MEAL Coordinator

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Overall purpose of the role

The MEAL Coordinator will be responsible for leading and strengthening Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems at the country level, ensuring high-quality data collection, analysis, and evidence generation to improve program performance. The role focuses on results monitoring, accountability, learning, and evaluation, while ensuring compliance with donor requirements and DRC’s internal MEAL standards. The MEAL Coordinator will provide technical support, capacity building, and coordination across country operations and field offices, ensuring adaptive learning and evidence-based decision-making.     

Duties and Responsibilities

Results Monitoring & Program Quality Support

• Lead and support MEAL integration throughout Project Cycle Management (PCM), ensuring compliance with DRC’s MEAL guidelines and donor requirements.
• Ensure the quality and effectiveness of needs assessments by overseeing methodology, data collection, analysis, and quality assurance.
• Provide input on MEAL-related aspects of project proposals, including indicator development and budgeting for MEAL activities.
• Develop MEAL plans, indicator tracking tools, and data collection systems to monitor program outputs and outcomes with close collaboration with the program team.
• Coordinate with the information management personnel to digitalize  DRC MEAL and program tools when applicable.
• Participate in and contribute to project Kick-off, grant Review, and Close-out meetings, ensuring cross-project learning.
• Oversee the development and refinement of data collection methodologies, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to enhance program evidence.
• Plan and implement data quality assurance measures throughout data collection, entry, processing, and reporting.
• Ensure that ethical principles and protection standards are upheld in all data collection activities, in line with DRC’s Code of Conduct and DRC SOPs.
• Coordinate data protection, storage, and security protocols, ensuring compliance with DRC and donor standards.
• Support the analysis, visualization, and reporting of MEAL data, ensuring findings inform internal decision-making and external reporting.

Accountability to Affected Population

• Coordinate with the Program team and partners to ensure that a Community Feedback Mechanism (CFM) Focal Person is always appointed and available for each project, in accordance with the CFM FP Terms of Reference (TOR).
• Coordinate with the program team to ensure Questions & Answers (Q&A) documents and Project Specific Leaflets are available for each project at the startup of the project and are regularly updated as needed
• Coordinate with program team and partners to maintain information provision with communities for sharing timely, accurate and safe information around DRC and its partners project and expected behavioral of staff.
• Ensure that a robust and contextually appropriate feedback system is in place for DRC projects, including community engagement, and feedback-handling processes. Ensure that the oPt CFM aligns with DRC’s global standards.
• Build the capacity of project teams to effectively plan and implement accountability systems, including training on CHS principles, DRC accountability pillars and accountability tools.
• Present CFM trends analysis reports to the Program team on a quarterly basis to inform recommendation and quality program decision making
• Liaise with HQ and RO management to support CHS certification audits, self-assessments, and improvement plan follow-ups.

Evaluation, Analysis & Learning

• Coordinate evaluations and research studies, ensuring alignment with DRC’s Evaluation Policy and donor requirements.
• Ensure MEAL findings are used for evidence-based decision-making, adaptive learning, and program design improvements.
• Organize and facilitate learning events at the organizational level, ensuring key lessons learned compiled and shared by the MEAL officer from all projects are documented and disseminated.
• Regularly present MEAL findings to senior management and program teams to drive continuous improvement.
• Support external communication of MEAL findings, including donor reports, inter-agency coordination meetings, and advocacy efforts.

Supervision & Team Management

• Provide direct supervision, guidance, and technical support to MEAL Officers at the country and field levels, ensuring alignment with MEAL strategies and project requirements.
• Oversee work planning and task allocation for MEAL Officers, ensuring efficiency in data collection, analysis, reporting, and accountability mechanisms.
• Conduct regular performance check-ins and coaching sessions to strengthen MEAL Officers' technical capacity and professional growth.
• Support MEAL Officers in troubleshooting challenges related to field data collection, quality assurance, or partner engagement.

Capacity Building & Technical Support

• Carry out MEAL Partner Capacity Assessment (PCA) tool for partner to assess their capacities and capabilities in terms or MEAL.
• Develop and conduct MEAL capacity-building sessions for DRC teams and local partners on monitoring methodologies, accountability, and data use.
• Ensure partner has access to the MEAL tools to carry the MEAL activities as per the DRC MEAL minimum standards and donor regulations.
• Ensure effective partner support in MEAL planning, indicator tracking, and compliance with donor MEAL frameworks.
• Foster a culture of learning and evidence-based programming, ensuring MEAL is effectively embedded across all project teams.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Statistics, Monitoring & Evaluation, Economics, Public Administration, or other relevant fields.
• Additional certifications in MEAL, Data Analysis, Information Management, or Accountability are an advantage
• Minimum 5 years of experience in MEAL roles, preferably in humanitarian or development contexts.
• Strong technical expertise in MEAL frameworks, data collection methodologies, accountability mechanisms, and learning approaches.
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (Excel, Power BI, KOBO Toolbox, Power BI, etc.).
• Experience with MEAL planning and donor reporting for agencies like ECHO, USAID, GFFO, UN, etc.
• Previous experience with information management systems (ActivityInfo) is an advantage
• Previous experience with leading organizational capacity assessments and capacity building on MEAL is an advantage
• Experience with providing technical guidance and oversight to MEAL staff is an advantage
• Demonstrated experience in community feedback mechanisms, complaint handling, and CHS accountability standards.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to manage large datasets and complex MEAL systems.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills, with experience engaging across teams and external stakeholders.
• Advanced proficiency in English (spoken and written); fluency in local languages is an advantage.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies: 

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 6 months with a possibility of extension based on performance and funding

Line manager: Head of Operation

Position Band:  This position will be placed at Management band (G1 non-management)

Start date: 1 June 2025

Duty station: Ramallah

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National.

Application process

Interested to apply? All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: May 20, 2025

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.