Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Assistant at Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)

Key Duties & Responsibilities

The below list of responsibilities is not exhaustive; other tasks may be required to adapt to operational needs. To achieve the overall and specific position’s objectives the MEAL Officer will perform the following tasks and undertake the following responsibilities:

Database Management

• Develop and maintain program up database and/data collection tool that improves JRS ability to inform program implementation, analyse data, and represent impact to key stakeholders.
• Ensure all relevant program staff can utilize the database to analyse program information and results.
• Capture and adapt implementation changes together with the Project Director and MEAL officer to match program strategy.
• Provide training in use of data management and analysis tools (e.g. ODK Collect, KoBo toolbox, Google Forms and MS Office products), to team members.
• Advise the program teams, on how the database/data collection systems need to be maintained and managed to ensure maximum flexibility with growing programs and changing context.
• Analyse monitoring data, produce statistics and charts, and ensure the results feed meaningfully into program design and implementation plans to facilitate evidence-based programming.
• Develop new databases/data collection systems, as necessary, and find ways to integrate information from other databases to support better organizational utilization of data.
• Ensure maintaining of program files and documentation as per program management minimum standards, including maintaining the confidentiality of beneficiaries’ data.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Maintain a close familiarity with JRS standards and tools and adhere to JRS global discussions and initiatives on MEAL.
• Develop and update a tracking system for monitoring output and outcome Indicators.
• Analyse the data and information continuously gathered and share the report that will help determine if projects are on track and make recommendations.
• Ensure close coordination with the Country Office MEAL Officer to align Kakuma program to the JRS Country MEAL requirements.
• Support in proposal writing through MEAL for the projects and in particular drafting of the Log frames.
• Work with Program teams to integrate M&E into ongoing project planning and implementation systems and ensure adherence to JRS MEAL minimum standards.
• Support in the development of appropriate monitoring, tracking, and reporting systems, tools and templates that enhance monitoring of project outputs and quality, generate quality evidence on project impact and promote and ensure use of data for decision-making processes.
• Maintain and improve the indicator performance tracking system and coordinate with Project Director and technical coordinators as well as other relevant departments to ensure that all projects are on track
• Support in development and promotion of use of standard indicators, tools and forms (as appropriate) and M&E practices across the project and coordinate the collection of information required for high level reports.
• Coordinate assessments and evaluations (primarily emergency rapid assessments)
• Ensure that monitoring plans are developed for projects and ensure that regular monitoring visits are conducted by Coordinators to the different project locations and that monitoring visit reports are shared with the Project Director and MEAL Officer
• Support in writing beneficiary stories, testimonies, and case studies from the field.
• Manage monthly reporting database and produce monthly reports to share with PD and MEAL Officer.

Accountability

• Support in the Establishment of an effective functional system for complaints/feedback handling and response mechanisms at community level.
• Ensure the Complaint Response Mechanism (CFM) are functional and accessible to beneficiaries.
• Develop regular trend analysis of complaints at organizational level and share it with program team as per protocols.
• To assist the Project Director in carrying out preliminary verification report in case of serious nature of complaints filed by beneficiaries/communities and support for investigation of that types of complaints as per CRM protocol.
• Make sure that the agreed action plans and CRM action plans are followed in timely manner by program team.
• On quality and accountability issues, share all information (monitoring reports, CRM databases, preliminary verification reports, case studies etc)
• Share MEAL findings & CRM issues in each monthly meeting as defined in the protocol.
• Ensure that the CRM guideline is being followed by all staffs.

Learning

• Promote learning and assist response team on documenting and implementing lessons learned and good practices.
• Consolidate and support documentation of lessons learned, ensure that it’s included in all new project development and annual planning processes.
• Support the elaboration of success stories through the Most Significant Change technique in liaison with MEAL officer.
• Assist Technical Coordinators in developing quality reports and findings.
• Generate periodic reports and share along with documented key learnings from the MEAL system.
• Ensure the key learning's are incorporated in upcoming plan and interventions.

Implement System and Tools

• Work as part of a broader programme team to design, facilitate and support data collection and analysis systems including baseline, annual, and end line surveys, regular monitoring, data collection and analysis, feedback, and reporting.
• Collect data from program teams and update of the IMIS on monthly basis.
• Generate data reports (tables/graphs/reports) from the database at regular intervals, ensuring reports/information are available for the Country Programs officer for review and dissemination.
• Conduct regular field visits to verify data and provide clarification and improvements.

Staff Training and Capacity Building

• Work closely with program teams to develop and deliver staff trainings, improving capacities in monitoring and evaluation and database management: data collection, entry, verification, and analysis; and other identified needs.
• Follow up on trainings by mentoring staff/partners to develop identified technical skills one-on-one.
• Conduct training for enumerators and program staff on M&E tools and methodologies, mobile data collection, database management, accountability mechanisms, and related topics.
• Prepare reference sheets and develop guides on developing data management or visualization applications (such as ODK Scan, KoBo toolbox, Google Fusion Tables, or Maps in a box) and how to setup information sharing systems.
• Support for the use of mobile data collection hardware and software in emergencies.

Reporting

• Produce and share MEAL monthly, quarterly, half yearly and cumulative yearly compile report to the Project Director, MEAL Officer and program team through proper channels.
• Ensure that all the data related to MEAL action Plan tracker & CRM database are recorded and updated in a timely manner.
• Coordinate closely with the Project Director and MEAL Officer and report with updated complaints registered, their resolution process, Action plan tracker & other MEAL related issues.
• Generate quality MEAL reports.

Any other tasks given by line manager.

Person Specification – Essential Requirements

Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences (Public Health, Statistics, Data Science, Education, Development, or Information Technology) with any proven experiences in MEAL.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years of experience in implementing, managing extensive data systems and tools from collection to analysis.
• Highly adept with various software, including spreadsheet, database, data analysis, presentation, statistics.
• Minimum 1 years of working experience in a humanitarian context and experience in complex emergencies and high-security environments.
• Experience in working in refugees’ operation context.
• Relevant technical expertise and experience in some sectors of humanitarian programming such as MHPSS, education, protection, Livelihood, etc.
• Proven ability to work in a complex and demanding environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and support multi-sector programmes including operational planning and problem solving.