Senior Consortium MEAL Manager

Program Brief

Founded in 1933, International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development.

IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since IRC obtained registration in March 2018, it has moved quickly to expand its integrated emergency health and protection response through both direct and partner-based programming focused on primary healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection. Through 2018, the IRC’s response strategy will primarily target Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, while meeting the significant needs of both refugee and host populations, as already existing vulnerabilities are compounded with cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons that impose additional threats to the lives and protection of those refugees as well as vulnerable host populations. IRC is growing its programming to cover education and livelihoods/DRR, as well as its geographic footprint in the host community and in other parts of the country.

Purpose of the Role

IRC together with two international NGOs has started a three-year multi-sector consortium project with the financial support of the Bureau of Population Refugee and Migration (BPRM) to deliver Health, Nutrition and Food Security, and Protection services for Rohingya Refugees and the vulnerable host communities in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The project aims to directly benefit over 246,177 people while over 80,915 people are expected to be benefitted indirectly over a period of three years.

Under the technical guidance from the MEAL Coordinator and direct supervision of Consortium Coordinator, the Sr. Consortium MEAL Manager will be responsible for setting up and implementing a coordinated, comprehensive, and functional Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) mechanism adhering to IRC and donor requirements. The Sr. Consortium MEAL Manager will be responsible for tracking and compiling performance-based narrative reports reflecting the overall achievement of the contractual objectives, targets/indicators, etc. at the consortium level.

Highlights of Key Responsibilities

• Under the direct line management of the Consortium Coordinator, the Senior Consortium MEAL Manager is part of the consortium secretariat working closely with the IRC Head of MEAL .
• Chair and lead the consortium MEAL working group.
• Take the lead role to set up a robust and well-functional monitoring and evaluation system, SOPs, tools and guidelines including beneficiary counting system at consortium level in line with approved project proposal.
• Provide overall direction to the management of a robust, sustainable, and effective MEAL system across all sectors of interventions. Analysis of these changes will be shared extensively with all consortium partners and stakeholders to facilitate actions.
• Overall, support, the project cycle management from consortium MEAL department.
• Ensure that the consortium project has innovative and technology-driven MEAL systems and tools.
• Ensure detailed and feasible consortium project monitoring plans are in place which: (i) provide an indicator matrix; (ii) map M&E roles and responsibilities of various personnel/staff; (iii) consider ethical and safe collection and storage of data; (iv) consider data quality audits; (v) consider storing, protecting and sharing project documents; and (vi) consider mid/end project learning reviews.
• 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.
• Develop and roll out robust client responsiveness feedback systems and community engagement throughout the project, in consultation with the Consortium MEAL working group.
• Lead on planning and managing internal or external baseline, mid-term and end line study, and research undertaken by the consortium members, including lessons learned process and documentation.
• Assist Consortium Coordinator to make timely decisions to adjust project design based on the MEAL data and project proposal amendment as necessary.
• Develop and roll out robust client responsiveness feedback systems and community engagement throughout the project, in consultation with the Consortium MEAL working group.
• Lead on planning and managing internal or external baseline, mid-term and end line study, and research undertaken by the consortium members, including lessons learned process and documentation.
• Assist Consortium Coordinator to make timely decisions to adjust project design based on the MEAL data and project proposal amendment as necessary.
• Assist Consortium Coordinator in producing high-quality reports such as but not limited to monthly/quarterly progress reports for internal consumption and government authorities, donor reports as per contractual obligations and other ad-hoc reports asked by consortium Steering Committee and/or IRC management.
• Promote cross-learning and sharing across all consortium partners

Deliverables

• Regular Consortium MEAL working group meetings and follow-up according to the ToR
• Consortium level MEAL system endorsed by all partners, periodically reviewed and revised.
• Develop consortium MEAL Plan (with PIRS); and make sure, indicator and beneficiary tracking systems are in place and functional.
• Community engagement, accountability and client feedback system are in place and functional.
• Production of high-quality progress reports, evaluation reports and donor reports with validated MEAL data.
• Field visits at least 60% of the assignment time.
• Produce high-quality case stories from the field and carry out evidence collection activities.
• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Consortium Coordinator.
• Compile and produce quality donor reports, one pager and monthly bulletin etc.