MEAL Officer (Internal Candidates only)

Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. 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. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Since 2007, IRC has worked with refugees and other vulnerable populations in Jordan. Working in coordination with the humanitarian community and the Government of Jordan, the IRC’s assistance programs for children in Jordan include Zaatari camp and urban-based refugee assistance (Mafraq, Ramtha, Irbid).

Job Overview/Summary:

The MEAL Officer will support the MEAL Unit’s management with continual delivery of monitoring and evaluation activities. The MEAL Officer will support the MEAL unit to implement a range of MEAL activities including trainings, data collection processes, spot checks and most importantly supervision of MEAL Volunteers / Assessors. Through the unit management the officer will play a lead role in the monitoring, assessment and verification processes.

The MEAL Officer will work under the direct supervision and the technical support of the Senior MEAL manager, and  will be responsible for the technical follow-up on the program’s aspects of the IRC MEAL in all locations (camp and/or urban). 

Major Responsibilities:

Management and Technical Quality

• Deliver awareness sessions on MEAL requirements and needs, and other issues as dictated by the needs at field-level.
• Provide M&E technical assistance to program teams in particular data collection data quality and reporting stages of program management.
• Work in close coordination with the programs staff to ensure high level of implementation for programs.
• Support planning and management of regular monitoring, program reviews , assessments and other evaluations conducted in the Field
• Oversees MEAL Assistants & Assessors in the field working in close collaboration with the program teams, and field managers.
• Ensure timely and accurate routine data collection, aggregation & reporting by the existing platforms.
• Support the programs in maintaining an effective documentation system to keep track of data source documents.
• Support data analysis and information presentation activities across the programs and provide quality assurance on the data collected by program staff.
• Lead and ensure the quality of documentation and communications, including translation into English, of information received from MEAL Assistants and or MEAL Assessors.
• Support MEAL Unit in developing and delivering guidance on M&E procedures and process for programs and for MEAL assistants and assessors.
• Support MEAL unit on implementing standardized monitoring and evaluation processes across programs and across partnerships in particular third-party monitoring.
• Conduct data collection, basic analysis, and reporting
• Ensure that field technical work is completed in time and meets quality expectations around,
• Keep records of the urgent needs identified and the actions taken to assist affected PoCs.
• Conducts other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Award Management

• Follow up on project work plans in coordination with MEAL and relevant departments.
• Support preparation of technical internal and external narrative reports within agreed deadlines
• Write monthly reports for the MEAL on the activities conducted, advancements, challenges, and requested support.

Staff/Talent Management & Performance

• Where relevant, provide ongoing guidance to direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, and providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback.
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these by the National Staff Employment Policies
• Adhere to and act by the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations

External Relationships, Partnerships & Coordination

• Work to strengthen IRC’s relationship with refugees, refugee/host community leaders, and municipal actors to maintain good access to POCs
• Ensure regular communication with the MEAL regarding the project’s progress and processes
• Support in the overall achievement of grant activities, and deliverables with partners.
• Liaise with partners to solve issues, communicate needs, and create synergy.

·Support MEAL unit on implementing standardized monitoring and evaluation processes across programs including extending support to partners

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  Senior MEAL manager.

Position directly supervises:  N/A – may supervise MEAL assistants/assessors as relevant/needed.

Indirect Reporting:  N/A.

Other Internal and/or external contacts

Internal: DDP, Program Coordinators/Managers, IM Officer, program staff,

External:  NGOs, donors, IRC MEAL community, partners.
Minimum Qualifications:

Job Requirements:

·Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, Statistics, Management, Information Technology or any related field.

·Approximately 2-3 years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation of programs, preferably in the international NGOs’ sector or UN agency

·Good understanding of the principles, methods and terminology of MEAL.

·Possess basic technical knowledge of M&E approaches and techniques in some or all the following areas Outputs, Outcome monitoring; Theory of Change, Logframe, Data Collection, Basic Analysis Accountability, Client feedback mechanisms.

·Demonstrated experience in program implementation and spending plans, including multi-sector plans

·Familiar with the principles and processes of project cycle management, working in large, diverse, and dynamic teams

·Technical skills in contemporary MEAL methods and practices, with hands-on experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, required

·Experience in developing MEAL approaches and plans, including indicator monitoring.

·Experience in designing tools for data collection.

·Strong skills in building the capacities of others (e.g. training) & facilitation.

·Proficient in Microsoft Office particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. Experience in analysis software applications in an added advantage.

·Strong written and oral communication skills (in English and Arabic), effective in representation and liaison with external parties.

·Raising community awareness about access and eligibility to services, expected staff behavior and community feedback and safeguarding mechanisms, and how to use them.

·Collecting and recording community feedback while carrying out project activities.

·Reporting on community needs, preferences, and feedback to their supervisor.

·Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in the IRC Jordan office.

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

This job description can be modified at any time according to changes in the IRC activities or in the context

Working Environment: This position is based in Amman with field visits to program areas. The security situation in the IRC intervention areas is calm and the security department of IRC shares regular security updates to keep the management and staff informed about the new developments.

Standards of Professional Conduct: 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, and Anti-Retaliation.

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 benefits and allowances.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants based on 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.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures