MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING (MEL) OFFICER

General Position Summary

The MEL Officer is responsible for implementing monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems for the program in assigned operational areas. The position supports high-quality data collection, verification, analysis, reporting, beneficiary accountability, and learning processes related to MPCA, referral mechanisms, post-distribution monitoring (PDM), rapid needs assessments (RNA), and emergency response activities.

The MEL Officer ensures that program implementation aligns with Mercy Corps MEL standards, DG ECHO requirements, consortium SOPs, data protection standards, and accountability commitments to affected populations

The MEL Officer will work closely with Program, Operations, Finance, CARM, and consortium partners to ensure accurate and timely monitoring information that informs evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management. The position reports to the Country MEL Manager.

Essential Job Responsibilities

monitoring, evaluation, & learning (MEL)

• Implement MEL systems, tools, and processes for MPCA, referral pathways, emergency response, and accountability activities.
• Support implementation of standardized consortium tools including vulnerability assessments, PDMs, rapid needs assessments, referral tracking, and protection mainstreaming monitoring.
• Conduct routine field monitoring visits to assess program quality, compliance, beneficiary satisfaction, and accountability standards.
• Monitor program indicators including Food Consumption Score (FCS), Livelihood Coping Strategies (LCS), beneficiary satisfaction, referral effectiveness, and protection mainstreaming indicators.
• Support baseline, post-distribution monitoring, endline assessments, spot checks, and data verification exercises.
• Ensure data collection activities are conducted according to approved methodologies, sampling approaches, and data quality standards.
• Conduct data cleaning, validation, and preliminary analysis using approved systems and software.
• Prepare regular monitoring summaries, dashboards, learning briefs, and internal analytical reports.
• Support adaptive management by documenting lessons learned, implementation challenges, trends, and recommendations.
• Assist in maintaining indicator tracking tables, reporting databases, and program evidence repositories.
• Ensure all program data is properly disaggregated by sex, age, disability, and vulnerability categories.
• Support development and updating of referral tracking systems and service mapping databases.
• Participate in after-action reviews, reflection meetings, and learning events with consortium and program teams.
• Ensure compliance with PM@MC minimum standards and Mercy Corps MEL policies.

COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY RESPONSE MECHANISM (CARM)

• Support implementation of Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanisms (CARM) across target locations.
• Monitor accessibility, confidentiality, inclusiveness, and effectiveness of feedback channels.
• Track, document, and follow up on complaints, feedback, referrals, and response timelines.
• Support analysis of community feedback trends to inform program adaptation.
• Ensure feedback loops are closed appropriately with communities and stakeholders.
• Promote safe, inclusive, and protection-sensitive engagement with affected populations.

Data Quality and Information Management

• Conduct routine Data Quality Assessments (DQAs), spot checks, and verification exercises.
• Support enumerator training and supervision during assessments and monitoring exercises.
• Ensure proper documentation and filing of MEL records, consent forms, monitoring tools, and datasets.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, data protection protocols, and Mercy Corps data handling procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality and secure handling of personally identifiable information (PII).

Coordination and Capacity Building

• Coordinate closely with Program, Finance, Operations, and consortium counterparts on monitoring and reporting requirements.
• Provide technical support and coaching to field teams on MEL tools, indicator understanding, and data quality standards.
• Support training sessions on accountability, monitoring tools, mobile data collection, and data quality procedures.
• Participate in consortium-level learning and coordination meetings where required.

Security

• Ensure compliance with Mercy Corps security policies and procedures.
• Conduct field activities in accordance with operational security protocols.
• Immediately report security incidents or operational concerns through appropriate channels.

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 toward accountability, specifically
  to our program participants 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.
• 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.

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country MEL Manager

Works Directly With: Program teams, CARM staff, Operations, Finance, Consortium MEL focal points, and Field Teams

 

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Social Sciences, Economics, Development Studies, Information Management, Public Administration, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in MEL, humanitarian programming, cash programming, or accountability systems.
• Previous experience supporting MPCA, emergency response, food security, or humanitarian cash programs strongly preferred.
• Experience conducting PDMs, assessments, data verification, and field monitoring.
• Good understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Experience using mobile data collection platforms such as Kobo, ODK, CommCare, or similar systems.
• Experience with Excel, Power BI, SPSS, STATA, or other analytical tools is preferred.
• Knowledge of accountability mechanisms and protection mainstreaming principles.
• Understanding of data protection and confidentiality standards.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong communication and coordination skills.
• Fluency in English and Dari required; Pashto strongly preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to field locations.