Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator, LNGB

Building on this work over the years, the IRC in Sierra Leone has developed a new program framework, strategy and vision for 2016 – 2020. The country program has committed to ensuring that children, both in and out of school, have appropriate literacy, numeracy, social-emotional skills, and will work towards the reduction and elimination of barriers to ensure that girls are equally skilled and safe as boys. In line with this commitment, and in partnership with Concern International, Restless Development and BBC Media Action, the IRC will implement the four-year Leave No Girl behind project which targets 32,500 out-of-school girls (aged 13-17) and aims to ensure they have significantly improved learning outcomes and transition to education, training or employment. Upon completion of the learning programme, girls will receive one-on-one mentorship to develop their individual transition plans.

The IRC is recruiting for a Consortium Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning (MEAL) and Research Coordinator for the LNGB programme in Sierra Leone.

The Consortium MEALR Coordinator will lead three main components: 1) Monitoring, 2) Research, Evaluation and Learning, 3) Accountability (including Client Responsiveness) that contribute to evidence-based program design, high-quality donor reporting and continuous improvement of program quality based on data and learning. The position will be responsible for establishing consortium-wide systems that will ensure that the programme gathers evidence and uses learning to adapt and improve.

The Consortium MEALR Coordinator will work under the oversight of the Senior Consortium Coordinator.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES

GENERAL

• Oversee the implementation and on-going development of MEAL processes, systems and guidance across the consortium, including leading the design and roll-out of reporting initiatives for the programme.

• Draw strategic input from key project stakeholders, including technical and M&E advisors, to continuously refine and improve project MEL approaches.

• Provide evidence that the EAGER project is consistent with the overall organizational strategic outcomes.

MONITORING

• Oversee and coach the Sr. M&E Manager in implementing the Project Routine Monitoring systems and protocols, including

• monitoring plans and tools to measure project progress against logframe indicators.

• conducting analysis of project data.

• conduct regular quarterly data audits with consortium partners.

• ensuring maintenance of programme databases (including data entry, validation, merging / aggregation, cleaning and storage).

• develop regular field monitoring calendars and tools.

• prepare monthly programme data reports for dissemination.

• Train and build capacity of consortium partners in implementing and using monitoring templates, standards, approaches and tools for data collection and data management.

REPORTING

• Support the Sr. M&E manager in the review and consolidation of monitoring data for reporting against the logframe and performance indicators for donor reporting and internal programme review.

• Provide M&E support to the Senior Team Leader for the compilation and completion of donor reports.

• Participate in regular field monitoring visits to ensure data quality and compliance against reporting as needed.

• Review partner technical reporting to validate against data reports.

RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

• In collaboration with the project external evaluator (EE), support the design and delivery of the project impact evaluation, including development of research methodology, measurement tools, qualitative and quantitative research processes, and quality metrics through a participatory approach, whereby abiding by the GEC-LNGB requirements.

• Act as consortium focal point for providing support to the EE in the delivery of accurate and timely baseline, midline and endline reporting.

• Work closely with the EE on reviewing quality data and analysis.

• Curate all research reports submitted by the EE to ensure a thorough review of significant findings and trends and their use for program adaptation and learning.

• Design and implement a systematic way of documenting and disseminating lessons learned and good practices internally and externally, and help increase project knowledge to ensure the intervention is responsive to needs and informed by a sound understanding of the context.

• Hold regular regional data review meetings with implementing partners to review data and discuss lessons learned, as well as inform program adaptations.

• Compile, analyse and disseminate quantitative and qualitative information for improved programs decision making.

• Act as focal point for coordinating technical support from the HQ Research and Innovation unit, ensuring technical advice is sought and used to deliver quality evaluation and research activities, and these are implemented in line with the IRC commitments in these areas.

ACCOUNTABILITY

• In collaboration with the Protection Specialist and Education Specialist, and support from the Safeguarding Specialist, ensure upward and downward accountability by supporting the CCU in building into the program feedback loops that promote, regularly collect and respond to beneficiaries’ feedback suggestions and complaints, with a special focus on child participation, gender, disability, social norm and ethical standards, in line with IRC global good standards for Client Responsiveness.

• Follow up and monitor the implementation of the project monitoring plan to ensure it is in line with the Strategic Action Plan Implementation Plan FY2020 O&E and client responsiveness’ commitments.

• Continue strengthen client feedback and response practices, approaches and the use of the feedback data to enhance programs activities and consortium client-responsiveness culture.

• In collaboration with the CCU Protection Specialist and the IRC Safeguarding Specialist, ensure safeguarding standards are mainstreamed in the research and monitoring methodology, upheld in the delivery of monitoring and research activities and regularly monitored throughout implementation.

EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION AND COORDINATION

• Upon the request of the Senior Team Leader, participate/represent the IRC and or the consortium in national-level coordination/technical meetings with partners, GoSL, donor, etc.

• Assume the outward facing focal point for the external research evaluator ensuring sharing and collaboration.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIP

• Position Reports to: Senior Team Leader, LNGB

• Position technically supervises: National M&E Manager

• Position receive technical support from: IRC Sierra Leone MEL Coordinator.

• Internal: All staff and departments within the Sierra Leone Country Program (primarily Program teams), Regional M&E unit, HQ/Regional Technical Units (Technical Assistants and M&E specialists), HQ Research and Innovation Unit

• External: Partner organizations, other humanitarian actors

DURATION

1st February 2021 – 31st January 2022, renewable.

Qualifications

To effectively deliver this engagement, the applicant should meet the following requirements:

Education

• Master’s degree in education or related field.

Work Experience

• At least 5 years’ relevant experience working in a low resource setting, with a strong focus on programme monitoring and evaluation. Previous experience in managing large scale programme or consortia level M&E systems is essential.

• Demonstrable experience working with partners in MEALR activities, including capacity building.

• Prior experience working on large scale, complex research evaluation and research activities essential.

• Prior experience working on education programs and/or program focusing on adolescent girls is key.

Demonstrated Technical Skills

• Demonstrated data management and analytical skills, with demonstrated experience in managing large data systems and in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.

• Excellent skills in information/data analysis, including consolidation and analysis of highly diverse data, and report writing, including experience with statistical analysis and data management software and methodology along with key platforms.

• Demonstrated experience in designing monitoring, evaluation and learning systems, tools and processes in an international development context.

• Proven M&E training and capacity building skills, ideally in supporting partners.

• Familiarity with a range of evaluation methodologies (RCT, mixed methods).

• Previous experience in survey/baseline and endline design, collection and analysis.

• Confident and proficient use in MS Excel, and some experience in the use of DHIS/use of mobile technology for data collection.

• Excellent English speaking/writing skills required.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

• Excellent planning and organizational skills; Self-motivated and able to work without close supervision, including prioritizing work and multi-tasking to meet deadlines.

• Excellent analytical, presentation, and reporting;

• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with donors.

• Strong negotiation skills essential with experience in conflict resolution desirable.

• Superior oral and written communication skills, with ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with internal and external stakeholders.

• Positive attitude to work, self-reflective, motivated, inspired, collegial.

• Proven ability to work well in teams and promote teamwork, thrive in a multi-cultural environment, be flexible and handle pressure with professional grace.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.