Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Assistant

Background of IRC:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. 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. IRC leads the way from harm to home. Began work in Ethiopia, 1999 in response to severe drought that happened in Ethiopia’s Somali region. Currently, providing assistance in ten different regions implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview/Summary: 

The MEAL assistant supports the field team in Sekota and surrounding woredas to collect, check and organize high-quality program data. This role helps ensure that projects are tracked against targets, that clients can give feedback and raise concerns safely, and that findings are used to improve the work. The MEAL Assistant overseas, leads, and implements routine MEAL activities for SIDA PDA and other Life Saving Multipurpose Cash provision interventions in the assigned region within the field level MEAL plan. This role is crucial for ensuring high-quality programming for the clients we serve and supporting the endeavors to meet the donor expectations within the IRC Ethiopia Country Strategic Action Plan.

Major responsibilities include:

1. MEAL System Implementation

• In collaboration with the Project team and Aarea MEAL Manager, lead the rollout of Project’s MEAL plans, tools, and processes for field-level activities in alignment with donor’s and or IRC’s country/global MEAL strategies.
• Implement planned Project’s MEAL activities (surveys and compliance checks) including routine monitoring.
• Collaborate with MEAL and non-MEAL staff to ensure routine and periodic program data is collected, compiled, checked for quality and completeness in compliance with IRC and donor standards.
• Support deployment of surveys such as baseline, PDMs, end line, evaluations in coordination with colleagues, consultants and partners.
• 2.Monitoring and Data management
• Support the Area MEAL Manger in implementing the MEAL plans and indicator tracking tables for assigned projects.
• Collect project data in the field using digital tools (e.g CommCare) in line with IRC standards.
• Conduct post-distribution monitoring, household surveys, client verification key informant interviews and focus group discussions as assigned.
• Support the supervision of enumerators during data collection, including training and field logistics.
• Enter, clean and organize data in the agreed databases and trackers, keeping files secure and well labeled.
• Compile weekly and monthly activity and indicator updates for the MEAL Manager and project teams.
• Follow IRC data protection and confidentiality procedures, including consent and safe handling of personal data.

3. Accountability to clients and communities assessment,

• Help set up and run community feedback and complaint mechanisms (e.g. suggestion boxes, help desks, hotlines), and make sure they are accessible to women, girls, older people and people with disabilities.
• Log feedback in the feedback register, refer sensitive reports (including any protection or safeguarding concerns) through the correct channels immediately, and track follow-up.
• Share summaries of client feedback with program teams and help communicate back to communities what has changed as a result.

4. Learning and reporting

• Support the preparation of dashboards, charts and short analysis for program review meetings.
• Contribute field-level inputs to donor reports, assessments, evaluations and learning events.
• Help document lessons learned and good practices from the field.

5. Coordination and general

• Work closely with program, finance and supply chain colleagues, and with local government and community structures.
• Uphold the IRC Way, including the Standards of Professional Conduct, safeguarding and PSEA policies, and the Code of Conduct.
• Carry out other duties as assigned by the line manager.

1. Technical Support & Capacity Building

• Provide on-the-job technical support to program team, enumerators, and MEAL Assistants (if any).
• Deliver training on MEAL standards, digital tools and accountability for field teams and enumerators.
• Promote the use of standard mobile data technology and online dashboards to improve timeliness and quality of data collection, analysis, and visualization.
• Work closely with the Area MEAL Manager to strengthen technical capacity and consistency in MEAL practices.

      Safeguarding Responsibilities: -

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies