MEAL Manager (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning)

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation

DRC Jordan is looking for a qualified individual to fill the role of MEAL Manager based in Amman, Jordan. The MEAL Manager is responsible for leading the monitoring and evaluation (M&E), information management (IM), and accountability department and ensuring that country-wide MEAL activities and strategy are in place in order to support quality programming and a strong evidence-base for the relevance and impact of DRC Jordan’s work. The position is responsible for feeding into strategic decisions and program design based on the evidence and outcomes of ongoing monitoring and evaluation work. The MEAL Manager will also provide technical guidance and capacity building to implementing partners.

About the job

The MEAL Manager will work closely with the Head of Programmes (HoP) to strengthen DRC Jordan’s quality of programs and monitoring, evaluation, learning, accountability systems. Ensuring that the Jordan country office is compliant with Core Humanitarian standards in particular with Standard 4 (Humanitarian response is based on communication, participation and feedback), 5 (Complaints are welcomed and addressed) and 7 (Humanitarian actors continuously learn and improve).

Under the management of the Head of Programmes, the MEAL Manager will work closely with Area Managers, Base Managers and Technical Coordinators to improve program quality and performance and ensure adoption of best practices and lessons learned across 6 Governorates in Jordan.

Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership

• Act as the lead for DRC Jordan’s Monitoring Evaluation and Learning and Information Management activities in line with the DRC’s global Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Minimum Operating Procedures (MEL MOPs);

• Develop program quality framework, to harmonise MEAL, IM and the accountability improvement planDevelop and oversee the management and implementation of M&E plans and strategy, tools, survey design, assessment/evaluation methodology, data analysis and other skills necessary to assess the impact of programming

• Ensure that M&E findings are in place for all donor reports;

• Manage budget requirements, development and spending for M&E/IM and project assessment activities, and set direction by prioritizing and organizing resources to achieve objectives;

• Design and coordinate high quality communication of M&E/IM findings through regular rountables and products that meet the needs of progam management and SMT, and help pin-point and address shortfalls that affect implementation;

• Liaise with programme staff of other departments to ensure close coordination and information sharing is maintained and information needs are being met;

• Lead the continued development and maintenance of the comprehensive country programme ’Gamma’ database to include data analysis, indicator tracking, project management and mapping functions

• Ensure utilization of the’Gamma’ database and thedata and information to support timely program management decision making, monitoring and verification, data quality and validation - this will include managing relations and engagement with the regional IM process, whilst leading efforts to centralise database development at the Jordan-level;

• In coordination with program and technical managers, support design and implemention of project and programme-led assessments within the areas of intervention - ensuring that assessment and evaluation strategies are implemented in a structured, coherent manner in line with project and strategic objectives;

• Actively support the development of DRC Jordan advocacy strategy, and contribute to the provision of evidence needed for said strategy;

• Lead the facilitation of quarterly level base learning events, and other ad hod learning events in close coordination with project managers and technical coordinators to produce lessons learned reports and other related documentations capturing key internal learnings from program/project interventions; 

• Participate in country-level strategic planning sessions and assist project managers, techncial coordinators and senior management in the development of annual plans, strategies, and program design using strong evidence from program M&E and other research initiatives;

• Participate in project kick-off meetings, review meetings and close-out meetings in order to highlight cross-project components aimed at replicating good practices and strengthening synergies between projects or programs.

• Assist the Grants department in developing strong indicators and logical frameworks for new projects.

Accountability

• Coordinate the implementation and continous update of the accountability systems for DRC projects working closely with Area Managers and Technical Coordinators;

• Build the capacity of staff to plan and implement effective accountability systems for the country program;

• Continually adapt the country program’s beneficiary and feedback complaint mechanism and set-up new systems as the program extends to new geographical areas;

• Serve as the organizational focal point on Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), ensuring local compliance and reviews across all standards. Liaising with regional colleagues responsible for accountability, compliance and risk management.

• Supervise the annual or biannual CHS self-assessment and prepare the resulting accountability improvement plan (AIP).

• Support regular code of conduct (CoC) and feedback and complaints mechanism (FCM) refresher training for staff, country-wide;

• Ensure creation and distribution of the monthly non-sensitive complaints report;

• Co-Chairwith protection and a community representatve  the praticipation and community engagement steering committee.

Team Management

• Directly line manages 5 staff (as above) including setting objectives and co-creating workplans, performance development, team building and capacity building or the larger MEAL field team;

• Lead the improvement of systems that strengthen DRC’ ability to analyze, improve, and represent impact internally at the field level and externally to communities themselves;

• Develop the capacity of MEAL field team to contribue to quantitative and qualitative analyses and report-writing tasks, as well as conducting presentations, with proficient use of the following tools on all project activities; Excel, SPSS, ODK, Kobo, Powerpoint.

Internal and External Coordination:

• Actively support and coordinate regional program and advocacy initiatives and research needs, including Danida livehoods assessment, regional IM initiative, Mixed Migration Platform, Durable Solutions Platform;

• In coordination with program and technical managers, represent DRC externally with Donors, Partners and the wider aid community through clusters and sectoral working groups as relevant;

• Work closely with DRC implementing and consortium partners to harmonize and standardize monitoring and evaluation fameworks and indicators;

• Support in conducting civil society partner capacity assessments;

• Design and provide capacity building activities in research, MEAL and IM to implementing partners as needed;

• Maintain good working relationships with implementing partners on joint research and MEL activities;

• Actively contribute and collaborate with regional/global counterparts to promote M&E and IM best practices and joint learning across DRC programs.

About You:

• At least seven years professional experience in the humanitarian sector
• Excellent knowledge of MEAL frameworks, tools, data collection processes etc.
• Previous experience working in the Middle East
• Previous experience monitoring and evaluating protection and/or livelihood projects
• Previous experience working with BPRM, USAID and SDC and other related donors
• Ability to communicate key information in an easy to understand, informative and collaborative manner
• Good knowledge of the Core Humanitarian Standards or other accountability measures/standards.
• High integrity and willingness to conduct her/himself transparently and open to scrutiny
• Knowledge of KOBO, OKD and other related data collection platforms
• English (fluent) and Arabic (asset)

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Designation of Duty Station: Amman

Start date: ASAP

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Applications will be processed on a rolling basis until vacancies are filled

Closing date for applications: 3 Feb 2020

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.