Job Title: Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (RMEAL) Officer – PlayMatters
Organisation: International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Duty Station: Lamwo, Uganda
Reports to: RMEAL Manager (PlayMatters)
About US:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. 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 which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 25 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education, and power.
Job Summary: IRC is seeking an RMEAL officer – PlayMatters for a five-year project, “PlayMatters”, funded by the LEGO Foundation. The Play Matters – Sparking Lifelong Learning through Play aims to improve holistic learning and wellbeing outcomes for 800,000 school going children (aged 3-12+) in in refugee settlements and host communities in East Africa (Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania). This project aims to build children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and creative skills by influencing and changing behaviors of adults (parents, caregivers, teachers, community members and policy makers) surrounding children to incorporate Learning through Play methodologies into regular interactions with children at school, home and in the community. The project is implemented in a consortium partnership with War Child Holland, Plan International, Behavioral Insights Team and Innovations for Poverty Action. More information on PlayMatters can be found here: www.playmatters.org
Reporting to the RMEAL Manager, the RMEAL Officer works closely with program teams to optimize monitoring capabilities and opportunities, evaluation, accountability, and learning for PlayMatters project to ensure high-quality programming for the clients we serve. The MEAL Officer supervises and implements MEAL project activities working with the project staff in Lamwo and Kyegegwa collecting routine data from the project activities. This position requires high proficiency and skills in data management processes as data collection tools design, quality data collection, data quality assurance and data visualization.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Data Management and Quality Assurance:
- Develop data collection tools in line with the project data and information needs and ensure that all tools are accessible in the project digital data collection system (in CommCare HQ).
- Train and orient project stakeholders at school and community level on relevant data collection tools and system including data enumerators.
- Follow up and ensure timely and appropriate use of tools and, templates that facilitate collection, aggregation and collation of data and information for planning and reporting project activities at school and community level
- Lead and guide data collection in the project implementation area in line with the project key performance indicators and ensure that all data is stored in the central database (CommCare HQ).
- Support the analysis of project data and updating of the project dashboards for visualization.
- Participate in the periodic review the quality of existing data at project site, the methods of collecting it and entry in the project database.
- Support in the implementation of complaints and feedback mechanism for the project using the PlayMatters Accountability Information Management System (PAIMS).
- Monitor project performance and share information with the project consortium led staff to support decision making at area office level.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Lead field implementation of RMEAL SOPs in line the project and IRC procedures and protocols.
- Take lead in tracking PlayMatters project progress in line with the project workplan, indicators and targets.
- Coordinate the field-level monitoring, to assess client responsiveness, activity implementation and document best practices.
- Lead implementation of critical RMEAL activities including but not limited to needs assessments, baseline survey, final evaluation, data quality audits, collecting monitoring data, client satisfaction surveys, and field supervision.
- Provide technical assistance to project staff, partners, and incentive workers on information management systems, data collection and record keeping.
- Ensure the appropriate orientation, use and compliance to RMEAL project and operational reporting templates.
- Provide technical support in planning and monitoring of all the projects activities to project clients at school and community level.
Program Support and Learning:
- Work in close collaboration with the RMEAL Manager, design, develop and continuously update project results and measurement tools and systems in a timely manner such as the project KPI tracker.
- Identify, document, and share client feedback to improve services and results for our clients.
- Take a lead in the deployment of surveys such as baseline and end line, assessments, and the commission of evaluations in coordination with RMEAL Manager, project staff, and partners.
- Support the research work under PlayMatters aimed at generating learning and credible evidence to support the improvement, expansion, and sustainability of PlayMatters.
- With the support of RMEAL Manager, ensure that learning from the project implementation and research is incorporated into project implementation and improvement plans.
- Liaise with project and peer staff to share lessons learned, data and information in accordance with project requirements, activities, and timeframes.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant must hold a university degree in a relevant field such as Statistics, Business Statistics, Demography, Economics, Social sciences, or other field relevant to monitoring and evaluation or project management.
- At least two years of working experience in data management, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning-related functions or related field.
- Possess basic technical knowledge of M&E approaches and techniques in some or all the following areas: Outputs, Outcome monitoring; Theories of Change, Logical frameworks, Data collection, Basic data analysis, Accountability, Client feedback mechanisms.
- Experience in conducting primary quantitative data collection and data entry.
- Basic proficiency and experience with mobile data collection such as Kobo, CommCare, ODK Collect is required, knowledge of Tableau, PowerBi, or GIS software tools are additional assets.
- Good computer skills in MS Office, especially Excel; and Word – with experience in writing reports.
- Self-motivated and pro-active attitude with good organization, planning, and analytic skills, including prioritizing work, multi-tasking, and attention to detail.
- Flexibility and ability to work under pressure and in constantly evolving work environments.
- Demonstrated analytical, systematic-thinking, and problem-solving skills are definite assets.
- Willingness to travel to various field-level sites within the location.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested applicants should apply online at the link below.
Deadline: 16th February 2023