Cross-Border MEAL Manager At Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V.

The “Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB)” is a German aid and welfare organisation with more than 300 branches at national, regional, district and municipal level all over Germany. Since its foundation in 1888, ASB has acted as a politically and denominationally independent association ensuring a high level of continuity and reliability. ASB is established in Niger since 2005, targeting food security, WASH, risk and disaster reduction and social protection activities, in direct partnership with the municipalities of intervention.

ASB is looking for a Cross-Border Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) manager (contingent upon funding) for a project funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO). ASB and the German NGO arche noVa (AN) have entered a regional consortium to implement the Integrated multisectoral humanitarian assistance for the most at-risk population groups in the bordering Sahel region of Mali/Niger. The aim of the project is to contribute to dignity and improved wellbeing of most at-risk population groups affected by years of conflict and disasters, through Food Security, response capacities of communities on the climate crises, WASH and shelter interventions in the bordering Sahel region of Mali/Niger.

JOB OBJECTIVE:

The Cross-Border MEAL Manager will be responsible for the implementation of the GFFO funded project in Niger and Mali. The Manager is responsible for developing a MEAL plan and tools in line with ASB MEAL guidelines. He/she sets up an effective system for monitoring progress, performance, effects/impacts and project successes. He/she will carry out evaluations, baseline studies, surveys and needs assessments to identify necessary changes and new opportunities. He/she will work closely with the MEAL team of partner organizations and our consortium partner in Niger. He/she may be called upon to support other tasks at the hierarchy’s request.

Location of the Position: Tahoua (Niger) with frequent travel to the Gao area (Mali) and other trips abroad

Duration: 12 months, with the possibility of renewal depending on the candidate’s performance

Position in the organization: The Cross-Border MEAL Manager will be supervised by the Cross-Border Project Manager, Niger.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

Monitoring and evaluation

• Develop and implement M&E tools and system in accordance with ASB guidelines and donor requirements.
• Support close monitoring of implementation to ensure that all activities are carried out in accordance with the plans and various implementation tools.
• Check the project’s progress/results against the project’s objectives and targets and indicators.
• Organise and carry out baseline studies on all project components, interim and final surveys as a continuous improvement and decision-making process.
• Ensure project activities are implemented as per the donor and sector standards and that the designs meet the highest quality and sound approaches.
• Coordinate the implementation and use of an information system combining QGIS and Kobo Toolbox, for data collection, management and geographic visualisation.
• Conduct in country and regional joint visits to check on activity progress.

Knowledge management, documentation and sharing of best practices

• Strengthen staff expertise and skills by analysing partner organization staff’s capacities and developing a learning plan on this basis.
• Train project staff to collect data and lessons learned from existing MEAL tools.
• Establish a learning culture within the organization to document and share learning and best practices for ongoing and future programs.
• Implement a system where MEAL data, reports and records are clearly organized and achieved.
• Ensure the security of all personal and sensitive data collected during evaluations.
• Make qualitative contributions to periodical reports in line with the project’s logical framework and indicators.
• Collaborate with the MEAL managers of the partners in Mali and the consortium in Niger to develop a harmonized MEAL system with comparable data.

Accountability mechanism follow-up and complaints management

• Develop staff induction and training programs and ensure that staff, partners and other stakeholders receive training in local accountability systems (e.g. Local Accountability Framework, Complaint Tracking System).
• Support and train partner organizations in the implementation of accountability mechanisms.
• Ensure that accountability aspects are budgeted for in all new proposals.
• Ensure the implementation of beneficiary complaint and feedback mechanisms, as well as day-to-day monitoring of the implementation of this accountability framework,
• Establish methods and means to ensure that beneficiaries and partners have constant access to information on programs, and to channels that can handle complaints with confidentiality and appropriate responses.

PROFILE:

Requirements

• BAC+5 in one of the following fields: agricultural economics, disaster risk management, development studies, (social) geography, political science, public health or equivalent.
• Training in people and program management would be an additional advantage.
• At least 5 years’ proven experience in MEAL, including 3 years with an international development and/or humanitarian NGO in WASH and livelihoods.
• Experience in HDP Nexus approaches.
• Proven knowledge of M&E policies, methodologies and tools.
• Proven experience in the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Experience with working with German and European donors such as GFFO, BMZ, EU, ECHO
• Good knowledge of local and international humanitarian principles and standards, quality and accountability initiatives.
• Strong capacity and experience in NGO and local capacity building.
• Knowledge of cross-cutting issues (such as gender, inclusion and climate change) and related best practices (gender analysis etc.).
• Fluency in French (oral and written) and in Hausa and Tamasheg.
• Strong English language skills is an added advantage
• Excellent command of tools for data collection, data management, statistical analysis, visualization and sharing of results (in particular KoBoToolbox, ODK and MS Excel).

Desirable Qualities

• Ability to plan, prioritize and manage multiple tasks under pressure.
• Ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relationships in different cultural and organizational contexts.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with good judgment and initiative.
• Intercultural skills and understanding of power dynamics,
• Strong leadership, management, project planning, monitoring and evaluation, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills.