MEAL Officer

Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning for education projects

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IRC - The International Rescue Committee

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Tuesday 21 Jan 2025 at 23:59 UTC

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Overview

Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning for education projects

You have:

  • A University degree in a relevant field such as statistics & data management, social science, public health, development economics, or a related subject area.
  • A minimum of 3 years' working experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning-related functions.
  • Technical skills in setting up quality MEAL processes and creating logical frameworks and data analysis that leads to learning and action.
  • Proficiency with mobile data collection such as Kobo, Commcare, ODK as well as proficiency with Microsoft Excel, SPSS, STATA or other similar software.
  • Experience in community-based ECD programming, and/or child nutrition programming, coordination, and stakeholder analysis.
  • Demonstrated analytical, systematic-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
  • Proven ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods.
  • Confirmed ability to lead, mentor and empower a small to medium professional team.
  • Self-motivated with good organization, planning skills, including prioritizing work and multi-tasking.
  • A strong understanding of accountability and proven ability to build Client Feedback Systems.

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

Job Overview

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) Officer reports to the MEAL Manager with dotted line reporting to the Education, Gender and Inclusion Manager. The MEAL Officer works closely with program teams to optimize monitoring capabilities and opportunities, evaluation, accountability, and learning for the Education Cannot Wait (ECW)- Watoto Wasome Project to ensure high-quality programming for the clients we serve and to support the overall ambitions of the of IRC's Strategy100 and the country's strategic action plan. The MEAL Officer supervises and implements MEAL project activities working with the project staff in the field locations of Lamwo collecting routine data for project learning and reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities

Technical implementation of project activities

• In collaboration with the project team and the Consortium Management Unit (CMU), lead the design and development of project monitoring and evaluation tools.

• Continuously update project MEAL, and measurement tools and systems in a timely manner.

• With support from the project Manager, the MEAL Officer will implement MEAL plans, revise (digital) data collection tools, follow up on processes for online data management, quality checks, and audits, and updating of data visualization.

• Identify, document, and share client feedback to improve services and results for our clients.

• Take a lead in the deployment of surveys such as baseline and end line, assessments, and the commission of evaluations in coordination with the project team and the sector Coordinator and other relevant actors.

• Support the research work under the ECW-Watoto Wasome project aimed at generating learning and credible evidence to support the improvement, expansion, and sustainability of the programming.

• With the support of ECD Senior Officer and the Project Manager, ensure that learning from the project implementation and research is incorporated into project implementation and improvement plans

Coordination, representation, and partner/stakeholder relationships

• Ensure close collaboration with the field-based team members and consistency in protocols, information, and reporting systems in line with Consortium Management Unit requirements

• At the field level, collaborate with the Education, Gender and Inclusion (EGI) Manager to ensure weekly and monthly coordination meetings are well coordinated and documented

• Work in collaboration with settlement and community leadership in (and partners) in identification and selection of clients and delivery of project activities

• Make referrals to the appropriate actors where necessary.

• Maintain respectful and constructive relations with partner organizations, local authorities, and humanitarian actors.

• In coordination with the EGI Manager and Field Coordinator, attend zonal and sector working group coordination meetings at the settlement and sub counties of operation whenever required and provide detailed reports as required.

Monitoring, reporting and communication responsibilities

• Lead the MEAL Session during project review meeting to present progress on project indicators with comparison to targets and to cross-check whether project activities are implemented as per planned timeline.

• Take the lead in tracking ECW- Watoto Wasome project progress by work plans, indicators, and targets.

• Coordinate field-level monitoring, client responsiveness and evaluation activities, reflective practice, and outcome measurement.

• Ensure the on-time execution of project monitoring, accountability, and evaluation events including but not limited to needs assessments, baseline survey, final evaluation, data quality audits, project monitoring, and field supervision.

• Support the field organization of data collection on surveys, client satisfaction surveys, and client feedback data collection systems.

• Provide technical assistance to project staff, partners, and incentive workers on information management systems, data collection and record keeping,

• Update the MEAL plan and indicator trackers timely and provide feedback to program staff, partners, and other stakeholders on the status and the quality of implementation. (Quarterly performance indicator analysis, including generation of reports as well as presentations for staff related to ongoing performance;)

• Conduct regular data quality checks and verification exercises to ensure reporting and collection of quality data.

• Actively participate in and contribute to MEAL team activities, system assessments, development, and implementation of new systems and/or tools aimed at strengthening overall MEAL practices for ECW-Watoto Wasome project.

• Provide MEAL inputs for reports written during project implementation.

• In collaboration with the MEAL Manager, support the technical training of partners, project staff and incentive workers.

• Support in the recruitment and onboarding of ECD Caregivers and volunteers and any incentive workers.

Qualifications

• A University degree in a relevant field (such as: statistics & data management, social science, public health, development economics, or a related subject area).

• A minimum of 3 years' working experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning-related functions.

• Technical skills in setting up quality MEAL processes and creating logical frameworks and data analysis that leads to learning and action.

• Proficiency and experience with mobile data collection such as Kobo, Commcare, ODK as well as proficiency with Microsoft Excel, SPSS, STATA or other similar software. Knowledge of PowerBi, and GIS software tools are additional assets.

• Experience in community based ECD programming, and/or child nutrition programming, coordination, and stakeholder analysis.

• Demonstrated analytical, systematic-thinking, and problem-solving skills.

• Proven ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods together with presentation and reporting skills are a strong asset.

• Confirmed ability to lead, mentor and empower a small to medium professional team.

• Self-motivated with good organization, planning skills, including prioritizing work and multi-tasking.

• A strong understanding of accountability and proven ability to build Client Feedback Systems.

Potential interview questions

Can you provide an example of a successful monitoring tool you developed? This demonstrates your technical capability in designing MEAL tools. Discuss the tool's impact on project outcomes, detailing the process and results.
How have you incorporated client feedback into project improvements? This question assesses your understanding of client responsiveness. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a time when you faced a data collection challenge. How did you overcome it? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies do you use to ensure data quality in your reports? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you explain how you mentor and support junior staff in MEAL functions? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: rescue.org