Senior MEAL Manager

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Program Brief

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solution driven, passionate changemaker, come join us positively impacting the lives of millions of people worldwide for a better future.

Since 2017, IRC has supported Rohingya Refugees and Bangladeshi nationalities communities in Cox's Bazar, Khulna, Barisal, and Chittagong with integrated services. The organization also addresses climate change impacts by building resilience and promoting economic recovery, education, and protection.

Purpose of the role:

The Senior MEAL Manager leads all MEAL work for the consortium. This is a full-time, hands-on role in the Program Management Unit (PMU), which manages day-to-day delivery of the project.

In this role, the post holder will:

• Set the MEAL framework and standards for the whole consortium.
• Collect, check and combine indicator data from IRC and all Bangladeshi Partners.
• Make sure DFAT-funded results are clearly attributed and that each client is counted only once.
• Build the MEAL skills of partner organizations.

Partners differ widely in capacity and resources, so the role works with a good degree of independence day to day. The aim is high-quality results, not just compliance. The post holder is supported by the Assessment and Learning (A&L) Manager, the Management Information System (MIS) Manager and IRC sector MEAL Managers and receives technical oversight from the Head of MEAL & Program Quality.

Work Location: IRC Bangladesh, Cox’s Bazar Office

Contract Length: 31st October 2027 (with possibility of extension subject to funding, program needs and performance of incumbent)

Major Responsibilities:

Consortium MEAL framework and strategic ownership:

• Design, maintain and regularly update the consortium-wide MEAL framework and MEAL Plan, including the Program Logic, log frame, MEL framework, Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRS) and Indicator Tracking Table (ITT), in line with DFAT’s Design, Monitoring and Evaluation Standards (February 2026) and Development Evaluation Policy (2026), IRC MEAL policies and IRC’s global strategy, Strategy100. Ensure the framework, MEAL Plan, PIRS and standardized tools are approved and used by all partners.
• Own the consortium’s MEAL standard and practice. Contextualize existing IRC tools, standards and MEAL systems for the consortium rather than building parallel systems. Lead the standard MEAL methods, tools and reporting system, and strengthen partners’ capacity to use them.
• Agree with all partners how each indicator is defined and calculated, what data is collected, which tools are used, how often and with what sampling, and who is responsible. Ensure every partner applies the same definitions and protocols and understands the PIRS.
• Lead the annual Program Logic review and monitoring of key assumptions and risks with partners and contribute monitoring evidence to the consortium risk register.

Data collection, consolidation, analysis and reporting:

• Collect, clean, validate, analyze and compile project data for all indicators across IRC and all Bangladeshi Partners, for both monitoring and reporting.
• Ensure all partners collect data using CommCare-based tools and upload it daily to one central server and check the data routinely on dashboards.
• Maintain one common ITT for all partners (used for annual reporting) and analyze CommCare MIS data and the Program Indicator Dashboard (PID) monthly to assess progress and identify priority areas for targeted monitoring. Update the ITT and performance dashboards every month.
• Ensure data is consistently broken down by sex, age, gender, disability and location on every record (using the Washington Group Short Set on Functioning to identify persons with disabilities), and clear attribution of DFAT-funded results through project-specific codes in the MIS, addressing any attribution gaps through agreed data-sharing protocols and monthly data quality reviews.
• Apply DFAT’s unique client counting approach across all partners, using the program-specific client identifier in CommCare to count each individual once at service, sector and program level, and report unique reach against the target of 210,841 individuals by sector, sex, age, gender and disability. Ensure program data reported to DFAT is accurate, complete and donor compliant.
• Set and enforce common data management rules for all partners, covering file naming, storage, version control and data sharing.
• Ensure sensitive GBV and child protection case data remain within GBVIMS+ and CPIMS+ and agreed information-sharing protocols, with only aggregated, anonymized data used in consortium and DFAT reporting.
• Run routine consortium-wide analysis to identify programmatic, geographic, thematic and capacity gaps, including gaps in reaching the most at-risk groups (women and girls, children, adolescents and persons with disabilities) in line with JRP Priority 1 criteria, and flag them promptly to the PMU, outside the regular reporting cycle were urgent.
• Develop and monitor Value for Money (VfM) indicators aligned with DFAT’s 4Es framework (economy, efficiency, effectiveness and equity), including cost per client, cost per output and service utilization rates, working with Finance and sector leads and comparing results across delivery models and against sector benchmarks, and review the results with partners at program performance reviews.
• Prepare quarterly narrative and monitoring reports in consortium-agreed formats, and the MEAL inputs for DFAT annual performance reporting (led by the Program Coordinator, in the 8+3 format and aligned with DFAT’s whole-of-program indicators), with dashboards developed together with the MIS Manager. Submit reports on time and provide the DFAT inputs on schedule.

Routine and process monitoring:

• Lead a standardized process monitoring approach with tools and checklists for health and nutrition, protection, child protection and GBV, WASH, education, livelihoods, and emergency preparedness and response, covering quality, whether services are delivered as designed, inclusiveness, timeliness and the functioning of cross-sectoral referral pathways, with safeguarding, AAP and GEDSI built in.
• Monitor service quality, continuity, client access and satisfaction during the phased transition of services to Bangladeshi Partners, in line with the Partner Capacity building and Handover Plan, and report findings and corrective actions to the PMU and DFAT.
• Select activities for monthly spot checks based on MIS analysis (geographic coverage, program component, data quality performance and risk), and conduct spot checks with partner MEAL staff using digital tools.
• Plan and lead joint field visits with sector teams and partners, so that teams learn from one another (proposed monthly, and a longer 2–3 day visit each quarter covering all partners’ project areas).
• Review monitoring findings monthly with sector leads, and present consolidated findings at quarterly Program Performance Review and Reflection meetings, tracking agreed corrective actions to completion.

Data quality assurance:

• Check the quality of partner-reported data by verifying it, applying validation rules, cleaning it with a clear record of changes, and giving partners feedback.
• Lead annual Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) using IRC’s DQA methodology, adapted to DFAT’s Design, Monitoring and Evaluation Standards, and ensure at least 10% of reported data is verified against source documents each quarter during field visits.
• Lead on-site data verification and routine spot checks of CommCare records against registers, attendance sheets and case files (verifying sensitive GBV and child protection records only through agreed confidential protocols).
• Follow up DQA findings with agreed corrective actions and track them to completion and ensure compliance with IRC’s Data Quality Management Framework.

Baseline, surveys, evaluations and research:

• Use the baseline survey (completed in November 2026) as the benchmark for tracking change and refining targets, lead the internally managed outcome surveys (including the Year 2 midline) in line with the PIRS collection frequencies, coordinate the independent external endline survey in Year 3, and provide technical coordination of the Joint Program Review at around Month 18 (including the evaluation questions, validation workshop and joint action-planning workshop). Deliver all survey, review and evaluation activities on schedule.
• Develop Terms of Reference, methodologies, sampling plans (95% confidence level, 5% margin of error), tools and analysis plans, and oversee enumerators (IRC-enrolled incentive workers) and partner field supervisors, including daily data checks through dashboards, and ensure enumerators are trained in research ethics, safeguarding, PSEA, informed consent and sensitive-topic data collection.
• Prepare the Scope of Work in consultation with DFAT and share it before the evaluation team is recruited; procure and manage the independent final evaluation to DFAT’s quality and ethical standards and coordinate the management response and action plan and the learning workshop.
• Facilitate research as relevant to DFAT, such as KAP and SMART surveys, outcome harvesting, formative and multisector research, and coordinate with the protection and GEDSI teams so that the program-wide GEDSI analysis and protection analyses inform targeting and adaptation.
• Coordinate methodologies and reporting with DFAT’s external MEL provider.

Accountability to affected populations:

• Ensure there is one consortium-wide Client Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) and coordinate it, building on existing partner systems, with safe, accessible and inclusive channels (adapted for persons with disabilities, women with restricted mobility, children and non-literate community members).
• Ensure feedback is recorded in the CommCare MIS and handled through IRC’s 4R approach (Receive, Refer, Respond, Reply), and that communities are told what action was taken.
• Ensure sensitive complaints, including safeguarding, PSEA and misconduct concerns, are referred immediately through safe, confidential pathways to IRC’s Ethics and Compliance Unit and are reported only in aggregate.
• Align CFRM complaint categories with the Common Feedback Platform (CFP) harmonized referral standards, coordinate with CFP focal points and inter-agency accountability mechanisms and refer out-of-scope concerns appropriately.
• Analyze feedback trends together with monitoring data, including signs of inclusion or exclusion errors in targeting, and work with the Community Mobilization, Community Engagement & AAP CoP so findings lead to changes in the program.
• Lead the annual multi-sectoral client satisfaction survey and ensure child-friendly and inclusive feedback methods capture the views of women, girls, boys, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Learning and adaptive management:

• Develop and maintain the consortium Learning Agenda (finalized with DFAT and partners) and learning logs and facilitate evidence-to-action processes so findings lead to program changes, including evidence-to-action briefs shared with DFAT, partners and JRP coordination platforms.
• Organize the quarterly reflection sessions, annual learning workshop and the Evidence-to-Action Plan following the Joint Program Review.
• Document and share learning briefs, case studies and good practices with partners, DFAT, other CoPs and IRC technical networks, working with the Communications team.
• Promote Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), Value for Money, localization and safeguarding in all MEAL analysis and learning, drawing on the technical leadership of CDD on disability inclusion and Nari Maitree on gender equality and social inclusion.

Partner MEAL capacity strengthening and localization:

• Assess partner MEAL capacity, jointly with partners and in step with the joint organizational capacity assessments and develop a tailored capacity strengthening and sharing plan covering data collection, analysis, reporting and use of data. Implement the plan and document progress.
• Provide training, mentoring, coaching and supportive supervision to partner MEAL staff, and give regular feedback on adherence to agreed tools and standards, while drawing on partners’ own expertise through peer-to-peer, bi-directional capacity sharing.
• Support the gradual handover of MEAL systems, tools and decision-making to Bangladeshi Partners, consistent with the localization-first approach and the Partner capacity building and handover plan.
• Track and report the program’s localization indicators, including the share of funding passed to Bangladeshi Partners and partner leadership of MEAL functions.

MEAL Community of Practice:

• Manage the MEAL CoP, which brings together MEAL focal points from IRC and all partners to harmonize tools, review data quality and share learning, guided by one Learning Agenda, and lead its work, with technical support from the Head of MEAL & Program Quality and in coordination with the NGO Forum MEAL Manager (co-lead).
• Prepare the Learning Agenda and meeting agendas, run peer learning sessions, technical clinics, joint problem-solving and peer reviews, and hold the monthly informal sharing meeting and quarterly formal meeting.
• Maintain the shared repository of MEAL tools and learning products and the common action tracker and escalate matters needing management decisions to the PMU.

Coordination and representation:

• Represent consortium MEAL directly to DFAT, and present key monitoring and feedback findings to the PMU and, where relevant, the CPF, using aggregate data only (never individual client information) and including community feedback and the changes made in response, which is a standing CPF agenda item.
• Work with the Head of MEAL & Program Quality, Program Coordinator, A&L Manager, MIS Manager, sector MEAL Managers and the NGO Forum MEAL Manager as set out above.
• Represent IRC in inter-agency MEAL, information management, accountability and assessment working groups as required.

Others:

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports To: Head of MEAL & Program Quality

Internal: MIS Manager, IRC sector MEAL Managers, NGO Forum MEAL Manager, Related CoPs

External: Partner MEAL focal points (Nari Maitree, Breaking the Silence, CDD, FIVDB and CNRS), DFAT and its external MEL provider

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of progressive MEAL experience in humanitarian and development settings, including at least 3 years in senior or lead roles managing MEAL systems for multi-partner programs.

Knowledge, Skills & Competences:

• Demonstrated experience in strengthening MEAL capacity of local and national partner organizations, and in localization approaches.
• Experience with DFAT (including its Design, Monitoring and Evaluation Standards and Value for Money framework) or comparable institutional donor requirements (for example US Government, ECHO or OCHA) for compliance, reporting and indicator measurement.
• Experience in at least three of the following sectors: protection, health, WASH, education, GBV, livelihoods and resilience, in humanitarian settings.
• Experience leading baselines, surveys, evaluations and research studies.
• Experience designing and managing multi-partner data systems, including unique client counting and de-duplication, and client feedback and response mechanisms in humanitarian settings.
• Advanced skills in Excel, Power BI, SPSS, Kobo and CommCare; PowerApps and DHIS2 desirable.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills, and experience developing dashboards and automated reporting systems.
• Knowledge of data protection, safeguarding, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), GEDSI and accountability principles, including the ethical handling of sensitive GBV and child protection data.
• GIS/QGIS skills are highly desirable.
• Ability to work independently and make sound technical decisions with partners at different capacity levels.
• Strong coaching, facilitation and collaboration skills, with a partner-led and respectful approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Bangla.
• Female Candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Specific Educational Qualification:

• Master’s degree preferred in statistics, sociology, public health, development studies, economics, social sciences, demography, monitoring and evaluation, or a related field; or minimum bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with additional relevant experience.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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