Background of IRC:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC leads the way from harm to home. Began work in Ethiopia, 1999 in response to severe drought that happened in Ethiopia’s Somali region. Currently, providing assistance in ten different regions implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

Job Overview/Summary: 

The MEAL Assistant is part of the MEAL department and will work closely with the field based RMEAL Office based in Melkadida and CRA Officer based in Addis Ababa. The MEAL Assistant will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of robust client feedback channels at their respective locations. These may include design and administration of surveys, focus group discussions, proactive and reactive feedback mechanisms. The MEAL Assistant will be responsible for aggregating client feedback, identifying key themes and challenges or opportunities to respond to, and presenting these to the management team for a decision on how to respond. The MEAL Assistant will also be responsible for recording and monitoring feedback, and for ensuring that the loop is closed, clients are informed of decisions taken. 

Major responsibilities include:

Ø  Feedback Planning and Implementation:

• Collect client feedback through various channels that IRC installs including community meetings, surveys, discussions, phone lines, suggestion boxes, SMS among others.

• Regularly update the Feedback Registry on everyday basis and raise cases including breach of IRC code of conduct, allegations of child abuse or sexual exploitation and other major programmatic complaints.

• Receive, record, and classify complaints for attention by the MEAL Officer and refer to the respective sectors.

• Collect response from the program staff on the feedback and communicate back to client.

• Facilitate the preparation of CRA logistics before field visits e.g. paper based data collection tools, promotional materials etc.

•  Ensure accurate and confidential filing of CRA reporting forms such as client feedback form, Feedback Registry, surveys, interview, minutes from community meetings, reports, datasets among others.

• Generate reports on the implementation and use of feedback channels, per sector, including limitations and challenges.

• Facilitate the establishment of feasible feedback channel and routine follow-up for its functionality.

Ø  Feedback Monitoring, Reporting, and Response:

• The MEAL Assistant will serve as hotline agent in assigned location and manage and responded to feedback provide through hotline channel.

• Present statistics on feedback received and feedback content in clear formats to highlight feedback trends to the program team, as well as synthesize qualitative feedback in ways which provide the detail that the program team will need to design an appropriate response.

• Analyze key findings, challenges, and opportunities for program improvement.

Ø  Project/program progress Monitoring & Reporting:

• Provide support to the MEAL Officer/Manager and collaborate with program to ensure routine data collection as per the MEAL workplan.

• Assist MEAL Officer/Manager and collaborate with program to update indicator tracking table (ITT) and client tracker.

• Provide required support to the MEAL Officer/manager in coordinating of data collection for post distribution monitoring, client verification assessment, and client satisfaction survey.

Job Requirements

Educational Requirements:

• BA degree or Diploma/Level IV in social science and other relevant field of studies

Work Qualification:

• 0-year experience for BA Degree and 2 years MEAL related work experience for Diploma/TVET Level IV holders in social science and related fields.  

• Proactively engage with clients and community members, acting as a community liaison focal point

• Driven and able to balance multiple tasks, commitments, and to work flexibly in a team.

• Creativity, curiosity and enthusiasm, and the ability to develop and test new ways of working and solutions to problems.

• Strong oral and written communications in local language and Amharic is required.

Desired experience & skills

• Working experience with refugees and/or IDPs, and an understanding of the feedback channels preferred by displaced people.

• Experience in implementing feedback channels. These may include surveys, FGD, hot lines, suggestions boxes, open feedback etc.

• Written and verbal communication in English is an added advantage.

• Passionate about humanitarian work and assistance. 

How to Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the

below IRC On-line recruitment website:

Register using this LINK

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

·         Name of the position you have applied for

·         Date of application

·         Summary of  your qualifications and experience

·         Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

·         Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address

·         Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

 IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.  IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowance

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.