Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL)

Location	Erbil	Job Type	Permanent
Salary		Sector	NGO

World Vision has had presence in Kurdish region of Iraq, primarily focusing operation in Northern Iraq since October 2014 supporting IDPs and host community members in WASH, health, protection, NFI and food assistance. Given the renewed focus towards the Syrian and Iraqi crisis, there are more opportunities for humanitarian actors to assist the refugee Syrians living in Iraq as well as to extend the service coverage to IDPs. World Vision’s expansion in this region has also shaped the need for effective monitoring of operations, mainstreaming and complying to humanitarian standards, assessing the impact of programs and efficient management and use of information.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

World Vision Iraq is recruiting a Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Manager to provide technical leadership and support the development and improvement of programs and service delivery in Iraq. Under the supervision of the PDQA Manager, the MEAL Manager will be responsible to support the development and maintenance of a results based MEAL frameworks throughout the KRI programs, that tracks and reports on project progress against targets & standards, measures and provides evidence on the impact of WV’s interventions, learns & responds to beneficiary feedback within predefined standards, and with centralized accurate data available for both internal & external learning & reporting purposes. The position will be required to establish & mainstream MEAL systems for direct and partner implementation in Iraq in alignment with World Vision & international humanitarian principles. The MEAL Manager will coordinate all MEAL tasks & communication with internal & external entities under the leadership and guidance of the PDQA Manager.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical Leadership and Systems Development

Support the process of implementation of the Country strategy through the development of strategy realization plans & establish measurement processes, with clearly outline Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and methodologies.
Establish and maintain (up to date) country level macro assessments / context assessments on a regular basis.
Take leadership in the overall MEAL system and ensure synergy between the different M&E, humanitarian accountability & learning processes.
Develop the overall MEAL system based on local capacity, cost-effective approaches and sustainable processes.

Design, Monitoring, Implementation & Reporting

Ensure all approved projects have well defined cost effective M&E, accountability & Information management processes that are aligned to the country level MEAL framework and meet the required standards.
Take lead of the impact assessment process for WV Iraq programs on a regular basis, in close collaboration with the PDQA Manager.
Provide support in project design.
Establish systems that enable monitoring of partners & direct implementation on a regular basis for quality standards, and humanitarian principles.
Ensure the effective functioning of the MEAL system in prompting critical thinking and influence timely program & strategic direction by the Senior Management.
Ensure MEAL findings are presented at the program review meetings on a monthly basis, and prompt critical thinking at project management & senior management level.
Ensure the establishment of a Country Monitoring Dashboard that will integrate critical indicators of program results.
Help identify and design innovative practices to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness in M&E, Humanitarian accountability, Information management and general project management.
Ensure beneficiaries and partners have constant access to information about WV’s programs and to channels that can process complaints & feedback with confidentiality & respond appropriately within predefined standards.

Project closeout, Evaluations, & learning

Establish a learning culture within the organization and among implementing partners to document learnings and best practices for ongoing and future programing.
Ensure all country level & thematic researches are reviewed for methodological thoroughness, and output quality.
Lead and coordinate project and program level evaluations on a periodic basis, and ensure the recommendations are used to inform future programming.
Ensure all MEAL related data, reports, and records are clearly organized archived in a central location for future reference.
Provide support in developing TORs for evaluations.

Accountability, Coordination and Quality Assurance

Ensure the humanitarian accountability system across the WV Iraq programs uphold and mainstream i. information sharing, ii. Consultation, iii. Participation & iv. Complaints and response of affected people.
Ensure WV Iraq is well represented in MEAL related working groups and forums at local & national levels.
Ensure that WV Iraq, and Core Humanitarian principles are upheld in all aspects of the MEAL functions and general project management.
Ensure clear communication & strong coordination is maintained with the PDQA Manager.
Support the Technical Advisors in developing project specific quality benchmarks to ensure quality.

Capacity building & management

Ensure all MEAL staff supervised by this position are guided, mentored and their capacities built in order to deliver high quality outputs.
Ensure all relevant WV Iraq’s frontline & technical staff are assisted in strengthening their understanding of MEAL concepts & competencies and are equipped with knowledge, tools and resources to support MEAL functions at project and program level, as part of the MEAL system establishment.
Ensure partner capacity is built to comply and produce high quality M&E products in-line with WV Iraq & donor standards & requirements.
Ensure management of day-to-day M&E tasks are completed with appropriate resources, proper planning and to the highest standard required.
Ensure the MEAL unit (staff & functions) are sufficiently funded to operate effectively.
Establish a surge capacity with internal (staff & funding) & external resources (consultants) deal with emergency requirements / situations.
Support other tasks as required by the PDQA Manager.
Sign off on all Surveys (Impact assessment, Post implementation monitoring studies, baselines, evaluations) for sharing with within and outside the organization.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Master’s degree preferably in the field of social sciences, public health, nutrition, statistics or development studies.
Minimum of 3 years national & 3 years international (total of 5 years) experience in the field of MEAL, especially in emergency context and grant funding is critical.
Proven experience in establishing a fully functional MEAL system for an organization that’s supported by bilateral & multilateral international donors serving more than 100,000 beneficiaries within a period of 12 months.
Proven experience in leading Surveys (mix methodologies) from designing to report writing.
Proven experience in local staff capacity building
Experience in coordinating MEAL functions at a national level for an INGO covering some of the following sectors / thematic areas is critical: Health, Cash, Food, WASH, shelter, Education, Child protection and livelihoods.
Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
Thorough knowledge in quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, and analysis is essential, especially the use of SPSS / “R” software’s for quantitative analysis.
Thorough knowledge in writing technical MEAL reports is essential.
Thorough knowledge on Sphere, Core humanitarian standards, child rights, human rights, DNH, HAP & DAC evaluation criteria are essential.
Thorough knowledge on the humanitarian operations coordination, cluster operations, and major donor M&E requirements is essentials.
Good understanding on database management and data structures.
Thorough knowledge of World Vision processes such as Child-Wellbeing, M&E framework would be an advantage.
Fluency in the local languages (Kurdish/Arabic) will be an advantage.
Previous working experience in Iraq can be an advantage.

Work Environment

Complete Travel and/or Work Environment statements if applicable.

Ability to work and produce high quality outputs in an intense & dynamic working environment, with local and international staff having different working styles and different levels of competencies is essential.
Ability to perform well under pressure and comply with donors & partnership deadlines is essential.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical Leadership and Systems Development

Support the process of implementation of the Country strategy through the development of strategy realization plans & establish measurement processes, with clearly outline Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and methodologies.

Establish and maintain (up to date) country level macro assessments / context assessments on a regular basis.

Take leadership in the overall MEAL system and ensure synergy between the different M&E, humanitarian accountability & learning processes.

Develop the overall MEAL system based on local capacity, cost-effective approaches and sustainable processes.

Design, Monitoring, Implementation & Reporting

Ensure all approved projects have well defined cost effective M&E, accountability & Information management processes that are aligned to the country level MEAL framework and meet the required standards.

Take lead of the impact assessment process for WV Iraq programs on a regular basis, in close collaboration with the PDQA Manager.

Provide support in project design.

Establish systems that enable monitoring of partners & direct implementation on a regular basis for quality standards, and humanitarian principles.

Ensure the effective functioning of the MEAL system in prompting critical thinking and influence timely program & strategic direction by the Senior Management.

Ensure MEAL findings are presented at the program review meetings on a monthly basis, and prompt critical thinking at project management & senior management level.

Ensure the establishment of a Country Monitoring Dashboard that will integrate critical indicators of program results.

Help identify and design innovative practices to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness in M&E, Humanitarian accountability, Information management and general project management.

Ensure beneficiaries and partners have constant access to information about WV’s programs and to channels that can process complaints & feedback with confidentiality & respond appropriately within predefined standards.

Project closeout, Evaluations, & learning

Establish a learning culture within the organization and among implementing partners to document learnings and best practices for ongoing and future programing.

Ensure all country level & thematic researches are reviewed for methodological thoroughness, and output quality.

Lead and coordinate project and program level evaluations on a periodic basis, and ensure the recommendations are used to inform future programming.

Ensure all MEAL related data, reports, and records are clearly organized archived in a central location for future reference.

Provide support in developing TORs for evaluations.

Accountability, Coordination and Quality Assurance

Ensure the humanitarian accountability system across the WV Iraq programs uphold and mainstream i. information sharing, ii. Consultation, iii. Participation & iv. Complaints and response of affected people.

Ensure WV Iraq is well represented in MEAL related working groups and forums at local & national levels.

Ensure that WV Iraq, and Core Humanitarian principles are upheld in all aspects of the MEAL functions and general project management.

Ensure clear communication & strong coordination is maintained with the PDQA Manager.

Support the Technical Advisors in developing project specific quality benchmarks to ensure quality.

Capacity building & management

Ensure all MEAL staff supervised by this position are guided, mentored and their capacities built in order to deliver high quality outputs.

Ensure all relevant WV Iraq’s frontline & technical staff are assisted in strengthening their understanding of MEAL concepts & competencies and are equipped with knowledge, tools and resources to support MEAL functions at project and program level, as part of the MEAL system establishment.

Ensure partner capacity is built to comply and produce high quality M&E products in-line with WV Iraq & donor standards & requirements.

Ensure management of day-to-day M&E tasks are completed with appropriate resources, proper planning and to the highest standard required.

Ensure the MEAL unit (staff & functions) are sufficiently funded to operate effectively.

Establish a surge capacity with internal (staff & funding) & external resources (consultants) deal with emergency requirements / situations.

Support other tasks as required by the PDQA Manager.

Sign off on all Surveys (Impact assessment, Post implementation monitoring studies, baselines, evaluations) for sharing with within and outside the organization.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Master’s degree preferably in the field of social sciences, public health, nutrition, statistics or development studies.

Minimum of 3 years national & 3 years international (total of 5 years) experience in the field of MEAL, especially in emergency context and grant funding is critical.

Proven experience in establishing a fully functional MEAL system for an organization that’s supported by bilateral & multilateral international donors serving more than 100,000 beneficiaries within a period of 12 months.

Proven experience in leading Surveys (mix methodologies) from designing to report writing.

Proven experience in local staff capacity building

Experience in coordinating MEAL functions at a national level for an INGO covering some of the following sectors / thematic areas is critical: Health, Cash, Food, WASH, shelter, Education, Child protection and livelihoods.

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Thorough knowledge in quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, and analysis is essential, especially the use of SPSS / “R” software’s for quantitative analysis.

Thorough knowledge in writing technical MEAL reports is essential.

Thorough knowledge on Sphere, Core humanitarian standards, child rights, human rights, DNH, HAP & DAC evaluation criteria are essential.

Thorough knowledge on the humanitarian operations coordination, cluster operations, and major donor M&E requirements is essentials.

Good understanding on database management and data structures.

Thorough knowledge of World Vision processes such as Child-Wellbeing, M&E framework would be an advantage.

Fluency in the local languages (Kurdish/Arabic) will be an advantage.

Previous working experience in Iraq can be an advantage.

Work Environment

Complete Travel and/or Work Environment statements if applicable.

Ability to work and produce high quality outputs in an intense & dynamic working environment, with local and international staff having different working styles and different levels of competencies is essential.

Ability to perform well under pressure and comply with donors & partnership deadlines is essential.

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