MEAL Coordinator At Concern Worldwide

About the role: This is a 1 year, new role with unaccompanied terms with a salary of Band 4 €43,268- €48,076. The role is based in Syria with frequent travel to Iraq.

You will report to the Syria Programme Director. You will be responsible for line managing the Monitoring & Evaluation Manager, Information Management Manager (IMM), and Complaints Response Mechanism (CRM) Assistant. You will liaise with the Country Director, Programme Director Iraq, Area Coordinators and Programme leads. You will also represent Concern at the relevant Clusters, Coordination Fora, UN agencies, Donors and NGOs.

We would like you to start as soon as possible.

Your purpose: You will manage the MEAL team to ensure high quality programming and learning through quantitative and qualitative monitoring and accountability to beneficiaries of Concern’s programmes.

You will be responsible for:

• Supporting Programmes on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Revise and update Concern’s M&E Strategy for Syria and Iraq, including standard protocols, procedures and modes of engagement for different points in proposal development, the project cycle, and for interventions in different sectors (WASH, FSL, etc.). This should include a strong component of remote monitoring modalities.
• Provide technical advice and supervise conducting assessments for new programme proposals and support the preparation of project concept notes, proposals, logical frameworks in line with Concern’s Results Based Management guidelines, ensuring Concern’s and/or donor’s standard indicators are used consistently.
• Participate in and actively contribute to programme coordination meetings and planning sessions.
• Ensure programme teams and partners have M&E plans, and they are up to date with operational activities and that reporting templates are up-to-date, effective and appropriate.
• Support the design of surveys for on-going interventions, liaising as necessary with Concern’s PALU team and technical advisors in Head Quarters.
• Support the establishment of monthly project achievement review meetings to keep senior staff and programmes staff aware of targets and achievements according to the project log frame.
• Review and revise M&E reports providing feedback and quality assurance on data analysis and writing before sharing to external parties. This includes supporting programme teams in the writing of donor reports.
• Act as focal point and work cooperatively for the planning and implementation of M&E activities throughout the programme cycle (baseline, midline, endline, evaluation) of Concern, partners and consortium members.
• Document, advise and implement learning on M&E tools and strategy is incorporated into programme design.
• Strengthen links with M&E departments in other NGOs through effective and on-going coordination, information-sharing and results dissemination where relevant and appropriate to inform Working Group recommendations alongside internal Concern organisational learning.

Accountability

Promote accountability and ensure compliance with the requirements of Concern’s Code of Conduct and its associated policies, Anti-Fraud Policy and Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), ensuring the effective functioning of the Complaint Response Mechanism (CRM) to ensure maximum protection of programme participants and the efficient and transparent use of Concern’s resources.

• Oversee the CRM in Syria and Iraq, and review it to ensure all beneficiaries continue to have meaningful access to the reporting mechanisms
• Ensure appropriate CRM systems are put in place and functional, ensure targeting errors are duly corrected including implementation of Complaint Response Mechanism.
• Review and maintain the feedback mechanisms in line with accountability standards, including refining digital feedback mechanisms for beneficiaries to strengthen downward accountability.
• Support programming and field staff to ensure that projects are designed and carried out with participation from all affected communities and that information is shared with affected communities.
• Ensure that staff and partner staff at all levels fully understand and promote accountability to beneficiaries through training and coaching.

Information Management

• In conjunction with programme teams, design remote management data collection tools including use of Digital Data Gathering tools
• Contribute to the completion of donor reports on project deliverables with the development of high quality GIS mapping
• Improve the storage and dissemination of information within the programme to ensure MEAL and Sector leads have access to the relevant data, reports and documents to inform future programme designs.
• Lead on appropriate data collection technologies, including database storage and management in line with GDPR regulation.

Learning

• Ensure the Terms of Reference for evaluation are developed in line with Concern and DAC criteria, and promote the integration of recommendations and lessons learnt in project planning and future programming.
• Advise and support MEAL team implementation of programme assessment, surveys and evaluations.
• Ensure learning reviews are conducted and documented for all projects, appropriate to length, scale and complexity.
• Establish mechanisms to track adjustments in programmes resulting from the CRM system, programme intervention learning and consultations with beneficiaries throughout the entire project life cycle from design to closeout are in place and functional.

Partnerships

• Work with the MEAL departments of Concern’s local partners to ensure effective monitoring systems and tools are in place which address indicators set out in project proposals and partnership agreements. Provide technical advice and support where needed.
• Ensure that learning from partnership projects is systematically captured and shared between partners.

Capacity Building

• Lead and advise MEAL and programme staff, contributing to their capacity building and work performance.
• Line manage and mentor all team members to ensure they fully understand outcomes which are expected of them, through Concern’s Performance Development Reviews system (PDR’s).
• Develop the capacity of the Information Management Manager and MEAL Manager to strengthen their ability to undertake the responsibilities in their managerial roles.
• Capacity building of project staff and partners with updates on training materials and technical knowhow.
• Build the capacity of the M&E team and wider programme team in the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, including the organisation of training seminars.
• Ensure team members are aware of core Concern policies and procedures relevant to their work, and with the support of others, carry out regular briefings on these policies, including the Concern’s Code of Conduct and its Associated policies, security management, accountability. Contribute to the implementation of these policies.
• Facilitate peer monitoring and learning opportunities in coordination with consortium/partner organisations in Syria/Iraq.

Your skills and experience will include:

Essential:

This position demands a highly organised and dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding environment.

• Master’s level degree in development studies, social policy or a related subject.
• Previous experience in M&E of humanitarian and development programmes and strong understanding of M&E principles and processes, including database management, reporting etc.
• Demonstrable experience in the nurturing of organisational learning in programmes.
• Strong facilitation and training skills with diverse audiences of NGO practitioners.
• A strong understanding of the management of knowledge within NGOs or development organisations and an ability to link this to system development.
• Ability to work effectively with and contribute to multidisciplinary teams and provide team leadership as required.
• Strong understanding of research methodologies and the nature of evidence which will influence key decision makers in the area.
• Demonstrable understanding and knowledge of inequality, rights related to development and emergency contexts, gender inequality, analysis and prevention and response to Gender Based Violence.
• Computer literate with Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel and Word.

We would also like:

• Arabic language skills.
• Previous work experience in response to the Syrian crisis.
• Experience in remote management
• Experience of working with consortiums.
• Knowledge of Core Humanitarian Standards, Sphere and Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS).
• Strong interest in the application of Information and Communication Technology in Emergencies.

We also value the following special skills and aptitudes:

• Proven ability to work in insecure environments and live in confined areas
• Excellent English communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Respectful of securities rules.
• Dynamic and willing to take initiatives to complete assigned task, and work independently.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to manage change effectively.
• Delegation, time management and prioritizing skills and coping with broad range of demands
• High level of critical thinking and proven high quality analytical skills and problem solving abilities.
• Empathy with Concern’s Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives.