Partners Monitoring Manager -IDLEB- Syria at GOAL

Idleb, Syria

General Description of the Programme:

GOAL an International Humanitarian Organization has had a presence in Turkey since 2013 and has been contributing to the migrant response since 2016 with a focus on responding to needs in health service delivery, social safety nets and the protection of vulnerable and marginalised migrants in southern Turkey.

GOAL has been working in Syria since 2013, responding to the acute needs of conflict-affected communities. GOAL is working in Idleb Governate, both through direct implementation and through partners, delivering food, non-food programming to highly vulnerable populations, and provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) through support to Water units, as well as emergency support to recently displaced households.

GOAL has been working in North Aleppo Governate since 2019, through direct implementation and through partners, delivering food, non-food programming to highly vulnerable populations, as well as emergency support for recently displaced household.

GOAL has two projects (ECHO funded LINK and PRM funded GREEN) in Turkey, LINK program targets refugees from nomadic / semi-nomadic backgrounds and those engaged in seasonal agricultural labor. LINK has been designed to address and mitigate protection concerns of the vulnerable / marginalized refugees through provision of critical information and raising their awareness on their rights, obligations and services available in Turkey, by sensitization/advocacy (targeting key stakeholders and service providers, etc.) activities, and Individual Protection Assistance (IPA) services to enable highly vulnerable refugees to access to basic, social and protective services available under the provisions of Temporary and International Protection regulations in Turkey. On the other hand, Green program aims to improve socioeconomic inclusion, resilience and self-sufficiency of highly vulnerable/excluded women and girls from host and refugee communities (Syrians as well as those living in program locations under the international protection regulation) including nomadic communities and seasonal agriculture workers from both communities through integrated and market driven livelihood opportunities and protection services, including language courses and vocational skills training on greenhouse production and agriculture; case management (CM)/coaching services, establishment of a women cooperative, protection outreach, information provision and awareness raising; and provision of special needs and individual protection assistance services.

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the Deputy Area Coordinator Partners and Quality, the Partner Monitoring manager is based in GOAL’s office in Syria – Idleb GOAL offices or Northen Aleppo GOAL offices, and is responsible for the day-to-day management of GOAL’s Partner Monitoring Team.

The Partner Monitoring Team is responsible for monitoring programme and operational issues in the implementation areas of GOAL Partners primarily for the Food Security Programme (food kits, vouchers, and bakery support) and Emergency Programme. This includes, but is not limited to, distribution and post-distribution spot-checks and bakery inspection, and bread price and market monitoring. This information is then used to feed back to GOAL’s Food Security team and corresponding Partners to improve overall programme and process quality and inform capacity building support delivered to the Partner MEAL teams.

The Partner Monitoring manager is responsible for holding monthly meetings with all partner organizations in field to maintain coordination for weekly monitoring plans. The Partner Monitoring manager works closely with the Deputy Area Coordinator Partners and Quality to ensure quality feedback is implemented and findings and feedback from Partner Monitoring activities are shared with relevant partner organizations.

This role will be based in GOAL’s office in Syria – Idleb GOAL offices or Norther Aleppo GOAL offices with regular travel to field sites. The Partner Monitoring manager will be expected to travel outside of GOAL Area of Operation to visit partner areas but will be provided transport by GOAL.

Duties, objectives and competencies

• Line management of partner monitoring senior officer based in Idleb and Partners monitoring officer based in Northern Aleppo and partners monitoring team leaders and team members in both Idleb and Northern Aleppo area or operations.
• Field Coordination and Management
  • Together with Deputy Area Coordinator Partners and Quality – Partners, develop weekly monitoring plans for the Partner Monitoring Team based on partner-submitted activity plan.
  • Ensure that Partner Monitoring Team Leaders have the appropriate tools and resources to conduct monitoring activities. Support in development of additional tools (e.g., checklists, questionnaires), as required.
  • Be in daily contact with the Partner Monitoring Team Leaders to ensure monitoring plans are on track.
  • Provide weekly report to the MEL field coordinator and AC for program quality and partners on the results of the weekly monitoring activities.
  • Occasionally participate in routine field visits with Partner Monitoring Teams to the partner distribution points, bakeries, and warehouses and other related sites.
  • Support the streamlining of partner stock transfer coordination, as required.
• Programme Quality Feedback & Data Management
  • Receive monitoring data from Partner Monitoring Teams on a weekly basis
  • Review datasets based on information collected by Partner Monitoring Team Leaders and Team Members, analyze data, and summarize the information into monitoring reports to be shared with MEL field coordinator and AC for program quality and partners .
  • Flag issues which require follow-up in the appropriate complaints or issues tracking tool to MEL field coordinator, AC for program quality, and Partners Coordinator and partners, respectively, and suggest resolutions where appropriate
  • Participate in monthly meetings at the field-level with Partner focal point to provide feedback on implementation.

M&E concept:

• Understand the basic monitoring and evaluation concepts and the purpose of M&E
• Clearly define project cycle and results chain (outputs/ outcomes/ impact/ interventions)
• Possess knowledge of indicators and their measurement in the different sectors of relevance.
• Understand the concept of participatory monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning and needs assessment.

M&E System:

• Can effectively use data collection tools to gather qualitative and quantitative data at different levels: facility, community.
• Ensure data entry using an electronic database
• Clearly define the different components of an M&E system
• Can organize and lead data collection activities following the data collection and reporting flow put in place for a project.
• Can develop simple data collection tools based on monitoring indicators.
• Train data collectors in basic principles of data collection.
• Maintain effective M&E system (ensure data collected translate to M&E Framework/IPTT).

Data Quality management:

• Understand the fundamental concepts of data quality.
• Conduct on-site routine data quality audits at health facility and community levels.
• Knowledge of tactics for assessing the quality of collected data for indicators.
• Knowledge of data pitfalls, issues, and strategies for quality data.
• Coordinate routine data quality audits conducted in different sites and compile results at the level of a project.
• Provide supportive supervision on data quality at facility and community levels.

Sampling:

• Understand and apply the concept of ‘random sampling’ following instructions/guidelines of a manager.
• Understand the difference between probability and non-probability sampling.
• Knowledge of commonly used probability and purposive sampling techniques.
• Can develop sampling frame and carry out sampling following instructions (manager, guidelines).

Qualitative techniques:

• Understand the purpose, advantages and disadvantages of qualitative techniques for data collection.
• Can conduct qualitative data collection activities.
• Clearly define the different methods of data collection in qualitative research:
• Key informant interviews
• In-depth interviews
• Group discussions
• Focus group discussions
• Direct observations as an M&E tool.
• Know how to develop and use key qualitative tools (observation checklists, guide for group discussion and interviews) for monitoring purpose.

Quantitative techniques:

• Understand the purpose, advantages and disadvantages of quantitative techniques for data collection.
• Can perform data entry using a statistical software and under guidance and supervision.
• Know the different interview techniques (structured/ semi structured)
• Know how to use structured questionnaires for monitoring purpose.

Data analysis, including use of statistical software:

• Understand principles of qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
• Perform descriptive univariate and bivariate data analysis using Excel Pivot tables
• Interpret frequency tables, bi-variate cross tables, mean and median.

Evaluation Design:

• Understand the fundamental principles of evaluation (concepts, purposes and types of evaluations, contribution versus attribution, counterfactual)
• Knowledge of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods used in evaluation.

Techniques for presenting information:

• Possess basic data visualization skills (use of tables, graphs, to represent data and information).
• Clearly communicate findings of monitoring activities and reviews against targets set by the project.
• Compile data and indicators at project level for reporting in a clear and concise manner, providing all required information.
• Possess skills to use PowerPoint to share results of data analysis and monitoring.

Capacity development and training:

• Deliver basic training to teams (data collection methods, use of tools, concepts of M&E)
• Assess the knowledge change of participants to trainings.

Learning and Knowledge management:

• Organize the documentation of the project activities, results, and processes.
• Organize secondary data (internal and external sources).

Coordination:

Reporting:

• Review all M&E activities reports and ensure that they are to standard.
• Produce a daily report and weekly summary on the data collected on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
• Create detailed reports about an activity or a case study resulting from the implementation of the GOAL activities, or any other reports required of him.
• Line management of emergency / food security MEL teams, WASH MEL team and need assessment MEL team in planning and implementation of activities, such as distribution/post-distribution monitoring, market assessment, baseline/endline surveys, need assessment, M&E of WASH program etc
• Ensuring data collection, accuracy, and good quality of data on monitoring findings
• Quarterly meetings; dissemination of findings on monitoring results
• Line management and quality support to WASH /FS/NSRF/need assessment MEL technical teams

Any other tasks as assigned by ACPQ or responsible Deputy.

Requirements (essential)

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, business administration, or another relevant field
• Extensive experience in leading monitoring, evaluation and learning teams and activities, preferably in humanitarian sector.
• Previous NGO work experience with increasing responsibility
• Extensive experience in partnership and partners monitoring and evaluation.
• Extensive experience managing and coaching staff.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Previous experience in remote management.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to coordinate with multiple parties and external stakeholders
• Sound judgement and ability to make impartial recommendations.
• Good English language skills (spoken, written, and reading)
• Hard-working, proactive, and able to prioritise and delegate a demanding workload.
• Ability to travel and work in Syria.
• Commitment to beneficiary accountability and humanitarian principles
• Minimum five years’ experience working with an NGO in the Syria response with specific focus on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) or information management required.
• Demonstrated skills in information management, administration, and report writing.
• Excellent IT skills, including strong knowledge of MS Office applications
• Flexible and creative approach with a proven ability to resolve issues and identify solutions.
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to priorities work when under pressure
• Willingness to take responsibility for personal security and adhere to GOAL’s security guidelines.

Requirements (desired)

• Advanced level of MS office package (Excel, word, outlook ..) and good level of Power Bi program.
• Good experience in data analysing, surveys designing data collection application (kobo, CommCare…).
• Understanding of / experience in digital data gathering technology and/or database design and management
• Knowledge of the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and experience in upholding them and promoting them.
• Fluency in English
• Knowledge of GOAL and partner target areas in Idleb
• Proven ability to build the capacity of partner/ local organisations an advantage.
• Experience with interagency coordination and working within the Cluster system.

Ability and willingness to travel extensively to the field (up to 80%), sometimes under difficult and insecure circumstances