Mercy Corps is announcing an opening for the position of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant.Background/General description of role:Alliances SJ is focused on sustainable, durable poverty alleviation and facilitating the transition to a market economy that has been underway since independence in 1991. Sustainability is ensured through market driven initiatives with local actors in the livestock-sub-sector in which more than 80% of the population of the programme area is engaged. Durability is ensured by addressing gender issues by working to increase women's access to markets, initiatives in DRR through local self-government, and other community stakeholders in order to prepare for and minimize the impact of livelihood shocks from natural disasters. Community engagement with local self-government is achieved through DRR interventions at community level as well as through the development of food-safety and hygiene processes.Alliances SJ implements systemic interventions in Samtskhe-Javakheti and newly in Kvemo-Kartli. These are aimed at strengthening the provision of services, information and inputs as well as improving capacity and organization of the value chain. To achieve this, Alliances SJ is working with:

** Service Providers

** Trainers, advisors and extension providers

** Information providers

** Farmer groups

** Processors of meat and milk

** Traders, wholesalers and intermediaries.

The Alliances SJ program is working to implement a comprehensive agriculture based market development project. As a result, the project has many activities/interventions that are being implemented in various areas of the livestock and dairy sub-sectors, all of which much be monitored for impact.

Essential job functions:

As the program uses a broad value chain development approach (M4P) that does not involve working directly with the target beneficiaries (in this case small farmers), the monitoring of the program outputs requires attention to detail in order to measure plausibly attributable benefit. In this case "attention to detail" encompasses data collection; entry, synthesis, and analysis along with surveying and research to help the program better understand how the Samstkhe-Javakheti livestock market works and underlying market constraints.

In order to properly implement and report on the program's progress, Alliances SJ has a comprehensive system for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) that is in line with the reporting needs of the donor and helps direct the day-to-day operation of the program.

The position will be based in Tbilisi but infrequent field visits are possible.

Activities:

The assistant will provide the following support to the Alliances SJ program:

** Developing M&E Documents for Interventions (Results Chain, Monitoring plan, Summary of Supporting Research etc) and ensuring M&E system compliance with DCED standard

** Supporting data management for Monitoring & Evaluation

** Developing survey methodology

** Analyzing and reporting survey results;

** Reviewing application forms and investment plans

** Other activities, as requested by the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer or Program.Requirements:

** Bachelor's or Master's Degree in economics, agriculture or any related field;

** Work experience in related field is an advantage;

** Strong technical and analytical skills;

** Experience in developing research methodology and conducting research;

** Fluency in Georgian and English, Russian is a plus;

** Ability to travel frequently to Samtskhe-Javakheti Region of Georgia;

** Ability to work both as a team member and independently.

Applications should be sent to: hr@mercycorps.ge no later than 25 February 2014.

source:www.jobs.ge