MEAL Officer

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Overall Responsibility

To review, improve and develop tools, methods and strategies aiming for quality of humanitarian (emergency & development) services and accountability to affected populations.

Specific Responsibilities

Establishing the MEAL systems

• Review and understand all organizational policies, strategies and project proposals.
• Operationalize and implement IRW MEAL Framework.
• In consultation with sector specialists and program team, develop an information management system (IMS) for the tracking of the project level activities, outputs and outcomes.
• Maintain a unified beneficiary database and other MEAL related information systems ensuring upmost regards for privacy and confidentiality.
• Orient the program management to gather data for IMS at project level.
• Undertake process and result monitoring of projects in line with project MEAL plans
• Consolidate data and draw analysis and measure program impact at regular intervals (every six months) to address any poor performance and coordinate with program team to allocate resources accordingly.
• Lead in the development and use of technology for MEAL activities, including in advising the IR Lebanon CD of developments in this area.
• Lead/support in commissioning of independent evaluation ensuring that all programmatic deliveries are measured based on the DAC-OECD criteria.
• Undertake annual, interim and/or final internal evaluations of projects in line with project MEAL plans.

Demonstrating accountability to affected populations

• Facilitate the development of an accountability action plan for each project on the given template and keep track of the progress.
• Establish and maintain a comprehensive complaints handling mechanism according to IRW Complaints policy and that fulfills relevant CHS requirements. Develop case studies around effectiveness of the complaints handling system and its impact on the program.
• Set up community feedback mechanisms and coordinate with the program management on effective use of information and relevant action wherever required.
• Coordinate with program teams in sharing results of assessments, baselines, reviews and evaluations with beneficiary community and other stakeholders in appropriate format at regular intervals and document the whole process.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to programme teams on conducting participatory, community-based and inclusive needs assessments.
• Verify the presence of inclusive and participatory beneficiary selection criteria and subsequent selection accordingly.

Organizational learning and capacity building:

• Participate in project design process as a team member to ensure prior internal and external learning, community-based and inclusive needs assessment and evidence informs project design.
• Participate in global and establish CO level community of practice (COP) to meet regularly and share lessons, best practices and case studies.
• Coordinate with program management to budget and organize learning events at regular intervals.
• Develop and maintain a learning log and ensure learning points are embedded at policy and practice levels.
• Manage CO level system to document innovation and share results and impact with all stakeholders.
• Conduct orientation sessions around MEAL requirements and identify capacity building requirements around MEAL for Partner organizations.
• Supporting colleagues in utilizing MEAL tools for different interventions.

Support to program management

• Manage the processes to ensure compliance to Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) and IHSAN Standards (IRW-Quality Management System).
• Provide technical support in the development of project specific baseline surveys and review the survey reports.
• Ensure in coordination with programme, finance and CD that relevant MEAL related budgets   are incorporated within project budgets.
• Write MEAL related sections of each proposal submitted to any donor.
• Represent Islamic Relief Lebanon at relevant coordination bodies and participate in webinars, workshops, meetings and other relevant events at national, regional and global levels.

COMPETENCIES: Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Specific to the Post

• Minimum Master’s degree in related subject such as social sciences or international development, from a recognized institution and relevant professional qualification in MEAL or qualified through experience.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in I/NGO. Experience of planning, coordinating and undertaking reviews and evaluations.
• Experience of supporting the establishment of MEAL systems for  humanitarian projects especially those trying to influence policy and practice
• Thorough understanding of and experience in using the main quantitative and qualitative methods used in monitoring and evaluating humanitarian programmes
• Good working knowledge of Results Based Management, Value for money, Do no harm, DRM, Complaints management and report writing.
• Experience of writing review / evaluation reports

Reqired skills

• Proven analytical ability, both qualitative and quantitative, including ability to process large amounts of information and to present data in creative and engaging ways.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to build strong and effective working relationships, and bringing people together to complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Good oral and written presentation skills.
• Working calmly under pressure and meeting strict deadlines.
• An ability to work on own initiative, as part of teams of people of diverse backgrounds, and to have a flexible attitude to work.

• Ability to gather, analyse and evaluate facts and to prepare and present concise both oral and well-written reports.
• Good knowledge of current development and MEAL thinking. Knowledge and experience of technology, and technological solutions for MEAL.
• Excellent communication skills in spoken and written English and Arabic.
• Training/workshop facilitation skills

Personal Qualities

• Commitment to IR Values, child protection and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Ability, motivation, and willingness to travel alone across IR Project Location and internationally.
• Willingness to take ownership of personal development, with the support of the line manager and of Islamic Relief Worldwide and  as a whole.
• Ability to work on own initiative but also as part of a team
• Ability to prioritize most important work without close supervision 
• Ability to work well under pressure and travel extensively across all program areas.
• Close attention to accuracy and detail

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience in relation to the CHS Verification Framework.
• Good knowledge of globally accepted humanitarian technical standards and initiatives e.g. Sphere, LEGS, INEE, CALP, SDGs, Inclusion Charter, ADCAP.
• Emotional intelligence including empathy, listening skills and strong persuasive skills.

This job description is not incorporated in the employment contract.  It is intended as a guide and should not be viewed as an inflexible specification as it may be varied from time to time in the light of strategic developments and following discussion with the post holder