CMAM Avance MEAL Advisor at International Rescue Committee

Specific Responsibilities:

• The CMAM Avance’ MEAL Advisor will be responsible for all measurement, evaluation and learning deliverables for the CMAM Avance’ Project across three countries (Chad, DRC, and Niger). Specifically, the MEAL Advisor will be responsible for quantitative and qualitative data collection tools and processes, train staff and partners in MEAL competencies, coordinate all data collection efforts, ensure data quality, process and analyze the data for donor reporting, adaptive management, and learning purposes, spearhead documentation of project learning and provide oversight support to the project team. Additionally, the MEAL Advisor will support the implementation of coverage surveys including providing technical support to the project Statistician, providing triangulating data and supporting coverage survey report writing. The MEAL Advisor will work closely with IRC’s Best Use of Resources Team to evaluate cost-effectiveness on an annual basis. The MEAL Advisor will also take an active role in adaptive management through active participation in stakeholder learning and work planning meetings.  
• Beyond the specific technical responsibilities, the MEAL Advisor will play a key cross cutting role in strengthening collaboration across country programmes, the region, and the wider IRC organization. The position will actively contribute to connecting country level implementation and learning with regional and global priorities, ensuring that evidence, insights, and lessons from the CMAM Avance’ project inform broader dialogue on impact at scale, innovation, and program quality. Through close engagement with country teams, regional technical leadership, and global Nutrition and MEAL functions, the MEAL Advisor will support shared learning, alignment, and collective action—helping country programmes advance effective, evidence informed strategies while contributing to IRC’s broader ambition to scale impact and improve outcomes for children and families affected by crisis.

The MEAL Advisors specific responsibilities include: 

Data Management and use 

• Oversee and continuously strengthen data collection, management, and quality assurance processes across the project, ensuring data is reliable, timely, and fit for purpose. 
• Provide strategic oversight and guidance on the use of digital and electronic data collection and visualization systems (e.g. CommCare, dashboards, or similar platforms), including supporting teams to learn, adapt to, and effectively use these systems over time. 
• Promote a culture of data integrity, transparency, and critical reflection, and proactively flag any data quality or implementation concerns to the Project Technical Lead. 
• Support country teams to meaningfully use project data to inform reporting, learning, and external communication with partners, government, donors, and other stakeholders. 
• Coordinate and support Third Party Monitoring activities, including data verification and audits, as required by the donor.

Systems, Processes, and Adaptive Management

• Ensure appropriate mechanisms are in place to monitor progress against objectives and to track results in a way that supports adaptive management rather than compliance alone. 
• Facilitate the use of shared systems and processes to enable effective coordination, documentation, and information sharing across the project and countries.

Capacity Strengthening, Learning, and Collaboration

• Provide hands on support, coaching, and mentoring to project and country teams to strengthen MEAL capacities, confidence, and shared ownership of data and learning. 
• Conduct country support visits, as appropriate, to support implementation, identify learning opportunities, and jointly reflect with teams on adaptations and improvements. 
• Lead and facilitate regular learning moments that bring together MEAL and program teams, supporting joint interpretation of data and reflection on programmatic strategies. 
• Contribute to knowledge management by documenting and disseminating lessons learned, good practices, and innovations through internal and external channels (e.g. learning products, communities of practice, conferences, or publications).

Surveys and Evaluations and analytical work 

• Support the planning, implementation, analysis, and reporting of surveys and evaluations, including coverage surveys and other analytical exercises, in close collaboration with the project Statistician and relevant technical teams. 
• Coordinate and support annual cost effectiveness analyses in collaboration with the Best Use of Resources (BUR) team, ensuring findings are timely, robust, and accessible to program teams. 
• Facilitate the interpretation and practical use of survey and analytical findings at project and country level to inform decision making and program adjustments.

Other

• Contribute to identifying, synthesizing, and disseminating learning on CMAM coverage, quality, and cost effectiveness generated through the CMAM Avance’ project. 
• Contribute to informing and strengthening IRC’s regional and global Nutrition Innovations & Scale (I&S) strategy by translating project level evidence and learning into strategic insights and engaging in dialogue with regional and global nutrition teams.

Key Working Relationships: 

• Position Reports to:  the CMAM Avance’ Project Director
• Position directly supervises:  No direct reports, however establishes management in partnership with country specific M&E positions under the project
• Other Internal and/or external contacts: 
• Internal:   Regular relationships with the project team, the Nutrition team in HQ, the BUR team ,the regional team and country technical counterparts.  Interacts with IRC internal departments as relevant including IPP and finance.
• External:  May participate in outside meetings and academic forums with donors, other non-governmental organizations and inter-agency groups as needed.

Job Qualifications: 

Education: 

• Candidates with non traditional academic backgrounds who demonstrate strong analytical thinking, problem solving skills, and the ability to quickly learn and apply MEAL concepts and data systems in complex programmatic environments are encouraged to apply.

Experience and skills: 

• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL), or closely related analytical, research, or program support roles, preferably within health, nutrition, or complex multi-country programmes. Experience with CMAM or similar community-based programming is an asset but not required.
• Demonstrated ability to work across multiple systems, tools, and sources of information, and to quickly understand, adapt to, and manage new data platforms and processes. Prior experience with specific systems and software (e.g. CommCare, PowerBI, SPSS, or similar) is a strong advantage, but not mandatory; a proven capacity and willingness to rapidly learn and confidently manage tools such as CommCare is essential.
• Strong experience in data sense making: the ability to analyse, synthesize, and translate quantitative and qualitative data into clear, actionable insights that support program teams in reflecting on and adjusting programmatic strategies.
• Proven ability to bridge MEAL and program functions, fostering collaboration between technical, MEAL, and operational teams, and supporting a shared understanding of how data and evidence can drive adaptive management and improve program quality and outcomes.
• Experience supporting teams to use data not only for reporting, but for learning, joint decision-making, and continuous improvement at field and country levels.
• Experience in capacity strengthening, coaching, and hands-on support to diverse teams across multiple contexts, including remote support.
• Experience contributing to or supporting surveys, evaluations, or analytical work (such as coverage analyses or cost-effectiveness studies) is considered an asset.
• Ability to work effectively and respectfully on diverse teams and across diverse contexts. Good technical acumen, takes initiative, works productively while working remotely and produces results, ability to accept feedback and integrate it, strong communication skills and ability to uphold a positive work environment. 
• Excellent level interpersonal skills with a high level of English and French oral and written skills. Committed to upholding diversity, equality and inclusion principles both professionally and personally. 
• Computer literacy and competency in use of Microsoft office software. Competency in quantitative and qualitative data analysis software (e.g. CommCare, SPSS) and presentation (e.g. PowerBI). Highly developed conceptual, analytical and innovative problem-solving ability. 
• Good time management and communication skills. 
• Ability to independently and proactively work as a team member with minimum day to day oversight. Ability to make decisions in a timely and collaborative manner.
• Candidates who may not meet all specific system or software experience requirements, but who demonstrate strong analytical thinking, curiosity, proactivity, and a proven ability to learn quickly and work effectively across MEAL and program teams, are strongly encouraged to apply.