Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer

Background:

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, 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.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is seeking a dynamic, analytical, and highly motivated individual for the position of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Officer for the Assosa Field Office. Under direct supervision of the Field Coordinator and technical support from the Senior MEAL Manager, the MEAL Officer is responsible for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning activities of the Assosa Field Office. The MEAL Officer gives support to overall program quality through the 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 IRC’s various sectors and grants. This position is based in Assosa and requires frequent travel to intervention areas/refugee camps. The ideal candidate has worked for an NGO in the programs department (e.g., design, management, monitoring) and has concrete experience with monitoring and evaluation and tracking systems and processes.

Responsibilities and tasks 

Accountability and Monitoring Systems

• Develop and/or update M&E tools, databases, and monthly reporting formats in close collaboration with the MEAL focal points/sectoral managers.
• Support the staff in mobile data collection; using Kobo Collect, Commcare, and the IRC applications to collect and analyze data.
• Conduct data audits and analysis to ensure high-quality data, compile a report with relevant indicator data per grant, showing targets versus actuals and an action plan and send this to the Field Coordinator, MEAL Manager, and Technical Managers and Coordinators monthly.
• Beneficiary counting: a quarterly gender and age disaggregated overview per grant per sector should be provided.
• Advise staff on data management and storage to field staff, in collaboration with IT.
• Manage the development of effective and sustainable feedback mechanisms to IRC from program beneficiaries/customers.
• Contribute to the rollout of IRC global critical initiatives related to measurement and accountability, and enable reporting against IRC global standards and requirements,
• Monitor overall project implementation of Shire Field Office and provide feedback for Field Office staff

Assessment, Learning and Documentation 

• Ensure relevant, timely, and quality support to the Field Office on assessments and evaluations, i.e., support in developing the survey tools, data analysis, and report writing.
• Attend and participate in semi-annual meetings with program Managers and Officers on project monitoring and learning updates, achievements, and challenges.
• Provide documentation and dissemination of key findings stemming from monitoring, assessment, and other learning activities.
• Track and ensure organized, comprehensive electronic filing of documented findings/analyses.
• When appropriate/applicable, facilitate and participate in information sharing opportunities among IRC offices/partners/donors.
• Co-chair project opening/implementation and closing meetings; take these minutes and file accordingly
• Collect and file success stories, pictures, legal documents, etc, and file

Capacity Building 

Facilitate capacity building for other IRC staff (especially the sector managers and camp managers) on skills and knowledge related to M&E and accountability and learning, including related IRC global initiatives. Relevant topics may include but are not limited to, designing monitoring tools, monitoring budgets, analyzing monitoring data, conducting assessment/ evaluation, and implementing feedback mechanisms. Conduct visits to Shire camps and intervention areas to provide training, technical assistance, and support, as well as to ensure that accountability and learning tools and strategies are understood and implemented effectively.

• Masters or bachelor’s degree in monitoring and evaluation; social sciences; systems science, and/or other relevant fields with at least two or three years of relevant professional work experience respectively.
• Minimum of two years’ experience, preferably in an international NGO, in a similar role/with similar responsibilities.
• Demonstrated understanding of direct monitoring and evaluation experience, specifically in the humanitarian and development context.
• Demonstrated experience developing tools and systems for and building the capacity of others in skills related to, program tracking and documentation.
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodologies, including logical models, conceptual frameworks, and assessment/evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing beneficiary complaint and feedback mechanisms.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.
• Preferred knowledge of mobile data collection tools such as Kobo Collect or Commcare.
• Familiarity with information management systems and analysis software is a plus.
• Effective, high-quality communication, writing, and interpersonal skills are essential, and local language is a plus.

Personal Specifications: 

• Ability to work under pressure, long work hours, and a high workload.
• Ability to independently organize work and prioritize tasks.
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Applicants, and especially women, having experience in a refugee setting are encouraged to apply