Humanitarian Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Consultant

Vacancy Announcement

Humanitarian Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Consultant 

1.   Introduction

CBM Global Disability Inclusion (CBM Global) is an international development organisation, committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in the poorest communities of the world irrespective of race, gender or religious belief. CBM has been working in Nepal since 1982. Our work in Nepal spans across 36 districts and based on a programmatic approach to ensure inclusive development. Based on its core values and over 100 years of professional expertise, CBM addresses poverty both as a cause and as a consequence of disability and works in partnership with local and national civil society organisations to create an inclusive society for all.

2.   Background 

In response to the second surge in COVID-19 pandemic, in July 2021 CBM Global in collaboration with its partners in Nepal, NFDN, INF initiated an “Inclusive COVID-19 Response in Karnali; a collaborative effort to address immediate food and MHPSS needs of vulnerable individuals”. The intervention focuses on reducing food insecurity risks and negative psychosocial impacts created by COVID -19 in Jumla district of Karnali province through inclusive and accessible response through provision of in-kind food assistance, MHPSS support along with influencing humanitarian support ensuring the response is truly inclusive to persons with disabilities and others at-risk groups.  

3.   Objective of the consultancy

The overall objective of the assignment is to facilitate MEAL processes and provide field level coordination and oversight of project implementation ensuring its timeliness and relevancy. 

4.   Detailed Scope of Work

Planning and Development of MEAL processes:

The HMEAL Consultant will support Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) in developing and maintaining project-specific MEAL framework and related tools in line with programmatic needs to ensure that MEAL activities are part of the team’s project work plans. He/she will be responsible to ensure that MEAL activities are applied across the project and in line with what is stipulated in the MEAL Plans, including 

• Verification – ensure verifications include baseline data for project requirements, oversee analysis and cleaning of all verification data sets.
• Monitoring Implementation– oversee reporting and feedback for distribution monitoring across all offices and follow up on lessons learned.
• Post-distribution monitoring – ensure post-distribution monitoring data sets include baseline statistics and prepare project-level PDM reports. 
• Results-based monitoring – lead on conducting baseline, midline and end line data collections, or other data collections as described in the overall project MEAL Plan.
• Works closely with Humanitarian Coordinator to ensure documentation of lessons learnt and case studies.
• In close coordination and cooperation with the Humanitarian Coordinator, contribute towards review, revision and development of assessment & data collection tools, methodologies, and standardized reporting templates for response.
• Ensure that the project indicators (both quantitative and qualitative) are tracked and achieved, collect and compile SAD data of project beneficiaries and report to HC.
• Contributes to mapping and collecting relevant MEAL resources

Accountability, knowledge sharing and organisational learning:

• Support partners with the development and implementation of the inclusive and accessible beneficiary feedback and response mechanism, including visibility and information sharing, receipt and logging of complaints, and provision of appropriate responses to beneficiaries and community level stakeholders.
• Support HC and partners on setting up appropriate responses to complain handling Mechanism at beneficiaries and community level stakeholders.  
• Supervise logging and follow up on MEAL and Response related feedback in Program Feedback Tracker. 

Data Management and Reporting:

• In close coordination and cooperation with the Humanitarian Coordinator, contribute towards review, revision and development of assessment & SADDD data collection tools, methodologies, and standardized reporting templates for response.
• Perform data quality checks/verification to all data received with an aim of ensuring that Response Project data received is reliable and accurate.
• Oversee uploads and recording of all information in the KOBO tools.
• Take lead on the cleaning and analysis of MEAL data for the Nepal COVID-19 Response Project
• Ensure that MEAL reports are submitted to the Humanitarian Coordinator in standardised formats for preparation of Response Monthly reports (data collation).

5.   Reporting and Communication Lines

The consultant will report directly to the CBM Global Nepal Humanitarian Coordinator. The consultant will also be expected to work closely with the project partners at field. The consultant may be required to liaise with the representatives of CBM G at global level, in the development of specific knowledge products or when working on the MEAL framework for the COVID-19 response. 

6.   Timeframe of the Assignment

Expected Joining Date: This is an immediate requirement, and the recruitment will be on rolling basis.  

Day allocation – 5 days per week. 

Duty Station: Kathmandu (with frequent field visit to the project municipalities)

The HMEAL Consultant will be required to keep track of the time involved in the given assignment and submit an approval timesheet with the list of tasks and deliverables for the payment at the end of each month

7.   Deliverables

The following are the key deliverables of the consultancy assignment:

8.   Consultancy Fees and Benefits 

• Applicants are requested to submit their financial proposal with a clear indication of their monthly rate in Nepali Rupees inclusive of applicable taxes accordingly.
• The applicants are also responsible for the arrangements of their social security provisions.
• CBM will cover the cost related to accidental insurance as per labor law. 

9.   Required Qualifications

CBM is looking for a consultant with the following required competencies and qualifications: 

Qualifications and Knowledge 

• A Minimum of bachelor’s degree or equivalent in humanitarian, development or social studies, or other relevant fields.
• Specialised certificate(s) in MEAL is preferred 
• Strong grasp of all stages of response cycle management and quality standards in humanitarian programming, safeguarding and accountability.
• Knowledge and experience of data management, information analysis methodologies and techniques. 
• Familiarity with protection issues, gender, and disability inclusion 

Required Experience

• At least 3 years of demonstrated experience in development and roll-out of MEAL frameworks for multi-sector programming, preferably in humanitarian settings in Nepal. 
• Experience in conducting or facilitating participatory monitoring, evaluation and learning initiatives
• Experience in setting up of community feedback and complaints mechanisms.
• Demonstrated experience in documentation of good practices and lessons learned, developing human interest/impact stories, producing policy briefs and any other related materials. 
• Experience of documenting gender and/or disability inclusive humanitarian and development programs, protection issues or similar preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, including fluent spoken and written English and Nepali.
• Experience in field level emergency support, distribution plan and establishing complain and feedback mechanism in community.  

Core Competencies

• Self-initiative and ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Strong communication skills and analytical abilities, particularly in the areas of learning and capacity development. 
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in an effective, pro-active and timely manner.
• A team player, who can work well in a multi-cultural environment, communicates readily and shares learning with colleagues, partners, primary change agents and others.
• Ability to produce quality work in tight deadlines and with minimum supervision.
• Achieves results effectively (demonstrated accountability to partners and affected people; making decisions involving others; flexibility; delivery of timely and appropriate results using available resources).

General terms and conditions

All reports/documents prepared during the assignment shall be treated as confidential and the copyright shall remain with CBM.

10.   Conditions of Service

CBM reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered, or for failure to meet deadlines. 

11.   Confidentiality and Copyright

The consultant agrees to keep the information s/he receives as part of this consultancy from CBM or other stakeholders confidential. The copyright of the final deliverables will be with CBM. 

12.   Application Procedure

Interested candidates are requested to send their application by 12 September 2021 via the following email: info.nepal@cbm-global.org.

The application should contain the following:

1. Cover letter (1-page max.) demonstrating clearly (i) the motivation for applying for this role, (ii) experience of carrying out similar assignments, (iii) financial proposal and (iv) earliest availability date to start the assignment.  
2. Curriculum Vitae clearly presenting the experience relevant for the requirements of this assignment.  
3. References of two or three previous clients.
4. Samples of previous similar work (in English) including but not limited to documentation of case studies, policy briefs, MEAL frameworks, etc. 

Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Candidates with disability are strongly encouraged to apply. CBM Global ensures reasonable accommodations for the selected candidate.