Job Details:

• Organization: Yemen Red Crescent Society “YRCS” – Hodeidah Branch 
• Job Title: MEAL Assistant
• Duty Station: Hodeidah Governorate 
• Reporting To: Program Officer
• Duration of Assignment: 6 Months with possibility of extension 
• Terms of employment: Employment is full time according to YRCS guidelines 
• Application Deadline: 27/04/2026

Organizational Context
The Yemen Red Crescent Society (YRCS) is a humanitarian organization established by Republican Decree No. (15) of 1970. The northern and southern branches of the YRCS were unified in 1993 into a single national society. It was recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1982 and joined the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement the same year.
YRCS operates across all governorates of Yemen and enjoys unique and widespread community acceptance for delivering humanitarian services to the most vulnerable. Its humanitarian approach aims to build community resilience during and after disasters. With support from international partners and local communities, YRCS has strengthened its core functions and operational capacity to improve efficiency and deliver effective humanitarian and relief operations throughout Yemen.

Role Summary
The MEAL Assistant supports comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning activities across the shelter, NFI, protection and cash components of Al Zuhrah district project. The role designs and pilots MEAL tools, collects and verifies quantitative and qualitative data (baseline/endline, PDM, FGDs, KIIs), manages complaint and feedback flows, produces disaggregated indicators and dashboards, and facilitates participatory learning to inform adaptive program decisions and donor reporting. The MEAL Assistant ensures data quality, ethical data handling, and inclusive, gender and disability sensitive approaches throughout the project lifecycle.

Duties and Responsibilities:

MEAL Tool Design and Piloting

• Assist in drafting baseline/endline surveys, PDM questionnaires, FGD and KII guides, complaint registers, and monitoring checklists that are gender sensitive, age appropriate and disability inclusive.
• Pilot tools in representative communities, collect user feedback, revise instruments for clarity and cultural relevance, and document final versions and metadata.
• Maintain version control and a repository of approved MEAL tools and templates for field teams.

Data Collection and Field Monitoring

• Observe and record distribution processes at sites—waiting times, queue management, beneficiary verification, cash receipt checks, and market availability—and document deviations from SOPs.
• Plan and conduct one integrated PDM per cash or NFI distribution, capturing quantitative indicators and qualitative feedback on cash utilization, market impacts, satisfaction and protection risks.
• Lead FGDs and KIIs with diverse groups (women, youth, elderly, PWDs, minority groups), transcribe and synthesize findings, and ensure participant safety and consent.
• Carry out periodic market checks on material and NFI prices and availability to inform procurement and cash transfer values.

Data Management and Quality Assurance

• Enter, clean and maintain MEAL databases; apply validation rules, document cleaning steps, and produce clean datasets ready for analysis.
• Coordinate spot checks and data quality audits with field teams and MEAL leads to reduce entry errors and ensure metadata completeness (Locations, timestamps, enumerator IDs).
• Produce weekly dashboards and basic visualizations (charts, tables, maps) in Excel or Power BI/Google Data Studio for program staff and donor.

Accountability and Complaints Handling

• Track, register and follow up on complaints and feedback through the CFM; ensure timely acknowledgement, investigation, resolution and feedback loops to complainants.
• Feed CFM trends into the MEAL learning matrix and recommend programmatic adjustments to address recurring issues or protection concerns.
• Support information dissemination on entitlements, selection criteria and complaint channels using accessible formats and languages.

Reporting Monitoring and Learning

• Prepare monthly MEAL reports with quantitative indicators, narrative analysis, lessons learned and clear recommendations for program adaptation.
• Produce short learning briefs (e.g., CFM effectiveness, gender mainstreaming), capture success stories, and maintain the project knowledge repository with version control.
• Facilitate cross team reflection workshops after each PDM cycle to translate findings into concrete operational changes.

Coordination and Evaluation Support

• Coordinate logistics and data collection for external evaluations and third party surveys; liaise with evaluators and donors and ensure data and ethical standards are met.
• Train field staff and volunteers on MEAL tools, ethical data collection, informed consent, confidentiality and basic analysis techniques.
• Support the design and roll out of a mobile friendly dashboard for real time tracking of key protection and shelter indicators.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer/Information Technology, Social Sciences, or related field.
• Minimum 2 years of practical MEAL experience in humanitarian or development projects, preferably with shelter, NFI, protection or cash programs.
• Proven experience designing surveys, PDMs, FGDs/KIIs, and complaint registers; strong Excel skills (pivot tables, formulas) and experience with Power BI, Google Data Studio or Tableau.
• Experience with mobile data collection platforms (Kobo, ODK, SurveyCTO) and basic database management (CSV handling, simple SQL desirable).
• Demonstrated understanding of data quality assurance, anonymization techniques, and ethical handling of sensitive protection data.
• Prior fieldwork experience and willingness to travel regularly to remote sites.
• Fluency in Arabic and excellent knowledge in English; ability to produce Arabic learning briefs and IEC content.
• Certifications or training in MEAL, PDM methodology, qualitative analysis, or data visualization are advantageous.
• Experience coordinating evaluations and conducting market assessments.

Competencies and Personal Attributes:

• Strong ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative data into clear, actionable insights and recommendations.
• Meticulous in data cleaning, documentation, version control and maintaining audit trails.
• Clear written and verbal communication; able to present findings to technical and non-technical audiences and draft concise learning briefs.
• Unwavering commitment to confidentiality, informed consent, and protection of vulnerable respondents.
• Confident facilitator of FGDs, KIIs and cross team reflection sessions; skilled at eliciting diverse perspectives.
• Quick learner of new MEAL tools, dashboards and mobile platforms; comfortable troubleshooting field data issues.
• Culturally sensitive, inclusive and able to design tools that capture the voices of women, PWDs, elderly and minority groups.
• Collaborative team player who can train and coach enumerators, volunteers and field staff.
• Resourceful and pragmatic in resolving data collection challenges, low response rates, or logistical constraints.
• Able to manage competing deadlines, prioritize tasks and deliver timely dashboards and reports.
• Able to work in dynamic field conditions, maintain composure under pressure, and support staff wellbeing during demanding data collection periods.
• Curious and proactive about documenting lessons learned and improving MEAL practices over time.