MEAL Manager

Contract

This is a DRC - Expatriate or National contract. More about DRC - Expatriate or National contracts.

Overall Purpose of the Role:

The MEAL Manager works closely with the Chief of Party (COP) to strengthen DRC – Consortium management unit programme quality, learning and accountability to provide a foundation for evidence-based Durable solutions programming. The MEAL Manager has the responsibility to improve the relevance, quality and accountability of Consortium led projects. Under the line management of the Chief of Party, the MEAL Manager will provide oversight for the Resilience and Durable solutions Consortium MEAL function and will work with the MEAL Department, Technical Specialists, Consortium Management Unit and Durable solutions Consortium Partners' programme teams to design and lead a robust MEAL system. The MEAL system's objective is to ensure harmonized and aligned data collection, analysis and monitoring to inform decision-making, accountability, reporting and learning in a timely and strategic manner.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

• Develop and set up a robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning system within the consortium management unit and ensure the Results Framework for all consortium led projects is updated accordingly.
• Work closely with technical coordinators and the M&E Focal points persons from consortium partners to review log frames and ensure Projects indicators (outputs and outcomes) remain relevant for assessing project success.
• Take leadership in undertaking major project assessments – baselines and periodic assessments for all consortium led projects; and developing SMART indicators for any new projects falling under the CMU.
• Ensure the Consortium undertakes Continuous Quality Improvement & data quality assessment, has information briefs, regular sharing of Programme updates with stakeholders, and set up mechanism for collecting, tracking and responding to feedback and complaints from Programme stakeholders.
• Oversee regular project reviews of means of verification to ensure accurate data is collected for reporting of project outputs;
• Develop monitoring exercises, including M&E plans, workplans, monitoring questionnaires and other data collection tools, data cleaning and analysis plus supporting report writing;
• Ensure accurate and consistent collection of data throughout the project cycle to promote programme quality and ensure accurate and timely reporting on output, outcome and impact indicators;

• Support the development of ToRs and the selection of external evaluators and assist the evaluation process.

• Set up and maintain an effective consortium feedback and complaints response mechanism (FCRM) and work with programme teams to ensure timely responses to complainants;

• Provide monthly reports to CoP on FCRM system response and non-sensitive cases and work with programme teams to streamline response and adapt programming in response to F-CRM trends;
• Serve as organizational focal point on Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), ensuring local compliance and reviews across all standards;
• Work with CMU staff and consortium partners to regularly hold community consultations during project inception and throughout the project cycle to promote transparency, accountability and participation.

Learning

• Facilitate quarterly learning events at the field levels, and other ad hoc learning events in close coordination with partner consortium managers to produce lessons learned reports and other related documents capturing key internal learning from projects to support the strategic development of the country programme;
• Analyse data from monitoring and evaluation activities to identify areas of strength and weaknesses and present findings to CMU and technical coordinators throughout the project cycle to promote programme improvements;
• Lead the MEAL team in process monitoring of core DRC Sudan consortium led interventions and work with programme teams of respective consortium partners to adjust implementation strategy and operational procedures.

Information Management

• Lead the continued development and maintenance of the consortium unit information management plan.
• Work closely with the Information Management Specialist from the regional office to ensure the country programme is adhering to regional and global policies on information management systems;
• Maintain both digital and physical information management systems not only at the country office level but across all bases.

Team Management

• Directly line manage 01 Information management specialist, including setting objectives and co-creating workplans, performance development, team building and capacity building for the consortium;
• Oversee the development of staff-specific capacity building plans and provide opportunities for direct reports to access resources and trainings needed to achieve jointly set capacity building objectives;
• Provide regular refresher trainings to partner staff on critical MEAL competencies, including qualitative research methods, data cleaning and analysis, data visualization and ensuring proficiency in key software, such as PowerBI, Excel, ONA and Kobo;

Internal and External Coordination

• Promote improved MEAL coordination, including joint assessments, at various coordination fora, including the Consortium partners.
• Coordinate with consortium manage unit, consortium partners and technical managers of implementing partners to represent CMU externally with donors, implementing partners and wider Durable solutions working groups;
• Based on the Results framework ensure accurate reporting against objectives by consortium partners
• As a member of the Consortium Management Unit, the MEAL Manager will be responsible for ensuring MEAL Working Group meetings take place with partners, update output indicator progress in project logframes and will provide targeted support and capacity building as required.

• Experience and Technical Competencies:

  Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience with an International NGO;

  Demonstrated experience in MEAL or information management;

• Extensive knowledge of donor rules and regulations and experience working with donors including SIDA, EU, ECHO, and UN funding mechanisms, among others;
• Management experience and an ability to communicate key information in a clear, informative and collaborative manner;
• Commitment to capacity building and mentorship of their team;
• High integrity and willingness to conduct themselves transparently and professionally;
• Expertise with Kobo Toolbox, ONA, PowerBI, ArcGIS and other data collection and analysis tools.

• Education:

  Master's degree in political science, international development, economics or relevant field.

• Languages:

  Excellent verbal and written English.

• Arabic language skills strongly preferred

Core Competencies: Striving for excellence, Taking the lead, Demonstrating Integrity, Commuicating and Collaborating

Note: Females candidates are higly encouraged to apply: