MEAL Officer

Background/IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to the displaced and refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

IRC has been working in Pakistan for over 30 years, and manages and delivers large complex programs to meet needs in health, education, protection, environmental health and livelihoods for displaced, poor & affected communities. IRC works in partnership with local government and non-governmental organizations and currently works in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Baluchistan provinces.

IRC Pakistan will be implementing five years “leveraging Inclusive WASH For Empowerment in Pakistan (LIFE-Pakistan) project i.e. Water For Women Fund supported by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian government.

With an overall goal of gender equitable and socially inclusive WASH services for improved health conditions of marginalized groups, this project aims to directly improve the lives of 168,000 beneficiaries in 75 villages in three districts of KP, Pakistan.

The project will reach its goal through three pillars:

1. Inclusive community level WASH
2. Improved WASH governance
3. Strengthened decision making around WASH.

The project will focus on schools and health centers that serve communities, as well as community and household WASH. A process of participatory training and discussion will be utilized to strengthen women’s role in the community, and will be supported with life skills training and gender protection programming. Knowledge management and learning through ongoing monitoring, periodic evaluations and research will keep the project on track, provide evidence for advocacy for improving legislative environment, and draw learning for future programing.

Job Overview/Summary: Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Senior MEAL Manager, the position will work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure an effective, efficient and functional MEAL system is in place.

 Responsibilities:

·         Promote accountability and ensure compliance with IRCWAY policies, global Humanitarian Standards for Quality and Accountability, including the client feedback/complaint and response mechanism (CRM), to ensure that affected communities and people are at the center of IRC response.

·         Develop and maintain project monitoring databases for timely dissemination of information

·         Assist in the review and development of appropriate formats, tools and systems for monitoring and evaluating programs, assuring quality and managing data according to internal and international standards.

·         In collaboration with the Senior MEAL Manager, MEAL Officers and program teams, carry out participatory outcomes monitoring as well as activities of the partners according to agreed standards.

·         Extend needful support to program teams to track progress of the project activities in line with the agreed output and outcome level performance indicators and beneficiary numbers using standardized formats and systems, to establish/maintain data storage and dissemination systems.

·         Assist in the design, collection and analysis of data and information for assessments, surveys and evaluations as required by the MEAL unit and the program teams as per project requirements.

·         Conduct data quality assessments, audits’ and support relevant teams in improved data management practices.

·         Will represent MEAL during program review meetings and other events to share M&E updates and/or making presentations if required.

·         Conduct outcome monitoring of the project activities, and promote joint participatory monitoring. 

·         Maintain proper filing system of monitoring and data related documents in hard as well as in soft.

·         Carry out other such tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Information sharing

·         Assess what information men, women, children, adults and transgender would like to receive about the IRC program, and how they would like to receive it.

·         Ensure that MEAL plans and products are disseminated timely with relevant staff members and other stakeholders.

Participation

·         Participate in MEAL related and other meetings

Feedback and Complaints handling

·         Consult with children and adults on feedback and complaints handling

·         Design and implement appropriate feedback mechanisms that are contextual, effective, accessible and safe for relevant stockholders that ensure that feedback is recorded, reviewed and acted upon

Job Requirements:

Education:  Degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Statistics, Computer Programming or related field

Work Experience: At least 02 years’ relevant experience on monitoring and evaluation position in national / international humanitarian / development organization(s).

Position Requirements:

·         At least 3 years of relevant work experience preferably in NGO/INGO.

·         Excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication skills in English.

·         Knowledge of STATA / SPSS / R, MS Access / DBMS / Excel

·         Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

·         Familiarity with data collection and knowledge of MEL tools.

Language Skills: Reading, speaking and writing Urdu, English is mandatory and Pashto speaking, reading is a plus.

Gender Equality and Diversity:

IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures and actions demonstrate this commitment. Women, minorities, persons with disability (PWD) and transgender candidates are highly encouraged to apply.