MEAL Officer - Generic

1. Purpose

CARE established its presence in Lebanon in 2006 and has been responding to the Syrian Crisis since late 2012. Among CARE’s key imperatives is putting people it serves first through implementing cutting edge programming in areas it operates. CARE currently carries out activities in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Akkar, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, and the Beqaa Valley. CARE implements both emergency and development projects contributing to livelihood, food security and agriculture, gender and protection, shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene. It targets the most vulnerable people and populations, both host communities and refugees. 

In Lebanon, CARE’s program strategy for the upcoming years will focus on strengthening and expanding its emergency response and capacity to provide basic assistance services while pursuing development projects in areas of food security and livelihood support, gender and protection. CARE intends to maintain its presence in all areas of Lebanon.

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Officer is tasked with overseeing information management, reporting processes, and product creation to ensure the delivery of professional, high-quality communication regarding Care International in Lebanon's programmatic activities and outcomes. A key aspect of this role involves enhancing information management and data quality, as well as fostering knowledge sharing and learning throughout the organization. The MEAL Officer will take on the responsibility of managing the entire monitoring and evaluation cycle for CARE's projects, crafting suitable methodologies and tools to enhance accountability. Additionally, the officer will contribute to developing evidence-based insights into both the positive and negative impacts of the program on the communities we engage with.

2. Reporting Lines
Senior MEAL Officer

3. Organizational Relationship

MEAL Volunteers (if available)

4. Specific Duties and Responsibilities

1. Monitoring and Evaluation:
   • Design and implement comprehensive monitoring and evaluation frameworks and tools, including robust methodologies for assessing project progress and outcomes.
   • Lead the collection, analysis, and reporting of quantitative and qualitative data to rigorously measure project impact, identify trends, gaps, and areas for improvement.
   • Work closely with MEAL volunteers to ensure consistent and accurate data collection.
2. Accountability:
   • Support in developing and implementing accountability frameworks within projects, ensuring transparency and responsiveness to project participants.
   • Collaborate with the Accountability Senior Officer to establish and maintain feedback mechanisms for project stakeholders.
   • Conduct regular assessments to measure the effectiveness of accountability mechanisms and make recommendations for improvements.
3. Learning, Knowledge Sharing & Capacity building:
   • Facilitate knowledge sharing and learning initiatives across the organization on best practices and lessons learned, to enhance overall effectiveness.
   • Provide targeted support and guidance to implementing partners and field teams on the application of MEAL frameworks and humanitarian principles.
   • Develop and deliver training sessions for field teams and partners on MEAL concepts, tools, and humanitarian principles.
4. Programmatic Communication & Reporting:
   • Support in managing information, reporting processes, and product creation to facilitate clear and professional communication of CARE's programmatic activities and outcomes.
   • Collaborate with the Senior MEAL Officer to ensure alignment with organizational goals, donor requirements and reporting standards.
   • Produce comprehensive and timely reports that effectively communicate project progress, impact, and lessons learned, working closely with the Senior MEAL Officer to ensure accuracy and relevance.
5. Collaboration & Data Quality Assurance:
   • Provide guidance and support to MEAL volunteers, ensuring their effective contribution to data collection and analysis (when needed).

   • Coordinate with the Information Management Officer to enhance data quality and strengthen information management systems, ensuring robust and accessible data for analysis and reporting.

5. Qualifications / special skills or knowledge

a. Skills & knowledge:

• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles and humanitarian processes
• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data collection methodologies, including significant experience with KOBO (required), Power BI and SPSS (a plus).
• Proven experience in planning and managing surveys, developing and refining data collection tools, and with data quality assessments and oversight.
• Demonstrated communication skills and ability to liaise with affected communities.
• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity; capacity to work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner; and ability to exercise accurate self-assessment, particularly in high-stress and high-security contexts.
• Proficiency with standard office computer systems and software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and email skills. Proven working experience using ODK Software management is required.
• Able to work under pressure and manage variable workload.
• Able to adapt to changing environments while maintaining fairness and impartiality.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; a collaborative team player with the ability to solve problems and work independently.
• Demonstrated ability to strictly adhere to task deadlines and produce high-quality deliverables.

b. Experience:

At least 3-5 years of relevant professional experience in a MEAL role, preferably within NGOs, academic organizations, or public agencies focused on MEAL.

At least 2 years of experience in the protection sector (preferably).

c. Academic background:

Bachelor’s degree in one or several of the following fields: Social Sciences, Statistics, Public Health, Business management, or a related discipline.

d.Languages:

English and/ or Arabic are the working language of CARE International in Lebanon.

Knowledge of other languages is an asset.

6. Other contract elements

Benefits: Social security/Health Insurance & Transport allowance.

The direct supervisor reserves the right to adapt this job description at any time during employment according to needs.

Any extension of this contract is dependent on performance review and funding availability

6. PSEA and Child Safeguarding Policies

CARE International in Lebanon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
CARE International in Lebanon and its employees and stakeholders abide by the CARE International Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Child Safeguarding Policies