MEAL Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Since the early 1980s Niger has consistently been ranked at the bottom of the UN’s Human Development Index. Over half the population suffers from chronic food insecurity and one in ten are extremely food insecure. Niger is also a disaster-prone country, regularly hit by food crises and vulnerable to flooding, cholera, and locust swarms. Access to health care and education for women and girls are very limited. In addition to the vulnerability of a significant proportion of Nigeriens, Niger also hosts refugees from neighboring Mali and Nigeria.

IRC’s vision for Niger is that individuals, households, and communities are resilient, self-reliant, and able to thrive in a changing context. IRC Niger is present in the regions of Tillabéri, Agadez and Diffa with projects in the following areas: Environmental Health (EH) and Non-Food Items (NFI), Emergency Response/Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), Protection (SGBV, Child Protection, Monitoring Protection and Protection Integration), Education, Nutrition, Health, and Livelihoods.

Job overview

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Programs and technically supported by the Regional Measurement Action Coordinator, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator works in close collaboration with program, grants and support teams to optimize monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning capacities and opportunities of the IRC mission in Niger to ensure high-quality programming for the clients we serve and support the global ambitions of IRC Strategy 100, especially the Data Ambition, and the Country Strategic Action Plan.

To this end, the MEAL Coordinator is responsible to ensure that a monitoring, evaluation and accountability and data management system is in place, sufficiently resourced and successfully implemented from collection to visualization. And that MEAL data is contributing to improved learning and program quality. The MEAL Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that MEAL principles are integrated in every step of the project cycle, as per IRC’s corporate guidelines and contributes to the implementation of the Country Strategic Action Plan and Strategy 100.

In support of these goals, the coordinator provides vital technical assistance, capacity sharing, individual mentoring, supervision and training to MEAL staff at IRC and partners.

Main responsibilties

Strategic Leadership and Partnership

• Establish and drive common strategies and approaches to the country’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Accountability processes that reflect and contextualize Strategy 100 and the Country Strategic Action Plan and ensure that the MEAL structure is fit for this purpose.

• Lead all aspects of MEAL (including client feedback mechanisms) functions across multiple sectors and multiple geographical areas/ large portfolio and or complex environment.

• Develop, coordinate, and strengthen capacity sharing partnerships with MEAL counterparts of partner agencies, local organizations, and government.

• Represent the IRC on MEAL at internal and external meetings, forums, and other events.

• Champion design, access, and use of data by leaders and partners for shared learning and evidence-based decision-making.

• Shape and implement MEAL systems and approaches that meet IRC standards and practices, that meet project and program needs, enable accountability to clients, partners, and donors, and foster program learning.

• Reinforce integration of cross-sectoral priorities in MEAL, including gender, protection, safeguarding, disaster risk reduction, Diversity-Equality-Inclusion and Do No Harm.

Technical Oversight

• Provide technical leadership for a strong monitoring system and processes throughout the project cycle from the design, implementation to close-out and learning including:

o Using learning and evidence from internal and external sources including previous projects to inform proposal design and Theory of Change.

o Developing and operationalizing, logical frameworks, MEAL plans, data collection tools, processes for data management, clients feedback approaches, quality checks and audits, and data visualization.

o Developing and advocating for adequate MEAL budget and staffing structure for all projects.

o Producing high-quality data, analysis, reports, presentations, and dashboard of key findings that foster learning and decision-making and share in key meetings such as project cycle meetings and strategic senior management team meetings.

• Provide technical leadership for the design, method, and conduct of surveys such as baseline and endline, and the commission of evaluations and surveys as required in coordination with program coordinators, technical advisors, and external partners were vital.

• Lead and advocate for the expansion of standard mobile data technology and online dashboard to enhance timeliness and quality of data collection, analysis, and visualization.

• Provide technical leadership to IRC’s effort in meeting its internal and external accountability commitments through the implementation of sound accountability, client feedback, and response mechanisms.

Human Resources

• Promote the growth and development of others in IRC teams and partners: Assess proficiencies; develop and lead targeted learning and training strategy. In particular, coach, mentor and support MEAL staff, provide vital tools and resources, as well as on the job training.

• Supervise medium to large sized MEAL team across multiple sectors and geographical areas: Set clear performance objectives; manage staff work plans; establish regular performance reviews; champion a positive working environment for professional development; foster an inclusive and respectful team climate, where all staff are valued and respected and can contribute to their maximum potential.

• Lead the recruitment of country MEAL staff, TTA’s, consultants and, support their onboarding.

Key working relationships:

Position Reports to Deputy Director of Programs.

Position directly supervises: MEAL Managers, Information management Manager and Client Responsiveness Manager

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Program Coordinators and Managers throughout the country program, Regional Measurement Action Coordinator, Client Responsiveness & Accountability (CRA) Technical Advisor, Grants Coordinator and Managers, Finance Coordinator, relevant Regional/HQ-based colleagues.

External: Partners, Governments, Clients.

Job requirements:

• A minimum of a master’s degree in a relevant field (statistics Mathematics, data sciences, social sciences, public health, economic development, or a related field) – a technical degree and additional relevant work experience may substitute for education.

• A minimum 5 years of working experience within Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and learning-related functions.

• Leadership experience and proven technical skills in setting up quality MEAL system that leads to evidence-based decision-making for multi-sectorial and multi-donor funded programs.

• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods together with strong presentation and reporting skills;

• Strong management and social skills and proven track record to work with diverse groups of people in a multicultural environment.

• Self-motivated with excellent organization, planning, and analytical skills – able to work without close supervision, including prioritizing work and multi-tasking.

• Proficiency and experience with mobile data collection such as Commcare, Kobo, ODK Collect are crucial as well as proficiency with Microsoft Excel, SPSS, SATA, or other similar software.

• Knowledge of Tableau, PowerBi or GIS software are additional assets.

• A strong understanding of accountability and proven ability to build Client Feedback Systems is a distinct advantage.

• Willingness to travel to various regional and field-level offices – (50%).

• Fluency in English (written and speaking) in addition to French.

Working environment

The MEAL Coordinator will be based in Niamey with travel throughout the country. The security situation in Niger continues to be volatile. This is a non-accompanied position.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.