MEAL Coordinator – Resilience Consortium

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, honesty and transparency.

DRC Syria

DRC has been actively operating in Syria since 2008 mainly supporting refugees. In June 2012, DRC was authorized by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to expand its humanitarian efforts and provide assistance to IDPs and the vulnerable resident population countrywide. Since then, DRC activities have been focused on NFI distributions, Shelter, WASH, Protection, Education, Livelihoods, and Mine Risk Education in six Governorates (Damascus, Rural Damascus, Dara’a, Aleppo, Hama, and Homs). While Protection/community service activities are provided to beneficiaries throughout our six Community Centers.

About the job

A consortium is being set up among the I/NGOs with an overall objective to strengthen the resilience of individuals, households and communities in Syria to shocks and stresses through five resilience pathways, namely a) Food Security and Climate b) Household Income and Financial Services c) Functioning Markets d) Basic Services e) Enabling Community Environment. The first year of the implementation phase will be dedicated to setting up the consortium, joint analyses and programme design and piloting. The MEAL Coordinator will ensure the MEAL plan and activities are in place in order to support quality programming and a strong evidence-base for the relevance and impact of the consortium’s work.

Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership:

Monitoring & Evaluation (40%)

• Develop MEAL plan and update (if necessary) the consortium MEAL plan, log frame, indicators, and data collection methodologies and analysis.
• Design any additional MEAL tools required for the consortium.
• Conduct MEAL tools refresher trainings as needed for the consortium partners and also for newly designed MEAL tools.
• Provide MEAL/IM inputs for all donor reports and government reports, as needed.
• Manage budget requirements, development and spending for MEAL/IM and consortium activities.

Research & Learning (50%)

• Design Joint Analysis for the consortium and design appropriate methodologies and tools
• Design research and policy papers focused on the learning agenda of the consortium.
• Oversee the work of a third-party consultant in conducting the consortium impact evaluation, research and ensure partners use feedback to inform changes in the program design and implementation where feasible.
• Liaise with consortium partners to ensure completion of After-Action Reviews (AARs) following the completion of major activities, then share learnings from these AARs internally within the consortium.
• Lead learning events and activities, as informed by the project learning agenda, to support cross-partner learning and adaptive management.
• Produce learning briefs based on the learning events.
• Actively support the consortium advocacy initiatives and contribute to the provision of evidence needed for said strategy.

Accountability (10%)

• Oversee the project’s accountability mechanisms.
• Ensure all partners appropriately refer complaints and feedback and have appropriate mechanisms to respond to sensitive complaints.

Team Management:

• Directly line manages 3 staff including setting objectives and co-creating work plans, and performance development.
• Technically line manages the larger consortium MEAL team, providing technical guidance and capacity building, as needed.

Internal and External Coordination:

• Lead the consortium MEAL working group, sending out meeting invites, preparing the agenda, documenting minutes; and developing the MEAL framework for the programme and ensuring compliance with agreed standards.
• Regularly communicate with partners to support routine data collection, and analysis.
• In coordination with program and technical coordinators and managers, represent consortium externally with the donor, partners and the wider aid community through clusters and sectoral working groups as relevant.
• Maintain good working relationships with implementing partners on joint research and MEAL activities.
• Actively contribute and collaborate with regional/global counterparts to promote M&E and IM best practices and joint learning across DRC programs.

Experience and technical competencies

• Demonstrated technical research skills and command of M&E methodologies.
• 6-10 years working in research and M&E with INGOs, preferably in a humanitarian context.
• Very strong research and report writing skills.
• Very strong quantitative data analysis skills (Excel required, SPSS or STATA preferred).
• Knowledge of data collection protocols to ensure accurate data collection and verification.
• Strong knowledge of mobile data collection techniques and tools.
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and capacity-build staff.
• Strong organization skills with the ability to plan, perform, prioritize multiple tasks under tight deadlines in a dynamic environment and monitor own work plan and those under her/his supervision.
• Proven experience in a technical capacity involving conducting evaluations and assessments.
• Experience conducting interviews and focus group discussions with diverse cohorts of populations.

Education

• University degree (Masters preferred) in a relevant discipline (international studies/development, research methods, social sciences, etc.)

Languages

• Fluency English
• Arabic preferred

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

We offer:

Contract length: 1 year with the possibility of extension.

Level: Non-Management G1

Location: Damascus – Syria

Expected Start date: 01st of September 2023

Salary and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for international staff or DRC National Staff salary scale.