Overview
The MEAL Manager will lead and oversee Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning (MEAL) and Information Management (IM) functions in line with DRC procedures, global standards, and donor requirements. The role supports the integration of MEAL throughout the Project Cycle Management (PCM), strengthens evidence-based programming, and promotes accountability, learning, and data-driven decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the overall management and strategic direction of MEAL, IM, and Accountability functions.
- Participate in country-level strategic planning, programme design, and annual reviews.
- Lead the development and implementation of MEAL systems, frameworks, tools, and approaches.
- Directly supervise and provide technical guidance to MEAL, IM, and Accountability functions.
- Ensure effective collaboration and clear division of responsibilities between MEAL, IM, Programme, and support departments.
- Lead capacity strengthening initiatives for DRC staff and partners.
- Ensure compliance with DRC and donor requirements related to ethical data collection, data protection, information management, and data sharing practices.
- Lead and support the integration of MEAL throughout the PCM process.
- Provide technical input into project proposals, logframes, indicators, MEAL plans, and MEAL budgeting processes.
- Ensure DRC minimum monitoring requirements, indicator tracking systems, and reporting tools are updated and implemented.
- Oversee the development, review, standardization, and approval of programme and MEAL tools, methodologies, and assessments.
- Oversee IM systems and reporting structures, including digitalization of MEAL and programme tools, data visualization products, dashboards, and reporting systems.
- Ensure effective planning, implementation, and quality assurance of monitoring activities, assessments, verification exercises, data collection processes, and reporting systems.
- Ensure post-registration verification exercises are conducted by the MEAL team.
- Ensure ethical standards, safeguarding principles, DRC Code of Conduct, and protection referral protocols are applied during all MEAL activities.
- Ensure effective systems are in place for data quality assurance, data protection, storage, sharing, analysis, and information security.
- Oversee the analysis, interpretation, and reporting of qualitative and quantitative MEAL data.
- Lead and oversee external MEAL-related consultancies, evaluations, and assessments.
- Identify, plan for, and implement different mechanisms for community engagement and participatory monitoring.
- Assess, design, and improve accountability mechanisms, including Community Feedback Mechanism (CFM) processes, tools, and SOPs.
- Provide technical guidance to the accountability team and CFM focal points.
- Ensure staff and partners are trained on accountability principles, Community Feedback Mechanisms, safeguarding, PSEAH, and DRC Code of Conduct reporting mechanisms.
- Coordinate CHS self-assessments, audits, and follow-up improvement plans.
- Lead and contribute to evaluations, research, and analysis initiatives.
- Ensure MEAL findings, lessons learned, and community feedback are used to support programme adaptation, strategic planning, and decision-making.
- Work with the MEAL team to ensure proper facilitation of learning events.
- Regularly present MEAL findings, trends, and recommendations to senior management and programme teams.
- Oversee evaluations in line with DRC evaluation policies.
- Provide direct supervision, technical guidance, and capacity strengthening support to MEAL, IM, and Accountability staff.
- Maintain regular coordination with Area Managers.
- Oversee work planning, task allocation, and coordination across MEAL functions.
- Conduct regular performance follow-up, coaching, and technical support to strengthen staff capacity and professional development.
- Foster a culture of learning, accountability, and evidence-based programming.
Required Experience
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in MEAL within humanitarian and/or development programmes.
- Experience working with INGOs, UN agencies, government institutions, and/or local partners in emergency, refugee, or displacement settings.
- Proven experience working with institutional donors such as ECHO, EU, Danida, and UN agencies.
- Demonstrated experience supporting MEAL systems throughout the PCM process, including proposal development, monitoring, evaluations, and reporting.
- Experience managing or supervising MEAL, IM, and/or Accountability teams.
- Experience working with data collection, verification, analysis, and reporting systems.
- Previous experience working in South Sudan and emergency response contexts (desirable).
- Previous experience working with DRC systems and approaches (desirable).
Qualifications
• Master’s degree in a relevant field (international development, social sciences, statistics, public health, etc.) with at least 4 years of relevant experience.
