Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Specialist

Duty Station [Sana’a-Yemen]

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. Using a protection of human rights framework, DRC has mainly focused on Somalis who are displaced by conflict. Programmers include protection, livelihood, food and NFI distribution, water and sanitation, and advocacy amongst others. DRC Yemen has been providing relief and development services in Yemen since 2008. DRC has mainly focused on refugees and migrants displaced by conflict and natural disasters.

DRC, through its specialized business unit, Danish Demining Group (DDG) aims to recreate a safe environment where people can live without the threat of landmines, unexploded ordinances and small arms and light weapons”. These goals can be effectively advanced through cooperation and joint action with other organization as well as with integration of operations and programs with its sister organization, DRC

Overall purpose of the role

In response to the critical and constantly evolving humanitarian situation in Yemen, DRC, NRC, and ACTED formed a Consortium (Yemen Displacement Response (YDR) Consortium) which has been providing an integrated, multi-sectoral response in IDP sites across Yemen to improve the living conditions of IDPs. Focusing primarily on CCCM, WASH, Shelter, and protection programming at IDP hosting sites, the Consortium aims to improve overall coordination capacity while providing a wide range of site level services through operations and advocacy.

The Consortium MEAL Specialist, employed by DRC and reporting to the Consortium Manager, will lead the Consortium’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) as well as Information Management (IM) efforts and initiatives. The MEAL Specialist will work closely with the M&E focal points from each of the Consortium partner agencies and the program implementation teams to ensure effective MEAL practices are applied. The MEAL Specialist will provide technical leadership on related activities such as assessments, evaluations, learning events, and inter-agency accountability systems. The MEAL Specialist will provide technical oversight of the Consortium’s Information Management Officer, and will closely coordinate its activities with the relevant Consortium Management Unit (CMU) staff.

The MEAL Specialist is based in the Country Office in Sana’a. It is a roving position, moving between areas with consortium CCCM programming.

Main responsibilities

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

· Ensure timely development, refinement and effective implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for YDR programs, including setting up of mechanisms to monitor and document the progress of implementation of program activities.

· In coordination with the YDR’s MEAL Technical Working Group (TWG), lead the design and development of harmonized data collection, monitoring and reporting tools and methodologies for YDR programming.

· Working closely with the Consortium Manager, take lead on program and outcome monitoring, and ensure regular tracking of progress on all targets and indicators, communicating progress and flagging concerns to the YDR Consortium Management Unit (CMU), where necessary.

· Ensure that the most relevant and up-to-date MEAL tools are being used by all YDR partners.

· Regularly present M&E findings to the CMU, steering committee, and other relevant stakeholders.

· Assist Consortium Manager in producing high quality reports such as but not limited to bi-monthly / interim progress reports for internal consumption and donor reports as per contractual obligations and other ad-hoc reports asked by Consortium Steering Committee, DRC management and /or donors.

· Design and coordinate baseline, midline, and endline evaluations across consortium partners, including the design of tools, training of data collectors and analysis of findings and report writing.

· Conduct regular field monitoring visits.

· Contribute to proposal development with design of logical frameworks and MEAL inputs as needed.

· Assist the Consortium Manager to make timely decisions to adjust program design based on the MEAL data as necessary.

Complaints Response and Feedback Mechanism (CRFM):

· Coordinate with relevant focal points across YDR partners to ensure community feedback and response mechanisms are in place, and that feedback or complaints related to YDR programming is properly reported to the YDR’s CMU.

· Follow up the Consortium-level CFRM reporting, to coordinate data consolidation, analysis, and feedback to partners to ensure YDR is responding to beneficiary feedback in a safe, effective, and timely manner.

Consortium Partnership and Capacity Building:

· Chair and lead the Consortium Quality Assurance Technical Working Group meetings with MEAL representatives from consortium partners, share minutes with key stakeholders and follow-up on recommended action points.

· Oversee the technical support provided by the CMU MEAL unit to YDR partners to ensure adherence to MEAL frameworks and implementation of MEAL plans.

· Provide technical guidance and lead capacity building of the Consortium Partner staff, on implementation of MEAL within the program. This includes trainings for enumerators, M&E and program staff at partner agencies on M&E tools and methodologies, mobile data collection, database management, accountability mechanisms, and related topics.

· Participate in YDR TWG meetings and other inter-agency meetings as needed, ensuring coordination and communication on tools, processes, and troubleshooting.

Research and Learning:

· Develop a learning strategy and oversee its active implementation throughout the project.

· Identify opportunities for research and learning questions in collaboration with the Consortium Partners and Technical Specialists.

· Document learnings and best practices; disseminate learnings, reports, publications and participate in learning sessions, and ensuring that the lessons learnt are utilized to inform programming and advocacy.

· Lead and/or support the development of TORs and managing consultants as needed.

Information management

· Lead on the development of the Consortium’s information management strategy by reviewing information needs and gaps, and evaluating current information management processes and tools.

· Provide strategic and technical support to both program and M&E staff of consortium partners in the collection, entry, sharing, verification, analysis, and use of data and share with all partners as appropriate.

· Work with relevant functions to determine the adequacy and appropriateness of various data collection tools and systems that are already in place, and make adjustments as necessary.

· Ensure effective data management by improving existing or developing new data collection tools and methodologies, designing and managing database systems for analysis purposes.

· Design/develop, test, maintain, support and improve the IM system that maintains and organizes data on Consortium activities and provides support in reporting, project tracking and data analysis.

· Coordinate with consortium partners data collection regarding the conditions of IDP settlements and produce regular analyses.

· Produce information products such as reports, charts and infographics by turning data into graphic products to facilitate the dissemination of information to external stakeholders.

· Support the YDR Consortium in the development of information sharing materials/briefs, posters and brochures, and dissemination of programme information materials to relevant stakeholders, partners and beneficiaries.

· Technically oversee the work of the Consortium Information Management Officer.

· Develop database security measures to safeguard information against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification or disclosure, especially in terms of sensitive beneficiary information

· Ensure that information systems and processes are compliant with applicable standards and guidelines related to information management and data protection, including donor standards and requirements.

· Actively explore options for using technology in beneficiary engagement in displacement contexts.

Other

· Participate in relevant cluster meetings, trainings, and other forums as required.

· Perform any other duties assigned by the Consortium Manager to advance DRC’s interventions.

Reports to

Consortia Manager

Required experience and competencies

· Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in international and/or local NGOs working in contexts with internally displaced persons and/or refugees, preferably in complex, multi-sectoral emergency interventions;

· Strong understanding of MEAL in complex humanitarian emergencies;

· Strong knowledge of M&E processes and data collection platforms (i.e. Kobo, ODK, CommCare);

· Ability to manage large quantities of data using established statistical analysis software (Excel, Access, SPSS, PowerBI).

· Experience in developing and managing IM systems for large humanitarian programs;

· Experience working in Consortia programs is an added advantage;

· Excellent analytical and report writing skills;

· High-level communication and interpersonal skills;

· Ability to negotiate effectively between different stakeholders;

· Proven ability in working in hardship environment, with extensive travel to the field;

· Understanding of CCCM, WASH, shelter, and protection interventions in an IDP setting is an added advantage

· A good understanding and experience of context in Yemen is an added advantage

· The position requires significant travel across field locations in both north and south of Yemen.

Required education

· A post-graduate degree in international relations, business administration, management, human rights, social sciences, or related field.

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: You act in line with our vision and values.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Langages :

• Fluency in English (fluency in Arabic would be a strong asset).

We offer

DRC will offer the successful applicant a one year contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work As soon as possible, and be willing and able to work in Yemen –Sana’a.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Expatriates Terms of Employment. This position will be placed at Band (G2 Non-Manager).