Background/IRC Summary:

Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to serious humanitarian crises around the world and helps victims to survive and rebuild their lives.    

For over half a century, Tanzania has been a country of asylum, hosting one of the largest refugee populations in Africa. Currently, the country hosts approximately 287,903 Burundian and Congolese refugees, many of whom arrived in 2015 as the crisis in Burundi increased. To date, refugees continue to co-exist with the host communities in Kigoma region expressing multiple reasons and needs. Within this context, IRC provides protection and basic assistance in the areas of Safety (comprises of Protection and Rule of Law, Women Protection and Empowerment, and Child Protection), Health (mental health and psychosocial support services and reproductive health), and Education.       

 Job Overview:

 Reporting to and technically supported by the MEAL Manager, the MEAL Officer will work closely with the program staff to support data collection, data quality checks, data analysis and systems contributing to strengthened monitoring efforts of IRC programs with the aim of optimizing monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning capacities. The MEAL Officer will support the MEAL Manager in managing day to day MEAL tasks arising in the Field Office and providing technical support to field teams to ensure effective implementation of the project.      

Major Responsibilities          

• Assist in routine data collection and entry for various project interventions implemented in the field and ensure that complete, accurate, clean, and consistent data is shared with the MEAL Manager for data analysis and action planning.
• Ensure proper filing and storage of MEAL documents including questionnaires, monitoring reports, datasets, among others.
• Participate in regular data verification and audit exercises to assess the quality of data reported and address any anomalies identified.
•  Submit to the MEAL Manager weekly and monthly updates on MEAL activities conducted in the field.
• With support from the MEAL Manager, conduct capacity building and mentorship to field staff in MEAL related issues.
• Keep the MEAL databases up-to-date and support program staff to prepare periodic high-quality reports.
• Assist program staff during survey planning and implementation especially preparing logistics needed, participating in data collection and cleaning.
• Develop project monitoring and evaluation tools with support from MEAL Manager and Project managers.
• Keenly track project progress through standardized data collection tools and methodologies
• Maintain confidentiality and observe data protection and other associated guidelines.
• Support MEAL Manager in the compilation of Monthly, Quarterly, Biannual, and Annual reports through provision of timely accurate and updated data.
• Support project teams to prepare activity reports and documentation of best practices, lessons learnt, assessment reports.
• Analyze data and support analysis, interpretation, and visualization to inform implementation and monitoring and regional updates or reports.
• Support program staff to engage in continuous data quality improvement and support project staff to frequently use data for program improvement.
• Participate in quality of intervention monitoring together with stake holders while ensuring availability of data for assessing program quality.
• Support the operation of feedback channels (logbook, client satisfaction and engagement surveys).
• Support the recording of feedback, analyses, and accessibility of feedback data for   programmatic decision making.

Common Duties        

• Attend and participate in trainings identified/organized by your supervisor.
• Follow any new procedures and guidelines designated in circulars by the Country Director.
• Report any violations of IRC’s three core values (Integrity, Service and
• Accountability) as per IRC WAY reporting mechanism. The reporting of violations is an obligation on the part of all staff members.
• Assist where necessary in undertaking activities that aim to prevent the occurrence of sexual abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries by IRC and other humanitarian workers.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by your supervisor.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: MEAL Manager
• Position directly supervises: MEAL Interns/Assistants (As needed)
• Other Internal and/or external contacts: Client Responsiveness Manager, Program Technical Coordinators, Program Managers.