Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Manager

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IRC - The International Rescue Committee

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Job Description

BACKGROUND The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving 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 delivers education programs in 22 conflict-affected or post-conflict countries around the world. Present in Sierra Leone since 1999, IRC supports the Sierra Leonean institutions – government, civil society, community-based organizations, and private sector – to provide improved social services. The IRC does this through programs and partnerships designed to improve the life of women, youth, and children by implementing Health, Education, and Women’s Protection and Empowerment programming. IRC, along with its Consortium partners bid and won a funding opportunity from FCDO – Saving Lives (Phase II) as the lead for the NGO consortium. The Saving Lives programme seeks to support the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) to save women’s and children’s lives by improving the quality, availability and accessibility of reproductive, maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health services. This will be achieved by increasing the utilization of quality RMNCAH services through a multifaceted approach that seeks to strengthen quality, expand access, and build the demand for RMNCAH services in Sierra Leone.

SCOPE OF WORK The MEAL Manager will be in charge of technical oversight of the monitoring and evaluation of Saving Lives project, including where applicable: operational research, routine tracking, program impact assessment, M&E capacity building and program reporting in respective and assigned sites. He/ She plays a key role in capacity building of specific program staffs, monitoring and evaluation of program quality and services in close collaboration with the Senior Health Coordinator & MEAL Coordinator. He/ She works closely with the District Delivery Senior Managers and is a key technical liaison with MOH and other stakeholder representatives from specific DHMTs and other Ministry of Health-related agencies for quality control of program.

Job Overview/Summary The MEAL Manager will work under the supervision of the Saving Lives Project Coordinator and has a matrix reporting to the MEAL Coordinator. This position will be responsible for all MEAL related Saving Lives Program actions (implementation, and close-out), providing technical M&E leadership for the Saving Lives project with specific attention to data quality and use. With direct support from the Project Coordinator, s/he will continuously assess the current M&E systems and capacity of staff related to Saving Lives M&E and based on this, address the identified needs through capacity building and technical support on data collection methods, data analysis, data quality assurance and result-based management. S/he will also ensure that quality data collected is entered into data collection platforms (IRC CommCare + mobile); data analysis is completed by project teams and will play a key role in the process of reporting on the impact of the IRC program to relevant stakeholders. S/he will conduct frequent visits to the field and assess the quality of the program, M&E work, ensure understanding and compliance with M&E procedures and provide guidance and coaching to staff.

Major Responsibilities To build M&E capacity internally and externally. To provide support and training to staff for the implementation of high-quality MEAL activities, assessments, and surveys. To help with design, setup, manage, supervise, and analyze ongoing Saving Lives Health Management Information System. In close collaboration with the Project Coordinator, Senior Health Coordinator & MEAL Coordinator, lead the development & implementation of strong data collection tools and MEAL plans for the protection program. To report monthly on project M&E progress in line with proposal & log-frame indicators and objectives. Compile quantitative and qualitative data to showcase IRC’s Saving Lives Project, covering all outlined program outcome areas. To coordinate with all relevant authorities, communities, and other stakeholders to ensure M&E data validity. To contribute to reporting externally on findings. Submit data set to update country office wide program database, & CommCare online portal on monthly basis. Ensure efficient systems in place for program staff to collect and compile relevant and concise information for routine project reports and occasional special reports as required. Support the provision of technical training and capacity building in monitoring and evaluation to Saving Lives project staff. Perform regular field visits to ensure the quality of data collected by Program staff and to verify the accuracy of the data reported. Support program teams in analyzing and interpreting M&E data. With oversight from MEAL Coordinator: Support the program team to ensure that donor, partner, and senior management data queries are addressed in an accurate and timely manner. Assist the program team and program coordinator in implementing the IRC’s MEAL Handbook.

Specific Responsibilities Program/Project Design and learning: Work with the MEAL Coordinator in developing a list of data to be collected in the course of program implementation for reporting progress towards outcomes and outputs, data collection methodologies and data quality control tools including a data collection sheet, timing and frequency of data collection, and who responsible. Develop and make sure the Saving Lives project has tested monitoring tools that capture both program activity and indicators progress. Revise and readjust the assigned project M&E framework as needed in coordination with Senior Health Coordinator & MEAL Coordinator. Build and maintain rapport with MoH responsible Health departments, Partners, and other stakeholder organizations to facilitate data collection on the ground. Ensure records are checked during meetings for accuracy and provide support where necessary and share data with program managers. In coordination with MEAL Coordinator & Senior Health Coordinator / Project Coordinator, set up a database system relevant to health program. With support from the Saving Lives project Coordinator and MEAL Coordinator, establish and maintain project level information management system. Responsible for the implementation of detailed health program log frames, work plans, monitoring tools to ensure high quality program implementation throughout the project cycle and ensure the program is achieving expected outputs and that activities are relevant for the specific and assigned townships.

Monitor implementation, maintain and analyze data and produce information on project impact and progress: Ensure the designed methodology for and administration process of relevant data flow mechanism in close collaboration with MEAL Coordinator, and related MoH agencies. Document findings from data quality audits and store in project files to ensure collective and sustainable access. Oversight process of data flow mechanism and routinely visit the project sites and monitor implementation of data flow mechanism. In coordination with DHMTs M&E focal points, monitor the management of program database and project data quality control processes. Ensure project database is safely stored and backed up. Produce regular (monthly and or quarterly) program inputs, outputs, and outcome progress reports and adjusted result / log frame and MoH HMIS. Assist the Senior Health Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator, and Saving Lives Project Coordinator in preparing of program progress reports, updating log frame and program monitoring feedback reports. Ensure systematic data collection along the project implementation, including specific donor reporting. Identify any shortcoming along the project cycle and inform relevant IRC senior staffs for timely decision making for the specific and assigned townships.

Reviews & / Evaluation Provide summarized monthly data analysis showing progress achieved against targets over time. Follow up with project teams on programme quality improvement action plans. Ensure action points are followed up and relevant measures taken and incorporated into programming; and verify entered data for completeness, correctness, and consistency and follow up on any data quality issues. Periodically leads in the presentation of M&E data trends during reflective practice forums at field office/ project level and gather lessons from project implementation processes. Support the implementation of processes to review the quality of existing project data, information, collection methods and the suitability of the existing data for the provision of sound baseline information. Maintain a tracking spreadsheet for M&E activities and events – baselines, assessments, reviews, evaluations – tracking trends and recommendations, progressing their implementation where appropriate.

Database management, Information Management and Reporting Assist the Senior Health Coordinator on donor reporting in accordance with standardized template and ensure quality MEAL reports are produced in a timely manner. Take lead in integration of program database to DHIS system, and IRC CommCare database system. Provide and maintain MIS content/requirements and feedback to project team and document progress on indicators/achievement of targets Submit dataset to update country office wide program indicator dashboard on monthly basis. Maintain and regularly update project monitoring reports, including lessons learned, prepared by different projects and application of evaluation recommendations.

Technical oversight and capacity building Supervise and provide technical support to Health program staff and the Data Entry team on implementing data flow mechanism, application of DHIS, and project data quality control tools. Provide technical quality assurance to DHMTs on implementing project data flow mechanism, application of DHIS database, and data quality control tools. Assist the Project Health Coordinator for the overall technical oversight and quality control of whole Health program in the respective sites. Organize the capacity building plan and actions for project staffs as needed. Technical oversight to the projectteam.

Qualifications

MIN REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: At least 3-5 years of experience in M&E of complex health programs in a humanitarian / development context and demonstrated high level skills in program and project M&E, operational research and impact assessment. Experience of web based & CommCare mobile data entry & management will be an added advantage.

DESIRED QUALIFICATION COURSES: University degree / diploma in social science, humanities, or other related degree; Computer Science/IT/or any sector or sub-sector related field; M&E Course

Required Qualifications/Experience & Competencies: Strong data collection, analysis, and report writing skills required. Proven technical skills in monitoring and evaluation, including demonstrated experience in developing M&E plans. Demonstrated and experience on Database management and working with MoH’s Health Management Information System (DHIS). Experience and skills in capacity building and mentoring multidisciplinary health program team. Good computer literacy and have good skills and experience of applying qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Excellent command of MS-Office software applications (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and Power Point). Extensive experience in mentoring and providing guidance to colleagues on M&E best practice for the design of data collection tools. Proven ability to establish & maintain databases with a strong data interpretation skill, report writing and presentation skills; Excellent ability to learn new skills & demonstrated professional development to date. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, & ability to communicate technical issues effectively. Demonstrated teamwork experience, including abilities to coordinate effectively with diverse individuals, teams, and stakeholders to achieve results. Excellent ability to communicate & develop good inter-personal relationships. Conversance with standardized Health IRC Signature and Core Outcome indicators. Knowledge, skills and experience in participatory methods experience in use of data to inform decision-making, planning, and performance monitoring.

Added 11 months ago - Updated 11 months ago - Source: rescue.org