MEAL Official – Santa Bárbara del Zulia At Danish Refugee Council

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The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in over 40 countries to provide appropriate assistance and protection to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, people on the move, and vulnerable local populations/host communities. DRC is currently seeking a highly qualified MEAL Officer based in Santa Bárbara del Zulia.

About the job:

DRC is managing its operations in Venezuela, under the direction of the country office in Caracas and three field offices located in the states of Sucre, Apure, and Zulia. DRC Venezuela is implementing activities such as protection monitoring, legal assistance, individual protection assistance for people with disabilities, information sessions for proof of identity (PoC), prevention of human trafficking, rehabilitation of health infrastructure, and food security.

Job objective :

The primary objective of the MEAL Officer (OMEAL) is to support the implementation of the strategy for monitoring and evaluating the quality of DRC projects in Venezuela, specifically in the Zulia region, in the Maracaibo and South Lake offices, according to internal indicators, donor indicators, and standard monitoring and evaluation principles. The MEAL Officer will carry out operational activities such as monitoring indicators, preparing reports in donor formats, and controlling digital means of verification. They will also raise alerts regarding under-execution in the monthly monitoring to management, and maintain monthly updated databases and implementation plans (PiPs) that are easily accessible to project team members and the national office. Under the technical supervision of the MEAL Manager and the operational supervision of the South Lake Base Manager, the MEAL Officer will coordinate with field teams, base technical managers, programmatic technical coordinators at the Caracas national office, and the Caracas national MEAL Officer to implement monitoring activities within the framework of the MEAL strategy.

Responsibilities:

Monitoring and Evaluation:

  • Support the implementation of the MEAL strategy for DRC humanitarian programs at the Maracaibo and Sur del Lago bases, Zulia state.
  • Design, implementation and monthly monitoring of the Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) to keep assigned projects up to date, with current and verified information.
  • Carry out activities of collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data from assigned projects.
  • Validate and properly safeguard each means of verification of the assigned projects digitally and/or physically, as appropriate.
  • Ensure the proper collection of data in the studies carried out by the organization.
  • Support the design and testing of tracking tools that will be used during activities and assistance.
  • Support in the design and implementation of evaluation methodologies for DRC programs.
  • Raise monthly alerts according to the activity planning of the projects assigned to the national MEAL management.
  • Monthly follow-up with implementing partners to ensure a two-way flow of information and a clean and up-to-date implementation of assigned projects.
  • To understand the work plans of the assigned projects, in order to propose studies of evaluation measurements, impact, sustainability, among others, necessary to guarantee the quality of the programs developed by DRC in Venezuela.
  • Align yourself in the monthly national review of the double counting of beneficiaries in the national database with the rest of the MEAL team.
  • Support data collection for evaluations (baseline, mid-term and final).
  • Coordinate the logistics of developing the post-distribution survey application.
  • Coordinate logistics for surveys, focus groups, and field interviews with support from the grassroots team.
  • Validate that the instruments are applied correctly.
  • Provide territorial context for the interpretation of results.
  • Frequent field visits with the team to validate the correct use of the verifiers and their proper filling out.

Reporting and information management

  • In the Zulia offices (South of the Lake and Maracaibo) he will be responsible for cleaning the databases built to send systematized to the MEAL official of the national in Caracas.
  • Report progress on the indicators to the national MEAL officer in Caracas, the MEAL management, Base Management, field teams, implementing partners and any other required actor monthly in the state of Zulia.
  • Submit monthly reports to the national MEAL unit on the achievements and challenges related to the monitoring of assigned projects.
  • Produce regular progress reports to ensure that programs have accurate and useful data to inform project development.
  • Participate in the internal evaluation of the program.
  • Quality control and monitoring of collected data; conducting frequent site visits to monitor data quality. Identifying and addressing errors in data collection and/or entry.
  • Participation in PiP review meetings, keeping up-to-date information on assigned projects, i.e., maintaining a clean and current monthly quantitative cut-off in constant coordination with the national MEAL officer.
  • Design of visual tools that allow progress tracking of activities developed in assigned projects.
  • Managing databases for assigned projects (querying) and producing consolidated information in Power BI – Information systems automation

Accountability (MPQR):

  • Ensure that activities comply with DRC’s community accountability principles.
  • Ensure the proper use of the verification methods established for each DRC Humanitarian program.
  • Support the implementation of the feedback and complaints mechanisms of the DRC Venezuela.
  • During follow-up activities, ensure that beneficiaries are treated with respect, confidentiality, and informed consent.
  • Include within the assigned projects a record of feedback received in order to report to donors on this matter.
  • Permanent visits to field activities to verify proper use of channels and transmission of key messages.
  • At the Zulia bases, he will be primarily responsible for the monthly systematization of the physical ballots from the feedback boxes.

Knowledge of Project(s) Indicators:

  • Regularly review the MEAL Plan with the indicators of the assigned projects to verify their methodological compliance.
  • Understanding the differences between the product and outcome indicators of the assigned projects in order to generate appropriate monitoring and information collection tools to respond to these indicators.
  • Pay attention to the general product indicators of the assigned projects, which require measurement through baseline studies, exit studies, or at specific times.

Management and coordination:

  • To serve as a liaison with programs and operations to ensure prompt follow-up on feedback and complaints received.
  • To coordinate with the IM information management unit in the handling of assigned databases.
  • Coordinate with the MEAL officer at the national office, as they will perform complementary functions for projects assigned to both positions.
  • Consolidate the secure and confidential database and records of complaints and claims of the DRC.
  • Coordinate with field teams from the South of Lake Maracaibo and Maracaibo bases.
  • To coordinate and keep the base managers of South Lake and Maracaibo informed of the progress of the projects.
  • Articulate and communicate periodically with the MEAL – IM team at the national office.
  • Maintain constant communication with the technical line of the MEAL management of the national.

Experience and technical skills:

  • Minimum 3 years of work experience in MEAL-related activities.
  • Advanced knowledge of the office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI).
  • Knowledge of information gathering tools such as Monkey survey and KOBO.
  • Willingness and ability to learn.
  • Advanced statistical and information management skills.
  • High professional ethics.
  • Basic knowledge of the application of artificial intelligence to automation and efficiency processes in MEAL

Desirable

  • Intermediate level of English.
  • Work experience in national or international NGOs is an advantage.
  • Teamwork skills.
  • Skills to create/maintain a good work environment.
  • Good communication skills.

Education :

  • Undergraduate degree in Sociology, Economics, Administration, Statistics, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering or related fields.

Languages:

  • Knowledge of spoken and written English.

We offer:

  • The opportunity to belong to one of the best NGOs worldwide.
  • Access to over 1,000 free online training courses and certificates
  • Contract duration: 6 months (Renewable subject to funding and performance)
  • Job Category: H Band
  • HCM insurance for the worker only.

All DRC roles require the holder to master basic DRC competencies:

  • Achieving excellence : focused on achieving results while ensuring efficient processes.
  • Collaboration: involve relevant people and encourage feedback.
  • Taking the initiative : in relation to the search for solutions.
  • Communicate: listen and speak effectively and honestly.
  • Demonstrate integrity: act in accordance with DRC’s vision and values.

Application process: All applicants must upload a cover letter (max. 1 page) and an updated CV ( max. 2 pages, no supporting documents ) in Spanish to the DRC job platform. Applications submitted by email will not be considered.

Application deadline : Sunday, June 14th at 11:59 pm Local Time. Please note that applications will be reviewed continuously and interviews will be scheduled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. DRC reserves the right to close the position before the deadline once a suitable candidate is identified.

Approximate start date: June 2026

How to apply

Link to Application Form

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