Ethiopia - Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management Intern

Tracking Code: 218562-927

Job Description

INTERNSHIP TITLE: Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management Intern

INTERN WORKSITE LOCATION: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

DATES OF INTERNSHIP:   June –August 2013 (flexible)

LENGTH OF INTERNSHIP: 2-3 months

Mercy Corps responsibilities

For the duration of this internship assignment the intern will receive:

• Accommodation in country
• Computer
• Work Station
• All required office supplies
• Ground transport to and from field locations in Ethiopia

The Intern will remain responsible for all costs associated with:

• Visa fees
• Living costs
• International Flights and Transport
• Medical Insurance
• All other costs associated with this internship

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Mercy Corps is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization operating in Ethiopia since 2004 in the sectors of Emergency Response, Sustainable Peace and Development, and Economic and Markets Development. Mercy Corps currently has programs in the Regions of Somali, Oromiya, Addis Ababa and SNNP, and works through the principles of Accountability, Participation and Peaceful Change. Mercy Corps employs a community-led, market-driven approach as it works with partners at the community, government, private, and research institution levels.

Ethiopia remains one of the most food insecure countries in the world. In large parts of the country, food availability depends upon complex pastoral livelihood systems to make efficient use of scarce natural resources to support livestock herds. However, as human populations are growing, livestock productivity is declining. Conflict and recurring drought further contribute to the decline in pastoralism. To cope, many families are adopting sedentary agricultural practices and migrating to towns and urban centers. This movement reflects the chronic nature of a crisis that is exacerbating community vulnerabilities and placing growing pressure on local systems. That’s why Mercy Corps, with our partners, is undertaking integrated market development approaches that combine lifesaving assistance with efforts to enhance broad based resilience.

The Intern will work with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning team on training, knowledge management, and research, such as survey design, data analysis, sampling, data collection methods, and others according to agency need and the Intern’s skills or interests. The intern would support multiple programs within Ethiopia including our Pastoralists Areas Resilience Improvement and Market Expansion (PRIME). This 60 month program will directly benefit 250,000 households in the Afar, Oromia and Somali regions. All our activities are market driven. We will stimulate increased productivity and competitiveness in the livestock and livestock products markets by investing in animal health services, nutrition, and natural resource enhancement; increasing market access; and help to streamline government policies and procedures, strengthen trade associations and disseminate research so as to improve the investment level enabling environment for these market initiatives

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• It is expected that the Intern will gain extensive learning in our work to build greater resilience and develop new sources of income on complex natural resource and climate change issues.

• The Intern will gain from examining multiple and varied types of programs to supporting and tracking country and field-level monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

• The Intern will also gain practical work experience by providing hands on training focusing on specific work outlined by the DM&E support team.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES:

The Intern will acquire training skills in participatory and qualitative design, monitoring and evaluation.  They will develop their skills by undertaking baseline, and/or livelihoods studies, analyzing and/or reviewing of evaluation findings. The Intern will work with the country DM&E to develop performance management plans and a database that enhance measuring the impact against objectives and indicators.

• DM&E Resource Development.  Will work with the DM&E team to coordinate and implement a strategy to develop resource materials. Review and refine existing monitoring tools to effectively assess projects’ performance (data collection formats, checklists, etc.).
• Research.   As needed, the Intern will gain experience and work with DM&E, the Communities of Practice (CoPs), and Program Directors in desk research/literature reviews, or provision of statistical and/or data analysis support review of existing internal resources and program materials, and other duties as needed.
• Knowledge Management.   The Intern will work with the DM&E team in initiatives related to knowledge management and organization learning through the effective use of results and evaluations for improving program design and implementation, and agency understanding. Support DM&E team in developing case studies and success stories to better articulate qualitative changes as a result of MC programs.
• ·
  • Develop curriculum and train the DM&E team on skills in quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and reporting.
  • Review and provide recommendations for refining existing data collection tools to effectively assess projects’ performance (questionnaires, checklists, etc.).
  • Develop/ document program evidence (with DM&E team participation). A specific program would be identified for the Intern to document evidence.
  • Develop at least two case studies/success stories to better articulate qualitative changes as a result of MC programs.

IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Advanced/Graduate degree or current coursework in International Development, Economics, Statistics, or other related social sciences with interest in research and data analysis
• Advanced coursework/experience in research methods and statistics
• Minimum 1 year of active work experience in development programming required; ideal candidate will have both theoretical and practical background in M&E and skilled in qualitative and quantitative M&E methodologies and techniques.
• Detail-oriented
• Highly adept with various software, including spreadsheets, databases, data analysis, presentation, and statistics 
• Good interpersonal/communication skills
• English fluency required

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This internship will be based out of Addis Ababa with field travel. Addis Ababa is the political and commercial heart of Ethiopia. Founded by Emperor Menelik in 1877, it is now a sprawling, hospitable city of 4 million people located at an elevation of 2,200 meters in the foothills of Mount Entoto. Modern buildings and wide-open boulevards stand side by side with historic churches, palaces and monuments as well as simple country-style huts. Addis Ababa has basic health services and adequate international schools, K-12. There are ample opportunities for in-country vacations. The weather is temperate year-round with a heavy rainy season in the summer months. Addis Ababa hosts many international organizations including the OAU, the Economic Commission for Africa and other multi-national bodies, many of which have their headquarters there.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of 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.

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