MEAL Assistant

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.

DRC Syria

DRC has been actively operating in Syria since 2008 mainly supporting refugees. In June 2012, DRC was authorized by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to expand its humanitarian efforts and provide assistance to IDPs and the vulnerable resident population countrywide. Since then, DRC activities have been focused on NFI distributions, Shelter, WASH, Protection, Education, Livelihoods and Mine Risk Education in six Governorates (Damascus, Rural Damascus, Dara'a, Aleppo, Hama, and Homs). While Protection/community service activities are provided to beneficiaries throughout our Community Centers.

About the job:

The Damascus-based MEAL Assistant is responsible, under the supervision of the PDQM, for supporting the daily MEAL tasks necessary to meet DRC's internal and donor quality commitments.

Responsibilities:

Objective 1: Manage Community Feedback Mechanism (CFM) (50%)

• Responsible for answering phones and emails from community members.
• Responsible for collecting feedback and complaints from complaint boxes.
• Ensuring CFM is available at all project sites.
• Responsible for keeping an updated log of CFM.
• Responsible for capturing CFM learnings and feeding back into programmes.

Objective 2: Support proper follow-up of program activities, including planning and reports (30%):

• Participate in planning field visits according to the project calendar with the technical team and MEAL Officer/ Team Leader.
• Make necessary arrangements before field visits (travel request, facilitation letters follow up, coordination with field level focal points).
• Provide reports on observations from field visits with recommendations and suggestions for improvement of activities.
• Ensure all reports have sex and age-disaggregated data.

Objective 3: Program Documentation of Learning (30%):

• Participate and input into project learning workshops and MEAL reviews.
• Support DRC's grants unit to share program results and good practices with donors.

Objective 4: Other tasks (10%):

• Support MEAL Officer, MEAL Team Leader, and Program Quality Manager to conduct training for DRC-Syria staff on all topics related to Program Quality.
• Support any other MEAL activities when requested by the manager.

Experience:

• At least one year of experience related to humanitarian assistance, international development, program quality, or social science research.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive issues with discretion and confidentiality.
• Familiarity with humanitarian principles, especially Core Humanitarian Standards and Do No Harm Framework.
• Demonstrable experience in producing analytical information products from primary and secondary data sources.
• Strong IT skills, especially in Microsoft Office Suite (good Word and Excel skills essential).
• Experience with a statistical package such as SPSS, Stata, or PSPP is preferred.

Education

• Bachelor's degree preferred in a related field of social science, such as anthropology, humanitarian, or development studies.

Languages:

• Arabic: Fluent.
• English: Good level required.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ 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: You act in line with our vision and values.

We offer:

Contract length: One Year

Level: NMI1

Location: Damascus

Expected Start date: 15 December 2023

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the below link:

Application link:

MEAL Assistant - Application Form (hr-manager.net)

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV-only applications will not be considered.

Applications close03 December 2023

Need further information?

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.

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