MEAL Officer, IPC & WASH

The MEAL Officer, IPC/WASH supports the operational implementation of the monitoring system for IPC/WASH interventions in health facilities and community sites. The role involves database management, digitalization of data collection tools, conducting IPC assessments, quality control of data, and producing analyses to guide the Ebola response in Ituri and North Kivu provinces.

Responsibilities

• Implement the monitoring system for IPC/WASH interventions in supported health facilities and community sites according to the MEAL plan, logical framework and Ebola response requirements.
• Develop and maintain a consolidated database to track activities, supported sites, health facilities, supervisions, distributions of inputs and PPE, triage and WASH works, hygiene committees and corrective actions.
• Digitalize monitoring tools in CommCare integrating validation controls, unique identifiers and deduplication mechanisms.
• Ensure use of IRC's standard IPC Toolkit v2 for health facility assessments and quality, synchronization and exploitation of generated data.
• Update Indicator Tracking Table (ITT), reach tracker, master site lists and dashboards ensuring accuracy of targets, achievements, locations, periods and disaggregations.
• Regularly compare planned activities to achievements, identify implementation gaps and report actions requiring decision or follow-up by Health/WASH and MEAL teams.
• Plan and conduct IPC assessments in health facilities coordinating with Health/WASH teams and health authorities using IRC IPC Toolkit v2 and Ministry of Health IPC tools as applicable.
• Harmonize approaches, indicators and collection methods to avoid duplication, strengthen national ownership and ensure comparability of results.
• Ensure reliable data collection on key IPC domains including screening, triage and isolation, hygiene, cleaning and PPE, water, sanitation, healthcare waste management and IPC governance.
• Analyze scores, deviations from standards and trends to identify critical risks, intervention priorities and support needs at health facilities.
• Contribute with Health and WASH Coordinators to develop recovery and improvement plans based on assessment results and follow up actions, deadlines and progress.
• Ensure assessment results guide operational planning, infrastructure and equipment prioritization, resource allocation and response adaptation.
• Implement regular quality controls to ensure completeness, accuracy, consistency, timeliness, validity and integrity of data from IRC teams and partners.
• Conduct field verifications and cross-checks between digital data, registers, activity reports, attendance lists, distribution forms and other primary sources documenting corrections made.
• Maintain databases, trackers, verification sources and dashboards applying appropriate backup, version control and access management procedures.
• Analyze data by health facility, health zone, partner, activity and period to monitor coverage, results, gaps, trends and progress of corrective actions.
• Update Power BI dashboards and other visualization products and produce clear summaries for monitoring meetings, internal and donor reports and performance reviews.
• Present key results and recommendations to MEAL and Health/WASH teams and promote their use for decision-making and continuous quality improvement.
• Ensure secure and confidential data management in line with IRC policies especially for sensitive patient, health staff and incident information.
• Train and support IRC teams, partners, enumerators and health facility staff on monitoring tools, CommCare, indicator definitions, IPC assessments and data quality requirements.
• Provide practical support during digital tool deployment and initial data collections and ensure ongoing coaching to improve quality, consistency and timeliness of reporting.
• Collaborate with health authorities and partners to harmonize IRC tools with national systems, strengthen data flows and avoid duplication of collections.
• Participate in planning meetings, program reviews and project cycle meetings to present results, gaps and priority follow-up actions.
• Contribute to an inclusive, respectful, collaborative and problem-solving work environment.

Requirements

• At least one year of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation, data management, public health, WASH or related field; two or more years preferred.
• Experience in primary data collection, quality control and reporting in humanitarian or health contexts.
• Experience monitoring health facilities, IPC, WASH in health or epidemic response is a significant advantage.
• Experience working with field teams, health structures, public authorities or local partners is desirable.
• Practical knowledge of indicators, monitoring plans, activity databases, digital data collection tools, quality controls and descriptive analyses.
• Practical experience with CommCare or similar mobile platform including form configuration, testing and deployment; knowledge of Power BI or visualization tools is desirable.
• Good command of Microsoft Excel and Word with demonstrated ability to structure and maintain databases, produce tracking tables, charts and clear reports.
• Ability to rigorously observe facilities, document evidence, identify inconsistencies and follow up corrective actions.
• Organizational skills, attention to detail, autonomy, flexibility and ability to work under pressure in a dynamic environment.
• University or technical degree in monitoring and evaluation, public health, nursing, hygiene, WASH, environment, statistics, data management or related field.
• Fluent French required; professional knowledge of English desirable.
• Proficiency in Swahili and/or other local languages of Ituri is highly desirable.

Skills

• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Data Management
• Public Health
• WASH
• Primary Data Collection
• Quality Control
• Reporting
• Health Facility Monitoring
• IPC Monitoring
• Epidemic Response
• Field Team Coordination
• Indicator Development
• Monitoring Plans
• Activity Databases
• Digital Data Collection
• Descriptive Analysis
• CommCare
• Form Configuration
• Form Testing
• Form Deployment
• Power BI
• Data Visualization
• MS Excel
• Database Management
• Report Writing
• Evidence Documentation

Languages

French, English, Swahili