Background of the Organization

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic Church-based non-governmental organization with a mission to accompany, serve and protect refugees and internally displaced persons–regardless of faith, race, ethnicity, or nationality. The main areas of work are in the field of education, emergency assistance, livelihood and social services. JRS is a non-profit venture of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) that was established in 1980. JRS works in more than 56 countries worldwide. It has committed itself in Ethiopia for almost four decades helping refugees from many places. JRS is now recruiting a dynamic individual to fill a role of MEAL Officer.  

Summary description of the position’s role

The JRS MEAL Officer is responsible for implementing and maintaining the country monitoring and evaluation (M&E) methodologies. The Officer will oversee the projects’ M&E plans in JRS-Ethiopia including the design and roll out of data collection tools, staff training, data analysis and the production of reports within JRS-Ethiopia. She/he will supervise the accuracy of Projects reports and data. The objective is to ensure that data on programme beneficiaries, processes, progress, and performance are effectively collected, entered, analyzed and documented, in a way to inform timely decision-making and the adoption of sound corrective measures.

Roles and Responsibilities

Implementation and supervision of M&E activities

• In collaboration with the Country Program Officer and Project teams, prepare the M&E Plan for on-going projects and new projects, including timeframe of activities, data collection methodology, tools to be used and expected delivery.

• Monitor the implementation of on-going and new projects and assure their adherence to the agreed processes and procedures: in collaboration with the Project team ensure the follow-up of projects indicators by sampling, collecting, and analyzing data, guaranteeing quality data and reviewing reports.

• Develop monitoring and evaluation tools and procedures to ensure quality tracking of project output and outcomes, including tools to assess impact of activities and beneficiary satisfaction (e.g., survey questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and analysis plans); Support all project teams in conducting monitoring and evaluation assessment and baselines.

• Regularly visit the projects and encourage learning based on best practices, lessons and feedback captured from beneficiaries to guide the design and implementation of JRS projects.

• Collaborate in programme/project proposals, aligned with JRS Standards; ensuring that relevant information from secondary data, assessments, monitoring, evaluations, and lessons learned are integrated in the proposals. Ensure that community inputs are considered in the project design process.

• Conduct training needs & impact assessment

• Ensure quality of trainings delivered to the beneficiaries

Support programming work of JRS at the country level

Keep track of projects undertaken in the country.

Collaborate in programme/project proposals, aligned with JRS Standards; ensuring that relevant information from secondary data, assessments, monitoring, evaluations, and lessons learned are integrated in the proposals. Ensure that community inputs are considered in the project design process.

Report-Proposal process

• In collaboration with the Projects Directors, ensure the follow-up of reporting priorities according to the timeframe as planned with the Country Program Officer.

• In collaboration with the Projects Directors, ensure that the reports are accurate, with appropriate data to measure the indicators and the quality of JRS intervention.

• Develop and adapt weekly and monthly quantitative and qualitative reporting tools and provide support to field-based staff in their use.

• Act as focal point for activity info and other quantitative donor reporting on Country level (Respond to queries on number of beneficiaries reached and other quantitative indicators);

• In collaboration with the Project Directors and other departments, contribute to the project proposal writing process, especially while writing output and outcome project's indicators, and monitoring plans.

• Generate updates on key performance indicators in the indicator tracking sheet and coordinate the implementation of quality assurance and control systems to ensure data accuracy, validity, and integrity.

Accountability

• Establish internal and external feedback and complaints mechanisms

• Orient and train staff on JRS accountability to affected population (AAP) framework

• Design and maintain the stakeholder integration and inclusion mechanisms;

• Through the monitoring activities, ensure feedback is addressed on time;

• When necessary, provide support to the project teams to conduct Survey, FGDs and KPIs to collect in-depth feedback;

• Ensure that feedback channels are functional and accessible, gender-age appropriate and that those feedback providers receive timely responses.

• Lead on the execution of and reporting the internal incidents investigations,

Organizational Knowledge & Learning

• Ensure all programs are capturing lessons learned and best practices and are being incorporated in program design and development.

• Maintain & appropriately share the conservation and ongoing update of the organizational archive and memory, as well as keep master data sources and databases safeguarded from possible data losses or breaches.

• Lead the production of relevant organizational intellectual productions, such as best practices and guidelines, and research summaries, and contribute to the development of training materials.

• Systematically and regularly facilitate learning sessions with Country program and MEAL teams by presenting the results of assessments, surveys, and evaluations and jointly formulating recommendations;

• Facilitate reflection sessions across all programs and promote a culture of self-learning and efficient planning;

• Make sure that MEAL findings and analysis are shared and accessible to the whole organization.

• Brainstorm and intervene in the events in which informative learning opportunities are potential and disseminate the findings among relevant team members..  

Planning, reporting and communications

• Conduct regular participatory assessments to identify Project ideas, risks and opportunities facing refugees and host communities in all the intervention locations.

• Prepare an annual action plan for the JRS-Ethiopia in collaboration with Country Officers, Project Directors, and Project Coordinators.

• Write periodic project-implementation reports (monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, and annually) on the JRS-Ethiopia Projects and share with the JRS Ethiopia Country Program Officer.

• Liaise with the Project Director and with members of the JRS Ethiopia Country Office, especially the Programs Officer to collect data for monitoring and evaluation. This shall include documentation of stories and appropriate photographic evidence that reflect the progress of the projects.

• Ensure coordination and information-sharing with all relevant staff at country and project levels within JRS, with any partner organisations, and with external resource persons.           

Professional Standards:

• All JRS staff are required to adhere to the JRS Code of Conduct and other policies like child safeguarding policy.

Job Requirements

 Required qualifications, experience, attributes, and competencies:

• M.A/M.Sc in Economic, Statistics, M&E, Project management, Development studies, Sociology and other social filed s any social field

• Minimum of 6 years’ experience in coordinating and implementing a programme in one of the following fields or something similar: Quality assurance, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Strong skills in assessment and analysis, including the ability to gather and analyse information in creative and participatory ways, and the ability to understand and use analysis tools, and to accurately record conversations and discussions, both content and outcomes.

• Design the project M&E system and related tools, clearly identifying performance indicators, users, and the utility of the data and information

• Adapt M&E tools as necessary to meet program and donor needs over the life of activity

• Oversee design of survey methods, data collection processes, and data quality assessments

• Train program staff, supervise M&E activities, and safeguard data capture and management processes

• Oversee the application of Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) principles to inform program implementation and management

• Engage staff, government, partners, and other key stakeholders in identifying project learning opportunities

• Analyse project data and performance and advise program management on performance challenges

• Contribute to written performance reports for the donor and other interested parties

• Work with grantees and partners to ensure accurate information flow, including guidance and support on grantee data collection, measurement, and reporting

• Solid knowledge of project-cycle management as well as skills in project design, with the ability to identify links between programming and conflict, and to develop theories of change.

• Computer literate, mainly in Microsoft Office package.

• Knowledge of statistical package software for analysis purpose (SPSS, STATA)

• Experience conducting research including designing written surveys, conducting interviews, and analyzing data

• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships

• Strong communication and presentation skills

How to Apply

Application: ONLY Ethiopian nationals and candidates with the above qualifications should submit their updated CV’s and copies of credentials (non-returnable) to: E-mail: eth01.hr@jrs.net; Make sure the file you share for the application shouldn’t exceed 5 Megabyte (File size)        

Compulsory Application procedure

Fill up the google form:  (Using the link indicated below: Only those filled the form will be considered in the next phase CLICK HERE

Closing Date: March 15, 2023

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted

Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply