Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Manager

Role Purpose:

The role will require establishing and maintaining systems and processes related to monitoring and accountability as well as supporting on developing and implementing an evaluation and learning framework. The post holder will be expected to mentor and build capacity of existing country programme staff with the dual objective of enabling staff to fulfil their current roles whilst also developing their capacity to take on more senior roles.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to; Deputy Country Director -  Programmes

Reporting to: 4 x MEAL Coordinators

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 2 – the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Create, establish and maintain an overarching national Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework that:
  • aligns with Save the Children quality framework standards yet is contextualised to the Lebanon context
  • enables quantitative and qualitative data to be captured, stored, presented and analysed
  • supports the design and delivery of direct and partner led humanitarian and developmental programmes for refugee and host populations
• Create, establish and maintain project level monitoring tools and databases* that:
  • align with standardised programme designs
  • capture relevant data for measuring the delivery of programmes
  • enable quality to be monitored as well as feeding into higher level learning.

*This will include creating, establishing and maintaining proper data entry systems and data storage for all program monitoring

• Create, establish and maintain a beneficiary accountability mechanism that enables all beneficiaries to engage in a two way dialogue regarding the design and delivery of Save the Children programmes
• Create, establish and maintain a methodology that ensures beneficiary participation is factored into all stages of the project management cycle
• Create, establish and maintain a culture of continuous learning and analysis of data at every level of the organisation with the objective of ensuring that programmes are refined and remain relevant in a changing context
• Lead on the planning and implementation of child focussed baseline surveys for all programmes and ensuring assessment findings are documented and disseminated with the objective of enabling impact to be measured over programme periods
• Lead on the planning and implementation of child focussed evaluations and ensuring evaluation findings are documented and disseminated with the objective of strengthening design and delivery of programmes as well as supporting advocacy and fundraising
• Lead on the planning and implementation of regular field monitoring visits, ensuring that feedback is documented and disseminated with the objective of strengthening design and delivery of programmes
• Lead on the planning and implementation of inductions, capacity building and awareness raising for all staff and partners regarding MEAL
• Support operations and technical staff on the planning and implementation of child focussed needs assessments and ensuring assessment findings are documented and disseminated with the objective of influencing programme design as well as supporting advocacy and fundraising
• Support technical and field staff in the development of sector logframes and standardised MEAL tools
• Support technical and field staff in organizing regular internal lesson learning sessions and review processes in accordance with programme guide
• Support technical and field staff in the development of proposals and reporting
• Support technical and field staff to carry out monitoring and evaluation of project activities as agreed in M&E plans
• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures
• Ensure that the minimum standards of accountability are integrated into programming in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct and through the application of HAP guidelines
• Line manage central national and field  MEAL team
  • Develop framework of responsibilities including solid versus dotted line reporting of the centralized MEAL unit
  • Mobilize and coach MEAL Unit staff on the centralized MEAL unit work procedures
  • Ensure compliance of MEAL field and central performance and deliverables with the expected MEAL national level Performance
  • Conduct regular field visits to Bekaa, North and Beirut filed ensure smooth work procedures between meal and operations/program staff
  • Plan and implement regular retreats and MEAL unit staff meetings to ensure proper synergy, harmonization and coordination and positive work environment among the MEAL unit staff
• Support child safeguarding focal points to raise awareness of prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and reporting and handling of serious complaints in line with child safeguarding policy
• Lead on projects focused on strengthening the accountability and referrals aspects of MEAL including global, regional and local initiatives including:
  • Lead the establishment of a country level complaints response, referrals and management system
  • Undertake system and resource analysis to strengthen compliance of the SCL with the Core Humanitarian Standards as part of the LLA and/or other similar initiatives.
• Support the implementation of Save the Children research agenda while ensuring compliance with donor requirements, strategic priorities and coordination with concerned SC members, research organizations and universities
• Support the re-mobilizing and re-strengthening of the Save the Children relationship with main external governmental stakeholders and donors as and when requested by senior management
• Support  the re-strengthening of the Save the Children relationship with main Donor establishments as requested by senior management
• Lead Save the Children call centre (helpline) and related activities with other stakeholders

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES

• Master’s degree in a relevant subject or equivalent field experience
• 5-8 years’ experience of creating, establishing and maintaining a MEAL framework for a multi-sector programme in a humanitarian and development context
• 5 years’ experience of building community participation and accountability
• 5 years’ experience of managing teams and working within a matrix leadership structure
• 5 years’ experience of managing projects and delivering objectives
• 5 years’ experience monitoring and evaluation skills, including planning/participating in evaluations
• Ability to work both in an advisory and a hands on implementation capacity
• 5 years’ experience in supervision, training and coach staff
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports
• Excellent communication skills
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of the Save the Children mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support
• Fluency in English and Arabic