Yemen: MEAL Coordinator

May 14, 2018 | International Rescue Committee
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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 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.

The IRC Yemen began its Health, Nutrition and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programs in response to the impact of conflicts in Abyan and Aden Governorates in October 2012. Health interventions are aimed at increasing access to curative and preventive health services; while the nutrition intervention is to ensure children under five have access to inpatient and outpatient treatment for severe and moderate acute malnutrition. WASH interventions are aimed at reducing the risk and spread of environmental health related diseases, including provision of safe and dignified access to improved water supply and sanitation facilities to disaster affected communities and health facilities; the promotion of safe hygiene practices and the strengthening of community institutions, including health facilities to support and sustain WASH services. To address the recent and ongoing conflict, the IRC has initiated emergency Health and WASH interventions to war affected populations, IDPs and host families. In November 2015, IRC initiated protection mainstreaming activities within health, nutrition, and WASH programming. Currently IRC Yemen is operating in eight governorates in the south and north of Yemen through direct programming and through local partnership in Health, WASH, Nutrition, Economic Recovery Development and Women Protection and Empowerment. These sectors are responding to food insecurity, cholera and other humanitarian needs within the displaced and conflict affected populations.

Job Overview/Summary

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator will provide the leadership necessary to ensure that the IRC Yemen country program develops and meets its monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning commitments, as set out IRC’s Strategy 2020 and partnerships with donors. Core to this will be providing strategic direction to, and harmonization of, MEAL efforts in Yemen during IRC’s on-going process of transitioning its Yemen operations from multiple management hubs. The MEAL Coordinator will lead a country program MEAL Unit that contributes to evidence-based program design and continuous improvements of program quality based on data and learning. S/he will be part of the senior program management team and report to the Deputy Director Programs.

Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy

  • Building on existing practices, establish a coherent Yemen MEAL system (approaches, procedures, structures), encompassing both programs implemented by IRC, as well as programs implemented in partnership with Yemenn organizations.
  • Provide MEAL technical assistance to program teams and inputs into the design stages of program proposals, budgets, logframes, indicators, and measurement methodologies, plans and tools.
  • Ensure the country program meets IRC’s global monitoring standards (“Monitoring for Action”) for improved monitoring practices, data quality and use of data within the organization. As part of this, champion an organizational culture shift from a focus on data being primarily for donor reporting or indicator calculation purposes to using data for programmatic course correction and other decision
  • Ensure continued functioning of, and improvements to, the country beneficiary feedback and response mechanism, and adherence to regional standards and expectations.
  • Ensure continued generation of accurate information about beneficiary reach, as per country   requirements.
  • Ensure the effective set-up and use of IRC’s global data platform (COMET), or an alternative centralized way to ensure relevant stakeholders at the country, regional and global levels have timely access to appropriate information about indicators.
  • Ensure that the country program has innovative and technology-driven appropriate MEAL systems and tools.
  • Develop systems and procedures that measure country program-wide performance and achievements towards outcomes (using the Outcomes & Evidence Framework core indicators and other methods as appropriate) and strategic and organizational commitments.
  • In close collaboration with the Partnerships Unit and program teams, develop and execute a coherent strategy and plan for strengthening MEAL capacities of implementing partner organizations, incorporating technical assistance into the design stages of program logframes, indicators, and measurement methodologies, plans and tools.
  • Lead on planning and managing internal or external program evaluations.
  • Recruit, support and oversee the technical quality of work by MEAL unit team members supporting the unit’s and program teams’ implementation of MEAL systems

Program Development

  • Support program sector teams (currently, Integrated Health, nutrtion, EH, ERD and Protection), and the Grants Unit in ensuring that MEAL elements support strong proposals for new funding and high-quality reporting on current programs.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

  • Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of MEAL team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
  • Lead collaborative partner relationships focused on mutual learning and capacity building as well as technical guidance in areas of IRC expertise.
  • Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of the team in Yemen.
  • Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
  • Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
  • Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
  • As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.

Coordination & Representation

  • As needed and in coordination with other program sector leads and country program management, represents IRC in inter-agency forums and discussions.
  • Participate in relevant working groups both within and outside of the UN cluster system.
  • In close coordination with program leads and the Partnerships Unit, engage with Yemenn partners with respect to MEAL.

Research, Learning and Analysis

  • Identify, monitor and report unmet needs related to MEAL. Explore the potential of the IRC to address those needs within the parameters of the Strategic Action Plan and sector priorities.
  • Support the greater sharing and use of research and learning within IRC’s program sectors, including by contributing to program development and design, to ensure interventions are responsive to needs and informed by a sound understanding of the humanitarian context in Yemen.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Deputy Director for Programming

Qualification

  • MA/MBS, Economics Degree in international development, social sciences, or a related field;

Work Experience:

  • At least 7 years of experience within the international development / humanitarian sector, several of which was at senior management level (some international experience preferred)
  • Minimum of 5 years’ specific experience in monitoring and evaluation of multi-sectoral programming in emergency or post conflict settings.
  • Experience with multi-sectoral and multi-donor funded programs.
  • Excellent organizational and program management experience, including with staff work plans, budget management and monitoring and evaluation.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, and facilitation, interpersonal, coordination and networking skills.
  • Experience with situation analysis and  assessments.
  • Excellent problem solving skills, and demonstrated ability to handle pressure and improve.
  • Excellent computer skills in programs such as: SPSS, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint
  • Eexcellent interpersonal communication skills and professional patience and be able to interact, partner and thrive in a diverse environment
  • Committed to staff training and development and effective at facilitation
  • Commitment to the IRC’s mission, purpose and values.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in The IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons 

Work Environment: There is active conflict in parts of the country and a possibility of the conflict expanding into other locations. The situation in Sana’a is currently quiet but remains unpredictable. Security will be thoroughly discussed during the interview process. 

Housing: Lodging in Sana’a and Aden is in shared IRC guesthouse. All IRC sites have electricity and internet. Food is the individual’s responsibility.