Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services. IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat. IFRC has had a consistent presence in Afghanistan since 1990 to support the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) in its organizational development, auxiliary role and outreach, humanitarian diplomacy, partnership development, humanitarian response operations, and longer-term programming. A core part of IFRC’s mission is to coordinate and support the work of member National Societies, driving the transformations that are essential for the IFRC network to fulfil full potential as a global humanitarian actor - engaged, accountable and trusted – and to deliver on an agreed agenda. The IFRC Secretariat as well as engages with the ICRC on Movement Coordination and Cooperation in line with an existing Movement Cooperation Agreement. Currently, Afghanistan is reeling from a complex humanitarian crisis resulting from a convergence of drought, food insecurity, displacement, gaps in essential services including health, economic hardship, and effects of a conflict which spanned decades, among others. In response to ballooning humanitarian needs, the IFRC is supporting ARCS in scaling up humanitarian response alongside longer-term programmes. The collective funding requirements of the IFRC network for Afghanistan in 2023 are CHF 120 million. IFRC will support ARCS programming under three pillars: Pillar 1 on addressing immediate humanitarian needs; Pillar 2 on supporting recovery and bridging to development, and; Pillar 3 on strengthening local response capacity.

Under the direct supervision of the Quality and Accountability Manager, the Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer will be responsible in providing technical assistance in operationalising and socialising the M&E system. This includes improving and strengthening programme quality, performance and impact by providing technical assistance and guidance to program designs, assessments, monitoring and evaluation of the emergency/recovery programmes, the resilience development programmes within Disaster Risk Management (DRM), Health and WASH and Immunisation programmes of IFRC Afghanistan Country Delegation. The position will promote the awareness of and adherence to appropriate strategies and standards, integrated and participatory approaches to programming, cross cutting issues, good practice and lessons learnt. The Senior MEL Officer will work with both the programme staff of the IFRC and the operational and monitoring staff of the ARCS supporting the accountability, transparency, and timely reporting to donors and for stakeholders. In ARCS, the PMER unit is part of the National Society Programme Support and Development function and has a horizontal relationship with all sector units.

The key accountabilities and responsibilities of the Senior MEL Officer will include but not limited to the followings. • The Senior MEL Officer will lead the compilation; indicator tracking and maintain different programme implementation records. • Assist Program and operations teams in developing mechanisms useful for regular monitoring of the projects, conducting evaluations (either within or with consultancy), manage outsourced/Third party monitoring & evaluation, and ensure accountability and management of information and effective learning. • Provide peer guidance in the implementation of monitoring systems to the PMER staff of the ARCS HQ and support ARCS provincial PMER staff in maintaining provincial level data bases. • Support ARCS PMER activities using a range of quantitative and qualitative methods and various\ participatory methodologies to monitor performance. • Monitor and document the progress of programme activities against agreed donor targets while ensuring that respective regional/global data base is updated regularly in liaison with colleagues in KL and Geneva. • Support teams with implementation of project evaluations and research, including developing evaluation tools, support planning evaluator itineraries, and training field staff for data collection if required. • Facilitate periodic Lessons Learned workshops and implement a systematic way of documenting and disseminating lessons learned to help increase organizational knowledge and improve future interventions. • Maintain good communications with ARCS, ICRC and other key stakeholders in change management processes. • Provide inputs and MEL activities summary results in Operation updates, Sitreps, and various pledge-based reports. • Adapt or develop specific assessment, monitoring and evaluation tools for consistent and quality data collection. Develop outputs and outcomes indicator tracking sheets that can be used by program managers and help teams establish targets which link to project activities. • Conduct data analysis, requested by teams through the line manager to inform programme management. • Work with programme teams (IFRC and ARCS) to assist with development or adaption of tools, checklists and monitoring forms, according to the objectives and targets. • Provide support in development and implementation of accountability mechanisms i.e. information sharing, participation and complaints and feedback response mechanisms. Undertake accountability system assessment and review as required. • Serve as in-country focal point for MEL for the ARCS/IFRC programmes and coordination on same at a Movement (Partner National Societies, IFRC and ICRC). • Undertake technical visits to the targeted communities/areas in programs (depending on availability and need, and if approved by line manager) to support monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment and accountability processes. • Identify learning and training opportunities for ARCS PMER staff and work as a mentor for ARCS less experienced staff. • Should conduct training and mentoring sessions for IFRC and ARCS colleagues in PMER. • Work as focal point for third party monitoring service provider in TOR development, recruitment, coordination, information sharing, validating and follow up • Work closely with ARCS PMER unit and Third-Party Monitoring in conducting the PDM, exit interview and site observations and share the findings with programme colleagues for rectification and follow up • Any other tasks assigned by the line manager.

Required: • At least Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (any field of social sciences, development studies, BBA, Economics, etc.); Master’s would be an asset.

Required: • At least, 5 years of experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, and learning with (inter)national organizations. •Strong command and experiences in DRR, Food Security, and Livelihood programming •Red Cross/Red Crescent experience • At least two years’ experience in capacity building and learning projects and programs

Required: • Self-sustaining in Microsoft Office Software (MS. Word, MS. Excel, MS. PowerPoint) • Confidential approach when dealing with people’s information • Skills in training and developing people • Fluently spoken and written command in English as well as local language (Dari or Pushto)

1.Core competencies: Communications, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust. 2. Functional competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others 3. Values: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply.