MEAL Officer - Rural Damascus

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: providing emergency aid, fighting for their rights, and strengthening their opportunities for a brighter future. DRC has operated in Syria since 2008, initially responding to the Iraqi refugee crisis before transitioning to a full-scale response to the Syria crisis from 2011 onwards, working across five key sectors: Economic Recovery and Resilience, Protection, WASH, Shelter and Infrastructure, and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding.

Overall purpose of the role: The MEAL Officer supports effective monitoring, accountability, and evaluation of DRC Syria's program in Rural Damascus according to the MEAL strategy. The role requires a minimum of 40% of time dedicated to field visits.

Reporting to: MEAL Manager at Country Office. Duty station: Rural Damascus area-level office.

Contract: National contract · 6 months (extension subject to performance and funding) · Start: 1 July 2026 · Salary Level H (DRC salary scale) · Deadline: 31 May 2026

Monitoring

• Coordinate with MEAL Specialist and other area offices per location-specific MEAL plans
• Develop M&E tools and guidelines ensuring gender sensitivity and accurate translation
• Support program teams in data collection using surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, and questionnaires
• Recruit and train data collectors
• Conduct and supervise field data collection and entry
• Gather beneficiary and stakeholder feedback
• Conduct periodic site monitoring visits (minimum 40% field time)
• Update monthly indicator performance trackers
• Maintain monitoring schedules and reporting deadlines
• Develop daily/weekly/monthly work plans
• Quality-check data for accuracy and consistency
• Provide area-specific analysis with MEAL Specialist support
• Alert program teams to anticipated issues, risks, and opportunities
• Support partners on ad-hoc MEAL tasks

Accountability

• Support Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) accountability rollout
• Collect beneficiary data through DRC Feedback and Complaint Response Mechanism (FCRM)
• Ensure feedback reaches program teams with tracked follow-up
• Uphold humanitarian assistance standards and DRC Code of Conduct
• Support accountability training rollout (CHS, SPHERE, PSEA, Code of Conduct)
• Develop accountability materials and train focal points on Code of Conduct

Evaluation, Review, and Learning

• Share MEAL findings with program teams
• Support internal and external reviews and evaluations
• Document lessons learned
• Collect case studies demonstrating qualitative and quantitative changes
• Support monitoring reviews and learning events

Reporting

• Draft monitoring reports on activity results
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data
• Present analysis results with MEAL Manager
• Contribute to monthly/quarterly donor reports
• Coordinate with grants, program, and information management teams for accurate, timely reporting

Operations

• Complete administration, finance, and logistics support tasks
• Provide enumerator support
• Participate in program coordination meetings
• Facilitate peer-to-peer learning
• Maintain organised MEAL data and file storage

Essential Experience

• 2–3 years of experience in humanitarian assistance, international development, M&E, or social science research
• Demonstrated project/programme planning, implementation, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation experience
• Ability to produce analytical information from primary and secondary data
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, Core Humanitarian Standards, and Do No Harm Framework
• Training and facilitation experience
• Strong Microsoft Office skills (Word and Excel essential)
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving abilities
• Self-motivated with organised time management capabilities
• Ability to promote teamwork in multicultural environments
• Discretion in handling sensitive matters with attention to detail
• Fluent written and spoken English and Arabic
• Willingness to travel and conduct field visits

Desirable

• Experience with survey or database software (SPSS, Stata, or PSPP preferred)

Education

• Bachelor's degree preferred in social science, anthropology, humanitarian, or development studies
• Statistical or computer certificates valued

Core Competencies

• Striving for excellence: Focus on results through efficient processes
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback
• Taking the lead: Ownership and initiative with innovation focus
• Communicating: Effective, honest listening and speaking
• Demonstrating integrity: Alignment with organisational vision and values