MEAL Manager/Specialist - CARE Partnerships Office

The MEAL manager will be responsible for leading, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning for the Partnership Program. This will include establishing best practice MEAL tools and procedures, processing and analyzing data collected from partners and other sources, managing a team of field monitors, supporting the development of complaints mechanisms, and strengthening partner MEAL capacities.

The position will be based in Beirut, with potential travel to Amman.

Competencies:

• Understanding of the role of accountability in the humanitarian context and NGO frameworks and standards for MEAL
• Knowledge of essential MEAL methodologies and tools, including design and use of surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews  and baseline and end line assessments.
• Ability to collate and analyse qualitative and quantitative data
• Strong written communication skills, including report writing.   
• Strong communication and networking skills, experience in partnerships with local NGOs
• Inclusive approach to MEAL, involving beneficiaries and partners; experience with participatory evaluations
• Good understanding of the local context, cultural sensitivities and the difficulties related to MEAL in a remote management context (in areas that are not directly accessible)
• Ability to effectively transfer knowledge, to train staff and to build the capacity of partners

Detailed Responsibilities & Tasks

Lead the enhancement and application of the MEAL framework for the partnership programme

Project Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Lead the strengthening of key M&E systems and processes, including establishing a system for third party monitoring.
• Recruit, train and supervise a team of field monitors.
• Process, analyze and report on the data generated through partners and field monitors for monthly reporting for sit-reps, donor reporting and internal learning Cross-check the data received from partners with other sources, including field monitors, peers and secondary sources. Flag any concerns over data integrity or fraud to the management team.
• Support the partners and partnership officers with the design of project log frames, including SMART indicators and means of verification
• Develop and update project-level MEAL plans and follow up on their implementation
• Support partners with the creation of assessment and monitoring tools, including questionnaires and PDM forms as well as questions for focus group discussions, based on the regional Syria Response toolkit
• Lead project evaluations, where appropriate.
• Lead the roll-out of the regional Syria MEAL minimum standards in the partnerships program.

Programme support

• Set up and manage a central database to compile beneficiary and output data and to generate statistics about the overall programme reach
• Produce disaggregated, programme-level data per sector and analyze through a gender lens
• Lead on the input to the regional sit rep
• Support partners and the partnership programme team with creating programme-level MEAL tools and MEAL plans for proposal development and donor reporting
• Roll-out sectoral and thematic assessments informing the response planning
• Contribute to documenting the impact of the response through statistics, case studies and interactive maps for partners, donors and other stakeholders

Capacity Building

• Provide capacity building on MEAL and accountability to partner staff
• Provide regular coaching to partner MEAL staff
• Develop guidance and training materials on MEAL in Arabic, adapted to the context
• Support the IT consultant with introducing mobile data collection system with partners
• Support partners with the set-up of feedback and complaints mechanisms and follow up on the handling of complaints

Accountability and learning

• Support partners and the partnership team with conducting internal evaluations and learning workshops
• Support the partnership coordinator and the partnership officers with capacity assessments and bi-annual reviews
• Lead  the roll-out of the feedback and complaints mechanism in line with regional SOPs and tools in cooperation with the partners
• Exchange of tools, experience and approaches with other CARE colleagues in the region
• Participate in the inter-agency MEAL working group, utilize learning from peers and contribute to inter-agency MEAL initiatives

Provide cover for other posts when needed and carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Partnership Program Coordinator.