Senior MEAL Manager

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 MEAL Coordinator, the Senior MEAL Manager ensures all programs and projects have suitable monitoring and evaluation systems, and regularly reviews and maintains MEAL systems. The Sr. MEAL Manager 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 purpose of the Sr. MEAL Manager position is to provide guidance and support to the core program implementation team in establishing and maintaining both program and project MEAL systems.

The position holder has the role of supervising Sr. MEAL Officers and MEAL Officers. As a result, s/he is primarily responsible for building MEAL staff capacity through organizing training, mentoring, coaching, and supervision. Together with the MEAL Coordinator, S/he technically supports IRC Bangladesh to meet standards set out in the Strategic Action Plan (SAP 2022-2024) and IRC’s global MEAL Handbook, IMPACT Framework initiative for improving monitoring practice and use of data for decision-making within the organization.

Highlights of Key Responsibilities

Program design and systems development

- Support the implementation of the Country Office MEAL strategy by ensuring that systems in place for the effective functioning of the strategy are operationalized - In close collaboration with Sr. MEAL officers, provide technical support to implementation teams to develop and implement MEAL plans, assessment and baseline tools, project-specific monitoring tools, and methodologies to conduct regular monitoring and evaluation activities - Ensure utilization of standardized MEAL assessment and monitoring tools, manuals, guidelines, training, regulations, and protocols - Set up systems for and develop beneficiary tracking tools and orient project staff on the tools - Participate in program/ project design specifically to develop log frames, Theory of Change, and ensure designs are informed by clients, contextually relevant, and evidence-based. In addition, provide technical guidance in selecting indicators ensuring standardized indicators (IST) are used where possible - Ensure that MEAL systems consider ethical collection and safe storage of data

Monitoring and Reporting

- In close collaboration with Sr. MEAL Officers and MEAL Officers, prepare monthly monitoring reports to inform decision making - Prepare and update PCM template, Log-frame, IPTT, and MEAL activity plans - Work with project staff to ensure that the project work plans including monitoring activities are up-to date and progress tracked - Work with Sr. MEAL Officers and MEAL officers to ensure that data is collected and entered into databases and/or tracking sheets, and/or data platforms regularly - 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 field data collection and flag data collection issues to the MEAL coordinator and technical leads - Conduct data quality audits to identify and resolve systemic problems affecting data quality - Tracking MEAL budget in different projects and ensure timely expenditure as per plan - Report into the HRIS system on the salary charging for MEAL staff

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 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 Technical Coordinators

Evaluations and Research

- Provide quality assurance for assessments, baselines, surveys and evaluations - Develop and/or review ToRs, baseline, research, and evaluation designs and reports - Plan for implementation and follow-up on internal and external evaluations (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

- Develop a comprehensive understanding of IRC’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Client Responsiveness (CR), Response Flow, and individual responsibilities outlined in the SOP. - Act upon findings and recommendations from the MEAL reports such as the 'Client Satisfaction Survey', Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM), Client Feedback Registry, etc. - Assist in the implementation of IRC’s CR Strategies in Bangladesh, contributing to the creation of an enabling environment for effective strategy execution. - Support programs to operationalize client accountability systems - Develop and increase utilization of accountability approaches, such as Complaints and Response Mechanisms - Support program implementation teams to consolidate feedback reports and monitor the implementation of actions. - Knowledge Management and Learning - 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 in collaboration with the Knowledge Management specialist to organize sharing lessons learned events - Assist the Accountability and Knowledge Management Specialist in identifying, documenting, storing and sharing lessons learned that have implications for refinement of best programmatic practice - Support diagnostic studies, evaluations, and surveys.

Staff capacity building

- Prepare MEAL staff mentoring coaching plans and implement accordingly - Train program staff in data collection methods, management, analysis, and how to use data for decision making - Assist in recruitment of enumerators and Human Resources onboarding - Provide consistent, supportive supervision to strengthen staff performance as necessary to meet monitoring objectives.

Deliverables

- MEAL framework in use for every project (as per PCM) - Data collection and tracking systems in place (PID) - Monitoring reports to inform decision-making are in place - Data quality 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 (including IPTT) - Oversee CommCare data entry and data management

- Projects having updated PCM tools (M&E Plan, PCM Dashboard, client feedback plan)

- Monthly MEAL salary charging report submitted into HRIS system - Team management and capacity building

Qualifications

- Minimum of 6 years 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, program monitoring, including designing monitoring systems, indicators, developing MEAL plans, data quality assessments, 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 to 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, Statistics or from other social science groups)

Professional Degree/ Certification

- Project Management - Monitoring and Evaluation Certification

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 at 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?