Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer

Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer - Database

Location:  Addis Ababa

Reports to: MEAL Manager

Grade – H2

Start of Contract & Duration: 12 months with Possibility of Extension

Posting date: June 5, 2021

INTRODUCTION

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an international non-governmental organization (NGO), has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC promotes and supports solutions to the problems faced by refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and migrants. The organization has offices across the region, and has been operational in Ethiopia since 2009.  With funding from bilateral and multilateral donors, DRC is currently implementing a range of activities across Ethiopia including WASH and shelter provision, child and youth protection, gender-based violence response, awareness-raising of migration risks, protection monitoring of migration routes, and livelihoods support for returning migrants or those at-risk of migration.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The M&E Database Officer will work within the Country MEAL Unit as part of a team to design, operationalize and improve the Country and Program MEAL systems, which heavily rely on a well-managed comprehensive database and other supporting technologies. The M&E Database Officer is responsible for supporting DRC staff and local partners to regularly collect, enter, verify, store and analyze data for decision making, CARM and learning. He / She will also be required to make timely database adjustments to measure the impact of DRC’ programs. The M&E Database Officer will directly work with the MEAL Specialist who is the point of contact for all DRC field staff regarding M&E support needs and operational issues. The M&E Database Officer will also closely coordinate with the Country MEAL Manager and MEAL Officers to help ensure monitoring and evaluation data is accurately incorporated into all reports and information products.   

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

M&E System Database Management and Innovation

• • Understand, maintain and innovate a M&E system database (MIS) that improves DRC’ ability to inform program implementation, analyze data, and represent impact to donors, government, colleague agencies, and communities themselves.
  • Ensure all relevant program staff are able to utilize the database to analyze program information and results
  • Design, adapt and maintain the MIS in conjunction with the MEAL Specialist and MEAL Manager to match strategic program or implementation change
  • Provide training in use of database, pivot tables and pivot charts to staff members that require it, or support on exporting to MS Excel for data analysis
  • Ensure the database is live and accessible to field offices
  • Review data being entered in the database regularly in order to locate and fix problems with data entry or integrity
  • Document system database contents, protocols and update manuals for smooth functioning
  • Design and maintain CARM databases at the Country and Program levels

Implement M&E System and Tools

• • Work as part of a team to facilitate and support M&E operations including baseline, annual, and endline surveys, regular monitoring, data collection and analysis, feedback and reporting according to the MEL workplan.
  • Generate data (tables/graphs/reports) from the database at regular intervals, ensuring reports/information are available for program implementation staff when required. Facilitate data analysis with program implementation team as requested
  • Conduct regular field visits to ensure all elements of the M&E system and database are being utilized effectively by all stakeholders, assessing and identifying breakdowns and areas that require clarifications and improvements
  •  Ensure field teams always have the most recent version of all M&E tools and documents.
  • Lead the design and management of Beneficiary Tracking system for all programs using ONA and/or COMMCARE
  • Lead the setting up and management of Indicator Tracking for all programs using TOLA
  • Lead the adoption and use of Advanced Excel and Tableau for data analytics and visualization

Staff Training and Capacity Building

• • Work closely with MEAL Officers and MEAL Specialists to develop and deliver staff/partner trainings, improving capacities in monitoring and evaluation and database management: data collection, entry, verification and analysis; and other identified needs
  • Follow up on trainings by mentoring staff/partners to develop identified technical skills one-on-one

Link M&E Results to Reporting

• • Review or edit data in reports as requested and required
  • Produce analytical summaries: graphs, charts, and tables as requested to fulfil reporting requirements
  • Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to DRC and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission
  • Other duties as assigned and agreed upon

Security

• • Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
  • Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning 

• • As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit DRC as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

DRC team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically
to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s 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.  

Experience and Technical Competencies:

• University Degree in Computer Science, IT, Information Management or Database Management System or other technical computing equivalents from a recognized institution required
• 2-4 years’ experience designing and managing Excel and MS Access databases for development organizations (UN, INGOs etc.) highly desired
• Key certifications in database management and/or programming (MySQL, VBA etc.) are an added advantage
• Experience in field survey/data collection techniques, data entry, data verification, and analysis beneficial
• Experience working with data collection, analysis and visualization technologies such as Ona, Kobo, COMMCARE, Tableau etc. will be an added advantage
• Demonstrated skills in training, capacity building, and mentoring are desired
• Good basic math and analytical skills as well as a general knowledge of statistical or monitoring and evaluation principles.

TO APPLY

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit updated CV and cover letter explaining their motivation and why they are suited for the post.

We only accept applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.ngo under Vacancies.

Please note that we receive applications up to June 19, 2021.

For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.ngo.

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gender gap.

Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status or other protected characteristics

We encourage only qualified Ethiopian Nationals to apply. DRC considers all applicants based on merit.