The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
Organizational Background
The IRC’s Emergency Unit (EmU) leads the organization’s global emergency preparedness and response activities. Its mission is to meet immediate survival needs and reduce the suffering of affected populations during the acute phase of an emergency.
Response Background
The Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo officially declared the country’s 17th Ebola virus disease outbreak on 15 May 2026, after confirming cases caused by the Bundibugyo virus species (BDBV) in Ituri Province. The outbreak was initially detected in and around the Mongbwalu, Rwampara and Bunia health zones.
On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) assessed the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern, owing to the risk of regional spread and the challenging operational context. The IRC is preparing its support to contain the outbreak in Ituri and North Kivu. The response rests on three complementary pillars: infection prevention and control and WASH (IPC/WASH); risk communication and community engagement (RCCE); and integrated protection, including safeguarding, PSEA, MHPSS, GBV referral mechanisms and protection risk mitigation.
Scope of the Position
The MEAL Coordinator leads the monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) of the IRC’s emergency response programs in the DRC. Based in Bunia, Ituri, the Coordinator travels frequently to other areas of intervention, notably Beni and Butembo in North Kivu. The position ensures that the projects of the IRC and its partners meet their MEAL commitments to clients, donors and the Ministry of Health.
The Coordinator ensures that monitoring, evaluation, accountability and data management systems are in place, adequately resourced and effectively used, from data collection through to data visualization.
The Coordinator integrates MEAL principles at every stage of the project cycle. The position provides technical assistance, capacity sharing, mentoring and training to IRC staff, partners and health zone teams, so that data, client feedback and learning inform program quality and evidence-based decisions.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Oversight
- Provide technical leadership on data systems and processes throughout the project cycle, for IRC and partner projects, from design and start-up through to close-out and capitalization.
- Develop and operationalize logical frameworks, indicator reference sheets, MEAL plans, data collection tools, coverage and beneficiary tracking tools, and data management procedures.
- Monitor the performance indicators of the emergency response’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP), notably timeliness, scale of coverage, quality and accountability to clients, and support teams in identifying and implementing corrective actions.
- Lead the design and harmonization of Ebola response tools: screening and triage reports in health facilities, screening of hospitalized patients (in-facility), IPC supply tracking, alert tracking, summaries of two-way communication, rumor and misinformation tracking, and RCCE training registers.
- Monitor quality indicators for the IPC/WASH, RCCE and Protection sectors, analyze results against targets and IRC quality standards, and promote the use of data to improve the quality of interventions.
- Clearly define reporting frequencies, deadlines and data flows from health facilities and field teams to the Bunia office and the country program, and ensure they are respected.
- Coordinate monthly monitoring and reporting of response reach (reach tracking), by program model, geographic area and implementation modality (IRC and partners), tracking unique clients reached, targets and coverage of affected populations.
- Put in place data quality assurance: routine checks, data quality audits, data verification in health facilities, removal of duplicates and consistency checks across tools.
- Strengthen partners’ MEAL capacity and ensure harmonization of indicators, data collection tools, data quality assurance processes and reporting requirements in line with IRC standards.
- Ensure that data platforms (CommCare, Kobo/ODK, Power BI extracts) are properly configured and used, and promote the use of mobile data collection and online dashboards.
- Produce high-quality data analyses, donor reports, presentations and dashboards that support learning and decision-making, and present findings at program and management meetings.
- Lead the design and conduct of evaluations, baseline studies, post-distribution monitoring and end-of-project studies, together with program coordinators, technical advisors and external partners.
- Develop the MEAL budget and MEAL staffing structure for each project,
- Use internal and external learning and evidence to inform the design of proposals and theories of change.
Accountability to Affected Populations
- Establish a client feedback and response mechanism in line with IRC standards, including hotlines, help desks, suggestion boxes and community meetings.
- Ensure that feedback and rumors from communities are recorded, referred, addressed and used to adapt programs, in coordination with RCCE teams.
- Ensure that accountability systems are safe and accessible to women, children, persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups, and that sensitive complaints are referred through safeguarding channels.
Strategic Leadership
- Lead all MEAL functions across all sectors (health, IPC, RCCE, protection and others), at all intervention sites.
- Promote a culture in which data is regularly reviewed and used for evidence-based decisions and program adaptation.
- Define MEAL approaches suited to an emergency response: rapid scale-up, broad coverage, partner implementation, insecurity and access constraints.
- Establish mutual capacity-strengthening partnerships with MEAL counterparts in partner organizations, local organizations and health authorities.
- Represent the IRC in relevant MEAL coordination mechanisms and promote the systematic use of data, client feedback and learning to guide decision-making and program adaptation.
- Integrate cross-cutting priorities into MEAL: gender, protection, safeguarding, diversity, equity and inclusion, and the “Do No Harm” principle, including the collection of sex- and age-disaggregated data.
- Contribute to regional and global MEAL learning initiatives and events.
Staff Management and Development
- Establish an effective MEAL team structure with a balanced workload.
- Supervise the MEAL team: set performance objectives, hold regular check-ins, manage work plans and conduct performance reviews.
- Coach, train and mentor MEAL staff, and oversee a learning and training plan based on a skills assessment.
- Train and support program staff, partner focal points, health facility staff and enumerators on tools, data quality and reporting.
- Ensure the continuity and sustainability of MEAL systems through documentation of tools and procedures, skills transfer and preparation of handovers during staff transitions and at the close of the response.
- Lead or support the recruitment and onboarding of MEAL staff, consultants and partner MEAL focal points.
Working Relationships
- Reports to: Emergency Programme Lead
- Technical support: Technical Advisor, MEAL – Emergency Unit
Directly supervises: MEAL Managers and Officers, - Other internal and/or external contacts:
- Internal: IPC/Health, WASH, Protection and RCCE coordinators and managers
- External: partners, government authorities, clients.
Education and Experience
- University degree in statistics, data management, public health, epidemiology, social sciences or a related field.
- At least 5 years of experience in MEAL roles, including leading data collection and analysis for multisectoral, multi-donor humanitarian programs.
- Experience in health or outbreak response (Ebola, cholera, mpox, COVID-19 or similar) is strongly preferred, including experience with surveillance data.
- Experience in setting up or strengthening MEAL systems in emergency contexts, insecure environments, remote management or partner-implemented settings, preferably in eastern DRC or the Great Lakes region.
- International NGO experience required; experience with humanitarian coordination mechanisms (clusters, working groups) is an asset.
Technical Skills
- Strong command of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods.
- Proven ability to design simple, user-friendly systems that turn routine and survey data into program improvements and decisions.
- Good understanding of accountability mechanisms and proven ability to set up client feedback and response systems.
- Proficiency in mobile data collection tools (CommCare, Kobo, ODK) and advanced Excel;
- Knowledge of Power BI is an asset.
- Excellent data presentation and report writing skills; ability to explain complex analyses simply to varied audiences.
- Proven ability to train, coach and mentor staff and partners.
- Strong planning and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously.
Languages
- Professional proficiency...