 through mid-February 2025.
The Consultant will report to:
On a day-to-day basis, this role reports to the Consortium Chief of Party (hosted by NRC), but from a Mercy Corps administrative perspective, the role reports to the Mercy Corps Palestine’s Senior Advisor for Quality, Evidence, and Learning (QEL).
The Consultant will work closely with:
GPC Partner Representatives in Programs, MEL, Accountability, and Reporting Units
Required Experience & Skills:
- 5-10 years of experience in relevant technical field (required)
- Degree in Social and Human Sciences or Statistics.
- Previous experience in data management and data analysis.
- Strong ability to design MEAL tools, surveys, systems, and evaluations.
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience working with partners.
- Fluency in English and Arabic, both written and verbal
- Experience working with ECHO, GAC, CDCS, and other key donors’ rules and regulations.
- Very good communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
- Excellent organization, time management, and prioritization skills.
- Experience of creating and using MEAL tools.
- Experience of working within Consortium structures desirable
- Experience of working with GPC partners’, Mercy Corps, NRC, MdM or HI desirable
- Experience of working with the CommCare case management system desirable
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging 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.