MEAL Coordinator

Country: Kenya

Organization: International Rescue Committee

Closing date: 7 Sep 2023

The International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) Kenya country program provides life-saving and developmental services that empower vulnerable local and refugee communities, enabling them to lead secure, productive, and healthy lives. Collaborating closely with national and county governments, community organizations, and partner NGOs, the IRC operates across health, nutrition, protection, livelihood, education, and WASH sectors, in Turkana, Garissa, Samburu, West Pokot and Nairobi counties. The IRC responds to emergencies such as drought in Garissa and Turkana counties, supports refugees in Hagadera and Kakuma Refugee Camps, and implements urban programming for livelihoods in Nairobi's informal settlements. Working with the Ministry of Health, UNHCR, donors, and other partners, the IRC ensures comprehensive health, nutrition, protection, women's empowerment, economic recovery, and systems strengthening services to cultivate community resilience and self-reliance.

Job Overview

Reporting to the Deputy Director for Grants and Accountability (DDGA) and technically supported by the Regional Measurement Advisor (RMA), the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator is the lead of the MEAL unit in Kenya and works in close collaboration with programs, grants and support teams to optimize implementation of the MEAL functionality in IRC Kenya to ensure high-quality programming for the clients we serve and support the global ambitions of IRC Strategy 100, especially the Data Ambition and the Country Strategic Action Plan.

To this end, the MEAL Coordinator is responsible to ensure that a monitoring, evaluation accountability and learning, and data management system is in place, sufficiently resourced and efficiently implemented from collection to visualization, and that MEAL data is contributing to improved learning and program quality. The coordinator is responsible for ensuring that MEAL principles are integrated in every step of the project cycle, as per IRC’s corporate guidelines and contributes into the implementation of the Country Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and the global IRC strategy. In support of these goals, the coordinator provides vital technical assistance, capacity sharing, individual mentoring, supervision, and training to MEAL staff at IRC and partners.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Partnership

Establish and drive common strategies and approaches to the country’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Accountability processes that reflect and contextualize IRC’S global strategy (Strategy 100) and the Kenya Country Strategic Action Plan and ensure that the MEAL structure is fit for this purpose.

Lead all aspects of MEAL functions (including client feedback mechanisms) across IRC Kenya sectors (Health, Nutrition, Protection, WASH, Education and Governance) and geographical areas, including large portfolio and sophisticated environment.

Develop, coordinate, and strengthen capacity sharing partnerships with MEAL counterparts of partner agencies, local organizations, and the government.

Represent the IRC on MEAL at meetings, forums, and other events.

Champion design, access, and use of data by leaders and partners for shared learning and evidence-based decision-making.

Shape and implement MEAL systems and approaches that meet IRC standards and practices, that meet project and program needs, enable accountability to clients, partners, and donors, and foster program learning.

Work closely with RMA and other Regional and global Measurement Team (RMT) members to ensure alignment with IRC global MEAL priorities and innovative approaches, policies, processes, and technologies.

Reinforce integration of cross-sectoral priorities in MEAL, including gender, protection, safeguarding, disaster risk reduction, Diversity-Equality-Inclusion and Do No Harm.

Technical Oversight

Offer technical guidance for a strong MEAL system and processes throughout the project cycle from the design, start up, implementation to close-out and learning including;

Drive the use of learning and evidence from internal and external sources including previous projects to advise innovative proposal designs, Theory of Change (ToC) and program adaptation. Lead MEAL team proposal inputs including the development of proposed log frames, indicators, and MEAL approaches.

Developing and operationalizing, logical frameworks, MEAL plans, data collection tools, processes for data management, client feedback approaches, quality checks and audits, and data visualization.

Developing and advocating for adequate MEAL budget and staffing structure for all projects as per the guided standards.

Producing high-quality data, analysis, reports, presentations, and dashboards of key findings that foster learning and decision-making and share in key meetings such as project cycle meetings and strategic senior management team meetings.

Reviewing donor reporting in advance of submission to ensure quality and accuracy and working closely with MEAL teams in field sites to ensure proper reporting of data.

Supporting Project Closeout and Learning Meetings to ensure sharing and capturing of lessons learnt.

Work with the MEAL in country and the Measurement Unit team to ensure Kenya’s annual statistics data is aggregated and uploaded with IRC’s systems.

Overall responsibility to ensure MEAL data collected is accurate, reliable, valid, and timely. The MEAL Coordinator should commission data quality assessments (DQAs) where vital to ensure this.

Provide technical leadership for the design, methodology, and conduct of surveys such as baseline and endline, and the commission of evaluations and any other assessments as required in coordination with program coordinators, technical advisors, and external partners where applicable.

Co-develop and maintain an assessment calendar with Technical Coordinators to ensure regular assessments occur ahead of planned proposals to ensure availability of needed data. Lead design, analysis, and reporting for any assessments required.

Lead client accountability efforts by organizing the execution of client-responsive programming.

Participate in internal discussions for priority areas of investment in research and engage with local and international partners and consultants on collaborations for research projects.

Ensure continuous technical supervision of and support to research teams and provide technical direction to the teams of consultants in charge of conducting field studies.

Lead and advocate for the expansion of technology use within MEAL to enhance timeliness and quality of data management.

Provide technical proficiency to IRC’s effort in meeting its accountability commitments through carrying out sound accountability, client feedback, and response mechanisms.

Human Resources

Promote the growth and development of MEAL and project teams staff within IRC and partner organizations through;

Conducting routine capacity assessments and learning needs within the IRC country program and to the partner organizations.

Coaching, mentoring and supporting capacity improvement of MEAL teams through provision of vital tools and resources, as well as on job training.

Organizing and leading annual MEAL workshops for peer to peer and cross learning purpose.

Leading routine learning opportunities within MEAL.

Provide overall supervision of the MEAL team in through: Setting clear performance objectives, leading staff work plans, establishing regular performance reviews, championing a positive working environment for professional development and fostering an inclusive and respectful team climate, where all staff are valued and respected and can contribute to their maximum potential.

Be responsible for recruitment of country MEAL staff, TTA’s, consultants and, support their onboarding.

Key working relationships:

Position Reports to Deputy Director for Grants and Accountability (DDGA). Position directly supervises MEAL Technology Manager and Client Responsiveness Manager.

The position provides technical support to the MEAL leads in IRC Kenya sites in partnership with the field leads.

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Program Coordinators and Managers throughout the country program, Regional Measurement Advisor, Regional MEAL Coordinator, Regional Measurement Technology Coordinator, Client Responsiveness & Accountability (CRA) Technical specialist, Grants Coordinator and Managers, Finance Coordinator, relevant Regional/HQ-based colleagues.

External: Partners, Governments, Clients.

Qualifications

A University degree in a relevant subject area (statistics, monitoring & evaluation, data management, social science, public health, economic development, or a related field) – a technical degree together with additional relevant work experience may substitute for education.

A minimum 6 years of working experience within Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and learning-related functions.

Experience in conducting research.

Leadership experience and validated technical skills in setting up quality MEAL system that leads to evidence-based decision-making for multi-sectorial and multi-donor funded programs.

Shown ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods together with strong presentation and reporting skills.

Strong management and communication skills and has experience working with diverse groups of people in a multicultural environment.

Self-motivated with excellent organization, planning, and analytical skills - able to work without close supervision, including prioritizing work and multi-tasking.

Proficiency and experience with mobile data collection such as CommCare, ODK based mobile tool-kits etc. are needed as well as proficiency with Microsoft Excel; SPSS, STATA or other similar software.

Knowledge of data visualization tools i.e. PowerBi, tableau etc.

Knowledge of GIS software are additional assets.

A strong understanding of accountability and confirmed ability to build Client Feedback Systems is a distinct advantage.

Willingness to travel to various regional and field-level offices, as needed;

Fluency in English (written and speaking).

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must conform to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and implements policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request reasonable accommodation.

Kenyan nationals are encouraged to apply. International allowances are not available for this position. Salary and employee benefits are compliant to the Kenyan NGO Sector.