SPECIALIST, MONITORING, EVALUATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND LEARNING (MEAL), INTL

JOB SUMMARY: The role of the Specialist, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) is to support better performance and greater accountability by implementing evidence-based project management at the field level, in order to guide and improve performance. The Specialist, MEAL will lead the design of methodologies and tools to ensure the availability of clear and accurate information at the project level. The Specialist, MEAL also plays a vital role in data management, surveys and quality by designing a MEAL system that adheres to the IMC’s MEAL Global Guidelines, the MEAL Minimum Standards for Quality, and the guiding MEAL policies and procedures, among others. The Specialist, MEAL will provide technical support to the project and build capacity in the country mission through strengthening learning and knowledge sharing across the IMC and with the wider humanitarian community.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation:

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

IMC’s policies, guidelines, and procedures:
• Mainstream the Global MEAL Guidelines across all related MEAL activities at the field level and ensure the guidance notes for monitoring, evaluation, and accountability are functional at the field level.
• Apply and adapt existing Global MEAL Guidelines, tools, and templates at the relevant stages of the project cycle.
• Actively promote the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards within IMC and amongst its beneficiaries.
• Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application of the Code of Conduct, ethics, values, and standpoint with regards to internal and external actors.

Project design and planning:
• Support to implementation and MEAL team with developing and updating the results framework, theory of change, logframe and MEAL plan, including indicators for existing and new projects.
• Identify the budget/resources needed for MEAL activities of project.
• Support project planning processes related to MEAL aspects (MEAL work plan and budget)MEAL system
• In coordination with the implementation Team and MEAL field Focal Points, establish a reliable participatory MEAL framework according to donors’ requirements for the project to ensure quality.
• Follow full MEAL procedures and operating plans within the project and develop harmonized data collection tools involving the different stakeholders (project team, partners).
• Establish MEAL system in line with donors and project requirements and ensure donors’ requirements are followed through the project management life cycle.
• Ensure that accountability to affected populations (AAP) data is collected routinely throughout the project cycle, enabling evidence-based programming and corrective action.
• Develop data gathering strategies and data and reporting flows for project.
• Oversee the collection and timely reporting of data and statistics from the service delivery points.
• Consolidate statistics from all sectors and analyzing cross-cutting indicators.
• Implement DHIS2 where appropriate and applicable, control and manage DHIS2 data entry and management.
• Collaborate with the MEAL and DHIS2 teams at HQ to develop and maintain the data management system, including updating, troubleshooting and promptly addressing all problems as they arise
• Lead the implementation of Satellite-based Tracking and Remote Monitoring (STARM) system
• Lead the Quarterly Country Report process for project and work closely with technical leads to aggregate project data and submit to country MEAL team according to the schedule.
• Conduct regular site visits or when required to monitor service provision and ensure data quality.
• Support project team to organize regular review and planning meetings to assess project ‘progress.
• Set project monitoring system for the project (monitoring plan, monitoring tools and strategies) and disseminate all monitoring tools within project.

Data quality management:
• Collaborate with technical staff in data quality maintenance and routine monitoring of project.
• Assess the quality of collected data for the indicators, and ensure that data pitfalls and issues are mitigated.
• Coordinate routine data quality audits conducted in different sites, compile results at the level of a project, and develop action plans to implement corrective measures.
• Manage tools and methods for assessing data quality and security.
• Ensure ethical practices are followed in the collection and management of all data; informed consent practices are used in all interviews, and privacy risks are mitigated in the storage and transfer of data.
• Identify and locate back-up documentation for reporting against indicators.
• Maintain data at the mission level according to ‘ ‘IMC’s data protection protocols.

Sampling techniques:
• Use proper sampling (probability and non-probability) techniques taking into account desired power, type of survey or evaluation (e.g., single point or multiple points; baseline vs endline), the objective of the survey or evaluation (e.g., testing for change or getting the point prevalence), and budget limitations.
• Review the sampling approach proposed by an expert/consultant (if applicable).
• Develop the sampling frame and calculate the sample size for surveys, including implementation of donors’ recommendations for the surveys.

Qualitative and quantitative techniques:
• Develop and use different qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection, including structured/ semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, group discussions, focus group discussions, and direct observations as an M&E tool.
• Conduct trainings on quantitative and qualitative techniques for data collection for MEAL, project, and interviewers.
• Keeping the social dynamics, manage errors/bias, and strategy to minimize them and to ensure the data collected is representative of populations without power (avoiding over-dependence on community leaders, local authorities, and/or government authorities as primary sources for defining communities’ needs and preferences).
• Coordinate the logistics of data collection, data management, and ensure adequate resources are available.
• Develop questionnaires for monitoring purposes and apply the different interview techniques (structured/semi-structured).
• Develop database structures to store and manipulate quantitative data.
• Implement appropriate and recommended survey guidelines
• Conduct regular site visits or when required to monitor and assist partners in the data collection process to ensure data quality.

Mobile and manual data collection:
• Determine the appropriate data collection tool based on the purpose, advantages, and disadvantages of mobile data collection techniques.
• Design simple and complex questionnaires using XLS or form builder (Kobo form builder, Ona form builder, etc.)
• Support in installing and configuring mobile data collection tools (OKD collect, Kobo collect, CommCare, etc.) on smartphones or tablets and manage data on mobile servers
• Increase the capacity of other staff in developing XLS form and setting up mobile data collection.

Data analysis, including use of statistical software:
• Apply standard methodologies for the analysis of data to allow for comparison and aggregation across time and the different areas.
• Support MEAL and the implementation team on conducting statistical analysis, including descriptive (univariate and bivariate data analysis) and inferential analysis using statistical software.
• Perform qualitative textual analysis and develop topical outlines (coding).
• Triangulate findings from several qualitative and quantitative sources.
• Interpret statistical data for use in decision-making and synthesize quantitative and qualitative information for write-up/reports and decision making.

Evaluation design:
• Support in developing TOR for internal and external baseline surveys, mid-term evaluations, final evaluations, and frame the different types of study questions such as barrier analysis, market analysis, and Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Surveys (KAP).
• Identify the needed resources for evaluation, such as information, expertise, personnel, instruments, and budget.
• Manage the administrative and logistic process of evaluations involving external evaluators.
• Support in training and supervise data gathering of internal performance evaluation and design and synthesize the findings from participative evaluation techniques (actively involving affected communities in the evaluation exercises).
• Identify opportunities for formal research using epidemiological methods, such as cohort or case-control studies; collaborate with HQ and technical staff to develop and implement studies according to the country office strategy.

Presenting information:
• Write full narrative reports (internal reviews, progress reports, survey reports) and executive summaries.
• Present information and ‘tell the story’ of the project to multiple audiences and decision-makers based on the findings from the analysis and monitoring.
• Verify reports’ accuracy and presentation of information, including the use of appropriate graphs and tables.
• Disseminate qualitative and quantitative results using the established dashboard or system as per agreed frequency.
• Presents AAP data in simplified yet informative formats, depicting disaggregated community perceptions on quality of humanitarian actions and accountability commitments.
• Report and share evaluation findings to stakeholders.
• Generate past performance sheet with updated trend analysis of the key project indicators

Capacity development and training:
• Provide training based on identified gaps.
• Provide coaching/mentoring of staff and on-the-job training to improve the skills of the staff in MEAL.
• Provide training and on-the-job learning to project staff and volunteers based on required skills for MEAL activities
• Support project staff with additional training and mentoring on routine monitoring procedures and surveillance techniques.
• Organize annual refreshment training on Accountability/CBFRM for staff and volunteers

Knowledge management learning:
• Support in developing KML mechanisms and processes for the project while ensuring these mechanisms are in line with IMC’s guidelines.
• Establish basic learning systems and framework that incorporate project studies’ findings, lessons learned, achievements and gaps, and develop all the tools required to support learning practices.
• Facilitate review and lessons learned exercises, including data collected through CBFRM and other participative forms of community engagement and feedback collection.
• Collect and document project Most significant change stories (MSCSs) from direct beneficiaries

Community based feedback and response mechanism:
• Provide technical support to the team on establishing and maintaining effective feedback mechanisms for decision making, fully in line with commitments regarding accountability to affected populations (AAP), including IASC CAAP, CHS, and Sphere Humanitarian Charter
• Implement and monitor the CBFRM, accountability initiatives, and practices across the project.
• Lead the implementation of methodologies to consult communities on their preferences based on the operational context.
• Facilitate internal learning and reflection related to effective implementation of the project CBFRM initiatives

Cross-cutting themes:
• Support project staff to mainstream critical concepts around gender, age, disability protection, and conflict sensitivity by:
• supporting dedicated gender, protection, and conflict sensitivity analyses as may be required by project.
• Integrating the collection of information related to demographic vulnerabilities and contextual risks (gender, age, disability, environment, etc.) into all MEAL exercises to provide an evidence base.
• Following up with implementation teams to utilize findings and strengthen activities in line with gender, protection, and conflict-sensitive approaches.
• Coordinating with partners, leading MEAL meetings and representing IMC at meetings

Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.

Job Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Typically, a Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, public health, statistics, or international development, with experience or background in M&E, epidemiology, public health, and health information management. Master’s level or a higher degree in social sciences, public health, statistics, or international development preferred. Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
• Typically, 5+ years of applied experience with a humanitarian organization in designing, implementing and overseeing monitoring and evaluation tasks in relevant sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in managing teams and building staff capacity within complex programming.
• Experience with M&E approaches for key donors such as USAID, BHA, OFDA, ECHO, EU, DfID, UN, etc. Experience in database design and other tools for information management like DHIS2;
• Experience in use of qualitative and quantitative software for data analysis.
• Experience with mobile data collection platform
• Able to identify gaps in staff knowledge of MEAL concepts and skills and provide training in these topics.
• Ability to write full narrative reports (needs assessments, internal reviews, progress reports) and executive summaries.
• Demonstrated understanding of data protection and confidentiality as part of data collection and management practices and ability to respect and maintain confidentiality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Teams.
• Competency in using statistical software EPI-Info, SPSS, and STATA.
• Possess the skills in qualitative data analysis software such as MaxQDA, NVivo, Atlas.ti.
• Possess the skills in mobile data collection software such as Ona, KoboToolBox.
• Communicate the organizational goals to the team.
• Support innovation and organizational change when needed.
• Have analytical, conceptual, and strategic thinking skills.
• Build collaborative relationships and foster teamwork.
• High-level English proficiency (Speaking – Reading – Writing).
• High-level MISSION’S LANGUAGE proficiency (Speaking – Reading – Writing).

Additional Technical or Language Requirements

French, English, Arabic

CODE OF CONDUCT

As applicable to this position, an individual must promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the organization and maintain a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Staff are also responsible for preventing violations to our Code of Conduct and Ethics, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear or are made aware of any violations to the Code of Conduct and Ethics or Safeguarding Policy, you have an obligation to report. If this is a supervisory position, one must set an example of ethical behavior through one’s own conduct and oversight of the work of others; ensure that those who report to you have sufficient knowledge and resources to follow the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct & Ethics; monitor compliance of the people you supervise; enforce the Code of Conduct & Ethics and International Medical Corps’ policies, including the Safeguarding Policy and the Protection from Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace Policy, consistently and fairly; support employees who in good faith raise questions or concerns.

SAFEGUARDING

It is all staff shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. This includes safeguarding from the following conduct by our staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, adults at risk, or LGBTI individuals; and any form of trafficking in persons.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE SCHEME

All offers of employment at International Medical Corps are subject to satisfactory references and background checks. International Medical Corps participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme from the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR). In accordance with this, we will request information from an applicant’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.