Senior Mel Coordinator at Mercy Corps

(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.  

Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.

Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data) 

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, for the future.

The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)

Mercy Corps implements a variety of programming throughout the Africa Region in response to the diverse humanitarian and long-term development needs of the region and is committed to delivering high quality, high impact programming that reaches communities or individuals in need, wherever they are. Mercy Corps has been operating in Tanzania since June 9, 2011, implementing a range of programs in food security, livelihoods, and peacebuilding. Currently, Mercy Corps’ portfolio includes the DREAMS (Delivering Resilient Enterprises and Market Systems) program, which addresses entrenched poverty among families in Western Tanzania, particularly those affected by protracted displacement and limited livelihood opportunities. The GIRL-H (Girl Improving Resiliency Through Livelihood and Health) program, implemented in Kigoma, equips vulnerable youth and women with life skills, gender awareness, and business training, while linking them to market systems and employment opportunities (MSD4E). Additionally, AgriFin works to close the inclusion gap for smallholder farmers by expanding access to affordable, demand-driven financial services and products that boost productivity and household income. We work closely with the private sector, civil society, and governance structures at local and national levels to facilitate change and ensure that opportunities are inclusive for all Tanzanians.

The Position (General Position Summary)

The Senior MEL Coordinator will contribute to the quality assurance of program implementation and ensure that the program is meeting its deliverables, as well as developing tools and reports to demonstrate the impact and results of program implementation. S/he will develop and maintain data management systems. The Senior MEL Specialist is responsible for supporting Mercy Corps staff and partners MEL Focal Points to regularly collect, enter, verify, and analyze data and work with the MEL team to make timely adjustments to measure the impact of the DREAMS program and to ensure MEL data is accurately incorporated into all organizational reports and information products. S/he will ensure the collection and analysis of useful, timely and actionable information for managers and decision-makers, and contribute to the frequent review, reflection, and key learning processes to improve performance. S/he will ensure Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism (CARM) system is operating and feedback is used for program adaptive management.

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND OVERSIGHT

• Provide strategic direction and oversight of the MEL function for the DREAMS program, ensuring alignment with program objectives and donor expectations.
• Lead the periodic refinement of the MEL Plan, results framework, and program indicators.
• Ensure that the MEL system supports adaptive management, quality assurance, and learning across all program components.
• Embed MEL into program planning, design, and implementation, working in collaboration with implementing partners and private sector.
• Ensure program compliance with Mercy Corps’ MEL minimum standards and industry best practices.
• Work closely with program leadership to ensure that MEL insights inform strategic decisions and stakeholder engagement.

MONITORING, REPORTING AND EVIDENCE GENERATION

• Design and implement an effective monitoring system, including tools and templates to ensure timely, accurate and consistent data collection and reporting.
• Oversee the collection, validation, and reporting of program performance data against output, outcome, and impact indicators.
• Lead routine data quality assessments (DQAs), quarterly program review sessions, and field monitoring visits across all project locations, and that monitoring reports are shared with the program
• Facilitate timely preparation of internal and donor reports, including monthly and quarterly program performance reports.
• Coordinate program assessments, evaluations, and other studies, while ensuring adherence to ethical standards and informed consent procedures.
• Coordinate the collection of success stories, case studies, and other qualitative evidence of program impact from Mercy Corps teams, local implementing partners, private sector organizations for program learning and external visibility.

DATA MANAGEMENT, ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION

• Lead the design and management of digital systems for data collection, storage, and analysis to enhance program decision-making and impact measurement.
• Ensure strong data governance and compliance with data protection policies, including secure tracking of program participants and consent protocols for all forms of data.
• Oversee the Azure-based data automation system, ensuring database synchronization across implementing partner platforms and DREAMS’ central platform.
• Support and promote the use of digital data collection platforms, particularly CommCare.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using tools such as Power BI and MAXQDA to generate dashboards, visualizations, and reports for internal and external use.
• Facilitate collaborative data interpretation sessions with program teams to inform decision-making.
• Conduct regular field visits to assess MEL system functionality, address challenges, and recommend improvements.
• Coordinate system corrections and operational adjustments with field teams and partners; document solutions and follow-up actions.
• Ensure program achievements are reported via Tola Data, and other platforms as required.
• Maintain and update the program database, ensuring clear documentation, user protocols, and system manuals.
• Troubleshoot technical issues, including front-end/back-end errors and synchronization challenges, providing support to partners as needed.

COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING MECHANISM (CARM)

• Oversee the implementation and continuous improvement of Mercy Corps Tanzania’s Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism (CARM), ensuring multiple accessible and functional feedback channels are in place and widely promoted.
• Coordinate with program and partner teams to ensure community awareness of program objectives, entitlements, and available feedback channels.
• Manage the CARM database and ensure feedback is documented, graded, tracked, and responded to in a timely and respectful manner.
• Support the development and localization of community sensitization materials to promote awareness of CARM.
• Ensure CARM processes are gender-sensitive, inclusive, and aligned with Mercy Corps’ accountability and Do No Harm principles.
• Facilitate the use of community feedback to inform adaptive management and enhance program quality.

LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

• Facilitate implementation and periodic review of the program’s Learning Plan, in collaboration with the program team and implementing partners.
• Coordinate periodic learning events, reflection sessions, and other learning activities as necessary to collect learning insights from partners and facilitate evidence-based decision-making.
• Ensure that lessons learned throughout the project are captured and communicated to internal and external stakeholders through appropriate channels.
• Assist in facilitating integration of lessons learned into program design, adaptation and implementation.
• Contribute to organizational learning by documenting adaptation processes and programmatic innovations that inform Mercy Corps’ global knowledge base and practice.

CAPACITY BUILDING

• Mentor program staff to foster a culture of data use, critical reflection, and learning.
• Develop and implement MEL capacity-building plans for program staff, local partners, and private sector partners.
• Conduct MEL trainings, coaching, and technical assistance sessions, with a focus on practical application and quality improvement.
• Provide ongoing support to partner MEL focal points to ensure harmonized and quality data collection, reporting, and learning.

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

Supervise the team under the MEL Section

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Manager

Works Directly With: DREAMS Deputy Program Manager, Consortium Partner’s, DREAMS program Coordinators, Field Operations Team and Private Sector Partners M&E staff, including other program stakeholders.

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.

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