What we are looking for:

NRC is investing in a shift from doing direct service delivery as a default, to increasingly acting as an enabler - supporting local actors, influencing legislation, policy and practise, and promoting the inclusion of displaced people within national and local systems so they can access services and exercise their rights. This approach is at the heart of the IKEA Foundation funded Inclusion as a Pathway to Self-reliance flagship initiative.

We are seeking an experienced Global MEAL Specialist with proven expertise in both quantitative and qualitative methods, and a strong track record of designing and delivering MEAL in complex humanitarian and development contexts, including the ability to develop and operationalize frameworks that measure not only programme results, but also advocacy, policy influence and systems-level change.

In this role, you will lead design and implementation of the MEAL framework for this flagship initiative, with pilots in Kenya and South Sudan. You will lead the assessment of systemic barriers to inclusion for displaced people, develop and implement learning agenda, and ensure actionable evidence is generated through a robust MEAL plan to strengthen global programme quality and impact. The role combines strategic technical leadership and oversight with hands-on support to country offices - ensuring alignment with global MEAL systems, compliance with donor standards, and meaningful insights for decision-making and learning.

As NRC advances its role as an enabler of local actors and locally led systems change, you will play a pivotal part in conceptualizing MEAL approaches and measuring results of these efforts - including government engagement, local actor strengthening, policy influence and inclusion of displaced populations in local systems.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; early applications are encouraged.

What you will do:

Here are some of your specific responsibilities:

• Work with the programme teams to identify evidence and learning needs for Inclusion as a pathway to self-reliance for displaced people, specifically to help clarify as part of a MEL readiness assessment what it means when NRC works as enabler, and with local systems, and including displaced people in these, to design appropriate MEAL solutions

• Lead on the development of the learning agenda and the MEAL plan for Inclusion as a pathway to self-reliance, ensuring that it meets identified evidence needs

• Mapping of external evidence and resources as relevant to the learning agenda

• Lead on the development and piloting of the methodology and tools to assess systemic barriers to inclusion for displaced people to be implemented by programme teams to inform approaches and detailed activities. Ensure this methodology is based on review of the relevant existing tools and practices in the sector (including IDMC assessment methodology), and particularly on the experience and learning from previous Economic Inclusion project 

• Facilitate (together with programme teams and relevant stakeholders) adaptation of the project’ Theory of Change following the assessment phase, involving programme teams, and relevant stakeholders

• Manage the MEAL plan and learning agenda for Inclusion as a pathway to self-reliance for displaced people, including coordination and facilitation of relevant activities and learning moments. 

• Develop, test and review qualitative and quantitative approaches and tools for programme monitoring processes, and for measuring progress and demonstrating effectiveness of the interventions which aim to strengthen local systems, support policy change and implementation for greater inclusion of displaced people.

• Support other data collection processes and tools as needed by the project (e.g. baselines, midline, endline)

• Ensure MEAL tools, methodologies and process incorporate learning from previous Economic Inclusion, including recommendations from the review. 

• Provide technical oversight, and support the planning and implementation of evaluation (and research as relevant) for Inclusion as pathway to self-reliance for displaced people engaging with partners, external evaluation teams and country teams to generate robust evidence on NRC’s programmes. 

• Support project staff / Country Offices with implementation of, adherence to, and reporting against the grants Results Management Framework. Ensure consolidation and analysis of the MEAL data at the project level (including for annual and end of project reporting)

• Provide direct capacity building and ongoing technical support to COs and partners to implement the tools and MEAL plan

• Ensure findings from data analysis are available and fed into decision-making processes, including to support implementation, advocacy and fundraising. Conduct data analysis and synthesis of evidence, and ensure it is available, presented and fed into project adaptation, decision making and continues improvements, as well as advocacy and fundraising 

• Compile and disseminate best practice, lessons learnt, recommendations, and case studies from project implementation, creating and tracking against a project improvement plan.  Specifically build on the learning and recommendations from the previous Economic Inclusion project to ensure effective learning process for adaptive management in the context of pilot.

• Facilitate discussions and support as relevant adaptation of global ToCs based on approaches developed and learnings from pilots.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position. 

What you will bring:

• Minimum 8 years of relevant leadership/management/adviser experience within the humanitarian field within MEAL, and ideally for displacement contexts. 

• Extensive experience of delivering MEAL in complex and volatile contexts.

• Expertise in MEAL with development-oriented approaches an added advantage.

• Expertise in quantitative methods and qualitative methods, and experience in developing global approaches to quality monitoring.

• Experience of leading on assessments to inform programme design and evaluation processes

• Extensive experience in quantitative analysis and data visualisation an advantage

• Excellent project management skills with experience of planning, coordinating and delivering on major global MEAL initiatives

• Significant experience of developing MEAL global guidelines and tools for monitoring at CO level

• High level of understanding of organisational learning, and the role and contribution of MEAL to evidencing results 

• High level of understanding of, and commitment to, providing technical leadership and working collaboratively and supportively with colleagues both within the function and operationally, including capacity building.

• Evidenced experience of delivering capacity building.

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.

• Good communication, interpersonal skills and diplomacy   

• Knowledge and understanding of   MEL for humanitarian or development contexts

• Experience with MEAL frameworks/ approaches for monitoring and evaluating results and impact  of advocacy, policy and system change intervention

• Good cultural awareness and sensitivity 

• Familiarity with displacement contexts in Kenya and/or South Sudan an advantage

• Experience in developing new MEAL approaches an advantage

• Good understanding of systems approaches and work on durable solutions an advantage

• Experience with monitoring of policy and advocacy efforts and government engagement an advantage. 

What we offer:

• Duty station: Oslo, Norway 

• Contract: 2 years.    

• Travel: 30 - 40%.

• Salary/benefits: Grade 9 on NRC’s Resident salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions. 

• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.

• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• For Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity Market Place.

• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.

• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.

• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.

• We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you have any questions about this role, please email ho.recruitment@nrc.no with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.

• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.

• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.