Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager

Function: MEAL Unit

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager for Afghanistan

Contract Duration: 6 months initial (for possible extension)

Location: station in Mazar-i-Sharif with frequent travels to Kabul (depending on the security situation)

Reporting to: Country Director

 

People In Need (PIN) Afghanistan

PIN is a Czech, non-governmental, non-profit organisation founded on the ideals of humanism, freedom, equality and solidarity. Human dignity and freedom are fundamental values and we believe that people anywhere in the world should have the right to make decisions about their own lives and share the rights expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

People in Need’s Afghanistan country programme (CP) started in November 2001, providing emergency food distribution in mountainous areas of the central highlands. 20 years later, the programme has visibly grown and diversified, but continues to promote PIN’s core values: envisioning a world where people are free to make decisions about their lives; a world where people are not restricted by an un-free society, poverty, lack of education or discrimination. Today, we work along the humanitarian and development spectrum, providing immediate aid supporting the most vulnerable in Afghanistan to find long-term solutions to the challenges they face.

Background

PIN Afghanistan’s three strategic objectives for the current planning period (2021-2022) are (1) Agency driven, transformative, humanitarian assistance; (2) Making markets work for crisis affected and marginalised communities; and, (3) Harnessing decent, productive and inclusive livelihoods. Under the current evolving context and on the verge of unseen humanitarian catastrophe, the Country Programme (CP) is focusing efforts under Strategic Objective 1 and in particular supporting people to have (1) enough to eat, (2) a safe and secure living space that supports their health and well-being, (3) the basic items needed to stay safe and warm, and (4) access to education when the normal structures are no longer available to them.

Purpose of the Role

MEAL Manager will manage and supervise the MEAL unit in Afghanistan, having the overall responsibility over MEAL activities on the mission and MEAL coordination to ensure project quality and information dissemination. The MEAL Manager will (1) develop and/or maintain MEAL standards, procedures and strategic priorities for improvement of the MEAL system in line with the global PIN MEAL policies and priorities (2) develop tools for quantitative and qualitative data collection, oversee the initial stages of data collection, supervise data validity and quality of analysis. (3) build capacity of MEAL and CP staff, facilitate capacity building and focus on strengthening internal coordination and robust information management in the country program (4) promote programmatic learning to improve the quality of programs at PIN Afghanistan (5) build and maintain accountability mechanisms, knowledge sharing and organisational learning at the Country Programme

Responsibilities and Duties

Management and Coordination of MEAL systems, tools and procedures at the Country Programme

• Building and maintaining accountability mechanisms, knowledge sharing and organisational learning at the Country Programme
• Quality Assurance of Data Management & Reporting
• Establishing appropriate MEAL structures, building MEAL team capacities and maintaining adequate division of roles at the Country Programme between MEAL and other staff

• Maintains, updates and further adapts monitoring and evaluation system(s), procedures and guidelines applicable for the whole Country Programme, including particular monitoring frameworks and plans for each project (and proposals) according to PIN Global Guidance.
• Provides technical support during project MEAL planning, including guidance on developing the Results Framework, Indicator Tracking Table (ITT), and methodologies and MEAL tools. Provide technical support in activity and results-based monitoring in the field, including ensuring that MEAL unit, project teams, implementing partners and enumerators follow the instructions/agreed methodology
• Drafts and regularly updates MEAL workplans and data collection plans at the Country Programme. Supports in beneficiary verification and assists in preparing tools for data collection; when relevant collect data and process it.
• Supports project teams in developing quality standards for all key program interventions to strengthen the compliance and quality aspects. Prepares or adapts monitoring tools for key activities in collaboration with Head of Programmes (HOP) in order to measure indicators from the logframe as well as the quality of processes). Ensures that MEAL data and reports are consistent with mission-wide reporting requirements, of high quality and on time.

Building and maintaining accountability mechanisms, knowledge sharing and organisational learning at the Country Programme

• Promotes and strengthens the understanding of the importance of MEAL within the organization
• Provides technical support in operating accountability mechanisms and its promotion/visibility amongst the project participants, especially the Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) to ensure accessibility by beneficiaries and stakeholders. Oversees the receiving of complaints and feedback via the established channels, the recording of complaints in the complaints log, and ensures that complaints are handled confidentially and in line with the defined timeline. Ensures that complainants receive timely feedback about the status of their complaint. Refers to investigations or follow-up monitoring related to complaints based on Country Managements Decision.
• Shares lessons learnt with Country Director, Head of Programme (HoP) and programme team members in order to timely adjust the implementation of programmes. Supports HoP to facilitate discussion on the most important findings and recommendations from MEAL and systematically support the Programme teams in the use of MEAL results and findings. Maintains overview of lessons learned and best practice, and identifies ways to strengthen PIN’s planning, monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Provides technical support in evaluations and other research activities, including engaging in ToR preparation, selection of consultants, review of evaluation design and data collection methodology, data quality assurance, data analysis, involvement of stakeholders and dissemination plan.

Quality Assurance of Data Management & Reporting

• Tributes to periodic projects’ review process in cooperation with Country Director, Head of Programmes, Emergency Coordinator and other relevant staff.
• Ensures the unified database of program outputs is maintained. Implements electronic, mobile data collection systems in MEAL processes.
• Conducts data and feedback analysis, secondary sources overview when adequate and prepares adequate reports. Helps design and review data collection/tracking tools/formats/databases to ensure data quality, reliability and consistency throughout project implementation.
• Ensure archival of MEAL documents in ELO for all active projects

Establishing appropriate MEAL structures, building MEAL team capacities and maintaining adequate division of roles at the Country Programme between MEAL and other staff

Manages and supervises MEAL team at the Country Programme to ensure they deliver on all internal and external MEAL requirements in a timely manner and with high quality information.

Reviews existing structure dedicated to MEAL; sets objectives for the employees; assesses the workload and performance of MEAL employees.

Facilitates recruitment of staff dedicated for MEAL processes. Updates job description of MEAL staff and in cooperation and support of Programs Director and Emergency Coordinator ensures division of roles between MEAL personnel and other staff.

Identifies MEAL capacity development needs of CP staff, and provides tailor-made, practical trainings to project staff based on capacity needs assessment. Ensure that all MEAL unit, project team members and implementing partners’ staff understand and know how to use MEAL tools. Train MEAL unit, related project team members and implementing partners in assessment methodologies and tools

In cooperation with HoP and finance, ensures that appropriate resource is available for activities and personnel related to the functions of MEAL department, including by preparing the MEAL budget section of all new proposals;

Skills and Qualifications

Qualification

• Bachelors (Masters preferred) degree is social science or any related field

Experience (required)

• Minimum of 5-years relevant MEAL experience in a professional environment, preferably in a humanitarian/development setting
• Minimum of 3-year experience and progressive responsibility coordinating and managing donor level initiatives including direct engagement and reporting;
• Experience working in complex and volatile context
• Advanced excel and data analysis and software knowledge
• Strong data management skills
• Proven data collection, analysis and report writing skills
• Experience in both qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• Experience with KoBo Toolbox or other ODK software is desirable. Experience of statistical and data management software (STATA, SPSS) is an advantage
• Technical expertise in evidence-based monitoring and evaluation approaches and practices both for accountability and learning processes
• Understanding of Afghan context is an asset
• Fluency in English - written and spoken

Competencies

• Results orientation;
• Strategic thinking;
• Initiating action and change;
• Analytical skills, sound judgement;
• Flexible, proactive approach;
• Gender and cultural sensitivity;
• Handling sensitive data.
• High degree of rationality; a scientific wake of thinking, and a very good grasp of logic
• Outstanding communication skills - written and spoken
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated patience, enthusiasm and strong personal skills with attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work both independently and cooperatively with team members.
• High ethical standards and ability to endorse principals of confidentiality
• Commitment to and understanding of PIN’s aims, values and principles
• Capacity to meet deadlines

PIN offers:

• Flexible and challenging working environment with room for personal growth
• Robust and thorough induction training at HQ (2 weeks)
• HEAT training (unless the candidate participated in one recently)
• Starting salary defined by PIN salary scale (approx. 3300 – 3700 EUR commensurate with experience; before taxation, including per diem)
• Reimbursement of flight ticket to the country of residence once every 6 months of work, 2 regional flights per year for R&R trips
• Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure,
• Medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available on line,
• Travel insurance,
• 25 days of paid leave annually and 15 days of R&R leave
• Accommodation in PIN guesthouse

How to apply:

Are you interested in this position? Send us your CV and short cover letter (no longer than 4 pages altogether) via this application form.

Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.

People in Need staff are expected to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need Code of Conduct and key policies (available at: www.peopleinneed.cz/policies).