Re-advertisement: MEAL Officer - AHEAD Project

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is recruiting a Re-advertisement: MEAL Officer - AHEAD Project for their Somalia office. The successful candidate will bring strong Monitoring And Evaluation experience spanning at least 5 - 6 years. The application deadline is Aug, 27 — early applications are encouraged.

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a

highly qualified MEAL Officer – (AHEAD).

About the job

The MEAL Officer is responsible for leading the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning

(MEAL) activities for the AHEAD project, a multi-year global initiative aiming to shift humanitarian

response from reactive aid to proactive foresight. The primary focus of this role is to generate a robust

evidence base that demonstrates the credibility, feasibility, and cost-efficiency of Anticipatory Action

(AA) for conflict-induced displacement compared to traditional reactive responses.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Impact Evaluation & Analysis: Support the design and lead the country-level impact evaluation for

AHEAD Somalia, including data collection tools, sampling strategy, statistical analysis, and

complementary qualitative methods to assess the effectiveness of AA compared to reactive

response.

Data Management: Manage quantitative data collection using KoBo and qualitative analysis,

ensuring all data is disaggregated by age, gender and diversity.

Ground-Truthing & Validation: Facilitate the "ground-truthing" process by validating AI-driven

machine learning forecasts against community-level early warning indicators provided by local

peacebuilding and protection committees.

Process Monitoring and Learning: Organize after-action reviews following each activation,

contribute to country case studies, and participate in cross-country learning exchanges through

the AHEAD MEAL Technical Working Group.

System Building and Advocacy Document the co-design of AAPs and AA mechanisms, track

endorsement at national coordination level, and identify opportunities where AHEAD evidence can

influence response priorities and funding decisions.

Accountability: Implement and manage Community Feedback Mechanisms (CFMs), including

call centres and help desks, to track community perceptions and ensure interventions are safe

and accessible for marginalized groups.

Indicator Tracking: Monitor and report on specific project indicators, including forecasting

accuracy (aiming for a 13% average error), stakeholder use of forecasts, and beneficiary

perceptions of timely/dignified response.

Value for Money (VfM): Conduct financial and output analysis to determine the cost-efficiency and

ABOUT DRC

Founded in 1956, DRC Danish

Refugee Council is Denmark’s

largest, and a leading

international NGO. We have

continuously been ranked as

one of the best NGOs in the

world - and are one of the few

VfM of proactive AA interventions compared to reactive ones.

Hard-to-Reach (H2R) Analysis: Support H2R assessments to identify access strategies and

specific vulnerabilities of populations in constrained conflict zones.

Capacity Building: Train project staff, partners, and community committees on MEAL tools, data

handling procedures (GDPR compliance), and conflict-sensitive monitoring.

Learning & Dissemination: Compile evidence and learning reports to be shared at national

Technical Working Groups (TWG) and global forums to influence policy change.

Reporting: Provide high-quality data and narrative inputs for quarterly Global Snapshots, annual

narrative reports, and donor-specific financial/narrative package.

Coordination Participate in bi-weekly calls with the Global MEAL Lead and monthly AHEAD MEAL

Technical Working Group.

About Somalia

Somalia is located in the Horn of Africa and has a growing job market, particularly in the humanitarian, development, and private sectors. Major employment hubs include Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Garowe, Baidoa, and Kismayo, with opportunities from international NGOs, UN agencies, government institutions, and an expanding private sector.

Ereyada Soomaaliga (Somali Keywords): Shaqo Buuxda • Kormeerka & Qiimaynta • Shaqo Cusub

To be successful in this role we expect you to have:

Minimum Bachelor degree in a relevant field (Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Information

Management, or International Development), Master’s degree in a related field is desirable.

Minimum of 5 years of experience in MEAL within a humanitarian or development context,

preferably in fragile settings affected by conflict

Relevant certifications in Monitoring & Evaluation, data analysis, or impact evaluation (e.g., SPSS,

Stata, or R) are an added advantage.

Minimum 2–3 years specifically in research and/or impact evaluation (RCTs, quasi experimental, or

similar analytical work)

Demonstrated experience in leading or co-leading impact evaluations and quasi-experimental

studies, with a strong understanding of causal inference methodologies.

Strong knowledge of designing and managing control and treatment group studies in

humanitarian or development contexts, including sampling strategies, baseline comparability,

and bias mitigation techniques.

Advanced proficiency in digital data collection tools, specifically KoBo Toolbox and qualitative

management platforms (e.g. Nvivo or Atlas.ti)

Proven expertise in statistical analysis for impact evaluations, with hands-on experience using

statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R, or Python) to conduct analyses such as regression

modeling, propensity score matching, and outcome comparisons.

Experience in data visualization and the ability to interpret complex forecasting models or earth

observation data is highly desirable.

Strong understanding of Age, Gender, and Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM) and conflict-sensitive

"Do No Harm" approaches.

Practical experience applying MEAL approaches in Anticipatory Action or Early Warning Early

Action (EWEA) programming, including trigger-based frameworks, forecast accuracy assessment,

and activation timeline monitoring.

Familiarity with financial analysis or tracking Value for Money (VfM) indicators.

Excellent organizational skills with close attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure

with tight reporting deadlines

Familiarity with humanitarian coordination mechanisms and key international standards.

Commitment to and understanding of DRC’s aims, values and principles

Languages: Proficiency in written & spoken both English and Somali

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 uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and

professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding

against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 1 year with the possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance.

Employment Band: None Management - H2

Work

location: Mogadishu

Start date: September 2026

Reporting to: Project Manager (AHEAD Project)

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment

for employees on national contract.

Application process

All Applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in

English

Applications sent by email will not be considered

Closing date for applications: 27th August 2026

This Position is open to both internal and external candidates (National position)

Qualified Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply

with a specific expertise in

forced displacement. In around

30 countries, we protect,

advocate and build sustainable

futures for refugees and other

displacement-affected people

and communities.

DRC as an employer

By working in DRC, you will be joining a global workforce of around 6000 employees in approximately

30 countries. We pride ourselves on our:

Professionalism, impact & expertise

Humanitarian approach & the work we do

Purpose, meaningfulness & own contribution

Culture, values & strong leadership

Fair compensation & continuous development

DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of

concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and

professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against

sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background

checks as part of the recruitment process.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit

drc.ngo/jobsupport.

Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer and we consider all applicants

based on individual merit and qualifications, regardless of personal characteristics or

attributes. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce, aiming for a 50%

balance of men and women in management roles and ensuring that at least 50% of

management roles are filled by national staff. We recognize that a diverse and inclusive team

is crucial for achieving our organizational goals and making a positive impact on the

communities we serve.

Apply on employer site