Consultant – Qualitative Indicators for MEL Manual – Remote At Mercy Corps

Background:

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

Through routine monitoring and evaluation Mercy Corps programs collect a wide range of data to inform adaptive management practices. A recent review of program MEL frameworks and MEL practices demonstrated that most of the data collected through program MEL framework are quantitative in nature. Although necessary, quantitative data is not sufficient because quantitative data is limited in its capacity to help programs fully understand participant behaviors, barriers, motivations, needs, how the program results are experienced by a variety of program participants, stakeholders and partners, and how exactly the change happens during program implementation. With our strategic focus on inclusive and resilient communities, understanding the experience of program participants in our programs more comprehensively is more important than ever. Therefore, Mercy Corps is inviting a consultant/s to work with us and develop a step-by-step manual that will help our programs to design, implement and use qualitative indicators for MEL and adaptive management practices. Mercy Corps hopes that the manual will serve as the basis for a modular self-paced training in the future and be available to all staff through the organization’s talent development site. Therefore, we are hoping that the manual will be composed of a number of modules and accompanied with self-assessment knowledge tests. This Scope of Work clarifies the expected outcomes and a recommended process, as well as the anticipated deliverables and timelines.

Purpose:

Approaches to monitoring programs and measuring results using qualitative indicators and methodologies have evolved significantly in recent years; as has the rigor of various tools, measures, and approaches to analyzing, visualizing, and communicating findings from qualitative data. Within the scope of this consultancy, we want to develop an A-Z manual for designing, collecting, and using qualitative indicators as part of a program’s more robust MEL framework for Mercy Corps programs.

Activities and Deliverables:

The deliverable of this consultancy is a manual (composed of several modules) that includes:

• a clear step by step process on how to design qualitative indicators as part of a program’s overall MEL approach, utilizing existing qualitative indicator PIRS, and suggesting new examples approaches as necessary (with examples relevant to the four outcome themes of Mercy Corps’ work);
• how to collect and manage (clean, organize) qualitative data as part of program MEL processes;
• how to analyze and report data on qualitative indicators by selecting appropriate analysis and reporting, visualization approaches, and how to use that data for adaptive management;
• tools, templates, examples, tip sheets that can help users identify appropriate data collection tools and approaches for the types of indicators
• technical advice on the do’s and don’ts of designing, and using qualitative indicators
• references to existing quality third party resources where quality materials may exist that advance the steps and concepts outlined in the manual
• self-administered knowledge checks and tests with an answer key, following each module within the manual to help Mercy Corps staff test their comprehension of the concepts and skills gained.

In 2021, Mercy Corps MEL team identified a set of Core Competencies, outlined below. It is expected that the manual will help to build as many as possible of the outlined competencies and provide tests to measure the extent to which its users master those competencies. The consultant/s may propose the set of competencies that the manual and tests will focus on and prioritize among this list.

1. Ability to identify the need for qualitative indicators given the learning priorities of a program
2. Ability to design qualitative indicators for program MEL, set baseline and targets, draft clear and concise qualitative indicator reference sheets (QIRS), including indicator definition, underlying learning questions, data sources, data analysis and synthesis, and information sharing
3. Ability to select appropriate qualitative data collection methods for indicators, integrate them in a program’s MEL processes
4. Ability to safeguard personally identifiable information and Demographically Identifiable Information (DII) through appropriate deidentification within qualitative data, organize manage qualitative datasets
5. Ability to select an appropriate qualitative tools and sample
6. Ability to conduct qualitative inquiries using a variety of tools and methods
7. Ability to analyze, visualize and report findings from qualitative data
8. Ability to design compelling qualitative data visualizations and use it to support communication of qualitative findings

Mercy Corps is currently developing a MEL technologies course that will cover use of MAXQDA for qualitative analysis and visualization, including coding strategies, as well as various analysis techniques. This manual needs to build on and elaborate on the MEL tech course Qualitative data analysis module.

The consultants may derive from existing quality third party and Mercy Corps’ own resources and must contextualize the manual within the thematic work of Mercy Corps programs. The core competencies outlined in the manual should be content-neutral, whereas examples need to be grounded within the four outcome themes of Mercy Corps’ work: food security, water security, good governance & peace, and economic opportunities. with a lens of inclusion, climate change and resilience.

Timeframe/Schedule:

The consultant will commence work no later than April 1, 2022 and conclude the final product no later than June 10, 2022. Below is the rough timeline of the deliverables with estimated duration of each task, which can be adapted with advice from the consultant/s.

Start/End Dates for Key Steps of the Study:

• Consultant/s contracted, Scope of Work and deliverables agreed – Mar 28 – 0 days
• Review of existing resources and materials; Interviews and FGDs with Mercy Corps staff members to identify the Mercy Corps specific examples that can be used for the manual – Apr 1-15 – 5 days
• Inception report submitted to Mercy Corps, reviewed, and finalized outlining the suggested manual content areas, list of tools and tests – Apr 16-25 – 1 day
• Manual draft, tests and answer keys written and shared with Mercy Corps for feedback – Apr 25-May 15 – 12 days
• Feedback received and incorporated – May 16-30 – 4 days
• Second draft submitted to review – June 1-5 – 0 days
• Final manual submitted to Mercy Corps for sign off – Jun 10 – 3 days
• Total number of days estimated for this consultancy – 25 days

Consultant reports to:

The consultant/s will work closely with the Mercy Corps’ Senior MEL Director and Technical Lead for MEL, as well as the MEL Advisors in HQ, regional and country offices.

Required Experience & Skills:

To be successful the consultant/s need to demonstrate the following qualifications and experience:

• 5-10 years of experience in relevant technical field (required)**
• MA, PhD, or a strong academic background in qualitative research methods
• At least 5 years of prior experience in implementing qualitative monitoring
• Demonstrated prior experience of developing tools, toolkits, manuals for MEL purposes
• Proven technical expertise in qualitative research, qualitative monitoring
• Strong familiarity with MAXQDA, Atlas.ti software packages for qualitative data analysis, visualization, and reporting
• Clear writing skills
• Fluency in English

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. 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.