MEAL Coordinator – Afghanistan At INTERSOS

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title: MEAL Coordinator

Code: SR-28-9289

Duty station: Kabul with frequent visits to field locations

Starting date: 01/04/2024

Contract duration: 12 months

Reporting to: Country Director

Supervision of: MEAL team

Dependents: Non-family duty station

General context of the project

Over 40 years of conflicts and political turmoil have taken a massive cumulative toll on the people of Afghanistan. A total of 18.4 million people, almost half of the total population, have been estimated by the UN to need humanitarian assistance prior to recent events. Severe droughts are recurring in Afghanistan, currently resulting in nearly 14 million people in acute food insecurity, with over 3 million children facing severe malnourishment. The recent displacement of 550,000 people is adding to an estimated 2.9 million people who remain internally displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance, while winter months are around the corner.

INTERSOS has been working in Afghanistan since 2001, with a country office in Kabul, and field bases in Kandahar and Zabul provinces. In recent years INTERSOS has been focusing its assistance based on integrated community-based approach that includes primary health care (including sexual and reproductive health care), nutrition and protection programmes serving conflict-affected populations, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, with a special focus on socially excluded individuals, including women, children and persons living with disabilities.

With its operational approach and active engagement with the communities, INTERSOS has been enjoying strong community acceptance and operational access. All INTERSOS activities continue to be implemented in Afghanistan at present time, with no operational restrictions and with full inclusion of female staff.

It is widely anticipated that Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation may deteriorate further, given that the international support to key essential and social services – food aid, health, education, and other essential services, is currently frozen. Although humanitarian aid can not replace this gap, the international assistance that prioritises urgent humanitarian needs will be essential.

At the same time, unless the operational environment with all its impediments (including in relation to banking/cash transfers and counter-terrorism measures) does not improve, the response will continue to be a challenge.

Recognising that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan will require a more intensified international humanitarian assistance, INTERSOS remains in Afghanistan to deliver its ongoing activities, and potentially scale up its response.

General purpose of the position

Ensure that quality and accountability standards are integrated into the regular MEAL systems of INTERSOS mission response, under the direct supervision of the Head of Mission.

Lead on the development and implementation of integrated MEAL Frameworks to support the implementation of all projects and programmes, focusing on mentoring and strengthening relevant MEAL and programmes staff, as well as fostering a culture of shared learning and accountability, and promoting innovation within the programme.

Coordinate the development and integration of accountability, learning and programme quality standards in programme assessments, design, monitoring, review and evaluation, as well as consistent documentation of learning and progress in this area, in line with INTERSOS standards.

Main responsibilities and tasks

Strategies and programme

• Support Country Director in mainstreaming the MEAL component in the country strategy including programmatic outcomes, indicators and recommendations for the strategic directions
• Set up and lead the implementation of sound system to manage information generated by MEAL activities, such as field data collection exercises and beneficiaries’ DB
• Provide technical and methodological support to programs for the implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities, data management (development of questionnaires for surveys, sampling, input method, extraction of useful data and interpretation) and integration of cross-functional issues
• Support the Country Director in enhancing the common monitoring framework for overall programme in place and in fundraising, negotiation and review of project proposals (MEAL and cross-functional issues)
• Support coordination of needs assessments, focusing on promoting an integrated approach and including a focus on community
• Provide guidance to MEAL and IM staff in the creation or adaptation of tools and improvement of systems for data collection and analysis, to monitor project indicators and impact of activities, through sound MEAL Frameworks and analysis of risk factors
• Produce overall analysis of the effect/impact of programmes through monitoring and evaluations activities carried out by the MEAL unit itself or by externals. Conduct data analysis and validate and distribute the final versions of the MEAL reports, studies and analyses of programme and project activities including achievements, challenges and lessons learned and disseminate information to programme management. Propose ongoing programmatic adaptation, learning, and synthesis of best practices based on MEAL activities results’
• Design and implement complaint response mechanisms and ensure appropriate roll out of the dedicated platform, in coordination with HQ IM Coordinator and programme team. Ensure that complaints are recorded in an official database, processed and that people receive an appropriate, timely response
• Supervise and improve the implementation of accountability mechanisms (e.g. complaints and feedback response mechanisms and assessment, design, and implementation) to ensure that the overall programme includes strategies and mechanism for promoting high level of community participation, in line with AAP core principles and the Organisational standards
• Propose evidence-based adjustments or new activities, to improve the quality of the operations or approaches used by the teams in consultation with the other coordinators
• Contribute to the terms of reference for external evaluations and studies, and lead and support MEAL teams in conducting internal evaluation exercises, as needed and in collaboration with Programme teams
• Collaborate with HR department in ensuring the proper application of HR policies and associated processes (recruitment, training, briefing/debriefing, evaluation, potential, detection, staff’s development and internal communication) in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required for the MEAL activities

Capacity building

• Develop the capabilities of programme teams in the areas of collection and analysis of data (method, formats, software, etc.), indicator measurement, feedback and complaint mechanisms, impact analysis, etc.
• Identify learning and training opportunities for MEAL staffs
• Organise and conduct training and awareness raising activities for MEAL, programme and technical staffs on MEAL systems, priorities and quality standards, focusing on MEAL integration throughout the project life cycle and Accountability and AAP core principles

Representation, advocacy and organizational learning

• Support in After Action Reviews workshops, prepare lessons learned reports and conduct accountability mechanism pilots
• Ensure the correct use of INTERSOS learning/knowledge management tools and their diffusion in the mission
• Represent INTERSOS in technical coordination meetings organised by external stakeholders (clusters, other platforms, etc), and report to Country Director and SMT on the most relevant issues

Required profile and experience

Education

• Essential degree in Statistics, Information Management, Social Science, Demography, Social studies or any related field

Professional Experience

• Minimum four years experience in MEAL
• Desirable previous experience with NGOs in developing/emergency countries
• Experience in designing MEAL strategies and implementing MEAL systems
• Information Management Systems expertise (knowledge and previous experience in the use of data collection and data management tools)
• Desirable experience in implementing beneficiary complaint and feedback mechanisms

Professional Requirements

• Essential computer literacy
• Experience in developing and conducting quantitative and qualitative surveys
• Ability to analyse and summarise complex amount of data and present them to audiences
• Leadership
• Communication and negotiation skills
• Team management and training/capacity-building skills
• Confidentiality
• Commitment to INTERSOS principles

Languages

• Fluent in English (writing and speaking)

Personal Requirements

• Team building and cooperation
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment
• Non-discriminatory attitude
• Active listening and empathy
• Behavioural flexibility and stress management