MEAL Advisor – Sudan Regional Response Pooled Fund (SRRPF) Full Time

The Sudan Regional Response Pooled Fund (SRRPF) is a multi-donor funded initiative by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) designed to address the acute deprivation caused by Sudan’s complex, regional, and cyclical crises. Set to be launched on January 1, 2025, the SRRPF combines immediate relief with long-term resilience-building, addressing the full spectrum of community needs in Sudan and neighboring countries. The fund will prioritise locally-led and conflict-sensitive approaches, ensuring that the most capable actors deliver impactful responses to the region’s evolving humanitarian challenges. The following position is contingent on funding.

Overall purpose of the role:

The MEAL Advisor plays a critical role in ensuring the quality, effectiveness, and accountability of the Sudan Regional Response Pooled Fund (SRRPF) by developing, implementing, and managing its Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) strategy. Reporting to the Fund Director and working closely with the DRC Regional team, the MEAL Manager will provide objective technical leadership, build capacity, and foster learning to ensure that SRRPF-funded programs deliver impactful and sustainable results aligned with donor priorities and community needs.

Responsibilities :

The MEAL Advisor will

• Guide regional level M&E system in accordance with SRRPF MEAL framework and tools and donor priorities and MEAL standards
• Ensure that SRRPF grantees’ programmes adhere to SRRPF MEAL framework and tools, continuously update the Fund Director and contribute to evolving and adapting these standards
• Support adherence to the SRRPF MEAL framework and develop specific SRRPF Evaluation and Learning Guidelines
• Support the development of plans towards achieving adherence to relevant SRRPF MEAL frameworks and tools.
• Ensure appropriate mechanisms, systems and tools that will facilitate structured and systematic projects review are in place and functioning.
• Ensure that key elements of SRRPF planning processes including the revision of the SRRPF strategy and frameworks, Quarterly Reports, Annual Reviews are adequately informed by M&E data and information as well as learnings emanating therefrom.
• Assess existing and further develop procedures used for ensuring program quality in coordination with the global processes of strengthening monitoring and evaluation in DRC;
• Review and provide technical feedback into the proposed project log frames, reviewing and approving monitoring and evaluation plans
• Provide technical support to ensure that SRRPF is able to articulate and document relevant best practices and assess performance regularly against agreed SRRPF program objectives and indicators.
• Ensure capture of lessons learned from evaluations and other MEAL processes
• Support the production of lessons learned and monitor the implementation of the corrective action/recommendations by SRRPF partners
• Institutionalize a system of reflection and learning across all stages of the SRRPF Project cycle and ensure that systems to facilitate utilization and reapplication of learnings, both internally and externally, are developed and implemented
• Work with SRRPF Fund Director to highlight key learning and embed this learning across the SRRPF projects
• Support local SRRPF project implementers to deliver to standard with regards to quality of monitoring, evaluation and accurate reporting
• Support the roll out of the Online MEAL database aimed at facilitating real-time reporting of M&E data and information
• Direct support to evaluations, assessments and projects monitoring
• Continuously improve and update data collection tools, so they can be used in a particular context
• Provide capacity building training, coaching and mentoring to SRRPF project staff in implementing SRRPF M&E assessments and surveys.
• Continuously QA the quality of data collection and data entry processes
• In conjunction with the Monitoring Officer, manage the various databases and summary sheets to oversee measurement of achievement and progress toward SRRPF program goals and results through the M&E system.
• Disseminate results in varied ways to enhance use in reports and in decision making
• Support and manage SRRPF MEAL staff, including development of a training and capacity building plan.

Experience and Technical competencies (included year of experience)

Mandatory:

• University degree in demographics, social sciences, statistics and MEAL or other relevant field
• At least 7 years of professional experience working with humanitarian / development organisations with responsibilities in a MEAL department, including at a regional level.
• Highly developed skills and demonstrated capacity developing MEAL strategies and mechanisms, including implementation and training in related principles and practice.
• Experience in writing high quality proposals for large donors, such as FCDO, SDC, USAID, DANIDA, EU/ECHO, and UN agencies
• Knowledge of donor rules and regulations
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize large workloads, to consistently meet deadlines and adapt in a complex and challenging work environment
• Minimum 2 years of experience working with INGOs and international organizations with the following sectors in their portfolio – protection, food security and nutrition, WASH, shelter, NFIs and health
• Proficiency in common computer packages i.e. Word, Excel, Power point etc
• Experience living and working in a cross-cultural, multi-sector, team environment
• Ability to work well under pressure and in adverse conditions
• Demonstrated commitment and strict adherence to confidentiality
• Effective communication skills (written and verbal)
• Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic

Desirable:

• Previous experience working in a DRC legal entity.
• Previous experience working with Dynamics or a different robust ERP system such as SAP, Oracle, etc.
• Basic knowledge of Power Apps or experience with Internal grants systems development.
• Previous experience working with local partners.
• Previous experience in East Africa / Sudan.

What we offer

Contract: 1 Year Contract with the possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance.

Non-Management Band/ F.

Nationality: Expatriate/National

Availability: 1st April 2025.

Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya or Addis, Ethiopia

Reporting Line: Fund Director

Providing equal opportunities We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, age, ability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other factor. At DRC we celebrate diversity and appreciate our employees for the people they are and their unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

DRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff within its programs. As such, we strongly encourage national and diaspora candidates to apply for this position.

Promoting high standards : DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.

Tagged as: Danish Refugee Council, Ethiopia, Kenya