MEAL Manager- Erbil (Re-advertisement)

**MEAL Manager- Erbil (Re-advertisement)
[Erbil- with frequent travel across Iraq] **

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 fulfilment 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, and honesty and transparency.
In 2003, following the start of foreign military operations in Iraq, DRC became one of the first organisations to provide humanitarian assistance in the country, and now operates in 11 governorates, including Anbar, Baghdad, Babel, Diyala, Duhok, Erbil, Karbala, Kirkuk, Najaf, Ninewa and Salah-al-Din.

About the job:
Overall purpose of the role: The MEAL Coordinator will work closely with the Head of Programmes (HoP) to strengthen DRC Iraq monitoring, evaluation, learning, accountability systems. Ensuring that the country office is complaint with Core Humanitarian standards 4 (Humanitarian response is based on communication, participation and feedback), 5 (Complaints are welcomed and addressed) and 7 (Humanitarian actors continuously learn and improve).

Responsibilities:
Monitoring and Evaluation

• Assist the Programme Development department in developing strong indicators and logical frameworks for new projects (Master List of Indicators)
• Support in the creation of project, programme and country based logframes and M&E plans, ensuring that indicators are SMART. Support the Technical Coordinators and Project Managers with the active implementation of their M&E plans, ensure M&E plans are updated timely and M&E findings are in place for all donor reports.
• Coordinate with field staff to develop tools and methods to improve data collection for example, surveys, assessment and beneficiary data
• Link with data and grants management tools developed to collect information and profiling. Support team to use these tools on all projects activities levels. (Excel, SPSS, ODK, SurveyCTO…)
• Organize, participate and collect field data and process / analyse this data. Take part and carry out assessments, evaluation and any other form of survey or review of projects. Undertake field trips and do physical observation on on-going projects
• Guide the regular sharing of the outputs and the M&E findings with projects staff and implementing partners
• Undertake in-depth internal evaluations, especially on projects which will not have any external review.
• Lead the implementation of Information Management (IM) platform and securely transfer large program field data, capacity build, train and support sectors and field staff to improve the field monitoring or any other monitoring needs. Provide suggestions for information management solutions, including design, key features, user interfaces, automatic analysis, data mining and automated reports.
• Finalise data collection tools, such as surveys and questionnaires developed by the MEAL team.
• Develop and strengthen DRC’s MEAL department including coordinating recruitments, capacity building and performance management
• Ensure that DRC’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Minimum Operating Practices (MELMOPs) are understood and adhered to, completing the annual compliance check, and ensuring areas of weakness are incorporated into country-wide policy and/or practice
• Take the lead in recruitment, supporting and management of all external evaluation consultancies of large DRC projects implemented in Iraq, ensuring all projects are complaint with HQ guidelines on evaluations (thresholds plus post evaluation efforts).
• Liaising with the HQ MEAL department to ensure compliance and understanding with all global standards, while at the same time, promoting to HQ experiences from the field to influence HQ policy and practice
• Create a MEAL strategy in line with country needs and best MEAL practice, with practical guidelines which can be used and followed by the team and non-MEAL specialists.
• Collate all project indicators and support Technical Coordinators to use pre-agreed indicators for core areas of work.

Accountability

• Coordinate the design and implementation of accountability systems for DRC projects working closely with Area Managers and Technical Coordinators
• Build the capacity of staff to plan and implement effective accountability systems for the country programme
• Strengthen the country program’s beneficiary and feedback complaint mechanism and set-up new systems as the program extends to new geographical areas
• Organisational focal point on Core Humanitarian Standards, ensuring local compliance and reviews across all standards. Liaising with regional colleagues responsible for accountability, compliance and risk management.

Learning and project quality

• Donor focal point for M&E components of projects
• 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 M&E findings to the Senior Management Team for further development.
• Support DRC’s aim for further strengthened integrated programming and actively propose ways of achieving this using M&E findings.
• Provide capacity building to MEAL and non-MEAL staff in key areas of project planning, M&E, Accountability, Qualitative and Quantitative research techniques and analysis.
• Technical management of all senior members of the MEAL team, creating a suitable MEAL structure across all areas and the Country Office to ensure adequate MEAL support.

Budget management

• Budget holder of MEAL budgets, typically up to $30,000 per project. Ensuring all projects have adequate MEAL budget for effective MEAL work, and prioritizing spend according to core needs.

Perform other duties as directed by the Head of Programmes.

Reporting lines

• Reporting to: Head of Programmes
• Direct reports: MEAL Specialist, MEAL Officer, Infromation Management Team Leader
• Technical reports: MEAL Team Leaders

About you

Experience and technical competencies:
a) Essential

• Minimum of 5 years of work experience within the field of monitoring and evaluation, of which 3 in a similar management role;
• Experience working with International NGO’s, UN agencies, line ministries and/or local authorities, preferably in migrants/refugee settings in complex emergencies;
• Experience working in monitoring and evaluation of WASH, shelter, CRI/NFI, Cash/ livelihoods and protection sectors in an emergency context
• Experience in developing/ guiding information management systems for large humanitarian programs
• Experience in participatory assessment and community-based monitoring approaches;
• Clear understanding of Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS);
• Experience with capacity building of national staff in the area of MEAL, and in convening and facilitating trainings and workshops
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills (English)

b) Desirable

• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective and working relations with local staff and other stakeholders;
• Experience living and working in a cross-cultural, multi-sector, insecure, remote area environment, under team condition

Education:

• A bachelor’s degree in relevant field (development, social research preferable with a focus on monitoring and evaluation as well as compliance issues). Master’s degree in relevant field will be an asset.

Languages:

• English (fluent)
• Kurdish (desirable)
• Arabic (desirable)

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• Senior Management, including SMT
• Area Management
• Technical Coordinators
• Consortium managers
• MEAL peers in other INGOs

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

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

We offer
Contract length: 12 months
Band: F- Management
Designation of Duty Station: Erbil- with frequent travel across Iraq
Start date: As soon as possible.