Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Coordinator

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Coordinator will lead efforts to ensure that the IRC San Diego develops and maintains strong MEAL systems, aligned with Strategy100, San Diego’s MEAL strategy, and donor-funded programming. The Coordinator contributes to evidence-based program design, strong MEAL systems, continuous improvement of program quality based on data and learning, organizational culture shifts, and staff development. The position provides technical leadership and input to evaluation and accountability activities across programs and pro-actively develops shares high quality, informative analysis to inform senior leadership decision-making.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Development, Management, and Technical Quality

• Building on existing practices, establish a coherent San Diego MEAL system (approaches, procedures, structures) across all program areas that is aligned with IRC standards;

• Lead the development and review of proposal log frames, M&E plans, indicators (and their alignment with the IRC core indicators), measurement methodologies, plans, and tools;

• Provide technical assistance in monitoring program progress including the design of appropriate data collection toolsthatcantrackprogressandinformlearning,planningandimplementationofdatacollections,data management and analysis;

• Support program staff to carry out M&E plan, providing technical support, troubleshooting, and capacity augmentation;

• Supportprogramstaffinthedesign(andimplementation)ofassessments,whichmayincludegenderanalysis, stakeholder analysis, and pre-program data collection and analysis;

• Lead data analysis, and support teams to use data for evidence and decision making through learning and reflection sessions (built into grant meetings). Support stronger analysis of client-level outcomes;

• Ensure that all relevant stakeholders have timely access to appropriate information and evidence;

• Support client voice initiatives that increase accountability to clients, include proactive approaches as well as client feedback and response mechanisms. Advance use of the feedback data to enhance programs activities and institutional responsiveness culture;

• Conduct regular Project Data Quality Audits of projects where and when needed;

• Lead assessments, research and evaluations aimed at generating a strong evidence base for IRC programming, as well as to inform IRC advocacy;

• Contribute to donor proposals and reports, through quality analysis and interpretation of data.

Strategy and organizational Culture Change

• Champion an organizational culture shift from a focus on data being primarily for donor reporting or indicator calculation purposes, to a focus on using data for programmatic course correction and other decision making;

• Champion an organizational culture shift to increase respect for and use of client input and feedback, contextual analysis, and gender analysis;

• Support greater sharing and use of gender-sensitive monitoring data, feedback, context analysis, and lessons learned within and across IRC’s programmatic sectors, including by contributing to program development and design, to ensure that interventions are responsive to the needs of clients and are informed by a sound understanding of the context;

• Ensure consistency of indicators across programs, with the goal of developing systems and procedures that measure San Diego-wide performance and achievements towards outcomes (e.g. by using IRC’s Outcomes and Evidence Framework) and strategic commitments.

Staff Learning and Development

• Support program teams to develop strong project databases, tracking, record keeping and filing methodologies for all activities;

• Promote and strengthen the understanding of the importance of M&E within the office and with program partners, as appropriate, including through staff trainings, and the use and /or analysis of M&E systems during program design and implementation;

• Conduct monitoring visits and provide regular feedback to program teams.

Database Support

• Serve as ETO Site Administrator and assist with end-user support to ensure staff are set-up to use relevant data collection platforms;

• Create and edit reports in databases for designated programs as well as perform importing and exporting of data in various databases and spreadsheets;

• Serve as the focal point for using the Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) database and troubleshoot ETO reporting and touch points working with HQ technical experts.