Back MEAL Coordinator (Y-LEAD), Iligan City-based

Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Coordinator

Location: Iligan City, Philippines

Travel: Travelling to the project sites is necessary

Job Family and Level: T4 - Technical

Pre hire checks: This role is classified as requiring standard pre-employment checks

Scope

Responsibility: Country level

Department: Programs Department

Reporting to: Project Manager

Direct reports: NA

Budget responsibility: NA

Relationship management: Programs team, MEAL, Support, BARMM ministries and LGUs, and implementing partner

Context

About Relief International

Relief International (RI) partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience, and promote long-term health and well-being.

Currently, we work in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, providing Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education and Livelihoods programming that creates the foundation for community resilience.

Relief International includes the four corporate members of the RI Alliance: Relief International Inc., Relief International-UK, Relief International-France, and Relief International-Europe. Under our alliance agreement, we operate with a single, shared management structure.

About the Philippines Country Program

Relief International Philippines operates with a strong focus on peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and development programming in areas affected by conflict, natural disasters, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. Since establishing its presence in the country, RI has worked closely with local communities, civil society organizations, and government institutions to support conflict-affected populations, promote social cohesion, and deliver life-saving assistance. The country's program integrates gender equality, youth empowerment, and community resilience across its portfolio, ensuring that interventions address both immediate needs and long-term structural challenges.

RI Philippines implements programs in Mindanao and other high-risk regions, supporting initiatives on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), protection, education in emergencies, and health. It also plays a role in disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness, responding to both conflict- and climate-induced emergencies. Through a localized and participatory approach, RI Philippines strengthens local capacities and promotes inclusive development, aligning with national frameworks and global humanitarian and development standards.

Job Profile

The MEAL Coordinator ensures that RI Philippines’ programs—particularly those under the Y-LEAD BARMM: Catalyzing Youth Leadership for Peacebuilding and Participatory Governance in Lanao del Sur (Y-LEAD BARMM) initiative—are guided by evidence, accountable to communities, and continuously improving. The position leads MEAL strategy, field systems, learning processes, and partner capacity strengthening to uphold RI’s quality standards and donor compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Accountability and Complexity

• Leads MEAL processes for the project and ensures tools, indicators, and methods are applied correctly and consistently.
• Reviews and analyzes field data to identify issues and opportunities and shares findings to support project decision-making.
• Builds the capacity of staff and partners in using MEAL tools and following MEAL standards.
• Supports project learning by synthesizing field results and helping the team improve activities.

  Monitoring & Data Quality Management

  • Lead the development and implementation of MEAL frameworks, Indicator Performance Tracking Tables (IPTTs), and data collection tools for Y-LEAD BARMM and other RI projects.
  • Ensure routine monitoring of youth leadership activities, governance engagement, and peacebuilding initiatives with gender and inclusion lenses (GEDSI).
  • Conduct Data Quality Assessments (DQA), validation spot-checks, and mentoring for project and partner teams in Lanao del Sur.
  • Produce timely analytics to support purposeful decision-making and adaptive work planning.

    Evaluation and Assessment

    • Coordinate baseline, midline, endline studies measuring youth empowerment, civic participation, and peace outcomes in BARMM.
    • Lead development of Terms of Reference (ToR) for evaluations and research, ensuring alignment with conflict-sensitive approaches.
    • Manage third-party evaluators when required and ensure findings are shared with youth networks, LGUs, BARMM ministries, and CSO partners.

      Accountability, PSEA & Feedback Mechanisms

      • Design and oversee accessible Feedback and Response Mechanisms (FRM), using community dialogues, digital channels, and hotline pathways tailored to Meranao contexts.
      • Ensure secure, confidential, and survivor-centered reporting pathways that link to RI safeguarding and PSEA focal points.
      • Document and track feedback trends from youth leaders, CSOs, LGUs, and communities; ensure timely resolution and response.

        Learning, Reflection & Knowledge Management

        • Facilitate Learning Workshops, After-Action Reviews, youth-led reflection circles, and adaptive management sessions for Y-LEAD BARMM.
        • Translate MEAL data into practice by supporting curriculum revisions, IEC improvements, and governance lobbying strategies for youth policy engagement.
        • Document success stories and lessons showcasing youth leadership in peacebuilding and participatory governance.

          Reporting, Evidence Use & Donor Compliance

          • Produce evidence-based MEAL reports, dashboards, and learning briefs for RI management, BARMM ministries, and donors.
          • Provide analytical input into donor reports (e.g., outcomes, indicator progress, qualitative change stories).
          • Ensure MEAL activities comply with donor and RI global standards, data protection requirements, PSEA guidelines, and ethical research protocols.

            Data Protection, Ethics & Quality Standards

            • Uphold informed consent, confidentiality, and safe storytelling—especially for minors, women, youth activists, and survivors of exploitation or conflict.
            • Ensure MEAL activities apply Do No Harm, conflict-sensitive principles, data privacy laws, and RI’s safeguarding policies.
            • Regularly assess risks of misinformation, political sensitivities, and unintended consequences in youth civic engagement programs

              Risk Monitoring and Adaptive Management

              • Track program assumptions, political dynamics, and security conditions affecting youth governance participation in BARMM.
              • Provide evidence-based recommendations when local dynamics require rapid program adaptation.
              • Flag protection, safeguarding, or contextual risks directly to RI’s Leadership and Safeguarding Team.

                Behavior and Conduct

                • Will ensure the highest standards of behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies
                • Will be a model for ethical conduct standards for other team members
                • Will ensure own actions and the actions of the teams members they manage do not impact the safety of the RI team and the vulnerable communities we serve
                • Will ensure external stakeholders are aware of RI conduct and reporting mechanisms
                • Report any concerns

                  Person Specification

                  Essential criteria
                  

                  • Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Statistics, Economics, Public Administration, Community Development, or related fields. Master’s degree is an advantage.
                  • Minimum of three progressive years of experience in Monitoring and Evaluation (MEAL), preferably with INGOs and ideally in the Philippines.
                  • Experience applying MEAL tools and methods within humanitarian, development, or peacebuilding programs.
                  • Strong skills in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
                  • Fluency in Filipino and proficiency in Bisaya; excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
                  • Experience working in BARMM or with community-based organizations in Mindanao.

                    Desirable criteria

                    • Experience with cloud-based MEAL tools (e.g., Kobo, DevAlto/LogAlto).
                    • Knowledge of donor reporting requirements and MEAL expectations in INGOs.
                    • Ability to contribute to research, learning, and evidence generation related to governance, peacebuilding, and community engagement.
                    • Familiarity with operational issues in NGO programming.

                      RI Values

                      Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

                      • Integrity
                      • Adaptability
                      • Collaboration
                      • Inclusivity
                      • Sustainability