Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in areas worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at high risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

Background 

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) confirmed its tenth outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) on August 1, 2018, just days after the Equateur Province EVD outbreak ended. The National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) completed the sequencing of the virus’s genome and has determined that the new outbreak, in North Kivu and Ituri, is not linked to the Equateur Province outbreak. The Ministry of Health (MoH), as of September 2^nd, 2019, has reported 3.036 cases of hemorrhagic fever, with 2.931 confirmed as EVD and 105 probable cases of EVD. There has been a total of 2.035 reported deaths, out of which 1.930 were confirmed EVD deaths in this outbreak. International Medical Corps (IMC) is actively contributing to control the outbreak through community engagement, risk communication, surveillance and case management.

Job Purpose 

The role of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Manager is to support better performance and greater accountability by implementing evidence-based program/project management at the field level, in order to guide and improve performance. The MEAL Manager will provide the technical support to the design of methodologies and tools to ensure the availability of clear and accurate information at the program/project level. The MEAL Manager also plays an important role in data management and quality by designing a MEAL system which adheres to the IMC’s MEAL Global Guidelines, the MEAL Minimum Standards for Quality, and the guiding MEAL policies and procedures, among others. The MEAL Manager will provide technical support to the program and build capacity in the country Mission through strengthening learning and knowledge sharing across the IMC and with the wider humanitarian community. 

Main Responsibilities 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation. The tasks listed are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive

IMC’s policies, guidelines, and procedures

• Mainstream the Global MEAL Guidelines across all related MEAL activities and at the field level.

• Apply and adapt existing Global MEAL Guidelines, tools, and templates at the relevant stages of the project cycle.

• Actively promote Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards within IMC and amongst its beneficiaries.

• Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application of the Code of Conduct, ethics, values, and standpoint with regards to internal and external actors

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Project design and planning

• Design and coordinate needs assessment and situation analysis through various approaches (e.g. direct data collection, secondary sources, problem tree analysis, SWOT analysis) and ensure that needs assessment and project design are linked.

• Support to program and MEAL team with developing the results framework, support the program with developing the theory of change, logframe and MEAL plan including indicators for existing and new projects.

• Identify the budget/resources needed for MEAL activities of projects.

• Represent the organization in the MEAL and Assessment Working Groups promoting a positive image

MEAL system 

• In coordination with the Program Team and MEAL field Focal Points, implement a reliable participatory MEAL framework for the IMC Mission to ensure quality.

• Follow full MEAL procedures and operating plans within the Mission and develop harmonized data collection tools involving the different stakeholders (project team, partners)

• Ensure that AAP data is collected routinely throughout project cycle enabling evidence-based programming and corrective action.

• Develop data gathering plans and harmonize data collection, analysis and reporting flows for projects in country.

• Collaborate with the Mission’s information, communications and telecommunications (ICT) section to develop and maintain the MEAL technology system including updating, troubleshooting and promptly addressing all problems as they arise.

• Conduct regular site visits or when required to monitor service provision and ensure data quality.

Data quality management 

• Assess the quality of collected data for the indicators and ensure that data pitfalls and issues, are mitigated.

• Coordinate routine data quality audits conducted in different sites, compile results at the level of a project and develop actions plans to implement corrective measures.

• Manage tools and methods for assessing data quality for all indicators.

• Identify and locate backup documentation for reporting against indicators.

Sampling 

• Use proper sampling (probability and non-probability) techniques taking into account desired power, type of evaluation (e.g. single point or multiple point; baseline vs endline), the objective of the evaluation (e.g. testing for change or getting a point prevalence), and budget limitations Ensure adherence to prescribed methodologies of sampling, data collection, and data entry.

• Review the sampling approach proposed by an expert/consultant (if applicable).

• Develop the sampling frame and calculate the sample size for population-based surveys.

Mobile and manual data collection 

• Determine the appropriate data collection tool based on the purpose, advantages and disadvantages of mobile data collection techniques.

• Design simple and complex questionnaire using XLS or form builder (Kobo form builder, ONA form builder, etc.)

• Support in installing and configuring mobile data collection tools (OKD collect, Kobo collect, ONA collect, etc.) on smart phones or tablets and manage data on mobile servers (Kobo form builder, ONA form builder, etc.)

• Increase capacity of other staff in developing XLS form and setting up mobile data collection.

• Apply standards methodologies for the collection and analysis of data to allow for comparison and aggregation across time and the different projects.

• Support MEAL and the project/program team on conducting statistical analysis including descriptive (univariate and bivariate data analysis) and inferential analysis using statistical software.

• Perform qualitative textual analysis and develop topical outlines (coding).

• Triangulate findings from several qualitative and quantitative sources.

• Interpret statistical data for use in decision-making and synthesize quantitative and qualitative information for write-up/reports and decision making.

Evaluation design 

• Support in developing TOR for internal and external baseline survey, mid-term evaluations, final evaluations and frame the different types of study questions such as barrier analysis, market analysis, and Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Surveys (KAP).

• Identify the needed resources for evaluation, such as information, expertise, personnel, instruments, and budget.

• Manage the administrative and logistic process of evaluations involving external evaluators.

• Support in training and supervise data gathering of internal performance evaluation and design and synthesize the findings from participative evaluation techniques (actively involving affected communities in the evaluation exercises).

Techniques for presenting information 

• Write full narrative reports (needs assessments, internal reviews, progress reports) and executive summaries.

• Present information and ‘tell the story’ of the project to multiple audiences and decision makers based on the findings from the analysis and monitoring.

• Verify report accuracy and presentation of information, including the use of appropriate graphs and tables.

• Presents AAP data in simplified yet informative formats, depicting disaggregated community perceptions on quality of humanitarian actions and accountability commitments.

 Management and leadership 

• Support the field office in identifying the human resources needs in MEAL.

• Provide technical supervision and coordination of MEAL Officers from field sites.

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

Capacity development and training 

• Provide training based on identified gaps.

• Provide coaching/mentoring of staff and on-the-job training to improve skills of the staff in MEAL.

• Deliver intermediate-level training to the MEAL officers and conduct a training on qualitative techniques for data collection for interviewers.

 Knowledge Management and Learning 

• Support in developing KML mechanisms and processes for the field while ensuring these mechanisms are in line with IMC’s guidelines
• Establish basic learning systems that incorporate program studies’ findings, lessons learnt, achievements and gaps, and develop all the tools required to support learning practices.
• Support MEAL Coordinator to conduct  after-action reviews and lessons learned exercises, including data collected through CBFRM and other participative forms of community engagement and feedback collection.

Community Based Feedback and Response Mechanism 

• Provide technical support to the team on establishing and maintaining effective feedback mechanisms for decision making, fully in line with commitments regarding accountability to affected populations (AAP), including IASC CAAP, CHS, and Sphere Humanitarian Charter

• Implement and monitor the CBFRM, accountability initiatives, and practices across the Mission.

• Lead the implementation of methodologies to consult communities on their preferences based on the operational context

Conflict Sensitivity 

• Support the implementation of the Conflict Sensitivity approach across program

• Monitor and report on IMC’s adherence to Do No Harm and the conflict sensitivity (Safe and Effective Humanitarian Response) approach at the field level

• Follow up with program teams to ensure the implementation of activities in line with Do No Harm and the conflict sensitivity

Code of Conduct 

It is our shared responsibility and obligation to prevent matters involving Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Trafficking in Persons, Child Safeguarding and any suggested violation to our Code of Conduct, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment.  If you see, hear or are made aware of any suggested activities then you have an obligation to report.