MEAL Coordinator – South Sudan At GOAL

General Description of the Programme/GOAL

GOAL has had a long and successful history of humanitarian operations in South Sudan since 1985. Currently GOAL is implementing projects in 4 States: Upper Nile (Ulang, Maiwut, Panyikang and Nassir counties), Abyei Special Administrative Area (ASAA) Warrap State (Twic) and Central Equatoria (Kajo Keji) with the head office located in Juba. Most field sites have been key conflict areas with population displacements from time to time in the last five years. The main donors for the programme include Irish Aid , ECHO, WFP, USAID and SSHF.

The current programme focuses on five main sectors: primary health care, nutrition, economic and food security, small scale facility water & sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH), and women’s literary and empowerment (REFLECT). All interventions are carried out in coordination with the local authorities and line Ministries as well as with local and international partners as appropriate

Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian agency, with a team of 3,000 personnel, dedicated to alleviating the needs of the most vulnerable communities. Currently operating in 14 of the world’s most vulnerable countries, GOAL delivers a wide range of humanitarian and development programmes, ranging from humanitarian relief in disaster situations, to focusing on nutrition, food security, and building greater resilience and sustainable livelihoods.

GOAL has an annual budget of an estimated €120 million and is supported by a range of donors including the Governments of Ireland, UK, USA, the European Union, individuals, trusts and foundations. GOAL values the power of partnership and works with local and international partners to achieve its mission.

Job Purpose

The primary responsibility of the MEAL Coordinator is to support the Programme Director by ensuring robust and well-structured monitoring databases (including remote monitoring and management systems and process for each sector); and on time submission of high quality donor and government reports.

The MEAL Coordinator will provide leadership and technical expertise to ensure that GOAL’s MEAL system is implemented effectively. S/he will be the focal point in the programme for all aspects of MEAL. A key part of the role will be capacity building and remote support to the MEAL team inside South Sudan.

Reporting into the PD, the MEAL Coordinator will assist the PD and ACs in the development of donor proposals; and assist in program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation and donor reporting across all grants. The MEAL Coordinator is expected to contribute to harmonization of approaches, and countrywide strategies for program implementation.

Advocating for accountable programmes will be key to this role which should ensure evidence-based programming and donor compliance in a remote management context. initial contract for a duration of 12 months.

Duties and responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Oversee the activities of GOAL’s MEAL team in South Sudan, which includes GOAL-direct M&E, Accountability, Data Entry, Verification and Partner Monitoring, providing technical support and oversight.
• Oversee the MEAL budget, ensuring appropriate grant budgets are developed and spending is in line with those budgets.
• Provide capacity building, technical support and training to the MEAL team based in South Sudan as well as the Programmes team and GOAL’s local partners on all areas of MEAL
• Work with the Global MIS advisor to roll out MEAL Management Information Systems (CommCare + Power BI) for new and existing grants.

Support to Program Quality

• Work with Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) teams for timely data collection, data entry into CommCare, analysis, surveys, development of log-frames, indicators and general project design.
• Work with MEAL teams to ensure systematic monitoring and evaluation of programmes, and compilation and sharing of lessons learnt.
• Maintain and update the M&E Framework for the country programme, bringing together tools and outlining systems. Develop new tools as required.
• Feed into the overall programme strategy, providing data and analysis as required for strategic purposes and new programme design, including proposal development
• Develop or update M&E plans, and ensure that routine project monitoring take place on time
• Roll out of Power BI software to facilitate near real-time analysis for each sector, promote learning, and work with the PD to initiate timely evidence-based corrective action where required
• Maintain all type of information and produce situation analysis on regular basis especially while developing new proposals or donors reporting as agreed with the line manager
• Work with PD on keeping updated information for programme mapping and ensure stakeholder analyses are completed from time to time.
• Coordinate the continued review and feedback process using the online recommendation tracker system
• Coordinate, supervise and review all assessments, evaluations and research – Initiate and work with Program Coordinators in designing and conducting KAP, LQAS, MICS, SQUEAC, Barrier Analysis and other programmatic surveys, assessments and evaluations.
• Work with the PD and Program Coordinators to ensure that remote monitoring and management tools are in place, information is collected, analysis carried out, and feedback shared in a timely manner for all grants and programme activities.
• Be an advocate for learning in the programme ensuring that learning is captured and shared effectively
• Liaising with donors and other project stakeholders as required

Proposal Input

• Support the PD and Technical Coordinators in the development of strong data collection and monitoring & evaluation plans within each proposal, including work on log-frames and indicators, and ensure that project indicators are regularly and systematically monitored and reported.
• Ensure that all grant proposals and reporting include solid M&E components and work with the Programmes team to develop appropriate results frameworks, log frames and indicators.

Accountability

• Oversee the roll-out of activities and training within the GOAL South Sudan Accountability Framework and update the framework as needed.
• Oversee the activities of the independent beneficiary selection and verification team, ensuring beneficiary verification processes are independent and consistent.
• Ensure effective oversight and smooth running of GOAL South Sudan’s complaints and response mechanism.
• Continue to develop and improve on GOAL’s independent monitoring systems meant to ensure accountability, both to beneficiaries and to donors.
• Oversee the work of the Data Entry team and ensure the Program Database is up-to -date and accessible to relevant departments

Crossover with Grant Management

• Participate in and / or co-facilitate grant opening, closing and other management meetings in collaboration with the PD, Financial Controller and respective Technical Coordinators
• Liaise with the PD and Financial Controller to highlight and when necessary, troubleshoot problems identified in project reports or data.
• Ensure compliance to donor reporting and proposal requirements
• Maintain and update the filing system for donor reports, proposals, and other documentation that will provide secure and back up of all donor related files for ease of access and retrieval whenever needed. Work with Program Coordinators to ensure strong database for Health, Nutrition, WASH, REFLECT, Economic and Food Security.

Key Performance Objectives

• Set up a strong MEAL system and operationalize MEAL in the field locations
• Design and operationalize Accountability mechanism
• Build culture of Learning and Knowledge Management
• Integrate MEAL Management Information Systems in the country and project MEAL system

Behaviours

• Act as a representative of GOAL and demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour towards children and vulnerable adults both in your private and professional lives.
• A commitment to GOAL values and GOAL’s integrity framework is critical to working with GOAL. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability: 1) Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols; 2) Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area; 3) Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

Requirements

Essential

• A university degree in a relevant field (statistics, data monitoring and management, social sciences, public health, economic development, or a related field) – a technical degree and additional relevant professional experience can replace studies.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in one of the functions related to monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL).
• Significant leadership experience and technical skills in building a quality MEAL system for evidence-based decision-making for multi-sector and multi-donor funded programs.
• Proficiency in mobile data collection software such as Kobo, CommCare, ODK Collect is essential, as is proficiency in Microsoft Excel, SPSS, STATA or other similar software.
• A capacity to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring and other formal and non-formal methods, as well as strong presentation and report writing skills.
• Self-starter with excellent organizational, planning and analytical skills – able to work without close supervision, including prioritizing work and multitasking.

Desirable

• Knowledge of PowerBI , Tableu or GIS software and tools
• Previous experience of working in South Sudan or a similar context.
• Previous experience in project evaluations and design analysis.

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

Accountabilitywithin GOAL

Alongside our safeguarding policy, GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has a set of integrity policies. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

General Terms and Conditions

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document.