Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager

Location

Starting Date & Initial Contract Details

January 2023. Full-time, 12 to 24 months.

Role Overview

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager plays a vital role in improving the quality of multi-sector responses provided through Medair’s programmes. This varied and challenging role involves development of a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Country Strategy, designing and ensuring the implementation and impact of appropriate Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning systems throughout the Medair South Sudan Programme and introducing appropriate use of available innovative MEAL tools. The MEL Manager will be involved in coordinating and supporting MEAL aspects of health, nutrition, WASH and NFI programmes, line management of MEAL staff and training of programme staff to implement appropriate MEAL measures. The MEAL Manager will also be required to represent Medair at relevant meetings with clusters, local authorities, NGOs and other stakeholders.

Project Overview

Multi-sector emergency response programme including the provision of emergency health, nutrition, WASH, and NFI/Shelter services for vulnerable populations in South Sudan.

Our Culture

Key Activity Areas

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Oversight in multi-sector projects

• Develop a country MEAL strategy, in liaison with the sector advisors.
• Support roll out of a MEAL initiative for collecting ongoing programme data, and coordinate data analysis and use with relevant technical advisors and the Program Funding Manager.
• Support the PCs and PMs to understand the MEAL system and become familiar with MEAL requirements for their project. Responsible for ensuring the integration of Beneficiary Accountability within the MEAL framework in all aspects of the programme.
• Liaise with Project Coordinators, Project Managers and Advisors to ensure internal and external MEAL requirements are scheduled and budgeted at appropriate stage in programme management cycle.
• Ensure all Medair and donor M+E indicators are followed up and reported on. Provide additional support to programme management activities. Input into the development of the SDS country strategy, new projects and/or donor proposals as requested by CD, DCDs and sector advisors.
• Ensure cross cutting issues (HIV/AIDS, gender consideration and environment marker) as well as conflict sensitivity/”do no harm” approach are incorporated, monitored and evaluated.
• Support MAEL elements of proposal and report writing including provision of data, indicator progress and monitoring plans in cooperation with field managers and field and GSO sector advisors.
• Ensure sector MAEL systems are harmonized in South Sudan projects from data sheet collection to data base.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Management

• Coordinate with staff and GSO technical advisors for recommended indicators and review of measurement plans.
• Develop monitoring plans for all proposals in collaboration with programme managers and sector advisors.
• Work with sector advisors to develop and standardize survey tools and other data collection forms for monitoring programmes.
• Coordinate and oversee implementation of baseline surveys, needs assessments, KPC surveys, SMART surveys, midterm and end of project evaluations and other relevant monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Coordinate recruitment of consultants and oversee recruited consultants during surveys, baselines and evaluations. Support role out of innovative and updated MEAL technology and software.
• Promote measures to safeguard MEAL institutional memory in SDS programme by advising on reporting, data management and communicating lessons learned from MEAL.
• Participate in the quarterly management and country strategy meetings.
• Follow up necessary action points from the quarterly programme progress and strategy meetings.
• Train relevant programmes staff on MEAL tools, data collection and analysis and basic surveying and sampling techniques. Assist project staff to manage programme data for regular monitoring of programme progress.

Staff Management

• Line-manage the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Officers and any additional temporary or surge capacity MEL staff, including recruitment, day-to-day management, development and training, appraisals.
• Ensure line managed staff receive supervision, mentoring and training in order to develop their personal and professional skills, knowledge and understanding. This may be through on-the-job training and taught sessions.
• Hold regular team meetings with the assigned programme support staff, reviewing team and individual objectives and ensuring team members are kept informed of issues relevant to their work.
• Promote the health and security of the monitoring and evaluation teams in the field by ensuring the application of security guidelines, provision of essential communication equipment, guidelines for health and safety in the workplace and healthy living conditions and practices.
• Assist in the recruitment of local field staff to implement monitoring and evaluation activities within the intervention location following all HR policies of Medair and national policies.
• Attend relevant external coordination and feedback information, as applicable, to the managers and staff.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• University degree in public health, Biostatistics/Statistics, international development or other social science.
• Excellent working knowledge of English (speaking and writing).

What is the ROC and why is it required?

Experience

• Training and experience in epidemiology, statistics and software including SPSS, STATA or EPI info.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian programs.
• Post-qualification management experience in a relevant profession.
• Experience working in a cross-cultural setting, preferably in a support role.
• 3 years of work experience in managing MEAL in multi sector.
• Solid experience in managing a humanitarian MEAL system, supervising household surveys, reporting writing.

All new deploying international staff to Medair’s country programmes (and other roles which require field travel) should be fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved COVID vaccine, supported with a COVID vaccination certificate as evidence.