The IRC is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Lead for anticipated multi-million-euro rapid response mechanisms. The RRM 2.0 Project MEAL Lead directly reports to the RRM 2.0 Senior Project Coordinator and leads the consortium’s MEAL working group (made up of MEAL focal points from each consortium member). She/he will contribute to overall program quality through the development, coordination, and implementation of enhanced monitoring and evaluation, accountability, and learning strategies. The emphasis is on streamlining processes and tools for efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability throughout the project cycle across the consortium's various sectors and partners.

The RRM 2.0 MEAL Lead will map what indicators will be tracked, methodologies, and tools for tracking performance indicators, including data analysis for the project. She/he will set up the data management system for the project according to information data requirements for evidence-based decision-making, and reporting and make sure program learning is documented and implemented. This will include further strengthening of data collection and analysis and ensuring quality compliance with donor requirements including reporting. She/he will provide ongoing support to strengthen respective MEAL mechanisms and contribute effectively to the RRM 2.0 projects' overall MEAL objectives. The MEAL Lead will also support during multi-sectoral needs assessment of the existing climate risks and conflict crises. She/he will support in identifying key learnings, managing knowledge, and further strengthening the capacity of consortium partners staff on MEAL, and he/she will assist the field team in all assessments, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of all aspects of their work.

Duties & Responsibilities

MEAL System Development and Management

• Ensure the development of MEAL plans, quality indicators, and logical frameworks with clear plans for data collection, analysis, and use of information based on key performance indicators for the RRM 2.0 project through the RRM 2.0 Consortium MEAL Working Group.

• Support RRM 2.0 Implementing organizations, (IRC and partners) technical team both at head and field offices in the development of a MEAL framework with indicators for output, outcome, and impact and, support the development of a strategy that informs effective program delivery by program staff;

• Ensure that the MEAL data (reports, baseline surveys, PDM surveys, and evaluations) are safely stored and accessible for RRM 2.0 Consortium project team, MEAL Technical Working Group (TWG) members, partners, managers, stakeholders, national clusters, and donor;

• Provide technical leadership for consortium members and partners, MEAL TWG members in developing data collection methodology and tools, and systems for ongoing data collection, analysis, and reporting of RRM 2.0 project with multi-sectoral program response (WASH, ES and NFI, Health and nutrition, Protection, Multi-purpose cash transfer, and Education in Emergency);

• Assist the project team with the quality delivery of the program, by setting up a MEAL system for accountability and documenting learning;

• Lead and or Participate in periodic assessments including climate risk and conflict hazards, HEA analysis, rapid needs assessment, market and feasibility assessment, PDM/KAP surveys, mid-term and end-line surveys, or final project evaluation in line with consortium members’ policies and standards;

• Lead and ensure Accountability to the affected communities through the establishment of Complaints and Feedback Mechanisms (including the collection, analysis, reporting, and actioning of complaints/feedback by adaptation and responsiveness).

• Support in collecting, consolidating, and submitting the Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) report monthly from partners and do periodic quality checks/audits.

• Work with the MEAL WG and partners program team to develop a culture of program quality and knowledge-driven programming, providing support to management for evidence-based decision-making processes;

• Work with the consortium members and partners team both from head and field offices in collecting, collating, and timely, and quality reporting of beneficiary data for project activities; and compiling and reporting the total number of beneficiaries reached;

• Support in ensuring that all consortium MEAL work is carried out in a way that is sensitive to gender and protection issues;

• Ensure RRM 2.0 uses robust ICT systems ME information management systems, and e-learning platforms such as mobile-based applications of CommCare, KoBO, Mobenzi, LMMS, intranet, communities of practice, etc. in beneficiary registration and data collection in line with the Project MEAL framework, data storage and dissemination for wider learning across teams respectively;

• Support in the development of RRM 2.0 consortium project partner databases and other data management processes including filing, updating MEAL frameworks, and ensuring that all records are properly organized and stored;

• Support in the design and implementation of periodic project review meetings and lesson documentation practices

• Lead selection of appropriate external lead consultants, review of inception reports and tools designed, monitoring of field data collection, facilitating payments, and review of final evaluation reports;

Collaboration and Coordination

• Organize MEAL working group meetings and produce reports for wider dissemination of project accomplishments, project closeout, and lessons documentation workshop; including external final evaluation reports that go along with the donor reports.

• Support in organizing quarterly consortium coordination meetings to review progress; exchange experiences and key learning, and gauge overall consortium coordination; joint monitoring visits with local and regional government representatives to track progress and draw out lessons;

• Organize quarterly MEAL TWG meetings to coordinate MEAL system implementation (harmonize practices, joint response, avoid overlap of the beneficiary, approaches, standardized assistance packages, cross-learning, reaching scale) and provide oversight of the execution of MEAL processes and consortium plan to deliver large scale humanitarian response NFI provision and cash programming;

• Support consortium partners in preparing donor reports, monthly, quarter, annual, and other periodic reports in line with the reporting schedule and MEAL Framework; and ensure that good quality data is presented for report writing including donor/ECHO/IA reports:

• Ensure effective common understanding among RRM 2.0 consortium Partners on MEAL objectives and frameworks and organize orientation, workshops, and training;

Learning and Knowledge Management

• Organize regular project familiarization and validation workshops, biannual RRM 2.0 project reviews and learning events/forums;

• Support to establish MEAL innovative learning, sharing, and knowledge management practices within consortium partners through organizing MS team view, Facebook, and MEAL platform group; RRM 2.0 project MEAL folders at O or N-Drives as documentation, sharing, learning, and knowledge management practices both in hard and soft copies;

• Support in the management and updating of the consortium database of PDM surveys, assessments, final evaluation surveys, and end-term results and learning from review and reflection workshops, and other programmatic learning processes and products;

• Assist in collecting and document best practices, lessons, cases and success stories for implemented multi-sectoral responses with the support from partners' field offices based on MEAL TWG guidance, and is in line with the ECHO/IA communication and visibility guidelines;

• Facilitate learning and sharing through review meetings and other relevant platforms among partners project grantees and sub-grantees;

• Prepare and disseminate RRM 2.0 project summary report of the key findings and learnings from the major MEAL exercises such as assessments (PDM and accountability), surveys and evaluations, review meetings, field visits, reports, organized events as key lessons learned, and knowledge management practices (Best practices, successes, failures, areas of improvement, advocacy, influencing) for PMT, steering committees and field project managers.

Safeguarding Responsibilities: -

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office]

• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies

Job Requirement

Educational Requirements:

• MA degree in Social Science including Development Study, Monitoring and Evaluation, Economics, and Statistics relevant field of study from a recognized university.

Preferred experience & skills:

• Minimum 6 years’ experience in international NGOs in humanitarian and development programming with consortium approach on MEAL, Programme Development and Programme Quality Manager and Advisor positions

• Practical experience in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of anticipatory humanitarian and climate action, monitoring and evaluation, DRM concepts, partnership and localization agenda

• Strong technical competence and experience in development of MEAL systems and strategies, quantitative and qualitative monitoring and evaluation methods, data analysis, reporting and understanding of contemporary trends and debates in the field including innovative M&E;

• Practical experience of mainstreaming gender, disability and environment in development, advocacy or humanitarian work

• Demonstrated experience coordinating MEAL with partners, ideally in a Consortium structure and knowledge management frameworks;

• Good understanding, and familiarity with humanitarian concepts, anticipatory and DRM concepts, and familiarity with and abiding by the International standards, the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), SPHERE, LEGS, NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct, the People in Aid Code, including safeguarding;

• Good understanding of WASH, ES and NFI, Health and Nutrition, Education in emergency, Multi-Purpose cash transfer and Protection programming in IDP, returnee IDP, and host community responses programming.

• Adequate experience and understanding of nexus programming (Humanitarian-Development-Peace Building)

• Proven experience of upward and downward accountability approaches and mechanisms;

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as, an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications

• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time

• Strong analytic problem-solving skills

• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels

• Ability to manage and work through change proactively and positively.

Language Skills: English is the working language of IRC.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

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

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can apply using THIS LINK