SYRIA-CMU – MEAL SPECIALIST (M/F) – AMUDA At Solidarités International

Desired start date: 01/06/22
Duration of the mission: 10 months
Location: Amman

ABOUT THE MISSION…

Type and content of program: Syria mission is dedicated to work in conflict-affected areas to provide lifesaving activities to the population affected by the conflict. Main current activities are related to emergency wash (water distribution and rehabilitation), livelihoods and distribution of essential NFI (winterization) and cash. The mission is part of the major consortium with 4 partners led by SI. The Consortium supports equitable and safe access to essential basic services including WASH, Shelter, Protection, Health, Cash and Livelihoods for the most vulnerable populations affected by the conflict and displacement in Northeast Syria.
The LEARN Consortium is a partnership between four (4) International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs), and two (2) national partners. A three-year program funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), with an application submitted for further funding after the three years, it leverages the respective expertise from the I/NGO partners to deliver Health, Shelter, MPCA, protection, humanitarian coordination, and WASH services to the most vulnerable communities in North East Syria (NES). The main activities being implemented are related to the rehabilitation and running of Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs), emergency WASH (water distribution and rehabilitation of water infrastructure), private and public institutional shelter repairs, distribution of essential kits (new arrivals, hygiene, shelter repairs) and MPCA to cover basic needs. A livelihoods component is being added to the ongoing programming from October 2021. The program incorporates a Rapid Response Mechanism.
The implementing partners are based in, and implement throughout, NES. The Consortium Management Unit (CMU) is the oversight structure for the program that aims to facilitate smooth coordination, oversee program delivery, lead donor communications, ensure compliance and manage risk. The CMU is led by the Chief of Party (Jordan) and Deputy Chief of Party (NES), together with a team of Specialists.

ABOUT THE JOB…

General objective:

Lead development/revision of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Plan (MEAL plan) with support from the Consortium partners; oversee implementation of the MEAL plan;
Provide methodological support to all Consortium teams on technical questions linked to MEAL and cross-cutting issues (quantitative and qualitative data collection, measure of indicators, performance tracking and reporting, complaint response mechanism, Do No Harm analysis, terms of reference for internal and external evaluations, endline, institutional knowledge building, etc.) and provide trainings within her/his field of expertise;
Manage the Consortium Management Unit (CMU) MEAL staff;
Make sure her/his department is cross-cutting and well integrated with the CMU specialists, as well as with the Consortium partners;
Contribute to institutional knowledge building;
In collaboration with the other Consortium specialists, produce an overall analysis of the Consortium’s programs’ effects/outcomes, support lessons learnt processes;
Lead and implement project-wide efforts to collect GIS data from ongoing project and partners’ activities;
Manage monitoring and evaluation (M&E) software and data collection systems, collect and analyze data;
Develop M&E reports and make active contributions to monthly, semi- and annual reports;
Conduct periodic assessments with staff regarding the status of the project implementation;
Design and conduct M&E capacity building initiatives targeting partners.

The main challenges:

Coordination within a major Consortium;
Multi-sectoral, integrated activities in a frequently-changing context;
Travel to four governorates in NES.

Priorities for the 2/3 first months:

Strengthen partners’ Feedback and Complaints Response Mechanisms (FCRM);
Support DCOP with quarterly programmatic reviews;
Complete the first round of Data Quality Assessment report;
Finalize the scope of work (SoW) for internal evaluation and lead the exercise;
Finalize the SoW for external evaluation;
Lead the MEAL deliverables of the CMU MEAL unit for the annual report;
Ensure the CMU MEAL unit is fully established and plans of action (POAs) of staff are updated

Responsibilities and main activities:

A member of the Consortium Management Unit (CMU) under the supervision of the Deputy Chief of Party of the LEARN Consortium, the MEAL Specialist designs the MEAL strategy and action plans for the Consortium, in accordance with SI and partners’ operational frameworks, and makes sure it is disseminated, understood and implemented by the Consortium staff. He/she:

Manages the Consortium’s MEAL staff;
Provides methodological support to all Consortium teams on technical questions linked to MEAL and cross-cutting issues (quantitative and qualitative data collection, measure of indicators, performance tracking and reporting, complaint response mechanism, Do No Harm analysis, terms of reference (TORs) for internal and external evaluations, institutional knowledge building, etc.) and provides trainings within his/her field of expertise;
Makes sure his/her department is cross-cutting and well integrated with all departments (functional links) of the Consortium specialist team, as well as with the Consortium partners;
Contributes to institutional knowledge building and improvement of efficiencies and quality of MEAL methods and techniques.

YOUR PROFILE

Specific skills and experience:

Education:

Advanced degree (MA, MPA, MS, MBA) in a relevant field such as Project Management, international development and/or social sciences

Experience:

Strong experience in M&E or project management (at least 5 years)
Experience in multi sectorial project monitoring and evaluation
Experience in a consortium setting would be an asset

Skills:

Excellent command in writing and editing documents in English
Strong computer skills essential
Proficiency in ArcGIS or similar GIS software strongly preferred
Outstanding management, reporting and communications skills required

Language:

English: fluent with excellent writing capacities
Arabic: will be an asset

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post:
According to experience, starting from 2860 euros gross per month (2600 EUR base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of 700 USD

SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.

Vacation: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of on 7 working days every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7 working days break at 3/6 and 9 month (with 850 USD allocated by Solidarités).

To these break periods, it is necessary to add the granting of 1 additional rest day per month worked > i.e. 12 days in addition for a 1-year contract**.**

Social and medical cover:
Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

LIVING CONDITIONS:

The candidate will be based in NES (June – October 2022) and share his/her time between the main guesthouse and the field guesthouses to allow closer proximity to the sites of project implementation. In the main base, living conditions are comfortable with some opportunities and places to socialize. In the operational bases, living conditions are more basic with less opportunities and places to socialize.