MEAL Manager - Beirut - National Candidates Only

Background/IRC Summary:  

The International Rescue Committee is an international organization specializing in emergency and humanitarian programming. In response to the influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the IRC currently is running an Education program, with program strategies implemented in various locations in the North Lebanon and Bekaa Governorates.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager is responsible for leading monitoring, evaluation, and learning for the Education program to support program management and accountability functions, including learning initiatives. The MEAL Manager will direct and supervise the M&E Officers based in Bekaa and North, and will lead the design and implementation of the program’s M&E framework and tools, in line with reporting requirements. The main objective of this position is to ensure that data on program beneficiaries, progress, performance and outcomes are effectively collected, entered, analyzed and documented, in a way to inform timely decision making and the adoption of sound corrective measures, as well as to contribute to broader learning on Education interventions.

Major Responsibilities:

A. Monitoring

• In collaboration with the Education Coordinator and MEAL Coordinator, develop theories of change, logframes, beneficiary counting, M&E narrative plans, and M&E budget plans at the outset of new projects and as part of proposal development. Ensure that partners inputs are taken into consideration for proposal development.
• Lead the development of M&E frameworks (logframe, M&E plan, and ITT) for each project, in coordination with the partners.
• Ensure that monitoring and evaluation tools are developed, and technically review the tools to ensure quality tracking of project outputs and outcomes, including tools to assess impact of activities and beneficiary satisfaction, in line with guiding principles of safety, confidentiality, respect, and non-discrimination.
• Where relevant, consult with the TAs when it comes to updating the M&E tools or for any M&E technical guidance.
• Ensure that partners have appropriate M&E systems in place, either by building their capacities or exchanging knowledge and tools with them.
• In coordination with the T4P team, ensure that ICT beneficiary tracking tools and beneficiary databases are developed according to disaggregation of data required by donor agreements, regional M&E guidelines, global annual statistics, and Activity Info.
• Ensure that regular updates and analysis of main quantitative and qualitative data and beneficiary feedback is provided to the Education Coordinator and managers to adapt programming as relevant.
• Ensure that M&E tools are continuously adapted based on learnings, challenges, best practices, and modality of interventions, as well as in the event that data is not used to inform decision-making.
• Conduct field visits to support and build the capacity of field teams and/or partners in use of M&E tools and ICT tools for monitoring (e.g. tablets) to collect data and analyze findings.

B. Evaluation and Learning

• Act as focal point for implementation of evaluation and research assignments, ToRs, methods, and tools, as may be necessary.
• Organize and/or participate in data review/learning meetings with the Education team to discuss main beneficiary feedback and progress against targets, in order to develop learnings and recommendations for program improvements.
• Document learning from program implementation through regular internal analyses of data collected, reports, data review meetings, learning events, etc.
• Follow up on implementation of evaluation or data review/learning recommendations, ensuring the optimal use of evaluations and learnings to inform programming adaptations.

C. Accountability and Reporting

• Coordinate the M&E sections of the donor reporting, in coordination with the Education Coordinator and partners, through inputs on progress towards indicators, beneficiary counting, drafting M&E and beneficiary feedback sections of reports, etc.
• Act as the focal point to respond to queries by donors or HQ on M&E-related matters such as number of beneficiaries reached, M&E plans, indicators, etc.
• In coordination with the Education Coordinator and the Accountability Manager, interpret the findings from the complaint and response mechanism and cross-check with the M&E findings from beneficiaries to triangulate trends or patterns.
• Ensure that the Education M&E system is meeting the new MEAL Handbook standards through implementing relevant tools and systems. Moreover, liaise with and provide support to the Lebanon MEAL Coordinator in the annual assessment.

D. Staff Management and Capacity Building

• Supervise and mentor direct-report staff (M&E Officers), including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Ensure that Capacity Building is an integral part of the direct reports’ plans along with ongoing mentoring and support.

• Coach, train, and mentor M&E Officers with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing professional development guidance.
• Provide constructive feedback and counsel on appropriate career paths and professional development.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being; approve and manage all leave requests to ensure adequate coverage.
• Ensure participation in joint agencies M&E related meetings and discussions.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: MEAL Coordinator
Position directly supervises: M&E Officers based in Bekaa and North

Position works with: Education Coordinator, Education Field Managers and Senior Manager, Education Technical Manager, partners’ M&E focal points, Accountability Manager, T4P Manager, Field Coordinators, finance, HR, operations, etc.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor of Arts or Science in Social Science, Economics, Statistics, Computer Science, Public Health, International Relief and Development, or related field.
• At least 4-5 years of relevant working experience in designing, managing and implementing M&E systems, preferably on Education interventions or interventions with children.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of people management experience.
• Building capacity of partners on MEAL systems and practices is preferred.
• Previous experience in project cycle management in development and humanitarian contexts, preferably with an International NGO.
• Proven strategic and implementation ability with strong conceptual and analytical skills for planning, monitoring and learning.
• Proven ability to lead and work effectively with others to achieve results with strong people leadership/management abilities and skills for working in teams.
• Practical progressive experience in designing data collection, analysis and reporting tools.
• Demonstrated experience working with ICT tools to collect and analyze data.
• Previous experience in mentoring, coaching and building capacities of team members and other partners.
• Demonstrable understanding and experience of gender inequality and diversity issues, as well as issues surrounding violence against children.
• Proven networking and representation skills at a senior level.
• Excellent report writing and information dissemination skills.
• Strong ability to work independently, organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.
• Good knowledge of and experience with humanitarian guidelines and principles.
• Good contextual knowledge of local community and social/cultural constraints, realities and organizational relationships for effective project design and implementation.
• Communicates with integrity to different stakeholders; good interpersonal skills with people across a wide social range including project beneficiaries/community members, other IRC staff/managers, government officials etc.

Working Environment:  Staff will be based in Beirut, with frequent travel required in program implementation sites when possible.