MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning) Officer

Job Purpose

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning Officer is responsible for the development and the implementation of appropriate and viable appraisal, MEAL systems that are in line with the ACTED’s global MEAL procedures, and contributing to ensuring that ACTED’s projects perform as planned, from a quality, relevance, impact, appropriateness and sustainability perspective.

Objectives

Implement solid MEAL systems and mechanisms that are in line with global MEAL procedures and deliver effective research/outputs in a way to inform timely decision making and the adoption of sound corrective measures, to ensure quality, relevance, impact, appropriateness and sustainability.

Ensure lessons learnt and best practices are discoursed and documented.

Contribute to the effective functioning of beneficiary complaints and response mechanism and  enhance  the  trust  and  confidence  of  beneficiaries,  identify  areas  of  our work  which  need  to  be  improved  and  ensure  that  ACTED  learns  from  the  feedback  provided  through this  process. 

Ensure the operations and delivery of MEAL functions through effective management of MEAL team members.

Duties and Responsibilities

MEAL Systems

    1.Technical and Systems Development

Contribute to the development and updating of the MEAL frameworks for ongoing projects;

Implement the MEAL policies and  procedures as described in the ACTED MEAL standard guidelines and make sure that the tools and methodologies are followed as applicable;

Contribute to an effective roll-out of M&E data collection and reporting systems to all staff and partners through training, site visits, manuals, and other technical support as needed.

    2.MEAL Implementation and Management

Develop the ToRs and mission plans and carry out assessments (baselines, ad hoc, mid-terms, endlines) as reflected in the ToR and mission plan;

Develop and oversee the implementation of appropriate data collection and analysis instruments, methodologies (e.g. survey questionnaires, focus group discussions, key-informant interviews) and data/information dissemination/utilization plans;

Closely supervise data collection activities and ensure that data collection teams are organized and resourced as needed, and that they deliver as per field mission plans and according to data quality standards;

Maintain electronic and/or paper-based MIS systems for tracking and reporting all quantitative data and information including reporting on ACTED’s standard  indicators;

Analyze MEAL data and produce reports, factsheets with useful statistical analysis and presentation (charts, tables, histograms, box plots) as necessary in a timely manner;

Measure and report on qualitative and quantitative input, process, output, outcome, impact, objective, and goal-level performance indicators for all projects;

Provide MEAL related capacity strengthening, coaching, mentoring and awareness to partners and other institutions supported by ACTED as appropriate;

Represent ACTED in different forums on MEAL related issues when required.

3.Learning

Contribute to proactive dissemination and use of knowledge gained through MEAL activities among Project Managers, Technical Coordinators and Project Development Manager/Officers;

Contribute to organizing and facilitating learning events in order to capture best practices and lessons learnt when a project closes or as required;

Document and share the lessons learnt and best practices on time and ensure that the knowledge gained contributes to the improvement of projects and influence the strategic development of future projects and activities;

Support project implementation and improvement by providing timely information around project successes to be scaled up as well as challenges to allow ‘course correction’ throughout life of the program.

4.Beneficiary Complaints and Response Mechanism

Contributing to the implementation of the beneficiary Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) for ongoing projects in line with ACTED standard beneficiary CRM procedures;

Contribute to the proper management of beneficiary complaints/feedback by ensuring that these are adequately captured, analyzed, addressed and responded to in a timely manner, as well as utilized by the program and coordination teams

Build, maintain and reinforce capacity and understanding among ACTED staff, partners and contractors on beneficiary accountability and CRM.

5.MEAL Team Management

Manage MEAL enumerators delineating their responsibilities and follow-up the work plans and day-to-day activities;

Ensure that staff under the direct responsibility understand and are able to perform their roles and responsibilities;

Ensure a positive working environment and good team dynamics;

Manage interpersonal conflicts among team members;

Identify the MEAL training needs of team members and discuss plans with the MEAL Manager for both internal and external trainings;

Coach, train, and mentor MEAL Assistants and enumerators with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the MEAL team;

6.Other

Provide regular and timely updates on progress and challenges to supervisors and other team members;

Participate in MEAL-related conferences and workshops when possible and stay up to date of best practices and new knowledge created in the field of MEAL;

Perform any other related activities as assigned by immediate supervisor.

Key Performance Indicators

Percent of projects for which there is an updated MEAL framework at the beginning of each month and shared with the Project Manager (Target: 100%)

Percent of projects for which GREAT indicators are in place and effectively measured through appropriate data collection tools (Target: 100%)

Percent of projects for which there is a clear and detailed MEAL plan developed (Target: 100%)

Percent of projects for which the MEAL plan is implemented as planned, with respect of internal and contractual deadlines (Target: 100%)

Percent of tools & ToRs that are relevant to the objectives of the project and indicators to be measured (Target: 100%)

Percent of data analysis conducted autonomously with the use of EXCEL (Target: 100%)

Percent of MEAL assessments that lead to clear MEAL findings results shared timely with relevant departments through appropriate and relevant forma (Target: 100%)

Percent of MEAL on-site monitoring visits that lead to clear MEAL findings results shared timely with relevant departments through appropriate and relevant format (Target: 100%)

Percent of projects for which learning events to capture best practices and lessons learnt are organized/facilitated when relevant (Target: 100%)

QUALIFICATIONS

Mandatory requirements

Language skills: Fluent in English and Arabic (speaking/reading/writing)

Education degree: Secondary diploma in Humanitarian, Political Science, Economy, International Relations, Statistics or related field

Work experience: Experience in MEAL in NGOs

Knowledge & skills: Good analytical, reporting and writing skills

Computer skills: Very good knowledge of the MS office software (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Transversal skills:

Well organized and attention to details

Conflict resolution and diplomacy experience

Ability to analyse and suggest improvement

Autonomy, proactiveness, neutrality, hard worker

Able to manage stress and pressure

Very good team spirit