Feminist Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist

Background/IRC Summary:

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’s vision is to lead the humanitarian field by implementing high-impact, cost-effective programs for people affected by crisis and by using our learning and experience to shape policy and practice. To achieve that vision, the IRC’s Technical Excellence units provide technical assistance to IRC’s country program staff and share what we learn to influence policy and practice. These units have deep expertise in their respective sectors: Education, Economic Wellbeing, Governance, Health, and Violence Prevention and Response.

The Violence Prevention and Response Unit (VPRU) works to reduce people’s risks and support their recovery from violence and promote transformative work for a future free from violence. The unit houses expertise in the fields of Child Protection, Protection and Rule of Law, and Women’s Protection and Empowerment. The position will be based within VPRU’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) team, which supports learning across protection programs and teams.

Job Overview:

The primary role of the Feminist MEL Specialist will be to lead and support monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities for a 36-month AFD-funded grant titled Feminist Solidarity Fund for Girls’ Education (FSF). Through this project, the FSF Consortium will support a range of feminist civil society organizations (CSOs) and women’s rights organizations (WROs) working in 7 target countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Jordan, Lebanon, and Nigeria) and/or at a regional level (sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East) to accelerate gender equality in and through education. Funded activities will include direct support to girls and their families, work with schools and other sub-national institutions, and related research and advocacy. The Specialist will lead project-specific MEL activities across countries and partners, in close collaboration with the FSF Project Director, technical advisors, and partner organizations.

In line with project principles, the Specialist will serve as an active advocate for feminist and equitable approaches to learning. This role will work to ensure feminist CSOs/WROs, women, and girls are engaged as key collaborators throughout the project cycle. The Specialist will help ensure that MEL activities exemplify partnership, mutual capacity sharing, and create a culture of joint learning and reflection across the project.

The Specialist will also be a core member of the broader VPRU MEL team. While the role primarily supports the FSF Consortium, we anticipate additional support as bandwidth allows. This may include targeted MEL support for specific VPRU-led projects; development of new tools and guidance for VPRU colleagues; targeted training or support to VPRU teams; or similar requests.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Lead monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities for the FSF Project (primary role):

• Lead co-design and finalization of the project MEL plan, including logframe, key learning questions, tools, methods, and data management systems
• Train, coach, and support team members and partner organizations on MEL approaches and skills, including specific data collection and management practices and/or theory of change development
• Develop and adapt resources for supporting partners in best practices for MEL
• Conduct regular review of project-wide data for quality and consistency, including providing feedback and additional coaching as needed
• Lead harmonization and analysis of data (including development of any data dashboards)
• Facilitate ongoing discussions with team and partners on data validation, interpretation, and use
• Support project team on ongoing feedback mechanisms for process learning and adaptation
• Co-design, implement, and coordinate an internal midline project review and an end-of-project evaluation in Year 3 (qualitative and quantitative methods)
• Support regular donor reporting for the project – working closely with the Project Director, team members, and partners to ensure consistent and timely data collection and reporting
• Help share learning across VPRU, country teams, and others for adaptation and accountability

2. Provide tailored MEL support to VPRU-led projects and interventions:

• Collaborate closely with VPRU Technical Innovations (TI) specialists and project teams to design and implement MEL activities for specific ongoing interventions, including through designing tools and data management processes, data collection, analysis, interpretation and validation, and reporting
• Share learning across VPR project and country teams for adaptation, improvement, and accountability
• Provide MEL-specific technical expertise and design for business development

Job Requirements:

Work Experience:

• Proven ability to lead teams in project MEL co-design, implementation, and coordination across diverse contexts and data sources
• Demonstrated experience with each element of monitoring, evaluation, and learning
• Experience with training and coaching teams on MEL knowledge and skills, particularly in diverse or cross-cultural settings with a range of skill levels
• Expertise in both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis
• Experience with using MEL activities to guide team reflection and inform program quality improvements
• Experience or exposure to the gender-based violence, gender equality, women and girls’ empowerment, and/or education sectors is strongly preferred

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of core MEL practices and principles
• Experience facilitating co-design of MEL plans and activities, theories of change, and logframes
• Experience working with local or national partner organizations
• Demonstrated experience leading, designing, and implementing process or developmental evaluations
• Values the ability to continuously learn and improve as a team, and committed to working towards more collaborative, inclusive, and equitable approaches to learning

Interpersonal Skills

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including proven success in working and learning in cross-cultural contexts
• Highly organized and self-motivated, able to work well both independently and as part of a team
• Accessible and flexibility work style that builds trust and confidence in team. Easily able to collaborate and facilitate discussion among a diverse range of team members

Education: Bachelor’s degree required; specific MEL training a plus

Language Skills: English and French working proficiency required

Preferred experience & skills:

• Experience working in partnership with local or national-level organizations, with experience working directly with (i) partners through a consortium and/or (ii) feminist CSOs or women-led organizations highly desirable
• Experience with participatory design, data interpretation, and other collaborative learning approaches
• Strong problem solving and prioritization skills, and handles change in a proactive and positive way

Working Environment:**

• Standard office working environment
• Occasional international travel required (up to 30%)
• This role requires working remotely full or part time (i.e., telecommuting). Applicants must have a home or alternate workspace they can effectively complete their work from during regularly scheduled work hours. Part time remote employees may be required to share workspace.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, 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 et les employés de IRC doivent adhérer aux valeurs et principes contenus dans le IRC WAY (normes de conduite professionnelle). Ce sont l’Intégrité, Egalite, le Service, et la Responsabilité. En conformité avec ces valeurs, IRC opère et fait respecter les politiques sur la protection des bénéficiaires contre l’exploitation et les abus, la protection de l’enfant, le harcèlement sur les lieux de travail, l’intégrité financière, et les représailles.

Compensation:

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.