Senior M&E Officer ( Italy)

Position Title: Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Sector: Programs/Monitoring and Evaluation/ Data Collection
Duty Location: Milan
Duration: Fixed term, 12 months with possibility of extension
Type of Employment: Full- Time

1. IRC overview

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is among the world’s leading humanitarian aid organizations. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict, and disaster, helping them to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. At work today in over 40 countries, the IRC seeks to be an operational and inspiring leader in matters of resettlement, asylum, and integration, demonstrating its credibility and expertise as a leading service provider, partner and advocate across the arc of the global displacement crisis. IRC currently operates in the U.S., Africa, Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. For a complete listing of countries in which IRC operates and supports refugee programs, please visit http://www.rescue.org/where

Across Europe, the IRC delivers programs that address acute humanitarian needs of asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants who are newly arrived, stranded or in transit, and programs that address their longer-term integration needs.

2. Background

Regional Background

In response to the increased refugee arrivals into Europe, the IRC established the program initially in Greece, which was expanded with programs in Serbia and wider Balkans and with programs in Germany. Following a first assessment conducted in January 2017 in Italy and another one in July 2017, several critical protection gaps were identified within assistance provided to refugees in migrants in Italy: mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), assistance to unaccompanied children, information provision and legal support. To respond to the identified gaps IRC established a small presence in Italy. Programs in Italy include Refugee.Info web-based information platform, child protection programming targeting unaccompanied children and victims of trafficking, mentoring programs for the socio-economic inclusion of refugee youth, WPE and education (social emotional learning and healing classrooms).

Programs Background

Since the conflict in Ukraine started in February 24, 2022, which brought the subsequent displacement into neighboring countries, the IRC new programs are being established to address the most pressing needs of people on the move across South-East Europe. IRC continues to use its voice and expertise to increase safe and legal pathways, ensure protection and improve the quality of resettlement, asylum and integration services. The programs are implemented in close partnership with local non-governmental organizations and governmental institutions.

3. Scope of Work

The Senior Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) officer will support the program team in developing, managing, and strengthening monitoring efforts of the IRC program in the Balkans and Ukraine neighboring countries with the aim of ensuring a high program quality in line with international humanitarian standards and responsiveness to beneficiary needs and donor requirements in a rapidly changing context. The M&E Officer will support a robust monitoring system that facilitates both accountability and learning and includes data collection, analysis, learning reflection and timely action-taking. The position may require some travel to other areas of IRC operation.

4. Reporting lines and key working relationships

The Senior M&E Officer work under the supervision of the of Head of Office, and in close coordination with program staff, and RAI Europe Measurement Advisor, to develop appropriate M&E systems and plans, accountability and learning mechanisms.

5. Responsibilities

Monitoring, Data Collection and Analysis:

· Support the implementation of activities according to the program’s M&E plan and adherence to IRC’s monitoring standards;

· Support the roll-out of an organization-wide (Europe) data base for monitoring data;

· Develop program temporary database in Excel/Access to capture data that can be exported to a more robust database

· Support the program teams in designing/updating M&E tools, as well as in guiding data collection and analysis as required;

· Plan, manage, and conduct periodic visits to data collection in program sites;

· Conduct manual data entry from paper-based into electronic forms during interim period;

· Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis of program data;

· Lead the review, analysis and revision of data collection tools;

· Lead the preparation of data for M&E reports;

· Carry out regular data quality audits (DQAs);

· Conduct Program’s tracking of planned vs. achieved results;

· Storage data collected adhering to IRC protocols, and

· Perform other duties as required.

Capacity Strengthening, Learning, and Accountability:

· Provide individual support to program staff in areas of data collection (e.g. how to use mobile tools (smart phones, tablets), for data collection);

· Support/Deliver M&E/data base/ data collection trainings;

· Design jointly with program staff beneficiary/client feedback on services to improve program quality, managing data collectors, and

· Conduct learning sessions with beneficiaries and staff, presenting to them the results of beneficiary feedback.

· Prepare, participate in, and support follow-up of data review meetings that serve to discuss program progress and use data to inform decision-making for program adaptation;

· Conduct field monitoring visits and provide regular feedback to program staff;

• Ensure that IRC meets its internal and external accountability commitments through the development and implementation of accountability mechanisms appropriate for the rapidly evolving context and including a beneficiary feedback and response mechanism to be utilized by program teams.
• Promote a learning environment that include regular discussions on lessons learned, best practices, and knowledge sharing between programs and within programs between different offices.

6. Professional skills

· Bachelor’s degree in relevant field including data science, business, engineering, social sciences, economics, or related field);

· Minimum of 3 years’ experience in developing and implementing M&E plans data collection and analysis, and thorough knowledge of M&E principles, methods and approaches;

· Thorough understanding of project cycle management processes;

· Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data collection tools;

· Preferred experience and skills developing qualitative and quantitative data collection tools with Kobo, Survey Monkey, Microsoft Forms;

· Experience in data/information management and quantitative analysis, statistical software such as SPSS, or Stata is preferred, but not required;

· Professional MS Office skills, especially Excel;

· Demonstrated experience and skills in data/information management and analysis, with experience using databases and software applications;

• Strong measurement, analytical, systematic-thinking, planning and organizational skills;
• English and Italian language fluency at native speaker or C2 level (Common European Framework for Languages), is required. Fluency in additional languages, including Ukrainian and Russian is a great advantage. **

· Ability to present information orally and in writing clearly and concisely;

• Excellent inter-personal skills, demonstrating diplomacy and tact;

Ability to prioritize among multiple tasks and make decisions;

· Proactive attitude and ability to seek supervisory support as needed, and

· Flexibility and ability to work under pressure and in constantly changing work environments.

7. Desirable Experience and skills

· Experience in organizing data collection, and managing enumerators;

· Experience in conducting primary qualitative data collection;

· Experience in capacity building and team building (e.g. trainings/workshops/coaching/tutoring);

· Experience in writing M&E reports;

· Experience of working in multicultural environments;

· Experience of working in a non-governmental organization (NGO);

· Knowledge of international development and/or the humanitarian sector, and

· Commitment to humanitarian work and continuous learning.

8. Location

The Senior M&E Officer is based in Milan. Home-based from other locations in Italy is possible for the right candidate.

Disclaimer Clause: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with the position.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. **