Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager

We are looking for an experienced candidate to fill the role of MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) Manager for DRC in Myanmar.

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council / Danish Demining Group (DRC/DDG) 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.

In Myanmar, DRC has been present since 2009, and since June 2012 broadened its presence via the Danish Demining Group (DDG) - DRC’s division for Mine Action.

DRC/DDG is currently engaged in responses in Rakhine, Kachin and Northern Shan states. Our  response targets displaced and displacement affected communities and other vulnerable communities in some of the most deprived areas of Myanmar. Key activities include protection (including Child Protection, GBV and Protection Monitoring), CCCM, WASH, Livelihoods, shelter and mine action.

DRC/DDG Myanmar currently employs over 400 staff and operates from six operational offices. Our main office is in Yangon; our main donors in Myanmar include ECHO, OFDA, UNICEF, UNHCR, DANIDA, SDC, DFAT, LIFT, USAID, DFID, EC and private donors.

About the job

The growing complexity of the DRC operations in Myanmar make the cross-functional Program Quality and Information Management tasks increasingly important to be able to ensure the quality of DRC’s programming, pull together comprehensive information and analysis  to  support   program design, and develop comprehensive MEAL and IM systems to support operational and strategic decision making.

The overall objective of the MEAL Manager will be to manage the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning and Information Management teams in order to support quality programming and accountability towards beneficiaries, donors and other stakeholders. They will be responsible for leading the nationalization process of the MEAL Unit by ensuring the national staff have the adequate knowledge and skills necessary to manage the MEAL processes, and to handover to a national manager at the end of the contract.

The MEAL Manager will be responsible for operationalizing the existing MEAL guidelines and protocols for each technical sector in line with the country strategy, ensure continued harmonization and standardization of systems and procedures across different areas of intervention and states as well as provide technical MEAL guidance and leadership at all levels of the Country Program such as leading efforts to document progress, effectiveness and impact for donors reporting requirements, and for use in new project design. The position will also support the country program with ensuring adherence to the Core Humanitarian Standards.

Under the management line of the Head of Programmes, the MEAL Manager in close cooperation with the Area Managers, Project/Program Managers, Coordinators and Grant staff will further improve and manage the whole program quality framework (including IM, and CHS) for DRC Programme in Myanmar in order to improve program quality, monitoring performance and instrumentalize best practices and lessons learned.

The MEAL Manager role is based in Yangon, with regular travel and field visits a key part of the role.

Specific duties and responsibilities

The duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Quality Management:

• Provide leadership in ensuring implementation of DRC MEAL guidelines and policies, with standard approaches and shared practices and systems;
• Coordinate with the Programme teams and other relevant DRC’s stakeholders on project design, including gathering information relevant for program quality for concept notes and proposals to input into the design of assessments and logframes, MEAL plans in pursuit of high impact and cost effective program strategies and activities;
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives and contribute to response-wide strategy development;
• 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 program
• Initiate and ensure an operational decentralized MEAL system is in place.

Programme Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning:

• Develop and continuously update FCRM guidelines and policies and lead in the full roll out of programme wide feedback, complaint and response (FRCM) mechanisms;
• Ensure that DRC’s team members are supporting all efforts towards accountability, specifically to beneficiaries and in line with international standards, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of DRC projects;
• Ensure the implementation of existing monitoring, tracking and reporting systems, tools and templates that enhance monitoring of program outputs and quality, generate quality evidence on program outcome and promote and ensure use of data for decision-making processes;
• Further improve systems that strengthen DRC’ ability to analyze and represent impact internally and externally and most of all to communities themselves;
• Design and manage evaluations in compliance with DRC evaluation policy, from development of ToR, to advising management on approval of final report, to dissemination of evaluation;
• Regularly present key findings to the Senior Management Team for further development.  

Information Management

• Continued support the the Information Management team in rolling out the DRC centralized Management Information System (MIS) to facilitate timely information updates (Institutional Knowledge Building), data
• Proactively support Area Managers and Heas of Programmes  in improving the IM structure in DRC. This includes reporting lines and harmonization of data processes.
• Manage the institutional knowledge and contributing to wider knowledge management across DRC.

Capacity building:

• Provide timely and high-quality advice to Area Managers as required;
• Strengthen leadership and management capacity of MEALTeam Leaders, MEAL Coordinator, CRM Coordinator and IM specialist
• Lead the nationalization process of the MEAL Unit by ensuring the national staff have the adequate knowledge and skills necessary to manage the MEAL processes.
• Proactively support and advice on recruitment and induction of MEAL and relevant programme and project staff

Core Humanitarian Standards: 

• Assess gaps and work to support country and project level policies and practices to ensure DRC is compliant with the Core Humanitarian Standards; and
• Support the development of an organizational culture that reflects DRC mandate and values as a humanitarian organization.

About you

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: You act in line with our vision and values. 

Essential skills:

• Master’s degree in development economics, statistics, research methods, or a similar field;
• Exceptional command (written and spoken) of English;
• Excellent writing, analytical and strategic thinking skill, with proven ability to create and utilize qualitative and quantitative Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning methods and analyses in organizational planning; and
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills are necessary.

Essential experience:

• Minimum five years of technical experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning;
• Proven experience in effectively working with a variety of donors’ requirements including ECHO, EU, DFAT, GIZ, USAID and UN agencies; and
• Previous staff management experience. 

Competency profile:

• Ability to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work environment;
• Capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and to inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs;
• Ability to navigate complex situations with diplomacy;
• Ability to manage ambiguity, frustration and stress in self and others;
• Confident and decisive leadership;
• Desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally;
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required; and
• Demonstrated experience and ability to professionally and appropriately represent the organization and negotiate and defend DRC’s interests with a diverse range of government officials, local organizations and other groups.

We offer

DRC will offer the successful applicant a 9-month contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position will be placed at F1.

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button.
All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk

Applications close on November 30, 2020.

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