Senior MEAL Officer

Requisition ID: req49340

Job Title: Senior MEAL Officer

Sector: Monitoring & Evaluation

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: Yes

Location: Ukhiya, Bangladesh

Work Arrangement: In-person

Job Description

Program Brief

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development.

The IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since the IRC obtained registration in March 2018, it has moved quickly to expand its integrated emergency health and protection response through both direct and partner-based programming focused on primary healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection. Through 2018, the IRC’s response strategy will primarily target Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, while meeting the significant needs in both refugee and host populations, as already existing vulnerabilities are compounded with cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons that impose additional threats to the lives and protection of those refugees as well as vulnerable host populations. IRC Bangladesh’s strategic vision is to protect, empower and meet the needs of the most vulnerable women, children and youth through technical expertise and partnerships in the areas of integrated protection, health, education and economic wellbeing before, during, and after displacement caused by conflict and climate-induced disaster. IRC will grow over time its geographic coverage within Cox bazar and to other parts of the country, thus expand its’ networks and partnerships around emergency preparedness and response work, reach beyond the Rohingya refugees, also targeting the vulnerable host communities in Cox Bazar and Southern parts of Bangladesh.

Purpose of the Role

Under the supervision of the Sr. MEAL Manager, the Senior MEAL Officer ensures all projects have data collection tools, Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT), and regularly reviews and maintains IPTT updated.The Sr. MEAL Officer will also be responsible for incorporating relevant program indicators into project MEAL systems to enable measurement of the contribution of individual projects in achieving program objectives. The other purpose of the Sr. MEAL Officer position is to provide guidance and support to the partner organization in establishing and maintaining project MEAL systems.

Job Context

The Sr. MEAL officer will maintain a centralized database of indicators for IRC and will ensure that all project (s/he is responsible for) data collection systems are appropriate for each sector and are responsive to the program`s data collection needs. This role must familiarize him/herself with the program components, activities, and donor reporting requirements. The Sr. MEAL officer will review and consolidate data from multiple indicators and sectors on a daily basis and will be responsible for providing daily reports through the MEAL system to technical coordinators, managers, and others who review data.

The Sr. MEAL officer will collaborate with all technical coordinators, project coordinators, managers, partners and facility in charge to train their teams on the correct use of data collection tools and to adapt the M&E systems for their sector`s needs. This role will be responsible for regularly reporting progress on indicators internally and externally, particularly to donors and clusters.

The Sr. MEAL officer will maintain the mobile data collection system, adding and amending forms as required. The Sr. MEAL officer will consolidate data on indicators into CommCare database. As needed, the Sr. MEAL officer will organize and coordinate assessments by designing tools, training surveyors, enumerators, and/or data entry clerks. This role will report directly to the Sr. MEAL Manager and share updates with the Project Coordinator.

Highlights of Key Responsibilities

Monitoring and Reporting

• Ensure data inputs in regular and periodic reports and databases; prepare internal and external reports and quantitative and qualitative reports for donors, sectors, and country office.
• Assist and ensure project-specific dashboard development and regular update for project implementation or review meetings.
• Through regular field visits and data analysis, prepare monthly monitoring reports to inform decision-making.
• Prepare and update PCM template, Log-frame, IPTT, and MEAL activity plans with the collaboration of Sr. MEAL Manager.
• Regularly track the monthly activities implementation plan and share the status for management decisions with the collaboration of Sr. MEAL Manager.
• Work with project staff to ensure that the project work plans including monitoring activities are up-to-date and progress tracked.
• Work with the field team and partners to ensure that data is collected and entered into databases and/or tracking sheets, and/or data platforms on a regular basis.
• Work with project staff to track progress on action points related to implementation and MEAL activities.
• Work with project staff to provide MEAL inputs for project and program reports.
• Closely follow up on field data collection and flag data collection issues to the Sr MEAL Manager and MIS and Data Management Specialist.
• Conduct data quality audits to identify and resolve systemic problems affecting data quality.
• Conduct exit interviews, FGDs, open discussions, and surveys to receive feedback from the beneficiaries for improving services and support of IRC or partners to strengthen accountability to the clients.
• Input into 4Ws, Activity Info, and any other tools/templates to report to the working groups and other coordinating bodies.

Coordination with partner organization

• Ensure partner M&E and technical staff are equipped with knowledge, tools and resources to support MEAL functions.
• Maintain liaison with the M&E focal point from the partner organization on regular data collection and providing feedback on the data quality.
• Regular field visits to the partner’s office as well as project sites for data verification and documentation and sharing findings with Sr. Program Managers and Project Coordinator.

Evaluations and Research

• Develop ToR for different assessments and trainings, orientations, and workshops.
• Provide quality assurance for assessments, baselines, surveys and evaluations.
• Plan for implementation and follow-up on internal (real-time evaluations, evaluations of humanitarian action, project evaluations, etc.) and participate in evaluations where required.
• Share findings and recommendations of assessments, baselines and evaluations.
• Provide technical support to research studies.

Accountability systems

• Disseminate information to the community about available (both pro-active and reactive) channels for providing feedback/complaints to IRC.
• Work closely with CRM staff and volunteers to effectively close the feedback and complaints loops, regularly updating the feedback registry as applicable.
• Collaborate with AAP/CR staff to facilitate ‘Client Satisfaction Surveys’ at facilities, support the operation of the ‘Help Desk’, ‘Suggestion Box’, and participate in activities such as Focus Group Discussions, training sessions and Town Hall meetings.
• Assist Sr. Accountability Officer in collecting feedback from clients to support programs to operationalize client accountability systems.
• With support from the Sr. MEAL Manager, develop and implement client feedback mechanisms.
• Develop and increase utilization of accountability approaches, such as Complains and Response Mechanisms.
• Support program implementation teams to consolidate feedback reports and monitor the implementation of actions.
• Conduct exit interviews, FGDs, open discussions, and surveys to receive feedback from the beneficiaries for improving services and support of IRC or partners to strengthen accountability to the clients.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Regularly collect data and develop impact stories or success stories with the collaboration of the Sr. MEAL Manager.
• Assist the Accountability and Knowledge Management specialist in conducting and documenting end-of-project learning reviews, and sharing lessons learned and best practices, incorporating these into new project designs.
• In consultation with the MEAL Coordinator and collaboration with the Knowledge Management Specialist to organize lesson-sharing learned events
• Assist the Accountability and Knowledge Management specialist in identifying, documenting, storing and sharing lessons learned that have implications for the refinement of best programmatic practice.
• Support diagnostic studies, evaluations and surveys.
• Staff capacity building
• Provide training and facilitate orientation sessions on new project records, tools, and assessment questionnaires to the program team and partners.
• Provide support and ensure the proper documentation of all potential project records and reports by engaging the program team and partners.
• Prepare MEAL staff mentoring coaching plans and implement them accordingly.
• Train program staff in data collection methods, management, analysis, and how to use data for decision-making.
• Assist in the recruitment of enumerators and Human Resources onboarding.
• Provide consistent, supportive supervision to strengthen staff performance as necessary to meet monitoring objectives.

Data Collection and Program Quality

• Work with technical coordinators, managers, and facility in charge to develop surveys, tools, and templates to support data collection (paper-based tools and mobile data collection tools).
• Ensure that program staff is collecting and reporting on the required/all indicators in a timely manner (according to the M&E framework).

Deliverables

• Data collection tools developed and used properly.
• CommCare Tools designed and developed.
• Weekly BnF updated in time.
• Monthly IPTTs, PID, and PCM dashboard updated in time.
• Activity Monitoring status reporting for each project
• Data collection and tracking systems in place.
• Field visit reports
• Accountability mechanisms operationalized.
• Indicator and beneficiary tracking systems in place
• Assessments, surveys and other measurements are conducted on a timely basis and reports shared.
• Donor reports with accurate and timely MEAL inputs
• Oversee CommCare data entry, data management and reports.
• Work closely with MIS Manager
• Collaboration and capacity building within the team and partners

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of professional working experience in MEAL within the humanitarian and development sector
• Ideally familiarity with integrated Health, Education, WASH, Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods, and Protection programming
• Extensive experience in data analysis, and program monitoring, including designing monitoring systems, indicators, developing MEAL plans, data quality assessments, and survey techniques incl. sampling, qualitative investigation, and statistical analysis
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex activities, meet deadlines, and exercise sound judgment
• Fluency in English and strong English writing skills
• Exceptional analytical skills and proven skills in data management; and statistical analysis using SPSS/ STATA/ CSPro, Power BI, or any other statistical application
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Excellent time management skills and resourcefulness with strong attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to guide others and build the capacity of diverse teams

Language Preference

• Ability to communicate in English and Chittagonian

Specific Educational Qualification

• Master’s degree preferred with relevant specialization in a quantitative field (e.g., Economics, Sociology, Geography and Environment, Anthropology, Statistics, or from other social science groups)

Professional Degree/ Certification

N/A

Standard of Professional Conduct

IRC and IRC employees are required to abide by the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct which are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity

We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous 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 allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity in our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Are you ready to join the most dynamic team?