BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
The IRC responds to people’s acute and longer-term needs with integrated programs that improve health and safety, prioritize children’s education, foster economic wellbeing, and empower communities to regain control over their lives. Our work gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, conflict sensitivity, coordination, and impact.
The IRC Yemen began its programs in October 2012. Since establishing its presence in the South of Yemen, in the Red Sea Coastal city of Aden, the organization has grown from just an implementing small project to handling large scale emergency and relief operations. Following the war which broke out in Yemen in March of 2015 and the humanitarian disaster, which was crafted by the same, IRC launched one an emergency response program in the southern governorates of Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Shabwah and Al Dhale, and expanded later in Sana’a and Hodeidah in the North. Currently IRC Yemen is operating in eight governorates in the south and north of Yemen through direct programming and through local partnerships, in Health, WASH, Nutrition, Economic Recovery Development, Education, Child Protection, Gender and Women Protection and Empowerment.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) have been working in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for more than forty years. Today, the IRC has more than 2,200 staff working across the region, including in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Yemen to support those affected by some of the world’s most complex and protracted humanitarian crises.
SCOPE OF WORK:
Under the direct supervision of the MEAL Manager, the Senior MEAL Officer will be based in the IRC Aden Office, Yemen. The Officer will work closely with the Emergency team, all program staff in the field and Partner MEAL staff to implement the MEAL commitments and improve program quality through enhanced data management systems and processes in all the locations. The Senior MEAL Officer will be responsible for managing day-to-day MEAL issues under Emergency and providing technical support to the Partner MEAL teams to ensure the effective implementation of the projects. The Officer will be responsible for the feedback channel for all the locations in the South, conducting field visits, surveys, FGD, and individual meetings as well as crafting reports and supporting the staff. The senior MEAL Officer will work closely with IM team in terms of data gathering, aggregation, tool development, support electronic data platforms, databases, and select technologies to collect and organize data in a usable format. The Senior MEAL Manager will work closely with the Senior Data Management CRA Officer for client responsiveness.
JOB SUMMARY:
The primary objective of this role is to ensure the effective implementation of high-quality monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) practices across IRC-supported programs, with a strong emphasis on partner-led and emergency response activities. The role contributes to overall program quality by supporting the design, planning, and execution of MEAL systems, tools, and processes in alignment with IRC’s MEAL standards and guidelines. Key responsibilities include training IRC and partner MEAL teams, developing standardized data collection tools, and supporting assessments and routine data collection activities. The role also involves facilitating data analysis and visualization, and producing high-quality information products such as reports, charts, and other outputs that support evidence-based decision-making. The MEAL Senior Officer will work closely with MEAL program and emergency teams, and implementing partners to ensure that data collection, analysis, and reporting are timely, accurate, and effectively used to inform programmatic decisions and enhance accountability to affected populations.
WORKING RELATIONS:
The position reports to the MEAL Manager. The candidate will work closely with the Senior Data Management CRA Officer for client responsiveness and the IM Manager, Protection sector Data Managers/Officers, emergency response team, and the Partners MEAL focal persons.
Indirect Reporting: This position works closely with programs in terms of collecting monitoring data, data analysis and sharing main findings back with programs to enhance the quality of programs.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Ensure the consistent application of IRC’s global MEAL Handbook standards across emergency response programs and partner organizations to enhance program quality and promote evidence-based decision-making.
· Lead the design and execution of rapid needs assessments, real-time evaluations, and client satisfaction surveys. Responsibilities include tool development, enumerator recruitment and training, mobile data setup, field supervision, data analysis, report writing, and dissemination of findings.
· Support the planning and execution of routine monitoring and data quality assessments for both IRC and partner-led emergency activities. Ensure timely sharing of findings and follow-up on action points to improve data reliability and program performance.
· Oversee the collection, management, and analysis of geospatial data. Produce high-quality maps and visual products that illustrate population movements, service coverage, and other key indicators. Maintain an accessible and up-to-date spatial data repository.
· Collaborate with the Information Management (IM) team to design and deploy mobile data collection systems (e.g., CommCare, KoBo Collect). Strengthen data workflows including collection, cleaning, verification, analysis, and reporting for emergency interventions.
· Work with the IM team and emergency program staff to develop project-specific monitoring tools and indicator tracking systems, ensuring alignment with partner capacities and program needs.
· Coordinate with the IM team to maintain updated databases and support partner MEAL staff in producing timely, high-quality reports.
· Identify MEAL capacity gaps at field level and implement tailored capacity-building plans focused on data collection, analysis, visualization, and utilization, in collaboration with the MEAL Manager.
· Provide technical support for assessments, surveys, and evaluations across all operational areas. Conduct regular data verification and audits with partner MEAL teams to ensure data integrity and resolve discrepancies.
· Assess MEAL systems and staff competencies of partner organizations. Deliver targeted technical assistance to enhance their MEAL frameworks in line with IRC standards.
· Ensure the establishment and functionality of appropriate feedback mechanisms for both IRC and partner emergency responses. This includes field visits, surveys, FGDs, and one-on-one community engagements.
· Provide guidance and training to partner staff on managing client feedback systems effectively and ethically.
· Lead the development and implementation of learning agendas. Facilitate learning events such as after-action reviews and reflection sessions to promote adaptive programming.
· Foster a positive and collaborative team environment, maintaining professional relationships and promoting a strong team spirit.
· Submit regular MEAL activity updates, including feedback summaries, challenges encountered, and actionable recommendations.
· Perform additional tasks as assigned by the MEAL Manager to support the overall effectiveness and responsiveness of MEAL functions.
Minimum Qualifications:REQUIREMENTS: (Qualifications, Skills and Abilities):
Education:
A postgraduate or bachelor`s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Social science, Information management, or related field.Experience:
· Minimum of three years of working experience in monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning or research at field level.
· Experience in conducting surveys or evaluations e.g., post-distribution monitoring, post-harvest surveys, post-planting surveys, and KAP surveys will be a distinct advantage.
· Experience in data collection using mobile data collection systems such as Commcare, KoBo Collect, or ODK.
· Experience in data analysis using Excel, PowerBI, SPSS, and/or STATA.
· Good technical skills in writing surveys and assessment reports.
· Excellent interpersonal skills; both verbal and written communications skills as well as strong team working skills.
· Ability to manage multiple tasks in an effective, proactive, and timely manner.
· Good English and Arabic writing skills
Skills and Abilities:
· Competence in using computer packages including Word and Excel
· Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills
· Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively
· Ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural contexts
· Ability to work under pressure/cope with tight deadlines
Proficiencies:
· Active listening and effective communication.
· Professionalism and work ethic.
· Receptive and Resilient.
· Critical thinking and problem solving.
· Positive Interpersonal interactions
Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, marital status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.
Commitment to Client Responsiveness: By committing to Client-Centered Programming, at the IRC Yemen, we place the people we serve - our clients - at the center of our programming and services. The IRC Yemen Staff have an important role to play in supporting the implementation of client-responsive programming through raising awareness among the community and clients about the existing feedback mechanisms and how to use them including the response processes, access, and eligibility to services, and contribute to building an institutional culture that prompts staff to listen to clients.
Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.