Details of MERL Coordinator

Job description

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT – MERL Coordinator

Equal Access International (EAI) is an international not-for-profit organization working in several countries in Africa and Asia. With a regional office in Nairobi, we have implemented programmes in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Djibouti. 

EAI creates customized communications strategies and outreach solutions that address some of the most critical challenges affecting people in the developing world in the areas of peacebuilding and transforming extremism; championing gender equality and women’s empowerment; and governance and civic participation. We help communities around the world drive sustainable and transformative change through our proven participatory media, technology, and outreach model. By designing solutions with communities, our programming is locally owned and culturally resonant. We build communication ecosystems that take root and thrive, create platforms that elevate marginalized voices, and build locally led movements that shift power, inspire normative change and promote creative, positive, and innovative solutions to social issues.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Nabadaynta Soomaaliya (also known as ‘Nabadaynta’) works with both security and justice providers, and the people they serve, to help create a safer, stronger Somalia. The programme recognizes the critical role that improved safety, security and access to justice has in establishing the foundations to lasting peace and political settlements in Somalia. The period of performance of the project is from July 1, 2023, to March 31, 2026.Nabadaynta will support Somalis to identify and articulate the challenges they face in accessing security and justice and to develop joint solutions that lead to visible, practical change in their experience and trust in the security and justice systems. Through approaches that enable informed and inclusive dialogue and negotiation, the programme seeks to transform how individuals, communities and institutions in Somalia can work together to create fairer, more efficient, and more accountable systems for security and justice.  

POSITION  SUMMARY

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Coordinator will report to the MERL Lead. He/She will support overseeing the design, implementation, and management of the monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning activities within the programme. The MERL Coordinator will support in developing and implementing strategies, systems, and processes to effectively monitor and evaluate programme performance, generate evidence-based research, and facilitate learning and knowledge sharing.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

I. Programmes 

• Work directly with the Area Manager and the other programme team to plan and implement activities that will contribute to the Nabadaynta objectives. 
•  Contribute to project planning, ensuring activities are designed, managed and implemented in a timely and high-quality manner, according to current workplans.
• Represent the program on behalf of EAI and the consortium to government officials, community leaders and partner organisations.
•  Contribute to the development of training resources for local change champions and community groups that are aimed at increasing their capacity to respond to localised challenges. 
•  Provide support to partners in the delivery of trauma healing sessions aimed at addressing historical grievances and the impact of Somalia’s conflict history.  
• Conduct regular field visits to partner activity sites and provide support, mentorship while monitoring activity implementation progress. 
• Support the development of program reports and learning products such as flyers and brochures, power point presentations that will be disseminated during learning events. 
• Maintain excellent relationships and proactive collaboration with other implementation partners, beneficiaries, government institutions and other stakeholders. 
• Support consortium members to roll out training plans for local media partners and track feedback from audiences. 
• Manage community-based radio listening sessions and support participants to identify and implement action activities from these sessions. 
• Ensure ongoing monitoring of project activities by ensuring adherence to a data collection plan and creating reports with accurate and timely information.
• Travel to program sites when and as required.  
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2. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Review and translate monitoring checklists into local languages and track programme activities against those checklists. 
• Support local partners in conducting activity monitoring tasks
• Contribute to IP2 MERL plans including results frameworks, project plans, strategic plans etc.
• Maintain close coordination with the MERL Manager by routinely providing quality, learning and accountability reports and information. 
• Carry out routine field visits to monitor program activities / interventions against quality checklists and produce & share reports alongside IP2 consortium team members. 
• Coordinate with the MERL manage to capture impact stories through outcome harvesting in coordination. 
• Encourage learning by sharing and using acquired knowledge, skills, attitudes and technology that is conducive to improving programme performance.Support the MERL manager in data collection for the quarterly and annual donor reports.
• Attend monthly technical and milestone review meetings with local partners. 

Skills and qualifications

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES   

•  A resident of Jubaland states of Somalia and based in Kismayo.
• At least an undergraduate Degree in a related field (International Development, Peace & Conflict Studies, Gender) or relevant field experience.
• At least 5 years of experience delivering security and justice programmes preferably with an understanding of norms and behavior change concepts.  
• Proven track record of successfully implementing similar projects in Somalia or in a similar geographic, conflict and political context.
• Previous work-related experience promoting social, and behavior change with Somali populations, and/or communities in similar contexts with a focus on identification of social norms influencing behavior and attitude change.Community mobilization skills with a particular focus on working with influencers and change champions.
• Strong interpersonal skills 
• Fluent written and spoken English and Somali required

How to apply

Interested and qualified persons are requested to send their Application Letter and Curriculum Vitae to eaieastafrica@equalaccess.org on or before Sunday 11th May 2025 at 5 pm EAT, with the job title as the subject. 

Apply to eaieastafrica@equalaccess.org