Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator

Overall purpose of the role:

Launched in late 2022, the Refugee Investment Facility (RIF) is a groundbreaking partnership between the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) – a leading global humanitarian organisation – and iGravity – a Swiss firm specialized in impact investment and innovative finance solutions. The RIF links the world of impact investing with the world of refugee assistance by offering long-term financing and technical assistance to local medium-sized businesses that directly impact refugees and their host communities in two pilot countries, Uganda and Jordan.

As the RIF grows its portfolio of investments across Uganda, Jordan and possibly other geographies, DRC is looking for an experienced person to act as the RIF Portfolio MEAL Coordinator.

The RIF Portfolio MEAL Coordinator will ensure consistency in data collection and subsequent use of information across RIF implementing contexts, participate in the screening of potential RIF investee enterprises, lead the implementation of the RIF MEAL framework and associated activities (in close coordination with relevant DRC and iGravity team members), oversee MEAL activities of DRC MEAL staff assigned to partially support the RIF in both Uganda and Jordan, and monitor progress of technical assistance.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy, Planning and Compliance:

• Lead the development and integration of inclusive MEAL strategies tools into the RIF Impact Framework for both Uganda and Jordan; and ensure leadership in MEAL strategy, advancing MEAL technical, human and financial capacities within the RIF team and ensure leadership in meeting DRC institutional MEAL commitments.
• Identify and plan for the human resources, financial resources, and time needed to carry out MEAL activities in line with the RIF Impact Framework and in accordance with DRC guidance.
• Ensure generation of learnings and annual planning, and development and revisions to the RIF results framework accordingly.
• Apply DRC guidance for MEAL and division of labour across RIF implementation countries as per MEAL workstream RASCI, particularly vis-à-vis RIF programme staff, and collaborate with the global RIF team to respond to shortcomings in compliance through actionable plans.
• Lead on capacity building, training and technical support for MEAL and programme involved in the RIF and enterprise investees to improve the field monitoring or any other MEAL needs under the RIF.

Technical Leadership and Advice:

• Engage in and support quality throughout Project Cycle Management, in line with DRC and i-Gravity guidance and division of labour; accommodating external requirements and internal evidence needs, including the Portfolio RIF Framework and Global Results reporting. Specifically, ensure development and adequate maintenance of MEAL plans, indicator tracking tools, data analysis tools and other relevant tools under the RIF project.
• Lead the development of program and enterprise-specific MEAL plans and indicator performance tracking tools to monitor program results and investment impact, in partnership with iGravity.
• Establish and manage information management protocols, systems and infrastructure to collect, process, analyze, store, share and use data. In this apply DRC guidance with regards to GDPR and data protection, specifically for MEAL related data.
• Undertake ongoing monitoring of results including data analysis as per program and enterprise-specific MEAL plans, agreed indicator methodologies, and develop and quality assure corresponding monitoring tools and templates for data collection. This entails Implementing data quality processes and tools, and regularly auditing data quality.
• Prepare data for reporting and visualization and share in user-friendly formats for internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the RIF Coordinator, global RIF team and Head of Program Uganda and Jordan to utilize MEAL findings for decision-making and identifying corrective actions, improving programming and advocacy. This entails contributing towards the promotion of a culture of learning within the RIF initiative.
• Lead the bi-annually Programme Quality Review across RIF implementing countries (i.e. Uganda and Jordan), including division of labour, data quality review, data aggregation and assessment and facilitate the results and learning sessions resulting from these exercises.
• Design, support and manage any other evaluative, review or research exercises based on needs and available resources. Ensure any such research is conducted with ethical considerations in compliance with DRC’s global research ethics review framework.
• Provide technical input on the MEAL related sections of relevant strategic funding applications and reports.

RIF Processes:

• Collaborate with the RIF Coordinator in the development of indicators and MEAL plans for technical assistance activities for identified enterprises.
• Collaborate with the RIF Coordinator in the identification of potential enterprise impact within target displacement affected communities, aligning with community needs as part of screening of potential investees.
• Collaborate with iGravity to identify key refugee impact metrics relevant for each company and define an impact framework for each investee.
• Contribute to the development of proposals for technical assistance grant allocations to the RIF Investment Committee.
• Provide MEAL-related technical assistance and advice to RIF investees on refugee impact, such as support developing impact management and monitoring systems.

Collaboration, Teamwork and Networking

• Work collaboratively and supportively with colleagues within the RIF programme (including iGravity) and country team to deliver on outcomes.
• Work closely with colleagues across the organisation to progress common agendas linked to programme quality and MEAL.
• Support organisational learning and accountability.
• Engage in organisational initiatives which promote collaboration and positive working practices, e.g. Global MEAL Networking Group, programme team meetings etc.

Experience and technical competencies: 

• Minimum 6 years of relevant work experience in MEAL in humanitarian and development programs.
• Strong understanding of monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning principles and processes, including database management, baselines, reviews, evaluations, reporting etc.
• Mastered understanding of mix-methods approach, research methodologies and the nature and use of evidence, including participatory methodologies.
• Mastered skills in design, implementation and quality assurance throughout data collection process and specifically software, such as Kobo Toolbox, ODK, CommCare and others as relevant.
• Mastered competencies in working with analysis frameworks, with data analysis for quantitative and qualitative data and communicating evidence.
• Strong experience of designing and implementing results-focused monitoring, evaluation and learning systems.
• Demonstrable experience in the nurturing of organisational learning in programs.
• Experience of working with or providing support to partners and/or a partnership model of working, when relevant.
• Excellent skill in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Proficiency in other data analysis software an added advantage.

Education:

• Master’s degree in relevant field (development or social research preferably with a focus on monitoring and evaluation as well as compliance issues).

Languages

• Excellent Communication skills in English required.

Source: https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1036&ProjectId=171820&DepartmentId=19046&MediaId=5