Emergency Monitoring Evaluation & Learning (MEL) and Communications Officer

Position: Emergency Monitoring Evaluation & Learning (MEL) and Communications Officer
Location: Nuwakot, Nepal
Position Status: Full-time, Contract

About Mercy Corps

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. Now, and for the future.

The Program Summary

On 26 August 2026, a glacier and rockfall avalanche near the Rasuwagadhi border triggered a catastrophic debris-flow flood along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli corridor, severely affecting Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading, districts. Search and rescue operations led by NDRRMA and other responders are ongoing. The disaster has resulted in significant loss of life, injuries, displacement, and extensive damage to infrastructure and livelihoods. Thousands of affected people are facing critical shortages of shelter, water, food, and sanitation supplies. Mercy Corps Nepal is responding to the disaster supporting the affected families with immediate relief and enabling recovery.

The Position (General Position Summary)

The MEL and Communication Officer support Mercy Corps Nepal’s Emergency Response Program by ensuring monitoring, evaluation and learning systems meet organizational standards, and that program results, learning and best practices are effectively documented and communicated to internal and external stakeholders. The role works closely with the Emergency Response Coordinator, Country MEL Focal Person, and partner to strengthen data quality, participant tracking, and reporting compliance, while also leading communication and knowledge management functions from donor- and media-facing materials to internal learning platforms in line with Mercy Corps’ branding and quality standards.

Essential Job Responsibilities

The specific duties and responsibilities of the MEL and Communications Officer include, but are not limited to, the following:

ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING

• Support/lead Rapid Needs Assessments (RNA) and contribute to Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessments (MSNA) to inform targeting and response design.
• Conduct real-time monitoring of response activities against targets, flagging targeting errors, pipeline breaks, or access gaps for immediate correction.
• Design and conduct Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) for cash and in-kind assistance, verifying timeliness, amounts received, use, and continued relevance of transfer values against market prices.
• Develop compressed, workable MEL frameworks appropriate to the response timeline, and facilitate After Action Reviews (AARs) to document lessons for subsequent response phases.
• Ensure Mercy Corps’ MEL minimum standards are rolled out and followed across the project/program.
• Build project team capacity on MEL systems, tools and standards.
• Plan and facilitate learning events and support thematic teams in capturing and synthesizing field-level learning.

DATA COLLECTION AND QUALITY

• Design and deploy lean, digital-where-feasible data collection tools appropriate to the acute response phase.
• Conduct data quality checks and spot verification to ensure reported figures are accurate and defensible.
• Apply data protection protocols appropriate to the heightened vulnerability of affected populations, including consent and secure storage of PII.

ACCOUNTABILITY

• Work closely with Country CARM focal person to establish and manage Community Accountability and Response Mechanism (CARM), ensuring safeguarding and protection concerns are identified and referred immediately.
• Ensure community feedback reaches decisionmakers and informs response adjustments in real time.

COORDINATION AND REPORTING

• Contribute to 4W/5W coordination reporting to relevant clusters and government entities to avoid duplication and coverage gaps.
• Track output indicators against cluster standards and produce timely situation reports and donor updates in required formats and timeline.
• Support Emergency Response Coordinator to prepare periodic progress updates, reports and stories, in collaboration project team, ensuring government and donor compliance.
• Review project guidelines, documents and resource materials, and prepare shareable resources aligned with Mercy Corps’ and donors’ branding guidelines.

COMMUNICATION AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

• Develop and implement a communication plan to document and disseminate program processes and results to stakeholders.
• Prepare clear, concise, and compelling reports, presentations and communication materials, and manage internal and external communication channels.
• Identify and engage key audiences donors, participants and partners through targeted communication strategies and build media relationships to secure positive coverage.
• Serve as a technical lead for communication and knowledge management, designing and implementing effective tools and mechanisms with the wider team.
• Capture and document program learning and best practices and organize best-practice-sharing workshops and knowledge products for internal and external audiences.
• Ensure all communications, outreach and visibility materials comply with the Mercy Corps Nepal Branding Guideline.
• Collect, structure and maintain project information including a standard information package for internal, external, government and media audiences, ensuring materials remain current and accessible.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility : N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Emergency Response Coordinator
Works Directly With: Country MEL focal person, CARM Focal person, and partner’s team members.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies/Management, Mass Communications, or a related discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
• At least 3–5 years of experience in MEL, communications and/or knowledge management with I/NGOs and/or private sector organizations working in disaster risk management, humanitarian assistance.
  Experience designing and implementing MEL systems, including analyzing and promoting the use of collected data.
• Demonstrated experience with digital data collection technologies and web-based platforms.
• Knowledge and practical understanding of accountability, particularly to communities and program participants.
• Previous experience of building MEL capacity, including developing training tools, training, coaching and mentoring.
• Communication and knowledge management design and implementation skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English and Nepali, including report writing, analysis and editing.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation and representation skills, demonstrated ability to work effectively across multi-cultural, ethnically diverse teams and stakeholders in sensitive environments.
• Ability to work in complex environments under tight deadlines and changing donor requirements.
• Good computer skills, including MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and online research/information gathering.
• Photography and videography skills an added advantage.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality humanitarian programs. S/he will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.

The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short-term assignment to a field posting. 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.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Nuwakot, Nepal.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Team Engagement and Effectiveness

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster 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.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain 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 for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to The Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).