Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant (Local Posting)

Near East Foundation

Job Announcement

Title:  Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant 

Reports to:  Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Location:  Beirut, Lebanon

Travel:  40% travel between project sites within Lebanon (Bekaa, Beirut and North of Lebanon).

Expected starting date: As soon as possible

Contract end date: July 31, 2021

The Near East Foundation (NEF) is seeking candidates for a Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant, for a period of about 6 months, based in Beirut, Lebanon. For over 100 years, the Near East Foundation (NEF) has worked to build more sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive communities in the Middle East, Caucasus, and Africa through education, governance, and economic development initiatives. Working through a network of country offices and local partners, NEF currently has approximately 250 staff members – almost all nationals – and programs in eight countries: Armenia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Mali, Morocco, Sudan, and Syria. Its programs are organized around three themes: Inclusive Economic Development, Climate Resilient Development, and Peacebuilding and Stabilization. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant is a member of the Near East Foundation team in Lebanon, reporting to the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer. The purpose of the Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant is to ensure all M&E responsibilities are performed to the highest standards and according to donor and NEF guidelines.  The post-holder also assumes communication and visibility responsibilities for the Lebanon operation.  The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Assistant will be responsible for all data collection and collation for NEF’s Programs.  S/he will be in regular contact with field staff to monitor the collection of data and ensure accuracy and timeliness.  Furthermore, he/she will contribute to weekly/monthly progress and implementation reports under the supervision of the M&E Officer.

RESPONSIBILITIES

•  Support in the areas of data collection and internal reporting with guidance from the M&E Officer and in close collaboration with departmental and field teams. 
• Provide support in monitoring and evaluating ongoing projects at the field level.
• Monitor the field activities based on the project implementation plan using NEF monitoring and evaluation tools and procedures.
• Assist in developing operational monitoring tools (e.g., checklists, questionnaires, databases, interviews, and survey forms, etc.)
• Collect, enter, and analyze data on monthly basis, depending on project requirements, while ensuring data accuracy and reliability
• Provide timely inputs to the management team for new initiatives and on improvements on M&E issues.
• Data entry on Activity-Info and other data reporting platforms.
• Support research (desk and/or field) and study activities on M&E related issues.
• Operationalize all the NEF M&E procedures and tools (e.g., KOBO, smartphones, NEF Database, etc.);
• Train, support and supervise the volunteers and field agents (NEF and partners) implementing the vulnerability assessments, baselines, follow-up and end-line surveys (with KOBO tools), and collect project activities data (in NEF Database);
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits and follow-ups, and carry out focus group discussions with NEF beneficiaries, as requested;
• Review and ensure the quality and accuracy of the data collected and stored (data cleaning and entry);
• Treat and analyze the data against performance indicators, and inform promptly when progress against project indicators is ahead or behind target;
• Assist in the finalization of quarterly, annual and final reports;
• Assist in the statistical analysis (using excel or equivalent tool) for impact assessments;
• Support in the processes for mid and/or final term evaluations;
• Support in the program learning activities and analysis; 
• Contribute to the design and development of future project proposals;
• Collect and prepare communication and visibility materials (project overviews, project fact sheets, success stories, website material, etc.);
• Prepare and accompany field visits of NEF and external visitors, photographers, journalists, or media;
• Perform other duties as required and requested

QUALIFICATIONS 

The successful Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant must be a self-directed individual with the following qualifications: 

Basic Qualifications: These are the qualifications that are necessary for someone to be considered for the position.  

• Bachelor degree in social sciences, humanities, quantitative/qualitative research methods, public health, or any other related field;
• 2 years relevant work experience in data collection preferably in social work, community development, non-government, and/or outreach organizations;
• Fluent in English and Arabic, both written and spoken
• Proficient in MS Office applications, including Word and Excel
• Experience using Digital Data collection applications (e.g., KoboCollect)
• Ability to live and work in Lebanon without company sponsorship

Position Success Criteria:

• Effective team player, able to develop and maintain effective working relationships within a distributed and dynamic team;
• Able to read and analyze documents, and communicate with others as necessary to perform job duties effectively;
• Solid written and verbal communication skills;
• Good interpersonal and cultural sensitivity skills;
• Flexibility and willingness to travel to the field and engage with vulnerable communities.