Caritas Bangladesh is seeking a qualified professional for the position Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist for its USAID’ Building Resilience & Inclusion in Disaster Governance & Emergencies-Bangladesh (BRIDGE) and EA-26/2024/Flood Response project under Disaster Management Sector, based in the Caritas Central Office, Dhaka. Caritas Bangladesh (CB) is a national and non-profit development organization operating in Bangladesh. It was founded in 1967 as the eastern branch of Caritas Pakistan and became a national organization in 1971 known as CORR (Christian Organization for Relief and Rehabilitation). The name Caritas was re-introduced in 1976. It has a Central Office in Dhaka and eight Regional Offices in Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi and Sylhet. CB is implementing 93 projects covering 239 upazila focusing on eight goals i.e. i) Social Welfare and Service of Love for Vulnerable Communities; 2) Ecological Conservation, Climate Justice and Sustainable Food System; 3) Humanitarian Response and Disaster Management; 4) Education, Skill Development and Employment Creation; 5) Health Care, Nutrition and Education; 6) Development of Indigenous Peoples; 7) Integral Human Development; and 8) Institutional Development and Sustainability.

It has more than 3,200 staff and 20,800 volunteers to operate more than 93 projects at 239 sub-districts of 53 districts in Bangladesh. In last 53 years, CB has so far responded to a total of 16 types of 119 disaster events. Through emergency relief, recovery and rehabilitation programs, CB has so far reached to disaster-affected 46.47 million people of 10.33 million HHs across the country through the implementation of 129 emergency relief, recovery and rehabilitation projects.
CB is currently implementing emergency humanitarian response, recovery, anticipatory actions and DRR projects including BHA funded BRIDGE project across the country. In order to ensure quality implementation and on-time achievement of key project activities, CB is looking to contract Technical Advisor to serve in a MEAL role to support quality and technically sound implementation.

Job Summary:

The primary role of MEAL Specialist will provide support in the area of MEAL in line with CB program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines and industry best practice. S/he will work with CB technical and program staff to advance the delivery of high-quality programming. S/he will guide the projects’ teams to establish a robust MEAL System and to ensure implementation of high-quality MEAL activities on the ground for CIMOs and other donors BHA/USAID funded Emergency, Recovery, DRR and Anticipatory Action Projects to Caritas Bangladesh. S/he will be responsible to provide day to day support to Head of DM, Coordinators and Project Managers and project MEAL Staff to produce quality data, track influence hypothesis, track performance of the program in collaboration and coordination.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

This list is illustrative and specific tasks and deliverables may change over the consultancy period.

• Provides technical lead for quality MEAL system design, including tools and methods, appropriate to scope, context, and technical requirements of the various projects
• Provides technical oversight for analysis of MEAL data, qualitative and quantitative. Ensures quality of data and data management practices. Integrates data analysis, reflection and interpretation and use with ongoing program activities
• Ensures compliance with donor and agency MEAL requirements.
• Coordinates accountability and learning systems. Shares MEAL learning and experiences
• Attend/facilitate staff coordination meetings.
• In coordination with project Focal Persons at Central DM team, NPM, TAs and MEAL staff/consultants, prepare and support facilitation of quarterly and annual learning events.
• Support data quality assessment and finalize report with support of CRS TAs
• Complete IPTT based on donor requirements
• Provide MEAL/ CommCare refresher trainings to CB staff
• Support CB staff and relevant consultants to complete baseline studies
• Provide FCRM report to PMs/Coordinators
• Support emergency programming as needed

Required Educational Qualifications and Experience:

• Master’s degree in social science preferably Statistics/Development Studies/Economics/Sociology or other relevant areas.
• Minimum 5 years of experiences with Manager/leadership position with MEAL responsibilities in NGO, preferably National/INGOs.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Bengali. 
• Demonstrated skills in data analysis and interpretation.
• Practical experience in using Open Data Kit (ODK) tool specially CommCare and CommCare Plus
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, MS Access, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Demonstrated skills in analyzing data using statistical software such as SPSS/STATA is a plus.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work in a team and support concurrent projects/assignments.
• Ability to meet deadline
• Willing to spend at least 40% of the time travelling in the field
• Honesty and Integrity
• Develops Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

Required Languages: Strong written and oral command in English/Bangla is required.
                                              
Travel: Based in Caritas Central Office, Dhaka with frequent travel throughout the project locations at Patuakhali District. At least 40% travel to field offices and field.

Key Working Relationships:

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.