MEAL Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading humanitarian organization that provides assistance and protection to refugees and displaced persons. Established in 1956, DRC operates in over 40 countries worldwide, focusing on providing durable solutions for displaced populations. The organization is committed to promoting human rights and ensuring that the needs of vulnerable communities are met through effective programs and advocacy. DRC employs thousands of staff globally, working collaboratively with local partners and communities to deliver impactful humanitarian assistance.

Job Overview:
The MEAL Officer for the Karamoja Strong project will play a crucial role in the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) activities as outlined in the work plan. This position is designed to ensure compliance with DRC's MEAL procedures and guidelines, contributing to the overall quality assurance of programs and effective data management. The MEAL Officer will provide technical support and guidance to field operations, ensuring that robust MEAL systems and tools are established and utilized by field teams, partners, and other implementing agencies. The role requires close collaboration with the Project Manager, coordinator" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">MEAL Coordinator, and various program staff, ensuring that MEAL practices are integrated into all aspects of project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The MEAL Officer will be responsible for designing, planning, and implementing strategies for data collection, storage, analysis, and sharing. This includes managing all project databases, assisting in the design of databases for project activities and beneficiaries, and ensuring regular updates according to project requirements. The officer will support project staff and partners in executing MEAL activities, including developing data collection methodologies and tools. Additionally, the MEAL Officer will contribute to the development and implementation of MEAL systems for DRC and its partners, including standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidance tools. The role involves conducting assessments, community visits, and focus group discussions to gather feedback on project activities, maintaining a complaints and feedback mechanism, and ensuring timely follow-up. The officer will also coordinate and quality assure MEAL activities within the Karamoja Strong consortium, compile and submit project reports, and document lessons learned from monitoring data and evaluations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 4 years of work experience in monitoring and evaluation, with a strong understanding of the context in Turkana, ASAL, or cross-border areas. Experience in peacebuilding, economic recovery, protection, gender, social work, and child protection is preferred. Familiarity with protection information management systems and participatory assessments is essential. Candidates should demonstrate a clear understanding of Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and have experience in capacity building and facilitating training workshops. Proficiency in MS Office applications and statistical software, along with excellent analytical and report writing skills in English, is required. Strong time management and organizational skills are also necessary, particularly in challenging environments.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Information Management Sciences, MEAL, or a related field is required. Fluency in written and spoken English is essential, along with a minimum of 4 years of MEAL experience in peacebuilding, livelihoods, and conflict sensitivity programs.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation, particularly in humanitarian or development contexts. Candidates should have experience working in hardship areas or emergency settings, demonstrating the ability to adapt to challenging environments and manage multiple tasks effectively.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of local languages spoken in the Turkana region or in Uganda would be considered an asset, enhancing communication with local communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this position is 8 months, with the possibility of extension based on funding and performance. The salary and conditions will align with the Danish Refugee Council's terms of employment for national staff. The position is categorized under Band H2, reporting to the Project Manager for the Karamoja Strong project, with a dotted line to the MEAL Coordinator. The role is based in Lodwar, with frequent travel to Pokot and Karamoja in Uganda. DRC is committed to gender equality and encourages female candidates and those from minority groups to apply.