Consortium Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning (MEAL) Specialist (Darfur) – DRC

Job Description

Organization	Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
Workplace:	Central Darfur, Nertiti with support roving to other AO
Department/Country:	Sudan
Contract type:	National contract
Closing Date:	21 Oct 2024

Overall purpose of the role:

DRC is seeking a Consortium MEAL Specialist to support the development and implementation of monitoring, evaluation, and learning strategies for the Consortium project ‘Building Resilience and Supporting Solutions to Displacement in Central Darfur’ by the Danish Refugee Council, Save the Children and Mercy Corps. The role includes providing capacity building for monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and contributing to a comprehensive and coordinated MEAL system across the consortium’s activities. The Consortium MEAL Specialist will act as the focal point for a significant portion of Consortium initiatives and activities and hold technical oversight responsibilities, ensuring that those under their guidance receive the necessary support, clear communication, and follow-up on tasks and deadlines. Additionally, the Consortium MEAL Specialist will lead the coordination with Consortium partners to align MEAL efforts and ensure consistent collaboration across all stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Develop ToRs for assessments and monitoring and evaluation activities across Consortium project.
• Contribute to the continuous updating of MEAL standard operating procedures, ensuring alignment with Consortium partners and donor requirements.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve MEAL systems and processes across the Consortium and lead changes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness within the unit.
• Develop monitoring and evaluation plans (MEPs) and MEAL workplans (shared monthly) for assigned Consortium projects.
• Organize MEAL kick-off meetings for Consortium field staff and partners to ensure consistent understanding of project objectives and methodologies.
• In close collaboration with the Consortium’s technical unit, design assessment/monitoring and evaluation tools (focus group discussions, key informant interviews, household/individual surveys, post-distribution monitoring, participatory M&E activities, observational monitoring, etc.) and methodologies for Consortium activities.
• Contribute to coding of data collection tools into xls forms for Kobo and other mobile data collection platforms used by Consortium partners.
• Coordinate and oversee data collection for assessments and monitoring and evaluation exercises, including information gathering, sample definition, logistical support, and liaising with and overseeing data collection teams within Consortium projects.
• Responsibly track M&E field activity budget lines for Consortium projects, with oversight from the MEAL Manager, to ensure proper, timely spending on monitoring and evaluation needs.
• Ensure data cleaning and quality control for assessment, monitoring, and evaluation data related to Consortium activities.
• Conduct analysis, both quantitative and qualitative, for program reports, ad hoc requests, evaluations, etc., across Consortium projects.
• Produce reports (narrative and visual) with the findings of MEAL activities and assessments specific to Consortium programs.
• Provide narrative inputs for donor and other external and internal reports summarizing the achievements of MEAL activities within Consortium project.
• Provide regular written and visual updates for Consortium Manager and MEAL Manager on implementation and assessment progress.
• Represent the MEAL department in project kick-off, review, and closure meetings for Consortium projects.
• Liaise with Consortium program staff and the protection and economic recovery units to ensure close coordination and information sharing is maintained, and the information needs of Consortium partners are being met.

Accountability

• Coordinate the implementation and continuous update of accountability systems for Consortium projects, working closely with Consortium Area Managers and Technical Coordinators.
• Continually adapt and improve the Consortium’s beneficiary and feedback complaint mechanism and set up new systems, information sharing approaches, and modalities for promoting community participation to be maximally inclusive, accessible, and effective for Consortium activities.
• Serve as the Consortium focal point on Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), ensuring local compliance and reviews across all standards. Liaise with regional colleagues responsible for accountability, compliance, and risk management.
• Supervise the annual or biannual CHS self-assessment for Consortium partners and prepare the resulting accountability improvement plan (AIP).
• Support regular code of conduct (CoC) and Community Feedback Mechanism (CFM) refresher training for Consortium staff across all regions.
• Ensure the creation and distribution of the monthly non-sensitive complaints report related to Consortium activities.

Information Management

• Contribute to the development of the Consortium’s information management strategy by reviewing information needs and gaps and evaluating current information management processes and tools across Consortium projects.
• Design, develop, test, maintain, support, and improve the IM system that maintains and organizes data on Consortium activities and provides support in reporting, project tracking, and data analysis.
• Develop database security measures to safeguard information against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification, or disclosure, especially in terms of sensitive beneficiary information for Consortium projects.
• Ensure that information systems and processes within the Consortium are compliant with applicable standards and guidelines related to information management and data protection, including donor standards and requirements.
• Ensure effective data management across Consortium projects by improving existing or developing new data collection tools and methodologies and designing and managing database systems for analysis purposes.
• Draft information products such as reports, charts, and infographics by turning data into graphic products to facilitate the dissemination of information to external stakeholders involved in Consortium activities.

Coordination and Representation

• Represent the Consortium in coordination meetings with partners, donors, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate and plan regular MEAL-working groups with partners.
• Foster strong working relationships with key stakeholders to ensure alignment of MEAL activities and objectives across Consortium projects.
• Actively participate in sectoral and inter-agency working groups to represent the Consortium’s interests in monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Ensure regular communication and coordination with Consortium partners to align MEAL systems, share findings, and promote continuous improvement.

Additional Tasks

• Any additional tasks requested by the Consortium management, MEAL Manager, or relevant stakeholders as deemed necessary to support programmatic objectives for DRC Sudan mission.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

a) Essential

• Minimum of 4 years of work experience within the field of monitoring and evaluation, of which 3 in a similar role
• Experience working with International NGO’s, UN agencies
• Experience coordinating meetings and projects with MEAL-teams from other humanitarian actors.
• Experience working in monitoring and evaluation of FSL, protection, Shelter and WASH sectors in an emergency and post emergency context
• Experience in developing/ guiding information management systems for large humanitarian programs.
• Experience in participatory assessment and community-based monitoring approaches.
• Experience in partnership with Local Civil society and Government institutions
• Clear understanding of Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS).
• Experience with capacity building of staff in MEAL and IM, and in convening and facilitating trainings and workshops
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills (English)

b) Desirable

• Knowledge of ArcGIS/QGIS, NVivo (or other qualitative analysis software)
• Fluency in local language or the language of communities (Arabic)
• Experience of working in insecure environments and of security management; when relevant.
• Experience in developing/ guiding information management systems for large humanitarian programs, as relevant.
• Familiarity with the relevant data collection software, preferably Kobo Toolbox, Activity info, Commcare, ODK, DEEP, nvivo, ONA etc.
• Experience in statistical software, SPSS, R and visualisation tools such as PowerBi.
• Certification in Advance MEAL programme/course

Education: (include certificates, licenses etc.)

• A Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (international development, social sciences, statistics, public health, etc.) + at least 4 years of relevant experience
• A Master’s degree in relevant field + at least 3 years of relevant experience

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• English (fluent)
• Local language (desirable)

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• Senior Management, including SMT
• Area Management
• Technical Coordinators
• Consortium Manager and MEAL Manager.
• Consortium Partners and relevant stakeholders.

Basic: I master the essentials, but may at times need help from others

¨Advanced: I can work independently at full professional level.

¨Expert: I am the go-to person when others need help.

Core competencies	Basic	Advanced	Expert
Striving for excellence	☐	☒	☐
Collaborating	☐	☒	☐
Taking the lead	☐	☒	☐
Communicating	☐	☒	☐
Demonstrating integrity	☐	☒	☐

Find the definition of DRC’s Core competencies here