MEAL Officer

Action against Hunger is an international non-governmental, private, apolitical, non-religious and non-profit organization created in 1979. Its goal is to combat hunger and dangerous situations that threaten men, women and children. Currently 500 expats and more than 5,000 employees are working for Action against Hunger in more than forty-six countries working in projects concerning four areas of focus: nutrition, health, food security and water and sanitation. 

In Lebanon, the Syrian crisis continues to generate political, social and economic pressure due to the war in Lebanon and keeps more than 1.5 million refugees in a situation of increasing vulnerability. In this environment of political, economic and social uncertainty, our teams have maintained their high levels of humanitarian response and aid to Lebanon. Likewise, our interventions have been maintained in the Bekaa and northern areas, as well as in the south of the country, with a special focus on working in partnership or in consortium with other organizations and on institutional strengthening of the relationship with both donors. institutional, such as with local authorities and entities. 

Under the supervision of the MEAL Manager or Supervisor, the MEAL Officer will support in implementing monitoring and evaluation plans at a base level for all Action Against Hunger projects. This work includes but is not limited to supporting in planning assessments, collecting high quality qualitative and quantitative data, analyzing data, reporting on data, and compiling lessons learnt, along with sharing day-to-day challenges of implementing these tasks with the MEAL Manager or Supervisor.

As a field staff member, the MEAL Officer will also support in ensuring that accountability mechanisms are operational and that all Action Against Hunger projects and activities follow accountability best practices.

To accomplish these tasks, the MEAL Officer will work closely with the MEAL manager or Supervisor, along with maintaining relationships with other departments at a base level. Based on the tasks, the MEAL officer is expected to work in the field for about 50% of the working time.

• Support in assessment preparation, including drafting of tools and methodology (10%)
• Collect data according to assessment methodology and best practices (30%)
• Ensure high quality data entry, cleaning, and analysis (15%)
• Guarantee accountability mainstreaming in all activities, and support in operation of the feedback and complaints mechanism (20%)
• Report on data collected, including measuring donor and internal indicators, and make recommendations accordingly (15%)
• Ensure lessons learnt are documented, discussed, and implemented at a base level (5%)
• Coordinate with other departments to ensure smooth and effective implementation (5%)
• Abide by and promote AAH security (cross-cutting)
• Support humanitarian activities of Action Against Hunger (cross-cutting)

Objective 1: Support in data collection preparation, including drafting of tools and methodology (10%)

Support MEAL manager / supervisor in design of assessments, including supporting with creation of methodology, tools, surveys, and sampling documents

Support the MEAL manager / supervisor in coding of assessments in ODK for quantitative data

Make the necessary arrangements before the assessment (call group participants, check access to areas, set times, check availability, etc.)

Support the logistics staff (drivers) with the location of new places, households, and interviews

Look for suitable places to conduct the interview when there are specific needs to bear in mind (privacy, the confidentiality of information, etc.)

Objective 2: Collect data according to assessment methodology (30%)

Conduct qualitative and quantitative data collections, including household level surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, site level observation, etc.

Apply and manage different questionnaires/data collection tools (questionnaires, KAP surveys, FGD, etc…) depending on the type of assessment

Ensure data entered is of high quality, coherent, and detailed

Ensure data is collected in line with the determined methodology, and raise limitations to MEAL manager / supervisor when necessary

Compile indirect information and triangulate the provided data through direct observation, alternative questions and alternative informants (neighbors, relatives)

Input primary / secondary information collected data and any other remarks/observation systematically through an android tablet/device or via questionnaire hard copies

Ensure that data is collected in line with best practices and that data protection, confidentiality, and accountability standards, including gathering informed consent from the respondents

Objective 3: Ensure high quality data entry, cleaning, and analysis (15%)

Support MEAL Manager/ supervisor with data analysis and quality checking needs that may arise. 

Support MEAL Manager / supervisor with data cleaning, including both for qualitative and quantitative data 

Support MEAL teams with data entry when needed

Objective 4: Guarantee accountability mainstreaming in all activities, and support in operation of the feedback and complaints mechanism (20%)

Maintain regular contact with beneficiaries, community leaders, municipality representatives and other (I)NGOs, inviting them to participate in monitoring and assessment processes and sharing the results with them

Inform target beneficiaries of their rights, the intended results and impact of the project, the monitoring and evaluation processes, and the feedback and complaints mechanism of AAH

When needed, support with the operation of the complaints and feedback mechanism in line with the mission-wide accountability SOP, including taking phone calls, properly logging complaints and feedback, and following up with beneficiaries

When needed, support with the facilitation of referrals at a base-level, to ensure that referrals are sent and followed-up on in a timely manner

Objective 5: Report on data collected, including measuring donor and internal indicators, and make recommendations accordingly (15%)

Report continuously the progress of the activities and assessments to his/her line manager

Report weekly on all the activities related to assessment and data collection.

Conduct regular oral reporting, debriefing, and feedback to MEAL Manager, MEAL Coordinator and Project Managers (where necessary).

Support in the drafting of formative reports based on the data collected, including post-distribution monitoring data, participatory impact monitoring data, and/or feedback and complaints data

Report against project-level indicators, including both donor and internal indicators

Objective 6: Ensure lessons learnt are documented, discussed, and implemented at a base level (5%)

Document key lessons learnt and make recommendations to the appropriate team based on data collected at a project-level

Document lessons learnt across all departments to ensure institutional learning

Support the implementation of reviews and learning events at project locations, if needed

Objective 7: Coordinate with other departments to ensure smooth and effective implementation (5%)

Participate in daily meetings before leaving for the field

Work closely with WASH, FSL and MEAL Field Officers for data collection execution

Objective 8: Abide by and promote AAH security (cross-cutting)

Respect the security rules specified in the mission and base security plan, see to it that the team under his/her responsibility complies with the security plan and perform the security management tasks that can be assigned in its protocols.

Communicate to the security managers of the working location any security related information or noncompliance with the security plan

Objective 9: Support humanitarian activities of Action Against Hunger (cross-cutting)

Support the emergency interventions of the organization as per the employee’s abilities.

Support any activity that helps to reach our humanitarian goals, as per the employee’s abilities.

Objective 11: Gender & Safeguarding (cross-cutting)

Promote safe and equitable environments, through knowledge and application of the protocol against harassment and gender policy.

Knowledge and compliance with safeguarding policy.

Action against Hunger is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work such as but not limited to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and/or financial misconduct; We expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through endorsing our code of conduct and other related policies and only those who share our values and code of conduct will be recruited to work for us.