Monitoring, Evaluating, Accountability, & Learning (MEAL) Coordinator

INTERSOS is a non-profit humanitarian aid organisation that works to bring assistance to people in danger, victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Established in 1992 with support from the Italian Federation of Trade Unions, its actions are based on the values of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equal rights and opportunities for all people and respect for diversity and coexistence, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable and the unprotected.

INTERSOS identifies with the core values of CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs; it adheres to international codes of conduct for humanitarian organisations and the values and principles expressed within those codes. INTERSOS is recognised by the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the European Commission and the principal UN agencies; it is privileged to hold an advisory status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
INTERSOS is an independent association which, through its own humanitarian operators, intervenes to effectively answer the needs of people in serious crises situations, mainly in the world's poorest regions, who are suffering, deprived of rights, dignity and essentials goods. It maintains a flexible operating structure. The head office in Italy coordinates, supports and monitors the planned activities in the countries of intervention carried out by decentralised offices.

About INTERSOS Lebanon

In Lebanon, INTERSOS has focused its humanitarian response on supporting Syrian families displaced across the country, as well as vulnerable host communities, with a programme that concentrates on protection within the different sectors of intervention that compose the Country Strategy (Protection, Case Management, Child Protection, GBV, Legal, WASH, and Shelter).

More specifically INTERSOS intervenes in South, Bekaa, Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, and is funded by the UNHCR, the Italian Cooperation (AICS), MADAD and UNFPA.

Concerning the MEAL approach, Lebanon mission has several MEAL elements and resources (Quality officer, reporting officer, accountability focal point, Information Management system focal point, data entry clerks…). However, these are embedded in different projects, and the organization aims to create an organize and high-functioning MEAL department

Job Purpose:

Under the supervision of the Head of Mission and in very close collaboration with the Program Coordinator, the Monitoring, Evaluating, Accountability, & Learning (MEAL) Coordinator is responsible for drafting and leading the strategic design and implementation of a structured MEAL department, integrating the actual resources, so as to ensure a qualitative functioning. S/he is responsible for the development of data collection tools, data storage, analysis and reporting on activities implemented under the different programs. S/he is also responsible for the accountability mechanisms and efficiency of the established systems, in addition to the use of data to ensure quality programming and progress through monitoring and evaluation.

Generic Duties:

Building on the existing structure, develop a coherent MEAL system and propose the setup of effective procedures and structures to ensure a qualitative MEAL department of INTERSOS Lebanon mission

To supervise the MEAL team, develop their skills and build of their capacities.

Provide MEAL technical assistance to program teams and inputs into the design stages of program proposals, budgets, logframes, indicators, and measurement methodologies, plans and tools

Ensure continued functioning of, and improvements to, the beneficiary feedback and response mechanism

To support the internal and external reporting, producing qualitative analysis concerning the impact of the different project

Conduct regular field visits across the different projects according to a set schedule, and ensure the maintenance of strong relations of department staff with community focal points

Specific Duties:

(Any additional task strictly related to the role and necessary for the implementation of the activities.)

1. Building on the existing structure, develop a coherent MEAL system and propose the setup of effective procedures and structures to ensure a qualitative MEAL department of INTERSOS Lebanon mission

Assess the existing human resources involved in data collection, gathering and analysis

In close coordination with the Programme Coordinator, analyze and assess the overall MEAL needs of INTERSOS programming in Lebanon

With the support of the Head of Mission, the Programme Coordinator and the HR Manager, develop and set up a MEAL system.

2. To supervise the MEAL team, develop their skills and build their capacities,

Manage and coordinate the MEAL team to ensure cohesion and effectiveness

Recruit, support and oversee the technical quality of work by MEAL unit team members support the unit’s and program teams’ implementation of MEAL systems

Provide technical leadership, guidance and capacity building for the MEAL team

Ensure MEAL team performance appraisals are reviewed regularly and conducted as per INTERSOS HR policies and procedures.

3. Provide MEAL technical assistance to program teams and inputs into the design stages of program proposals, budgets, logframes, indicators, and measurement methodologies, plans and tools

Responsible for the design and implementation of the M&E framework and tools across all program and projects, including baseline and end line surveys.

In collaboration with the Data Management focal point and Reporting Officers, design, harmonize and disseminate the Information Management System to collect and analyze the data

Develop quality tools and the follow up on the implementation of project Quality Plans, including field visits, acitivity monitoring, and case audits Support the Programme Coordinator in planning, developing and implementing multi-sectorial need assessments

In collaboration with the Project Managers and SMT, contribute to supervise internal and external evaluations (ToR, follow up...)

4. Ensure continued functioning of, and improvements to, the beneficiary feedback and response mechanism

Ensure that accountability mechanisms are in place, used and properly functioning (hotline, complain boxes...)

Ensure that accountability mechanism are known internally and externally (training, advertisement...)

Promote an organizational culture shift from a focus on data being primarily for donor reporting or indicator calculation purposes to using data for programmatic course correction and other decisions

5. To support the internal and external reporting, producing qualitative analysis concerning the impact of the different project

Produce reliable quantitative and qualitative data for internal and external reporting

Ensure high quality analysis of the data collected to demonstrates trends, impacts, and identified needs

Ensure continued generation of accurate information concerning beneficiary reach and identification of gaps

Conduct regular field visits across the different projects according to a set schedule, and ensure the maintenance of strong relations of department staff with community focal points, aiming to:

Stay up to date with developments on the ground

Verify the effectiveness of INTERSOS intervetions

Ensure the high funtionality of the complaint mechanism

Competencies: (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

Professional experiences:

Minimum 5 years of relevant working experience with at least 3 years in senior MEAL role.

Minimum  4 years of experience working in the humanitarian field

Professional requirements

Strong experience in leading monitoring exercises, evaluations, baseline and end line surveys;

Proven experience in building the capacity of a team and good managerial skills;

Experience of accountability process and complaint mechanism

Knowledge of institutional donors (UNHCR, EU) and experience in developing proposal

Expertise on IMS

Experience of working in a multicultural team environment;

Proficiency in reporting;

Proficiency in MS Office (i.e., Word, Excel, outlook etc.).

 Behavioural competencies:

Ability to set high standards for quality of work and quick adaptability and flexibility in stressful environments

High integrity

Relationship building.

Excellent diplomatic & negotiation skills.

Experience and ability to train others, facilitate workshops and transfer knowledge.

Resources management to optimize results.

Teamwork (Ability to delegate and work in team)

Excellent Communication Skills

Planning and Organizing (ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, with peaks of heavy workloads;

High Flexibility and adaptability

Ability to take initiative

Problem solving and decision making; ability to create solutions to operational problems

Strategic vision

Leadership: developing and motivating staff

Driving and achieving results

Humanitarian motivation and commitment to INTERSOS values

Respect of INTERSOS policies and procedures

Strong commitment to beneficiaries best interests