DRC
Job title: Regional Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator
Employment category: F, Non-manager
Line Management – Reporting to: Head of Programme, Asia
Direct reports: N/A **
Unit/department: Asia**
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh, with travel in the region. This position may be relocated to Bangkok, pending DRC’s registration in Thailand**
Overall description of the role in DRC Enable the development and strengthening of DRC’s monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems, capacity development of staff, and provide support to MEAL systems across the Asia region. This role has a regional focus and ensures compliance with DRC procedures and guidelines within the region, comprising 3 countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar – and regional project locations (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand).
Overall purpose of the role
The role contributes to the development of regional strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks – including in monitoring and reporting against the Regional Results Framework and Plan in support of DRC’s organisational strategy in the region. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to country operations and local partners while overseeing activities with a regional scope. The post holder will be required to travel for short durations of time ranging from a few days to a couple of weeks to DRC country and field offices in the Asia region.
*Specific responsibilities related to the position include:
Strategic
· Work towards a regional strategic MEAL framework, in support for strategy 2025, and, in coordination with the Global MEAL team
· Strengthen and contextualise global MEAL minimum standards and best practices
· Develop procedures to improve data quality throughout the project cycle
· Integrate MEAL into a structured process of learning in the project development and implementation cycle, utilising data for evidence-based programming
· Guide and support commitment to accountability, including CHS and community feedback mechanisms
· Support strategic evaluations in the region
Technical support
· Provide technical guidance, assistance and direct support for country MEAL systems; to be accomplished by:
a. Provision of direct in-country technical assistance and support, based on a request and/or identification of need, and a mission TOR developed by the Regional MEAL Coordinator in coordination with the country office.
· Strengthening technical capacity of country office MEAL teams, programme staff and managers through
a. direct one-to-one support and mentoring, training of trainers, trainings and workshops
b. remote support and training, direct and via regional webinars.
· Support the strengthening of technical capacity of DRC local partners and partner staff in the region in consultation with country teams
· Support country offices in establishing the correct MEAL staffing structure and responsibility matrix (RACI) required for specific operations
· Support Country Offices with correct implementation of the Global Results Framework and the global reporting system; to be accomplished by:
a. Promoting use of context specific analysis tools, for output and outcome data
b. Ensuring data flow from collection to reporting to mining and analysis is efficient, effective and accurate, advising on required changes and supporting the process of change
c. Support country MEAL in the establishment of systems where systems do not exist or are lacking
· Support country offices in use of MEAL tools: to be accomplished by:
a. Facilitation of assessments and reviews, such as After Action Reviews (AAR), MEAL Compliance Self-Check, Programme Quality Reviews, Quality Assessments, Lessons learned reviews, etc.
b. Training on software for reporting and analysis
· Support country offices in strengthening accountability practices, in line with CHS commitments, and more specifically in establishing, reviving and assessing Community Feedback Mechanisms (including but not limited to complaints handing)
· Advise on use of databases to support work, such as beneficiary tracking databases, software and on-line platforms, as relevant databases.
· Providing gap fill support when country-based MEAL capacity is not present or diminished occasionally. To be accomplished by training and mentoring newly hired MEAL Managers and providing guidance and support with MEAL staffing structure, recruitment, annual budgeting and strategic planning
· Support the development of a MEAL plan in the region to accompany the Regional Results Framework and Plan to deliver DRC’s new organisational strategy (for the period 2022-25)
· Support strategic evaluations in the region (either in the regional or country offices)
· Support planned and on-going research, analysis and evidence initiatives such as Core Analysis Framework, Foresight, Self-Reliance Index, in line with the strategy 2025 and Grand Bargain commitments
· Create and foster networks of knowledge sharing, and a MEAL community of practice, between Country Office MEAL staff, and in conjunction with existing global networks.
Regional office-specific responsibilities
· Regional Project – PRRiA (Protecting Rohingya Refugees in Asia)
a. Lead in the monitoring and updating of the MEAL plan, log frame, indicators, and data collection methodologies and analysis;
b. Design any additional MEAL tools required for PRRiA;
c. Conduct MEAL tools trainings as needed for the PRRiA partners and also for newly designed MEAL tools;
d. Provide MEAL/IM inputs for all donor reports
e. Develop Terms of Reference (TORs) and concept notes and oversee the work of a third-party consultant in conducting the PRRiA impact evaluation (mid-term and final reports) and ensure PRRiA partners use feedback to inform changes in the program design and implementation where feasible;
· Coordinate MEAL activities for regionally implemented projects, ensuring harmonisation in quality and reporting across countries.
· Monitor and support reporting against the Regional Results Framework and Plan
· Be the regional focal point for monitoring and advising on the implementation of DRC’s commitments in accordance with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS)
· Participate in project Kick-off meetings, Quarterly Review meetings and Close-out meetings in order to highlight cross-project components aimed at replicating good practices and strengthening synergies between projects or programmes
· Regularly present key Monitoring & Evaluation findings to the Senior Management Team for further development
· Support DRC’s aim for further strengthened integrated programming and actively propose ways of achieving these using Monitoring & Evaluation findings
Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)
· Minimum of 5 years of work experience within the field of monitoring and evaluation
· Experience working with International NGO’s, UN agencies, line ministries and/or local authorities in migrants/refugee settings in complex emergencies
· Experience of working with or providing support to partners and/or a partnership model of working
· Demonstrable experience in the nurturing of organisational learning in programmes
· Proven facilitation and training skills with diverse audiences of NGO practitioners
· Proven understanding of the management of knowledge within NGOs or development organisations and an ability to link this to system development
· Proven understanding of research methodologies and the nature of evidence which will influence key decision makers in the area.
· Experience in developing/ guiding information management systems for large humanitarian programmes
· Experience in participatory assessment and community-based monitoring approaches
· Clear understanding of Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS);
· Experience with capacity building of staff, and in convening and facilitating trainings and workshops
Education:
· Master’s degree in relevant field (development, social research preferably with a focus on monitoring and evaluation as well as compliance issues).
Languages: (indicate fluency level)
· English (fluent)