MEAL/IM Specialist NW

Position Title: MEAL/IM Specialist NW
Reporting to : Area Manager
Technical Supervisor :
Duty station: Bamenda (NW)
Base: Bamenda (NW), with frequent travel to SW
Employment Period : 10 months
Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee) :National – Fixed Term
Salary & Benefits :Management Band NM. G2

Introduction

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. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1) Context

DRC Cameroon began its operations in Cameroon in 2018 responding to the humanitarian needs of refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) and vulnerable Cameroonians in the Adamawa region. Currently, DRC operates with a regional office in Meiganga and two sub-offices in Djohong (Adamawa region) and Garoua-Boulai (East region). Interventions focus on finding durable solutions for the most vulnerable, using the holistic graduation approach to enhance both protection and economic recovery. Subsequently, in late 2018, DRC began its activities in the Southwest region of Cameroon in late 2019 to respond to the needs of forcibly displaced persons in the context of the Anglophone crisis, commencing humanitarian activities in January 2019. DRC operates in the Meme, Fako, Kupe-Manenguba and Ndian divisions with an office in Buea and a sub-base in Kumba. Programming focuses on rural and hard-to-reach areas to meet people’s basic needs for food, shelter and NFI, while improving the protective environment and providing income-generating opportunities.

In 2023, DRC expanded its activities to the Far North of Cameroon to provide a response in terms of protection, positive peace, governance and economic resilience to the multidimensional and interconnected crises affecting the region. Due to the lack of emergency response services to the newly displaced in the NWSW regions, the DRC has stepped in with emergency protection and food assistance in the NWSW regions in collaboration with two national organizations as partners.

2) General objective

Under the direct supervision of the Emergency Response Manager NW, the MEAL/IM Specialist is responsible for the capacity strengthening and monitoring of DRC’s local partners MEAL and IM activities under the “Localized RRM project” in the NW region of Cameroon. The MEAL/IM specialist ensures effective implementation of monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning as well as the information management for all activities and modalities of the local partners while He/she also contributes to the DRC CMR overall strategy, accountability and learning at country level.

3) Tasks and responsibilities

The detailed responsibilities are as follows:

MEAL

• Project Initiation: Ensure a MEAL plan is in place which outlines all MEAL activities associated with the indicators, along with relevant methodologies, timelines, responsibilities, and budget requirements of the project, clearly broken down and included in the overall PMT. Contribute to the project kick-off meeting by explaining the MEAL commitments, approach, and plan to all project stakeholders so that they understand their responsibilities, deliverables, and timelines.
• Project Implementation: Coordinate with partners to ensure timely updates of the Indicator Trackers and participate in periodic project management/review meetings. Ensure that data quality checks are carried out regularly. Support the preparation of periodic reports to donors.
• Monitoring & Learning: Support the project and technical teams by reviewing data collection tools and methods for output and result-level measurements. Lead the development of outcome and impact-level measurements, which should be aligned with the program and country strategy levels for efficiency and consolidated learning purposes. Assist program teams in conducting trend analysis based on monitoring and programmatic data.
• Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP): Ensure that feedback received through the FCRM is acted upon by the project manager and that relevant adjustments are made to ensure the changes apply to the broader affected population.
• Project Closure Responsibilities: Ensure that all deliverables mentioned in the project MEAL plan are accomplished by the time of project closure. Ensure all datasets and documentation supporting the indicators and MEAL processes are systematically centralized, digitized, and archived for audits and other institutional compliance purposes. Contribute to the final project reporting.
• Evaluation & Learning Responsibilities: Ensure the project evaluation is carried out according to donor requirements and DRC evaluation policy. Facilitate an end-of-project learning event to capture best practices and lessons learned from the project. Ensure these learnings are accessible on SharePoint for future programming references.
• Needs Assessment: Verify the scope of the needs assessment and provide quality assurance for the process and tools. Develop the methodology in cooperation with the DRC team and/or DRC partners, ensure quality assurance of data collection tools, and oversee primary data collection as well as the quality of the final report.
• Project design: Contribute to the development of the Theory of Change (ToC), lead in identifying relevant indicators, and draft the MEAL technical activity design, narratives (describing the relevant approaches), and respective budgets. Review the logframe, budget and narrative proposal for quality, consistency, and realism.

IM

• Data collection: Design tools and methods for collecting data, and train project teams on how to use them
• Data analysis: Analyze data to identify trends and patterns, and interpret multiple datasets
• Data storage: Develop and maintain databases and spreadsheets to store data
• Data quality: Perform quality assurance checks to ensure data is accurate and complete
• Data reporting: Generate reports, dashboards, and infographics to share data
• Data security: Ensure the security of the collected, stored and shared information
• Technical support: Provide technical guidance and support
• User access: Manage user access to data collection tools and platforms
• Technical gaps: Identify technical gaps and implement solutions

Partnerships

• Ensure partner capacities are assessed, and realistic MEAL expectations are factored into the project (measurement methods, deliverables/reporting, etc.). Ensure partners are aware of their MEAL commitments during the kick-off meeting and throughout project implementation.
• Leads the assessment of partners’ capacities, ensures the development of training plans, organizes capacity building and training with support from technical staff of the SW/NW Area Office and the Country Office (Protection and Economic Recovery Coordinators, Partnership Management Specialist etc) while actively involving partners for better ownership of the capacity strengthening.
• Support partners with tools and systems required for them to comply with donor and DRC MEAL technical requirements/standards.
• Carry out regular monitoring and quality checks to ensure partners are adopting the required standards for AAP, MEAL, and GDPR.
• Where possible, support partners in adapting and applying the Core Humanitarian Standards in their institutional processes and implementation.
• Before project closure, ensure that partners complete all MEAL requirements for the projects (all measurements, data collection), ensure all data sources are complete and accurate, all relevant data for the project (indicators and MEAL) are transferred to DRC, and any supporting means of verification are also turned over to DRC.
• Ensure partners communicate to the communities they serve about the end of the project, the partnership with DRC, and the transition of services.

The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

4) Required Qualifications

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning of humanitarian and development programmes.
• Experience working with International NGO’s, UN agencies, line ministries and/or local authorities in migrants/refugee settings and/or emergencies.
• Proven experience in effectively working with a variety of donors’ requirements including ECHO, SIDA, EU, DFAT, GIZ, OFDA and UN agencies (as required).
• Strong understanding of monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning principles and processes, including database management, reporting etc.
• Demonstrated experience with DRC Core Sectors.
• Proven understanding of mix-methods approach, research methodologies and the nature and use of evidence, including participatory methodologies.
• Demonstrated understanding of Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and ability to apply accountability and ethical standards in everyday work.
• Advanced skills in design, implementation and quality assurance throughout data collection process and specifically software, such as Kobo Toolbox, ODK, ComCare and others as relevant.
• Very good skills in analysis frameworks, with data analysis for quantitative and qualitative data and communicating evidence.
• Experience of working with or providing support to partners and/or a partnership model of working, when relevant.
• Good skills in supporting organisational learning in programmes.
• Proven facilitation and training skills with diverse audiences of NGO practitioners.
• Demonstrated ability to work and deliver under pressure, within budget and time constraints and to manage team priorities.
• Excellent skill in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and Office365.
• Ability to inspire and apply critical thinking in everyday work; promote and contribute with constructive critique.
• Demonstrated experience and motivation to learn on the job and advance in the role.
• Very good verbal and written communication skills, ability to adjust communication to various stakeholders and audiences.

b) Desirable

• Knowledge of ArcGIS/QGIS, NVivo (or other qualitative analysis software)
• Fluency in local language or the language of communities (please specify)
• Experience of working in insecure environments and of security management; when relevant.
• Experience in developing/ guiding information management systems for large humanitarian programs, as relevant.
• Familiarity with the relevant data collection software, preferably Kobo Toolbox, Activity info, Commcare, ODK, DEEP, Nvivo.
• Experience in statistical software, SPSS, R and visualisation tools such as PowerBi.
• Certification in Advance MEAL programme/course

5) Required Skills & Qualities

• In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:
  • Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
  • Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
  • Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
  • Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
  • Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Team-oriented & good sense of humor

6) General Regulations

• The employee must follow the DRC’s instructions for security, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework.
• The employee must not exercise any other remunerated activity during the term of his contract with the DRC without receiving prior authorization to do so
• The employee must not engage in any activity that could interfere with the DRC or the implementation of any project during the term of the contract with the DRC.
• Employee must not give media interviews or post photos, or other material related to the project without prior permission.
• The employee must return all equipment borrowed for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.