POWERED BY POSSIBLE The world is more fragile than ever. Food shortages have left millions of people hungry, while violent conflict has sent millions on the run. From poverty and malnutrition to natural disasters and climate change, it’s easy to see a world of insurmountable challenges. Instead, we see an opportunity to create transformative change. We see the world differently. In crisis, we believe in the power of human potential. In struggle, we believe in the ability of communities to grow stronger. So we act differently. We understand that communities are the best agents of their own change and local markets are the best engines of long-term recovery. In more than 40 countries, we partner to put bold solutions into action, helping people triumph over adversity and grow stronger from within. For the refugee who dreams of rebuilding her country, for the mother who wants a healthy future for her children — for millions of people filled with the power of possibility —Mercy Corps connects people to the resources they need to build better, stronger lives. We create transformative change. Mercy Corps has responded to nearly every global emergency over the past 20 years. Since 1979, we have provided $3.7 billion in lifesaving assistance throughout the world. Each year we infuse millions of dollars into local economies through small business loans and grants to provide livelihoods for the world’s most vulnerable people. We are empowering more than 100,000 youth trapped by violent conflict to overcome the profound stress of war and become change makers in their communities. We are powered by the belief that a better world is possible. Join us.

Description

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. Mercy Corps’ Sudan crisis response seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Sudanese and other conflict-affected people across the country. Mercy Corps Sudan is recognized as a leader in market systems, agricultural, and food security. Mercy Corps is scaling up to reach upwards of 300,000 conflict affected people with multi-purpose cash assistance, targeted voucher programs, in-kind and services provision across the country.

The Cash Consortium of Sudan (CCS) is a collaborative platform to advance a progressive vision of the potential of cash assistance to transform humanitarian response and recovery in partnership with vulnerable conflict-affected populations. CCS is led by Mercy Corps, building on its global experience and learning on leading cash consortia in multiple country contexts, as well as general expertise in cash coordination and breadth of technical resources. International partners include Acted, CARE, CORE, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Concern, GOAL and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), each of which bring strong cash and complementary technical competencies, as well as expansive operational coverage in Sudan. The CCS also includes twelve Sudanese NGOs as partners in alignment with global aid sector commitments to enhance the prominence of local actors in driving humanitarian response and recovery. IMPACT is a non-implementing partner dedicated to Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning strengthening. IMPACT will support quality data systems, and an objective evidence base that will be essential to CCS’ accountability and adaptive management to refine programming approaches to enhance impact as the Sudan crisis context evolves. The CCS will work closely with other consortia and actors in Sudan to deliver an effective CVA response for communities affected by the crisis. The core pillars of the CCS response include: 1) basic needs through cash assistance both at the community level through Group Cash Transfers (GCTs) delivered to Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), as well as at the household-level through Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA); 2) strengthening market systems to ensure resilience of key market actors and supply chains as well as strengthening the availability and affordability of key commodities; 3) strengthening capacity of local partner organizations with an emphasis on accompaniment and mentorship; and 4) generation of learning and evidence to inform broader response efforts.

Purpose / Project Description:

The Senior Data Analyst will analyze data collected through regular MEL activities, assessments, or additional data collection processes to understand the needs of conflict-affected populations, strengthen evidence-based approaches, support the research agenda, and conduct exploratory data analysis that provides insights and guidance to program design and implementation teams. In addition to core MEL datasets, the Senior Data Analyst will also support the analysis and visualization of data produced outside of standard MEL processes—such as network coverage or access constraints—with the aim of progressively integrating additional data sources, including (at a later stage) insights from common systems related to financial service provider (FSP) performance and availability. Together with the Technical Lead on MEL Technologies, the Senior Data Analyst will support the constant improvement of the automated system, focusing on Azure Pipelines to improve visualization, accuracy of dashboards, and enhance near real-time data visualization for program results and data trends. This role will enhance advocacy and learning activities by producing evidence-based products, maximizing data utilization across program components (Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance -MPCA-, Group Cash Transfers -GCTs-, and Protection), and transforming data into compelling narratives. The Senior Data Analyst will also identify data gaps, conduct spot-checks, advise on data improvements, and ensure alignment with national research and analysis initiatives to inform the humanitarian response effectively.

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will:

Data Analysis, Visualization and Reporting

Compile, clean, and analyze program data to produce quarterly analysis reports to support Pause and Reflection sessions, focusing on beneficiary profiles (e.g., demographic, economic, needs, and food security patterns) and outcomes from key CCS programmatic components and coordination strategies such as referral pathways. Generate monthly analyses for advocacy reports to be shared with donors, Mercy Corps HQ, and other stakeholders—highlighting key needs, response actions, and programmatic trends emerging from CCS implementation, in line with evolving advocacy priorities. Conduct geo-statistical analyses and create GIS-based maps to visualize programmatic data, including beneficiary locations, referral pathways, and needs-based trends, supporting area-based programming approaches. Develop and maintain high-quality, interactive dashboards in Power BI—ensuring accessibility, functionality, and visual clarity for key users including CCS partners, donors, and coordination platforms. Produce monthly fact sheets to be presented to donor representatives in Advisory Group meetings. Provide cleaned and analyzed datasets for regular donor reporting (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual) and periodic surveys (baseline, endline, PDM). Support the CCS MEL Manager on the development of statistical models and sampling approaches, including targeting and eligibility criteria for MPCA and GCTs. This includes contributing to the design of more robust sampling methodologies to strengthen the representativeness of Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) and other outcome monitoring activities. Develop frameworks for qualitative data analysis using information collected through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), ensuring these insights complement and deepen quantitative data to provide a holistic understanding of program impacts and trends. Contribute to the analysis and visualization of data generated beyond standard MEL activities—including market monitoring data, network coverage, access constraints, and contextual information such as conflict or displacement trends. At a later stage, incorporate data from common systems related to Financial Service Provider (FSP) performance and availability—to support strategic program decisions, advocacy, and adaptive management.

Data Quality Assurance and Cleaning

Design and implement harmonized data cleaning workflows and quality assurance checks, in collaboration with the CCS MEL Senior Officer and MEL focal points. Design and implement a structured procedure for identifying and resolving gaps in data collection and reporting. This includes reviewing workflows, improving CommCare tools, refining DQA protocols, and providing tailored recommendations to each partner based on identified gaps, with the aim of improving quality and harmonization across the consortium. Conduct regular data quality assessments and audits using established MEL standards (completeness, timeliness, validity, reliability). Liaise with CCS MEL Senior Officer(s) to provide tailored guidance on data validation and troubleshooting techniques, ensuring alignment with field-level practices. Collaborate with Senior Officers to improve data management actions by addressing field-specific challenges and enhancing the use of standardized tools and workflows.

System Integration and Automation

Leverage CommCare, Microsoft Azure, and Power BI to support automated data flows and streamline data transformation, analysis, and visualization processes. Develop and maintain standard Python scripts and apply machine learning techniques to support regular analysis of food security, household economic patterns and needs, demographic trends, and deduplication processes—enhancing accuracy, efficiency, and insight generation across programmatic data. Collaborate with the Technical Lead in MEL Technologies to optimize data pipelines and workflows and explore digital solutions for data integration. Ensure data protection protocols are upheld, particularly for centralized data storage and access management.

Capacity Strengthening

Develop training materials and deliver remote coaching to partner MEL teams on data cleaning, analysis, and dashboard use in collaboration with the CCS Technical Lead on MEL Technologies and the CCS MEL Officer. Produce technical documentation and SOPs to standardize key workflows (e.g., cleaning protocols, analysis templates, Python scripts). Assist partners in adopting best practices for evidence-based reporting and adherence to data protection protocols.

Collaboration and Learning

Work closely with the MEL Manager, Technical Lead on MEL Technologies and MEL Officer to align data analysis work with CCS’s learning and adaptation priorities. Contribute to MEL harmonization efforts, supporting data-driven decision-making and collaborative evaluation approaches across CCS partners.

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will:

Quarterly analytical reports with insights from registration, PDM, programmatic data, and relevant external datasets such as market monitoring, access constraints, and displacement trends.
Monthly advocacy analysis briefs tailored to donor and stakeholder priorities.
Up-to-date, interactive dashboards in Power BI, maintained monthly and accessible to key users.
Monthly GIS-based visualizations reflecting access, needs, and program reach.
Data quality assessment reports every two months, with actionable recommendations.
Sampling methodology proposal for Post-Distribution Monitoring and other surveys, adapted for evolving program scope.
Portfolio of automated Python scripts to support routine analysis and deduplication.
Training materials and documentation for partners’ MEL teams focused on data cleaning, analysis, and use of key tools and platforms.
At least three technical guidance documents (e.g., SOPs for deduplication, analysis or cleaning scripts).
Final consultancy report summarizing key achievements, tools produced, and lessons learned.

Note: All deliverables will be co-defined with the CCS MEL Manager and may be refined in response to changing needs during implementation.

Timeframe / Schedule:

June 2025 – May 2026 (approximately 1 year) The consultant is expected to be available for an average Level of Effort (LoE) of approximately 15–20 days per month, with some flexibility depending on the reporting cycle and deliverable timelines.

The Consultant will report to:

CCS MEL Manager

The Consultant will work closely with:

CCS Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Technical Lead in MEL Technologies, CCS MEL Officers, CCS Protection Manager, and partners’ MEL and Programmatic focal points at the state and national level

Required Experience & Skills:

BA/S or equivalent in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Economics, or a related field. Postgraduate degree in Data Science, Statistics, Public Policy, or related fields is strongly preferred.
At least 5 years of professional experience in data analysis, with a minimum of 3 years working in humanitarian or development programming in complex, conflict-affected settings.
Strong knowledge of statistics, including data analysis, modeling, and sampling techniques is essential.
Advanced expertise in statistical and data analysis tools and platforms, including Power BI, R, Python, SPSS, Stata, and GIS software such as ArcGIS or QGIS for geo-statistical analysis. Experience with Python-based data workflows is required. Familiarity with machine learning libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, Scikit-learn) and database building tools (e.g., SQL, PostgreSQL) is highly desirable.
Significant experience with data management systems such as CommCare, Microsoft Azure, and Kobo including integrating automated or machine learning techniques for deduplication and predictive modeling.
Proven track record in managing data systems to support multi-stakeholder initiatives, ensuring accuracy, scalability, reliability, and practical applicability.
Strong ability to develop clear, actionable insights and high-quality visualizations from complex datasets, focusing on demographic, economic, and programmatic needs.
Deep understanding of humanitarian programming, particularly cash and voucher assistance (CVA), protection, and market-based interventions, including referral pathways is desirable.
Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required.
Candidates must submit a sample portfolio of previous work (e.g., dashboards, data reports, code samples, visualizations) as part of their application.

Team Efficiency 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 that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different 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 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.

Consultancy - Senior Data Analysts – Cash Consortium of Sudan - Sudan

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