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, and for the future.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps is implementing a DFID funded blended finance facility called NUTEC Financial Services (NUTEC FS). This facility is implemented in collaboration with a financial institution partner in Uganda and focuses on testing innovative products and processes to increase the availability of capital for SMEs working for the agriculture sector in northern Uganda. NU-TEC FS is part of a broader agriculture sector development programme that intends to unlock market failures that create barriers to growth in the agriculture sector in northern Uganda.
The programme’s theory of change dictates that a one-time capital injection can, in the short run increase affordable finance available to agribusiness in northern Uganda and in the long term demonstrate the opportunity and tested strategies of risk management that can catalyse an increase in financial services accessible to agriculture markets.
General Position Summary
NUTEC FS is implemented using a market systems development approach. This approach dictates that NUTEC FS monitor the product development and lending activities in real time to enable adaptive learning as the programme progresses and measure the impact of lending to target borrowers, toward programme’s overall targets.
For this purpose, Mercy Corps is recruiting a monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) manager that also has a good understanding of financial products and services. The MEL manager will be responsible for setting up the MEL systems at the partner financial institution and working closely with the credit and risk departments to ensure processes are followed as required. The data from the system will be utilised for evaluating success and learning from product delivery and capturing any evidence of successful agribusiness growth in northern Uganda.
The MEL manager will be the key person responsible for activities stated in the programme’s MEL measurement plan developed during its inception period and track progress toward the overall log frame targets. MEL Manager will have a critical role in ensuring market driven financial products are being developed and for publication of market information to key stakeholders. MEL Manager will work closely with Short term technical assistance provided by Market Systems Advisors, Communications Advisors, Financial Product Development Advisors and Marketing and Sales teams at partner financial institution.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Programme MEL
- Work with the NUTEC team at the Bank to include key indicators for data collection in lending process including loan applications
- Compile MEL data required for DFID quarterly and annual reporting
- Present risk register as part of quarterly reports
- Provide updated learning agenda for annual reports
Research and Learning
- Update NU-TEC FS learning agenda with Team Leadership
- Support data collection, analysis and presentation of data for 2 annual knowledge products, presenting programme learning – working with communications STTA
Product development support
- Support Team Leadership, Agri-Business Lending Unit and Financial Institution Partners during product development cycles with product evaluation data
- Work with Short-Term Technical Advisors(STTAs) to inform product development through data on lending and Agriculture enterprises
Supporting marketing teams
- Work alongside the research team at partner financial institution to support product research and innovation processes
- Work alongside the Financial Institution teams to identify new markets and agribusinesses
- Co-lead and support the bank team to conduct enterprise surveys through application processes
Data management
- Work with the bank MIS system
- Consolidate data from surveys etc.
- Manage programme MEL system
- Alongside the Team Leader, maintain the Risk Register
Donor reporting
- Support preparation and dissemination of monthly/ quarterly reports to donor, partner and Mercy Corps
- In liaison with the Team Leader, to make regular visits to field operations to assess the quality of the programme delivery
Team Management
- Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Coaching and guiding data enumerators hired for various roles.
Finance & Compliance Management
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
Influence & Representation
- Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
Security
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country
- Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
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 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
Data enumerators.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: NUTEC Financial Services Team Leader
Works Directly With: NUTEC Financial Services Team, Partner Financial Institution staff and Short-term Technical Advisors
Success Factors
The job holder should be a person of high integrity, proactive, highly flexible, empathetic, willing to learn, creative with innovative mindset, entrepreneurial in orientation and have passion for data analysis and financial services.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The MEL Manager will be based in Kampala, Uganda and it requires up to 40% travel to Northern Uganda.
Kampala provides a secure living environment. The location is secure with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. Staff have access to medical, electricity, water, etc.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. 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.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
Knowledge and Experience
- Minimum of Bachelor’s degree with focus on finance, economics or management
- 5+ years of professional experience in monitoring and evaluation. Experience in Uganda or the broader East Africa a plus
- 2+ years of experience in financial services related roles particularly and understanding of banking credit systems and processes. Experience in Agricultural Finance is an added advantage.
- Proven experience / training in financial analysis and modelling
- Able to identify key programme and Bank-level risks and raise them with programme leadership
- An interest in inclusive finance / agriculture finance a plus
- Experience working with Agriculture enterprises
- Capable statistician / data scientist
- Proficiency in MIS based data management a plus
- Good self-management and interpersonal skills
- Experience working in or for northern Uganda a plus
- Good written and oral communications skills in English Language
PI110956002
More Information
- Job City Kampala
