MEAL Coordinator – BHA At Save the Children

***Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Kindly note that the position might be filled before the vacancy announcement is closed; therefore, early applications are encouraged.***

***This role will be contingent upon securing available funds, and we might use this vacancy to fill more than one post.***

The Opportunity – MEAL Coordinator – BHA

Post location: Gaza Area Office

Contract Duration and Level of Effort: 31 Dec 2024, with possible extension

ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children is seeking a MEAL Coordinator to oversee MEAL related actions in the successful delivery of an integrated, multisectoral project funded by the United States Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs (BHA), which is providing critical MPCA, nutrition and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and child protection (CP) services to affected communities across the West Bank and Gaza.

The MEAL Coordinator’s role is to ensure high-quality MEAL deliverables and provides technical support on data collection and analysis, data reporting, program learning, and data visualization. The MEAL Coordinator also plays a critical role in ensuring adequate accountability mechanisms are in place throughout project’s cycle. This is a leadership role and will serve as key staff in the Project Management Unit.

The post-holder will be a member of the Gaza Office team, but their role will include coordination of MEAL activities with the West Bank Field Office. If the security situation allows there will be an expectation of travel to the Country Office/Field Office Ramallah.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: BHA Project Director

Role Dimensions: oPt CO is a high complexity country, multi-member interest, with an annual budget of around $40+m, and 100+ staff. Currently the program is experiencing a growth in funding and complexity due to the war in Gaza.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

General

• Design/Manage the project MEAL Plan in alignment with BHA MEAL guidelines and SCI quality standards; proactively identify any risks or issues, and collaboratively problem solve them with project’s teams and stakeholders.
• Ensure that findings coming out of MEAL activities (e.g., updating of ITT, feedback received through feedback channels, findings of Quality Benchmarks applications, Lessons Learnt workshops) are analyzed and communicated to PMU in a timely and accessible manner to inform program adaptation.
• Ensure that all MEAL activities uphold the strictest safeguarding principles, including data protection.
• Work closely with IM teams to make sure that relevant project-specific data (e.g., people reached, feedback received, findings of data collection) are adequately visualized to facilitate data/evidence-based decision-making.
• Ensure that the MEAL budget lines are adequately planned and executed.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Manage the Indicator Tracking Table (ITT) based on the BHA indicator definitions and provide regular technical support to project teams to ensure clean, valid data in the ITT.
• Design in coordination with Technical Advisors (TA) effective monitoring, tracking &reporting systems, tools and templates and ensure their systematic application to (a) enable and enhance regular monitoring of outputs and programme quality across the project, (b) generate quality evidence at various programme levels.
• Lead post distribution monitoring activities, ensuring that tools and processes are consistent to allow collation of data for program monitoring, learning, course-correction and improvement.
• Perform regular joint field visits to support high quality data collection and to verify the accuracy of reported data.
• Lead the commissioning and management of project-level internal/ external reviews, evaluations, real-time reviews, needs assessments and lessons learned exercises through the development of Terms of Reference and building local participatory evaluation capacity. Ensure that the findings coming out of these exercises are disseminated in a timely and accessible manner to inform project-level decision-making.
• Contribute to child-focused programme implementation by promoting child-friendly data collection tools and methodologies.

Data Analysis and Quality Assurance

• Oversee project data collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data is adequately disaggregate, of high quality, audit worthy and in compliance with SCI’s Data Protection Policy.
• Conduct and manage routine Data Quality Assessments (DQA), ensuring implementation of corrective actions to improve data quality and accountability of staff and partners.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive Project Database, ensuring safe, accurate and timely storage of means of verification (MoV) and other relevant project documents.
• Be responsible for the data analysis, writing, and review of the results and learning sections of project reports in collaboration with TAs and program staff, before submission to donor and ensure compliance with internal data quality requirements and timely submissions for reporting.
• Work closely with the Country MEAL team in updating the output tracker, total reach and other CO exercises.

Outcomes and learning

• Lead the process of outcome indicator measurement, which involves the definition of the appropriate study design (e.g., data collection methods and tools), the design of data collection tools, data analysis and report writing (all with the thematic support of TAs).
• Lead the development and facilitation of Lessons Learned workshops and implement a systematic way of documenting, disseminating and using learning to course correct and improve ongoing and future interventions.
• In collaboration with the communications team, identify data analysis and learning that can be promoted in briefers and case studies for external sharing.

Accountability & Participation

• Ensure that SCI and partner staff understand and promote accountability to children and communities through training and coaching.
• Ensure that the project counts with an Accountability to Children and Communities (ACC) strategy, with clear actions under each of the 3 ACC pillars: information sharing, participation and feedback and reporting system.
• Ensure that children and communities’ voices are heard throughout the project and that their opinions inform program implementation.
• Ensure that findings coming out of ACC-related activities (e.g., consultations with children and adults, feedback and concerns management) are shared in a timely manner with PMU to inform project adaptations and/or project design.
• Ensure that the project installs and manages feedback channels that are child friendly and appropriate for children and communities.
• In consultation with partners provide technical support on strengthening and establishing ACC systems across all project sites in line with the SCI Policies and Accountability Procedures.

Reporting

• Provide accurate and timely data for CO KPI reporting.
• Provide quality (reliable and valid) quantitative and qualitative inputs into internal and donor reporting, including monthly, semi-annual, and annual reporting.
• Lead on the development and distribution of the MEAL dashboard for relevant coordination and working groups.

Leadership and capacity building

• Build strong relationships with all SCI departments and partners, including providing tools, expertise, and other support to ensure that the MEAL Plan is understood and delivered with high quality and reliability.
• Build capacity of SCI and partner MEAL staff on SCI MEAL procedures, standards and results framework.
• Manage, facilitate, and support action points related to MEAL activities.
• Develop comprehensive capacity building plan for staff and partners based on identified needs and gaps.

In order to be successful, you will bring/have:

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in statistics, demographics, public policy, international development, economics, or related field

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• +4 years relevant professional experience including experience providing technical MEAL support to external partners or stakeholders
• Experience managing complex data in multisectoral projects
• Experience in managing US Government funding (e.g. USAID, BHA)
• Demonstrable experience leading quantitative and qualitative research, including quantitative and qualitative data analysis and reporting.
• Experience using quantitative statistical software (e.g., SPSS, STATA, advanced Excel).
• Experience using data visualization software or applications (e.g., PowerBI).
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including building relationships, influencing, negotiating, and problem solving
• Demonstrable success in self-directed and results-driven initiatives with a strong focus on supporting others
• Demonstrable success in handling multiple competing priorities and working well within tight timelines
• Flexibility and the ability to effectively adjust expectations to on-the ground realities, while adhering to humanitarian principles and standards.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Experience managing people.

Desirable

• Previous BHA experience
• Experience with Save the Children award management policies, procedures and systems and Save the Children’s award management system (AMS).

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This role is offered on the basis of national terms and conditions. Application will be reviewed and selected on a rolling basis.

Save the Children promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, women and people with different abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Organisation

Save the Children works in development and humanitarian contexts with children and partners to help families, communities, and governments identify and use innovations to ensure all children survive, learn and are protected.

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.