US Monitoring and Evaluation Research and Resource Development Intern

Tracking Code: 218580-927

Job Description

INTERN WORKSITE LOCATION:   Portland

DATES OF INTERNSHIP:   June/July, 2013

LENGTH OF INTERNSHIP:   3 - 6 months (as available)

 

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THE INTERNSHIP:

Mercy Corps responsibilities

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

• Computer
• Work Station
• All required office supplies
• Access to DL, Clearspace, etc.

Intern responsibilities

Intern will remain responsible for all costs associated with:

• Housing in Portland
• Travel to and from Portland
• All other costs associated with this internship

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Mercy Corps has made a commitment to strengthening its capacity and systems agency-wide to monitor and evaluate programs effectively, based on the twin principles of field-focused measurement and balancing rigor with utility. The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learing team leads this effort by 1) facilitating a network of more than 100 M&E-focused field staff worldwide linked together through an active, web-based Community of Practice; 2) technical support from HQ-based M&E experts; 3) development of a comprehensive suite of resources including guidelines, tip sheets, and template tools for data collection and management and analysis (DM&E in a Box); 4) an initiative to articulate agency progress towards mission achievement (Mission Metrics). This team is also engaged in independent research and operates from an agency-wide research agenda to explore key questions and test theories, while promoting quality research and evaluation designs in program development.

The internship is designed to support and help develop the activities of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning team to carry out these functions. He/she will work with the 4-person team on any of a range of tasks, including capacity building and development among agency and field staff; revising or developing new DM&E training resource materials (e.g., survey design, data analysis, sampling, data collection methods, etc.); assisting in data analysis, research, or tool design as needed; or participating in the team’s efforts to promote the use of and learning from research, evaluations, and program findings. Tasks may be assigned based on the interests and skills of the intern candidate, and as needed by the organization. Specifically, the tasks may include:

• ‘DM&E in a Box’ Resource Development: The resources available in the Box are ‘tip sheets’ designed to help guide program staff in carrying out basic DM&E functions.  We have evolved as an agency and are working on updates to many of these tools (such as Sampling, Survey Design, Data Analysis, etc.), as well as the development of new ‘tip sheets‘ (possible topics, Data Collection Methods,Managing Evaluations, Cost/Benefit/Efficiency Analyses, basic statistics, Evaluation Quality Checklist, etc.).
• M&E Capacity Building: We are in the process of creating a DM&E Professional Development track for field DM&E staff. This will involve creating an HR database for identifying and tracking members of the DM&E Community of Practice, identifying training and professional enhancement opportunities, and facilitating the advancement and retention of our talented field staff.  In addition, we are developing a set of principles and policies around Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research for which we will need to provide even more aggressive training and support. 
• Research: As needed, the intern may support the Director of Research 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 may help the MEL team in initiatives related to knowledge management and organization learning – the effective use of findings from program reports, research, and evaluations, for improving program design and implementation, and agency understanding. 

OBJECTIVES:

It is expected that the intern will gain extensive learning in international development and specifically program evaluation (aka monitoring and evaluation).  Mercy Corps provides a vibrant learning environment, rich with opportunities for creative contribution.  The intern will gain exposure to multiple and varied types of approaches to supporting and tracking field-level monitoring and evaluation (M&E).   The intern will learn about the challenges of conducting M&E in developing countries and get an in-depth grounding in indicators and data use in the field.    He or she will also be exposed to an innovative new performance measurement system designed to inform the agency on its mission-critical results and improve M&E practice agency-wide. 

DELIVERABLES:

Deliverables will be defined in coordination with the prospective intern to meet his or her specific skills and interests, but may include one or more of the following:

• Revision of select DM&E Tip Sheets (with MEL team participation)
• 2 new DM&E Tip Sheets on research/data/evaluation topics (with MEL team participation)
• Developing an HR database for tracking DM&E practitioners across the agency
• Project-based data analysis for Director of Research
• Co-hosting a webinar on a training topic, a review of evaluation findings, or another agreed-upon topic.

IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:   

• Graduate student in international development, social sciences or other related field with interest in research, evaluation, and data analysis
• Advanced coursework/experience in program evaluation, research methods and statistics
• Detail-oriented
• Highly adept with various software, including spreadsheet, database, data analysis, presentation, statistics. 
• Good interpersonal/communication skills

LIVING CONDITIONS:

This position is Portland-based. Housing is not provided, but assistance in obtaining housing can be provided.   The Mercy Corps office is centrally located in downtown Portland and easily accessible by public transportation from all four quadrants of the city (northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast), as well as neighboring towns.

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. Staff 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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