MEAL Advisor – Sudan Regional Response Pooled Fund (SRRPF)

Job Advertisement

Position Title: MEAL Advisor – Sudan Regional Response Pooled Fund (SRRPF)
Location: Nairobi, Addis Ababa
Country: Kenya, Ethiopia
Deadline Date: 9th February, 2025

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Sudan Regional Response Pooled Fund (SRRPF) is a multi-donor funded initiative established by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). The fund aims to address the acute deprivation caused by Sudan's complex, regional, and cyclical crises. It is set to launch on January 1, 2025, and focuses on combining immediate relief efforts with long-term resilience-building strategies. The SRRPF is designed to meet the full spectrum of community needs in Sudan and its neighboring countries, prioritizing locally-led and conflict-sensitive approaches. The organization operates in multiple countries, emphasizing impactful responses to evolving humanitarian challenges, and is committed to ensuring that the most capable actors are involved in delivering aid. The position is contingent on funding, highlighting the importance of financial support for the initiative's success.

Job Overview:
The MEAL Advisor plays a pivotal role in ensuring the quality, effectiveness, and accountability of the SRRPF by developing, implementing, and managing its Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) strategy. This position reports directly to the Fund Director and collaborates closely with the DRC Regional team. The MEAL Advisor is responsible for providing objective technical leadership, building capacity, and fostering a culture of learning to ensure that programs funded by the SRRPF achieve impactful and sustainable results that align with donor priorities and community needs. The role requires a strategic approach to MEAL, ensuring that all activities are informed by data and best practices, and that lessons learned are effectively integrated into program planning and implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The MEAL Advisor will undertake a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including guiding the regional level Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system in accordance with the SRRPF MEAL framework and tools, ensuring adherence to donor priorities and MEAL standards. The advisor will continuously update the Fund Director on the status of grantees' programs and contribute to the evolution of MEAL standards. Specific duties include supporting the development of plans to achieve adherence to MEAL frameworks, ensuring that mechanisms and tools for structured project reviews are in place, and ensuring that key elements of planning processes are informed by M&E data. The advisor will assess and develop procedures for program quality, provide technical feedback on project log frames, and support the documentation of best practices. Additionally, the role involves institutionalizing a system of reflection and learning, supporting local project implementers, managing databases, and providing capacity-building training to project staff.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in demographics, social sciences, statistics, MEAL, or a related field. A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in humanitarian or development organizations with responsibilities in a MEAL department is required, including experience at a regional level. Candidates should demonstrate highly developed skills in developing MEAL strategies and mechanisms, as well as experience in writing high-quality proposals for large donors. Knowledge of donor rules and regulations is essential, along with the ability to prioritize workloads and meet deadlines in complex environments. Proficiency in common computer packages such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is also required, along with effective communication skills.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree in a relevant field such as demographics, social sciences, statistics, or MEAL. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of monitoring and evaluation in humanitarian contexts and for developing effective MEAL strategies that align with organizational goals and donor requirements.

Experience:
The position requires at least 7 years of professional experience working with humanitarian or development organizations, specifically within a MEAL department. Candidates should have a minimum of 2 years of experience working with international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and international organizations, particularly in sectors such as protection, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and nutrition, WASH, shelter, non-food items, and health. Experience in writing proposals for large donors and knowledge of donor regulations are also essential.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory, as well as proficiency in Arabic. These language skills are crucial for effective communication with stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries in the region. Additional language skills may be considered an asset, particularly those relevant to the local context.

Additional Notes:
The position offers a 1-year contract with the possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. It is classified as a non-management band position. The duty station can be either Nairobi, Kenya, or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the reporting line to the Fund Director. The organization is committed to providing equal opportunities and creating an inclusive work environment. DRC encourages applications from national and diaspora candidates and emphasizes the importance of ethical conduct and safeguarding against exploitation and abuse. Applications must be submitted in English by the deadline of 9th February 2025.