We invest in women in 17 conflict-affected countries around the world as they rebuild their lives. We invest where inequality is the greatest by helping women who are forgotten— the women survivors of war and conflict. We help them learn the skills they need to rebuild their families and communities, and to transform their lives. The women in our direct delivery programs engage in community cohorts who learn to save, build businesses, understand their rights, improve their health, and participate towards transformation for themselves, their families, and communities. For 30 years, Women for Women International has used an integrated approach to innovate; we are a learning organization that listens to data, our country teams, and women themselves to constantly evolve and improve the way we work. 

Since 2002, we have operated in five provinces of Afghanistan. Participants of our program receive vocational training for jobs like animal husbandry, tailoring and knitting, participating in savings and self-help groups, and learn to invest in their businesses as they receive stipends. Through this curriculum, they prepare to earn an income and invest in savings. They are trained by our team to embrace and defend their rights, support decision-making in their households, and create social change in their communities. WfWI programming includes men’s engagement, where male family members and community leaders are engaged as allies and key supporters.

WfWI also support grassroots and local organizations, led by women community leaders, to gain access to resources and capacity-strengthening that improves their ability to respond to their organization and their community’s self-identified priorities. Globally, WfWI advocates to ensure that women’s participation, voice, and leadership are central to the long-term changes we’re driving. Through listening to women, we build the evidence base to engage decision-makers at every level in a transformative effort to sustain an enabling environment for women in conflict-affected contexts. 

Purpose of the Role

The MERL Officer is responsible for coordinating the monitoring and evaluation activities in Parwan through implementation of WfWI’s established MERL strategies and guidelines, including working closely with the Program team to capture all relevant data and information from program participants throughout the program cycle and ensuring the correct use of field data collection tools, coordination of data collection, and field data processing and reporting.

Engagement

• Assist the Acting Sub Office Manager in developing Country Office framework and schedule of implementation for all components of the MERL system.
• Assist Program team with the enrollment of women into the program as required, highlighting any errors to be corrected in subsequent enrollments.
• Assist the Acting Sub Office Manager to train other members of staff or contractors to carry out data collection tasks and completion of M&E forms as needed.

Delivery

• Participate in community assessment and pre-selection of new participants and collect and record information as required.
• Attend and oversee the intake/ registration process with MERL Assistants.
• Ensure the accurate completion of forms by MERL Assistants to include Baseline-Enrolment Forms for the sampled participants as they enroll in the program; Evaluation Forms for the sampled participants as they are finishing their 12-month program cycle; Graduate Follow-Up Forms for a select sample of women one and two years after their graduation from the program and report to MERL Manager for approval
• Conduct and oversee Focus Group discussions with participants for mid-term assessment, ad-hoc surveys and studies and submit a report with findings to sub office manager and M&E manager as well as any pertinent observations about the focus group discussion process.
• Participate in any monitoring visits, evaluations or impact studies as required.
• Participate in regular field visits to observe program activities and identify areas where adjustments are needed for better MERL reporting.
• Sharing MERL reports to Acting Sub Office Manager and MERL Manager on regular bases and attend follow up meetings if needed.
• Attend and support stipend and/ or cash assistance distribution process in coordination with program team (MERL assistants may be delegated to do so)
• Attend meetings with MERL team as well as other meetings which are requested by supervisor.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date filing system with coordination of MERL assistants.
• Supervise the MERL Assistants and provide support, training and coaching as needed.
• Follow the WfWI Performance Management Framework with each direct report to set annual performance objectives and development plans, complete the annual performance appraisal, and conduct regular 1:1 meeting to review progress throughout the year.
• Implement and monitor the training schedule in all TCs and record the key findings of program.
• Submit monthly and Bi-Weekly reports to MERL and Sub office manager.
• Attend team’s meetings and justify the key findings of program with Program Manager.
• Assist the program team in stipend distribution monitoring the participants and the transparency of stipend distribution and cash assistance.
• Keep and updating the data base of delivery lists of all TCs after stipend distribution.
• Keeping the records of all participants (picture, ID cards, agreements, IPP form and booklets) in data base.
• Keeping the MERL tools update and timely review the tools.
• Any other tasks assigned by Supervisor.

Other Responsibilities

All our staff are required to adhere to WfWI’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies and to our organizational values: Empowerment, Integrity, Respect, Resilience.

Bachelor’s degree and Functional experience capacity to process and oversees transactions or services.

At least three (3) years of relevant work experience, preferably in the NGO sector.

Good administrative and organizational skills.

Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently.

Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team.

Ability to work with minimum supervision and under pressure to meet deadlines.

Good analytical skills and ability to present data and analysis in a clear manner.

Good computer skills in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Email.

Must be attuned to the particular situation and needs of the women in the program so as to communicate effectively and give proper advice.

Fluency in Dari/Pashto required (reading, writing and speaking); English language skills an added advantage.

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