Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (RMEAL) Manager - PlayMatters

Job Description

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 28 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.

Position Summary: IRC is seeking an RMEAL Manager - PlayMatters for a five-year project, “PlayMatters”, funded by the LEGO Foundation. The Play Matters - Sparking Lifelong Learning through Play aims to improve holistic learning and wellbeing outcomes for 800,000 school going children (aged 3-12+) in in refugee settlements and host communities in East Africa (Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania). This project aims to build children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and creative skills by influencing and changing behaviors of adults (parents, caregivers, teachers, community members and policy makers) surrounding children to incorporate Learning through Play methodologies into regular interactions with children at school, home and in the community. The project is implemented in a consortium partnership with War Child Holland, Plan International, Behavioral Insights Team and Innovations for Poverty Action. More information on PlayMatters can be found here: https://www.playmatters.org

The RMEAL Manager will be responsible for ensuring that PlayMatters project meets its Research Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (RMEAL) commitments in the respective location. S/he will support design, manage implementation, and ensure compliance to RMEAL systems, policies, and procedures. The position holder will facilitate and manage the roll-out and implementation of the project RMEAL activities, coordinate data collection and performance reporting against project indicators within the location, ensure accountability to stakeholders and clients and build strong relationships and support the project team at field level to understand and contribute appropriately to the RMEAL functions. S/he will work in coordination with the field project team to ensure that RMEAL is integral to project implementation and decision-making and continuous improvement of the project. The RMEAL Manager will also support IRC global and measurement initiative under the integrated programming.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Manager is responsible for four key objectives: •Coordinate successful field implementation of monitoring, evaluation and learning activities in line with PlayMatters’ approved workplans and budgets, and in line with high-quality technical standards. •Support the process of designing and implementing a uniform M&E system and standard operating procedures across the implementation areas and with field teams, in service of the project goal and outcome areas. •Ensure data are routinely communicated in a relevant and timely manner so that data can be used for subsequent program design and scale up, including with partners and other humanitarian agencies. •Conduct routine data quality checks with field implementation teams to ensure accuracy, reliability, timeliness, and relevance of key monitoring data.

Duties and Responsibilities: Management for high quality monitoring and evaluation •Provide technical support to enable field staff to implement protocols and plans safely, ethically, and rigorously. •Support development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation annual workplans, budgets, and deliverables. •Build capacity of field staff as well as partner teams in indicators, routine monitoring, and MEL SOPs. •Support project staff by creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect and empowers staff to take responsibility. •Ensure protocols are followed in conjunction with the PlayMatters’ country RMEL Manager and IRC MEAL Coordinator. •Participate and contribute to regular RMEAL reviews, project cycle management meetings and team meetings for progress reporting, documentation and learning events. •Coordinate and provide direct supervision, roles orientation, coaching and performance management of RMEAL officers, assistants, and volunteers.

Data management and reporting: •Collaborate and work in coordination with project staff to ensure that data is timely collected, accurately reported, and used consistently in continuous improvement of project. •Establish and ensure timely data flow, quality checks, and audits, and updating of data visualization/indicator dashboards from respective location. •Keep track of the project reporting requirements and deadlines and provide location specific RMEAL information to preparing reports. •Prepare/contribute towards the development of quality reports (annual, quarterly, and monthly) and project indicator performance trackers, feedback, and dissemination to staff and project stakeholders. •Participate in the design and implementation of project specific assessments, surveys such as baseline and end line performance measurements, research evaluations and impact studies.

Disseminating Quality Data: •Support development and use of user-friendly dashboards and data visualizations for project teams and other key audiences. •Ensure that data from research and monitoring activities are disseminated and used to adjust and adapt programming over time. •Leverage existing IRC staff and partner expertise or build capacity as needed to assure front-line staff participation in the interpretation and application of results, as well as design of data use plans and learning agendas.

Collaboration and accountability with external stakeholders: •Establish and maintain solid cooperation with partner organizations as we design and refine the monitoring and evaluation system in the field. •Represent, contribute, and participate as required to sector specific, inter-departmental and cross sector activities in-country, across the consortium and externally. •Organize, contribute to and /or participate in regular field monitoring, accountability, reporting and cross learning across the project. •Ensure that high quality analysis reports to illustrate IRC’s impact and assessment findings are produced, including evidence of good practice and replicable programmes, and that they are communicated at appropriate events.

Qualifications

•A university degree in a relevant field such as Statistics, Business Statistics, Demography, Economics, Public Health, Social sciences, or other field relevant to monitoring and evaluation or project management. •Within 3-5 years of working experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning-related functions. •Experience in humanitarian and/or development context and with an International NGO. Experience in supporting education projects will be an added advantage. •Technical skills in setting up quality M&E/MEAL processes and creating logical frameworks and data analysis that leads to learning and action. •A strong understanding of accountability and proven ability to build Client Feedback Systems. •Proficiency and experience with mobile data collection such as Kobo, Commcare, ODK Collect is vital as well as proficiency with Microsoft Excel, SPSS, STATA or other similar software. •Knowledge of Tableau, PowerBi, or GIS software tools are additional assets. •Previous experience working in partnership programs/consortia is desirable. •Self-motivated with good organization, planning skills, including prioritizing work and multi-tasking. •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.

Reports to: Senior Manager- Implementation- Lamwo

Working Environment: The RMEAL Manager (PlayMatters) will be based in the IRC Uganda office (based in the field site) and will be provided with regular administrative and logistics support to perform his/her responsibilities.

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.

IRC et les employés de IRC doivent adhérer aux valeurs et principes contenus dans le IRC WAY (normes de conduite professionnelle). Ce sont l’Intégrité, le Service, et la Responsabilité. En conformité avec ces valeurs, IRC opère et fait respecter les politiques sur la protection des bénéficiaires contre l’exploitation et les abus, la protection de l’enfant, le harcèlement sur les lieux de travail, l’intégrité financière, et les représailles.