MEAL Manager - Health

Program Brief

Founded in 1933, the 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. The IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017, obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018, and expanded 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 primarily targeted Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, while meeting the significant needs in 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. Since 2019, IRC Bangladesh’s strategic vision expanded, towards the protection, empowerment and holistically addressing the needs of the most vulnerable women, children and youth through technical expertise and partnerships in the areas of integrated protection, health, education, and economic wellbeing before, during, and after displacement caused by conflict and climate-induced disaster, including the climate affected coastal belt of Southern Bangladesh. IRC Bangladesh will continue to grow over time, it’s geographic coverage within Cox’s Bazar, Southern Bangladesh, and other parts of the country, thus expand networks and partnerships around emergency preparedness and response.

Purpose of the role

Reporting directly to the Head of MEAL and Program Quality, you will strengthen the MEAL efforts, approaches, and systems to foster learning and accountability for our clients; support IRC’s global and measurement ambitions of Strategy 100 and the Country Strategic Action Plan. You will oversee the MEAL functions of the health program within the Bangladesh MEAL team.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Partnership

• Manage all technical aspects and actions of MEAL regarding the Health program; respond to program needs; foster high standards and practices for quality data, analysis, and reports. Enable accountability to clients, partners, and donors.
• Improve MEAL systems and approaches and foster learning.
• Represent IRC at technical meetings, forums, and other events & build partnership within IRC and other areas of expertise.
• Champion design, access, and use of data by leaders and partners for shared learning and evidence-based decision-making.
• Collaborate with MEAL teams within and outside IRC to support harmonization of MEAL systems and approaches, sharing capacity and experiences.

Technical Oversight

• Lead the MEAL system and processes for the health program in harmony with the MEAL Country and Global Strategy throughout the project cycle by:

• Using learning, evidence, and data from previous projects to inform project proposal design.
• Working with the Head of MEAL and Program Quality to develop logical frameworks and MEAL plans, and with the MIS Manager to develop digital data collection tools, and processes for online data management.
• Establishing and ensuring timely data flow, quality checks, and audits, and updating of data visualization.
• Supervising routine MEAL field activities.
• Conducting periodic field monitoring visits to assess program quality as per agreed upon checklists and benchmarks.
• Undertaking regular analysis of monitoring data and working closely with program coordinators and managers to facilitate decision-making for real-time program adaptation.
• Producing quality reports and updating dashboards with key findings that foster learning and decision-making and share in project cycle management meetings and team meetings.
• Working with the Accountability and Knowledge Management Specialist to identify, detail, and share lessons learned to improve services and results for our clients.
• Coordinating with relevant partners to ensure that they can collect data and provide their inputs as per agreed upon timelines.

• Provide Health data and programming inputs to the Head of MEAL and Program Quality to support the design, method, and conduct of surveys such as baseline and end line, and the commission of evaluations in coordination with colleagues and partners.
• Advocate for and support the expansion of standard mobile data technology and online dashboard to enhance timeliness and quality of data collection, analysis, and visualization.
• Join and contribute to IRC’s effort in meeting its internal and external accountability commitments through the implementation of sound accountability, client feedback, and response mechanisms.

Team Management

• Coordinate, lead, mentor and support a dynamic small team of MEAL staff for health programming; foster timely and high-quality achievement, and an inclusive and respectful team climate.
• Promote the growth and development of others in IRC teams and partners in MEAL: Lead and craft high-quality technical training and learning materials for partners, colleagues, and junior staff.
• Participate in the recruitment and onboarding of country MEAL officers, assistants, and relevant partner staff.

Working Relationships

• Internally, reports to Head of MEAL and Program Quality, supervises MEAL Officer(s), and liaises with technical Coordinators/Managers throughout the country program.
• Externally, supports partner MEAL staff, and ensures accountability to affected populations (clients).