Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer ( Balkans)

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is among the world’s leading humanitarian aid organizations. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict, and disaster, helping them to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. At work today in over 40 countries, the IRC seeks to be an operational and inspiring leader in matters of resettlement, asylum, and integration, demonstrating its credibility and expertise as a leading service provider, partner and advocate across the arc of the global displacement crisis. IRC currently operates in the U.S., Africa, Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. For a complete listing of countries in which IRC operates and supports refugee programs, please visit http://www.rescue.org/where

Across Europe, the IRC delivers programs that address acute humanitarian needs of asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants who are newly arrived, stranded or in transit, and programs that address their longer-term integration needs.

1. Background

Regional Background

In response to the increased number of people on the move from 2015, the IRC began responding in the Balkans to assist vulnerable refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.

Programs Background

Since the conflict in Ukraine started in February 24, 2022, which brought the consequent displacement into neighboring countries, the IRC new programs on protection and Refugee Info East Europe programs are being established to address the most pressing needs of people on the move across South-East Europe. IRC continues to use its voice and expertise to increase safe and legal pathways, ensure protection and improve the quality of resettlement, asylum and integration services. The programs are implemented in close partnership with local non-governmental organizations and governmental institutions.

2. Scope of Work

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) officer will support the program team in developing, managing, and strengthening monitoring efforts of the IRC program in the Balkans and Ukraine neighboring countries with the aim of ensuring a high program quality in line with international humanitarian standards and responsiveness to beneficiary needs and donor requirements in a rapidly changing context.The M&E Officer will support a robust monitoring system that facilitates both accountability and learning and includes data collection, analysis, learning reflection and timely action-taking. The position may require some travel to other areas of IRC operation.

5. Reporting lines and key working relationships

The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer work under the supervision of the of Head of Office, and in close coordination with program staff, and RAI Europe Measurement Advisor, to develop appropriate M&E systems and plans, accountability and learning mechanisms.

6. Responsibilities

Monitoring, Data Collection and Analysis:

· Support the implementation of activities according to the program’s M&E plan and adherence to IRC’s monitoring standards;

· Support the roll-out of an organization-wide (Europe) data base for monitoring data;

· Develop program temporary database in Excel/Access to capture data that can be exported to a more robust database

· Support the program teams in designing/updating M&E tools, as well as in guiding data collection and analysis as required;

· Plan, manage, and conduct periodic visits to data collection in program sites;

· Conduct manual data entry from paper-based into electronic forms during interim period;

· Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis of program data;

· Lead the review, analysis and revision of data collection tools;

· Lead the preparation of data for M&E reports;

· Carry out regular data quality audits (DQAs);

· Conduct Program’s tracking of planned vs. achieved results;

· Storage data collected adhering to IRC protocols, and

· Perform other duties as required.

Capacity Strengthening, Learning, and Accountability

· Provide individual support to program staff in areas of data collection (e.g. how to use mobile tools (smart phones, tablets), for data collection);

· Support/Deliver M&E/data base/ data collection trainings;

· Design jointly with program staff beneficiary/client feedback on services to improve program quality, managing data collectors, and

· Conduct learning sessions with beneficiaries and staff, presenting to them the results of beneficiary feedback.

· Prepare, participate in, and support follow-up of data review meetings that serve to discuss program progress and use data to inform decision-making for program adaptation;

· Conduct field monitoring visits and provide regular feedback to program staff;

- Ensure that IRC meets its internal and external accountability commitments through the development and implementation of accountability mechanisms appropriate for the rapidly evolving context, and including a beneficiary feedback and response mechanism to be utilized by program teams.

- Promote a learning environment that include regular discussions on lessons learned, best practices,,and knowledge sharing between programs and within programs between different offices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field including data science, business, engineering, social sciences, economics, or related field);

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in developing and implementing M&E plans data collection and analysis, and thorough knowledge of M&E principles, methods and approaches;

• Thorough understanding of project cycle management processes;

• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data collection tools;

• Preferred experience and skills developing qualitative and quantitative data collection tools with Kobo, Survey Monkey, Microsoft Forms;

• Experience in data/information management and quantitative analysis, statistical software such as SPSS, or Stata is preferred, but not required;

• Professional MS Office skills, especially Excel;

• Demonstrated experience and skills in data/information management and analysis, with experience using databases and software applications;

• Serbian and English fluency at native speaker or C2 level (Common European Framework for Languages), is required. Fluency in additional languages, including Romanian, Albanian, Hungarian, and Russian is a great advantage.

• Strong measurement, analytical, systematic-thinking, planning and organizational skills;

• Ability to present information orally and in writing clearly and concisely;

• Excellent inter-personal skills, demonstrating diplomacy and tact;

• Ability to prioritize among multiple tasks and make decisions;

• Proactive attitude and ability to seek supervisory support as needed;

• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure and in constantly changing work environments;

7. Desirable skills:

• Experience in organizing data collection, and managing enumerators

• Experience in conducting primary qualitative data collection

• Experience in capacity building and team building (e.g. trainings/workshops/coaching/tutoring)

• Experience in writing M&E reports

• Experience of working in multicultural environments

• Experience of working in a non-governmental organization (NGO)

• Knowledge of international development and/or the humanitarian sector

• Commitment to humanitarian work and continuous learning

8. Location

The Snr M&E Officer is based in Belgrade.

Disclaimer Clause: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with position.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

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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.