Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer - IFRC

Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer

Number of position: 01        
Based in: Cox's Bazar.
Duration of the contract: Up to August 2023(next extension depend on staff Performance and Funding availability).
Reporting to: Operations Manage, IFRC Sub- Delegation, Cox's Bazar.

Overview

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is "to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world."  The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services. The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  The IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) has been addressing the needs of displaced persons from Rakhine and host communities in Cox's Bazar since the 1990s and has scaled up operations and support as a result of the large-scale influx of displaced persons from Rakhine since October 2016. BDRCS and its Movement partners - IFRC, ICRC and number of Participating National Societies (PNS)/IFRC memberships - have since August 2017 been conducting a large-scale humanitarian response to around 1 million people including host and guest communities to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance and services through multilateral and bilateral support. Based on a multi-sector needs assessment conducted in August2021, a revised Emergency Appeal (for the period January 2022 to Dec 2024) was launched seeking a total of 73 million CHF to sustain and maintain the ongoing humanitarian assistance. There are three key strategies a) integrated community resilience; b) social inclusion; and 3) readiness for effective response and the strategic focuses are risk Reduction, climate adaptation and recovery; health and care; shelter housing and settlement; WASH; Livelihoods, and Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) and Protection Gender and Inclusion (PGI) as cross sector priorities.

This operation is guided by One-Window Framework to coordinate among the RCRC movement actors and to demonstrate greater efficiency, enhanced effectiveness, better positioning of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society as auxiliary to the government and a harmonized and well-coordinated International Red Cross and Red Crescent response: and ensuring quality, joint accountability, a positive, resilient, and sustainable impact. A shared leadership model has been implemented where IFRC and partners devised a common approach to deliver humanitarian service ensuring greater efficiency, speed and larger coverage. 

After 5 years of displacement, there are no clear pathways to durable solutions: dignified return and resettlement into Rakhine, therefore, RCRC movement will continue delivering critical life-saving humanitarian support and assistance until the situation remain unstable. The IFRC Office in Cox Bazar is the coordinating office for supporting the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in their response to the Population Movement Operation in the area.

This position is based in Cox Bazar, Bangladesh at the IFRC Population Movement Office.

Job Purpose

The Senior Officer shall be overall responsible for PMO's MEAL activities. The incumbent will review, redesign, or develop and roll-out the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning system related to the overall Population Movement Operation. She/He shall work with BDRCS to improve MEAL capacity so that IFRC planning, programme monitoring, and evaluation, learning and sharing standards are met. She/he will ensure regular co-ordination within and outside the Movement actors in Cox Bazar, establish effective communication, support sector leads in planning, monitoring, evaluation, learning and sharing. She/he will liaise with IFRC Dhaka Delegation office, Asia Pacific Regional Office, IFRC memberships and be responsible to assist the Operation Managers about pledge management, strategic engagement, building partnership, positioning BDRC/IFRC PMO, and facilitate partner's call, donor meeting, develop future strategy and exit planning. This position will also contribute to execute baseline and evaluations and assist the organization in management and use the performance information for decision-making and resource allocation. The purpose of this position is also work closely with Information Management (IM) to ensure data quality, data validation, data analysis and share information & reports to relevant stakeholders for effective and efficient program implementation and decision making.

Duties and Responsibilities:

A.) Operations reporting, monitoring, evaluation and learning and sharing:

• Ensure regular monitoring on the compliance of the humanitarian services according with our policies, guidance, and humanitarian Principles, and establish early warning actions to address potential non-compliance.
• Work closely with the field team, to identify existing monitoring and review mechanisms in the PMO Plan of Action to ensure that reports incorporate accurate and relevant information.
• Set up field monitoring plan, monitoring tools for gathering information in light of IFRC/PMER system.
• Assist the team in designing and rolling out operational guideline and quality assurance checklist aligning with the implementation guideline to facilitate quality programming.
• Support programme team in designing and conducting internal and external evaluations, studies, and research to capture different hierarchy of results planned for the projects. This includes facilitating management response processes following an evaluation/review, reflection opportunities (e.g. meetings and workshops) towards developing a strong learning culture in IFRC.
• Keep track on progress-based operation/project related indicators, periodic monitor, review, and measure annual progress of strategic key performance indicators.
• Coordinate with support service functions and programmatic functions the monitoring and delivery of services according with the operational plan and budget,
• Ensure process and storage of M&E data through using appropriate MIS system and draft MEAL inputs into the donor report and others as required.
• Work with IM on data verification from field and prepare progress reports for internal and external audiences, including consolidated monthly operational reports for IFRC and other stakeholders.
• Routinely perform quality control checks of M&E work, overseeing the recording and reporting of progress and performance of the project/programme/operation compared to targets.
• Contribute to drafting learning papers that capture lessons from IFRC and BDRCS' works in order to inform the work of the humanitarian fields.
• Input into the development of IFRC and BDRCS' case studies, to showcase insights and instances of success in IFRC and BDRCS' work for sharing with donors and other stakeholders.
• Keep coordination with external consulting firms/consultants in conducting baseline and evaluation with ensuring quality.
• Work closely with the PMER manager, operation team/sector leaders and PNS counterparts to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of reporting related to the PMO Operation.
• Assist the Operations Manager and Head of Sub-Delegation to monitor programs activities and to ensure reporting of relevant and accurate information based on IFRC and PMER Framework and standards.
• Assist the PMO management of internal and external reporting system.
• Coordinate with PMER in Dhaka to-related works for consolidation and synchronization
• Identify areas of key learning and sharing, systematically collect information, report and share with partners, IFRC country officer, BDRCS HQ line departments.
• Analyse the context, develop and update risk register, and recommend mitigation measures to the Operation Manager and Head of Sub Delegation
• Support and update business continuity plan keeping in view epidemic, conflict or any such measures that can hamper the PMO operation  

B.) BDRCS staff capacity building:

• Assist the PMER Manager with organizing, analysing and consolidating monthly programs progress reports and in carrying out monitoring and evaluation activities that are intended to improve and promote the works of the BDRCS.
• Assist to develop training materials and provide appropriate training for staff to fulfil their PMER responsibilities in coordination and the technical guidance of PMER IFRC Dhaka, and Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO).
• Assist/facilitate in PMER related training for relevant staff and volunteers and PMER capacity assessment at all levels of the operation.
• Facilitate learning processes for staff and volunteers on MEAL system including software use where applicable.
• Provide coaching and mentoring support to BDRCS PMER team 

C.) Facilitate required and planned evaluation and related data:

• Assist in the design and carrying out of assessments, evaluation and reviews, i.e. real-time evaluation, mid-term review and final evaluation.
• Assist with the set-up of appropriate internal and external reporting systems based on IFRC and NS standards.
• Assist (with technical guidance from APRO M&E officer) in the management of all evaluation internally and externally and support the use of evaluation results within the IFRC

D.) Other duties and tasks:
Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the Operation Manager and/or Head of Sub Delegation. 

Qualification:

a) Education

• Relevant university degree in Social Sciences, Economic, Statistics, Information Management, Development Studies.
• Project Proposal, Report Writing, M&E Courses will get preference.

b) Experience

• 4 years related working experience in project management coordination in humanitarian organisation.
• Knowledge of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, policies, procedures are preferable.
• Experience of working for a humanitarian aid organisation, donors, partners, and banks etc.
• Familiarity with current standards and guidelines for humanitarian emergency response, in particular Sphere.
• Strong background in Project Cycle Management.
• Experience as evaluator for disaster relief, recovery or development work.
• Strong background in report-writing and product delivery to tight deadlines.
• Writing, editing, and analysing complex reports.
• Planning, implementing, and monitoring projects from conception to completion.
• Good facilitation, coaching, mentoring and training skills.
• Working with financial systems is preferable.
• Working with the Red Cross / Red Crescent is preferable.
• Working for a humanitarian/non-profit making organization is preferable.

c) Knowledge

• Solid experience in research methodology, data processing and data analytics.
• Detailed knowledge of project management, logframe-based project design, Theory of Change, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Demonstrated success in supporting organizational learning, accountability, and performance.
• Advanced skills in computers (Windows, word processing, PowerPoint, spreadsheets).
• Knowledge of databases and computer-based management information systems.
• Able to work independently and as part of the team.
• Exceptional organizational ability with an eye for detail.
• Documentation preparation/presentation and computer-based production skills

Languages: Fluency in English and Bangla.

Salary Range: Negotiable.

Other Benefits

• Festival Bonus
• Life & Medical Insurance
• Provident fund & Gratuity
• Medical reimbursement for staff and immediate family of up to 70000 BDT per annum.
• Other benefit as per organization policy

How to Apply:

Interested candidates finding self as appropriate and relevant to the required skills and capacities are requested to apply for the position by online on or before 2 August 2022.IFRC reserves the right to fill the role prior to the advertisement end date. As such, candidates are encouraged to apply at their earliest convenience.

Apply Online

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. The IFRC is an equal opportunity employer

About Us:

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization. The IFRC Country Office in Bangladesh has worked alongside the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) for more than 30 years in humanitarian fields including disaster management, with a focus on the cyclone early warning and response program in the coastal belt, and disaster preparedness and response during natural disasters.