Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Manager

Job Description

Background:

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery, and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

Position Overview

Reporting directly to the MEAL Coordinator, Senior MEAL Manager will strengthen the MEAL efforts, approaches and systems to foster learning and accountability for our clients; support IRC’s global and measurement ambitions of Strategy 100 and the Country Strategic Action Plan. The Senior MEAL Manager contributes to the overall program quality through the coordination, and implementation of enhanced monitoring and evaluation, accountability, and learning strategies, with emphasis on streamlining processes and tools for efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability throughout the project cycle across the IRC’s various sectors and departments. S/he will support and oversee the MEAL functions across all IRC programs within the Ethiopia MEAL team in close collaboration with the multi-sectoral MEAL Managers.

Major key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Partnership

- Support and manage all technical aspects and actions of MEAL for multisectoral programs; respond to program needs; foster high standards and practices for quality data, analysis, and reports. Enable accountability to clients, partners, and donors;

- Improve MEAL systems and approaches and foster learning; - In the absence of the MEAL Coordinator, represent IRC at meetings, forums, and other events & build partnership within IRC and other areas of expertise; - Champion design, access and use of data by leaders and partners for shared learning and evidence-based decision-making; - Collaborate with MEAL teams within and outside IRC to support harmonization of MEAL systems and approaches, sharing capacity and experiences. - Collaborate with the Grants Unit and Technical Sectors to provide input on MEAL plans, and frameworks towards comprehensive strategies that will ensure program quality and impact. - Manage development and use of the IRCs MEAL plan and Matrices as a project M&E tool and provide consultation to Sectoral departments and project/program staff. - Support in the MEAL systems strengthening and procedures that measure country program-wide performance and achievements towards Outcomes (using the Outcomes & Evidence Framework). - Support the measurement activities of the country program and ensure the periodic/regular tracking of all grant indicators and beneficiary reach across IRC Ethiopia. - Support IRC Ethiopia technical and senior management staff as needed to interpret and inform project design and management decisions based on collected data and the learnings generated. - Contribute to the rollout of IRC global strategic initiatives related to measurement (Sectoral Toolkits, Outcome and Evidence Framework, Client Responsiveness and MEAL technology)

Technical Oversight

- Lead and support the MEAL system and processes implementation across multi-sectoral program and field offices in harmony with the MEAL Country and Global Strategy throughout the project cycle: - Engage in and lead the design, method, and conduct of surveys such as baseline/end line, Post Distribution Monitoring and the commission of evaluations with colleagues and partners; - Advocate for and support the expansion of standard mobile data technology and online dashboard to enhance timeliness and quality of data collection, analysis and visualization; - Support and contribute to IRC’s effort in meeting its internal and external accountability commitments through the implementation of sound accountability, client feedback, and response mechanisms.

Human Resources

- Coordinate, lead, mentor and support a dynamic team of MEAL staff (field based MEAL Officers); foster timely and high-quality achievement, and an inclusive and respectful team climate; - Promote the growth and development of others in IRC teams and partners in MEAL: Lead and craft high-quality technical training and learning materials for partners, colleagues, and junior staff; - Participate in and support the recruitment and onboarding of country MEAL managers, MEAL external consultants.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: ------------------------------

Position Reports directly to: MEAL Coordinator

Position directly supervises: MEAL Officers; Other Internal and/or external contacts.

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Program Coordinators/Managers throughout the country program ----------------------------------------------------------------------

External: Partner MEAL staff; Clients, Supervise external consultants in partnership with technical coordinator.

Accountability or Client Responsiveness (CR) is in many countries included within the M&E realm of responsibilities – however if not, a reference to CR can be taken out.

Qualifications

Requirements:

MEAL Managers have:

- Master’s degree in a relevant field (such as: statistics & data management, development economics, project management, social science, public health, or a related subject area). - A Minimum 5 years of working experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning-related functions, mainly in MEAL leadership and Multisectoral Programs. - Technical skills in setting up quality MEAL System, ToC 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 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. - 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 experienced multisectoral 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. - Willingness to travel to various field-level offices (40%). - Proven English Language proficiency.

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

· Name of the position you have applied for

· Date of application

· Summary of your qualifications and experience

· Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

· Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible, also email address

· Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

IRC is an equal employment 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 or disability.

Professional Standards: 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 Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer 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

Equal Opportunity Employer: 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, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.