Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disasters, hardship, and in more than 40 countries around the world, Mercy Corps partners to put bold solutions into action, helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within, now and for the future.

Mercy Corps values diverse teams where every member feels they belong. The organization welcomes different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to strengthen its long-term impact.

In Tanzania, Mercy Corps has developed a strong and varied portfolio aimed at strengthening systems that allow men, women, and youth to access opportunities, participate in and contribute to economic development, and prosper in the face of social and ecological change. The organization also works to address structural causes of poverty and injustice.

Program and department summary

The Senior MEAL Coordinator will support two key Mercy Corps Tanzania programs: DREAMS Tanzania and GIRL-H.

DREAMS Tanzania

The four-year Delivering Resilient Enterprises and Market Systems Tanzania program provides creative solutions to help 150,000 naturalized refugees and host communities in the Ulyankulu, Mishamo, and Katumba settlements become self-sufficient.

DREAMS Tanzania combines two evidence-based models:

• Poverty graduation
• Market systems development

These models aim to help ultra-poor households regain the security and dignity that come with supporting their families.

GIRL-H program

Girls Improving Resilience through Livelihoods and Health is a multi-country program implemented in Uganda, South Sudan, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

The program aims to improve the well-being of:

• Adolescent girls
• Boys
• Young people with diverse identities who have unique needs and capabilities

GIRL-H increases access to:

• Skills and knowledge
• Health resources
• Formal education
• Economic opportunities

The program also works with communities to transform unhealthy social norms and create opportunities for young people to access education and economic opportunities through an integrated programming approach.

Purpose of the role within the programs

Mercy Corps Tanzania seeks to strengthen the monitoring systems, structures, and functions for DREAMS Tanzania and GIRL-H. This is intended to support effective reporting, adaptive program management, evidence-based implementation, learning, and improved Mercy Corps influence.

General position summary

Mercy Corps Tanzania is seeking an experienced Senior MEAL Coordinator to support the DREAMS Tanzania and GIRL-H programs.

The role will ensure the implementation of consistent standards, processes, and practices in:

The Senior MEAL Coordinator will work to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of MEAL across the two programs. This includes supporting effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes, strengthening the Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism, and coordinating key functions such as timely and quality internal and external program reporting.

The role will help build an environment of evidence-based programming and adaptive management. Working closely with Tanzania country leadership, the Senior MEAL Coordinator will support DREAMS and GIRL-H in program implementation quality reviews, tracking compliance with minimum standards, and working with program MEAL focal points to monitor the quality of MEAL data collection and analysis.

Essential responsibilities

Strategic leadership and oversight

The Senior MEAL Coordinator will:

• Provide strategic direction and oversight of the MEAL function for the DREAMS and GIRL-H programs, ensuring alignment with program objectives and donor expectations.
• Own the MEAL function end-to-end and serve as the primary MEAL voice in program-level meetings, partner engagements, and donor engagements.
• Build and strengthen the capacity of MEAL officers, focal point persons, and program staff across the DREAMS Tanzania consortium and GIRL-H programs.
• Ensure all MEAL activities and functions align with the Mercy Corps MEAL Policy.
• Lead MEAL coordination across a diverse range of consortium and private sector partners.
• Ensure that the MEAL system supports adaptive management, quality assurance, and learning across all program components.
• Embed MEAL into program planning, design, and implementation in collaboration with DREAMS Tanzania consortium partners and the GIRL-H program.

Monitoring, reporting, and evidence generation

The Senior MEAL Coordinator will:

• Oversee the collection, validation, and reporting of program performance data against output, outcome, and impact indicators.
• Lead the consolidation and management of the IPTT, ensuring actuals are verified, fully disaggregated data is collected, and updates are completed quarterly.
• Establish and manage clear data flow protocols across consortium partners, from data submission to analysis and validated updates in the master IPTT and Tola Data.
• Strengthen reporting of outcomes and impact beyond output metrics.
• Ensure findings are consistently incorporated into adaptive program management and decision-making.
• Design and implement an effective monitoring system, including tools and templates, to ensure timely, accurate, and consistent data collection and reporting.
• Facilitate timely preparation of internal and donor reports, including monthly and quarterly program performance reports.
• Coordinate program assessments, evaluations, and other studies while ensuring adherence to ethical standards and informed consent procedures.
• Coordinate the collection of success stories, case studies, and other qualitative evidence of program impact from Mercy Corps teams, local implementing partners, and private sector organizations for program learning and external visibility.

Data management, analysis, and visualization

The Senior MEAL Coordinator will:

• Oversee a multi-platform MEAL technology environment, including Comcare, Microsoft Azure, Power BI, and Tola Data.
• Drive automation, data quality, and data accessibility.
• Manage integrated partner and Mercy Corps data systems and establish reporting connections, including Salesforce, Azure, and Power BI, to deliver live donor dashboards.
• Support private sector partners in adopting and using Comcare data collection tools through training and ongoing technical guidance.
• Ensure strong data governance and compliance with data protection policies.
• Securely track program participants and ensure consent protocols are followed for all forms of data.
• Facilitate collaborative data interpretation sessions with program teams to inform decision-making.
• Conduct regular field visits to assess MEL system functionality, address challenges, and recommend improvements.
• Coordinate system corrections and operational adjustments with field teams and partners.
• Document solutions and follow-up actions.

Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism

The Senior MEAL Coordinator will:

• Oversee the implementation and continuous improvement of Mercy Corps Tanzania’s Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism.
• Ensure multiple accessible and functional feedback channels are in place and widely promoted.
• Coordinate with program and partner teams to ensure community awareness of program objectives, entitlements, and available feedback channels.
• Manage the CARM database and ensure feedback is documented, graded, tracked, and responded to in a timely and respectful manner.
• Support the development and localization of community sensitization materials to promote awareness of CARM.
• Ensure CARM processes are gender-sensitive, inclusive, and aligned with Mercy Corps’ accountability and Do No Harm principles.
• Facilitate the use of community feedback to inform adaptive management and enhance program quality.

Learning and knowledge management

The Senior MEAL Coordinator will:

• Operationalize the DREAMS and GIRL-H learning agendas in full.
• Facilitate regular results-and-reflection sessions with program staff.
• Coordinate the collection of success stories, case studies, and other qualitative evidence of program impact from Mercy Corps teams, local implementing partners, and private sector organizations.
• Produce evidence-based insights for strategic decision-making and donor communication.
• Lead documentation of best practices, lessons learned, and program adaptations.
• Ensure lessons learned throughout the project are captured and communicated to internal and external stakeholders through appropriate channels.
• Assist in integrating lessons learned into program design, adaptation, and implementation.
• Contribute to organizational learning by documenting adaptation processes and programmatic innovations that inform Mercy Corps’ global knowledge base and practice.

Capacity building

The Senior MEAL Coordinator will:

• Develop standard operating procedures and practical guidance to build institutional knowledge and reduce key-person dependency.
• Build private sector partner data capacity through practical tools, including simple templates, guidance notes, and data entry instructions tailored to partners with limited MEAL experience.
• Conduct team capacity building on MEAL, including orienting staff on field monitoring responsibilities, data use, and evidence generation.
• From time to time, provide technical support in hiring MEAL support teams for the DREAMS and GIRL-H programs.

Safeguarding responsibilities

The Senior MEAL Coordinator will be expected to:

• Actively learn safeguarding and integrate it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practice the values of Mercy Corps, including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourage openness and communication within their team.
• Encourage team members to submit reports if they have concerns using reporting mechanisms such as the Integrity Hotline and other available options.

Supervisory responsibility

The Senior MEAL Coordinator will provide administrative and technical supervision and support to the DREAMS Tanzania and GIRL-H MEAL focal point for capacity building.

Accountability

Reports directly to

• Program Manager

Works directly with

• DREAMS Deputy Program Manager
• Consortium partners
• DREAMS program coordinators
• MEL officers
• Field Operations Team
• Private sector partners’ designated M&E staff
• Other program stakeholders

Accountability to participants and stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, especially to program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and international standards guiding relief and development work.

Mercy Corps is committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of field projects.

Minimum qualifications and transferable skills

Applicants should have:

• Deep understanding of MEAL processes, systems, and standards.
• In-depth knowledge, skills, and experience with MEAL for market systems program measurements.
• Experience with poverty graduation programming, which is an added advantage.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation in market systems development programming, preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel and work in contexts with more basic amenities and diverse cultures.
• 3 to 5 years of experience managing large programs, or demonstrated ability to establish strong program management systems and practices to promote quality, performance, and accountability within individual or country programs.
• Demonstrated experience and skills in leading a team to build a culture of accountability, high performance, and reflective and adaptive management practices.
• Good knowledge and experience in staff capacity development on MEAL minimum standards.
• Fluency in English.
• Kiswahili language skills, which are an added advantage.
• Strong team coordination, listening, and consensus-building skills.

Success factors

The Senior MEAL Coordinator will play a critical support role during the DREAMS Tanzania and GIRL-H MEAL implementation period.

Working closely with the current DREAMS Tanzania and GIRL-H MEAL focal point and other consortium MEAL teams, the successful candidate will be expected to lead critical deliverables in refining the centralized MEAL system through completion with a solution-focused mindset.

The role requires the ability to use creative approaches to develop and implement innovative and effective ways to improve activity implementation.

Living conditions and environmental conditions

The Senior MEAL Coordinator will be based in Tabora, with frequent travel to implementation areas in:

• Tabora
• Kigoma
• Katavi

Field sites have commendable services and very good security. This position is not eligible for hardship.

Ongoing learning

Mercy Corps believes that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve.

To support this belief, Mercy Corps empowers all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and professional growth and development.

Team engagement and effectiveness

Mercy Corps’ mission begins with how the organization builds teams and collaborates. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, the organization strengthens its ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation.

Mercy Corps fosters a culture of trust and respect where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

The organization recognizes that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process and remains committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal employment opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants.

The organization does not discriminate based on:

• Race
• Color
• Sex
• Sexual orientation
• Religion or belief
• National origin
• Age
• Disability
• Marital status
• Veteran status
• Any other characteristics protected under applicable law

Safeguarding and ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals it comes into contact with through its work are treated with respect and dignity. This includes:

• Team members
• Community members
• Program participants
• Other stakeholders

Mercy Corps is committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. The organization has also signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

Mercy Corps will not tolerate:

• Child abuse
• Sexual exploitation
• Abuse
• Harassment by or of team members

As part of Mercy Corps’ commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to:

• Conduct themselves professionally.
• Respect local laws and customs.
• Adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct policies and values at all times.
• Complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and annually.