Consultant – After Action Review (AAR) Meta Analysis – Remote

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.

Emergency response and after action reviews at Mercy Corps: AARs at Mercy Corps are intended to strengthen organization-wide learning and promote accountability first and foremost to those most affected by the relevant response with additional accountability to donors and the public. Mercy Corps’ responses intend to rapidly meet the most urgent humanitarian needs in an effective, accountable and coordinated manner, supporting local responders where and when possible as our first response. AARs are not an in-depth evaluation or assessment of performance but should provide insight into what went well in the response as well as what can be improved, including broad trends, and issues that need systemic examination.

Purpose

The purpose of the meta analysis is to highlight trends from five years of Mercy Corps’ emergency response, crisis management, and complex programs learning documents to inform changes (policy, operations or structure) to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of emergency response at Mercy Corps. The meta analysis should include a review of all available after action reviews (AARs), real-time evaluations (RTEs), and lessons learned completed for emergency responses, crisis management, and complex programs (startups and evaluations) since January 2017.

The main objectives of this meta-analysis are to:

1. Provide a concise summary of recurring issues, lessons, and recommendations related to emergency and crisis response and program startup at Mercy Corps.
2. Develop key recommendations for required changes in process, systems or structures.
3. Link recommendations to the work of the Strategy Realization Unit’s Operating Model Advisory Group, including contributing to agency-wide structure / regionalization conversations, outlining common roadblocks and pain points, etc.

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will:

• Work with a Humanitarian Leadership & Response (HLR) Team Leader and the Senior Director to refine plans for the meta analysis, including main questions, information sources, and linkages to ongoing inter-departmental workstreams.
• Extract lessons learned and recommendations from a variety of information sources.
• Analyze data and develop recommendations.
• Synthesize findings in a narrative summary report and PowerPoint presentation.
• Support preparatory work to present findings in at least two sessions, including a Q&A session with the Executive Team in September 2022.

Consultant Deliverables:

• Summary report with recommendations (5 -10 pages)
• PowerPoint presentation of findings and recommendations

Timeframe / Schedule:

This meta-analysis will take place during the months of August and September 2022. Actual consulting days during this period are estimated at up to 15 consulting days, inclusive of:

• Confirm guiding questions and information sources
• Review and analysis of learning documents
• Final summary report and PowerPoint

The Consultant will report to: HLR Senior Director

The Consultant will work closely with: An HLR Team Leader will co-lead and support this meta-analysis exercise.

Required Experience & Skills:

• 5-10 years experience in a relevant field
• Previous experience with AAR-type learning exercises.
• Previous experience with data collection and analysis.
• Previous experience with workshop facilitation. Familiarity with Mercy Corps emergency response ways of working.

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

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. 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 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. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.