MEAL Manager

People in Need

Details / requirements:

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Position: MEAL Manager

Location: Kathmandu with travels to the field

Reports to: Head of Programmes

Introduction

People in Need (PIN) is a non-governmental, non-profit, international organization founded in the Czech Republic in 1992. PIN arrived in Nepal as part of a humanitarian response to the April 25, 2015 earthquake. Since its inception in Nepal, PIN has had a strong role in designing and facilitating systemic solutions advocating for and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations affected by disasters including person categories who live in geographically remote areas of the country, historically marginalized ethnic groups, and those marginalized because of their age and/or gender identity. Currently, PIN Nepal is implementing programmes under three strategic pillars 1) Emergency response and recovery, 2) Climate resilience, and 3) Civil society and inclusive governance. PIN Nepal team works in and promotes strong partnerships with civil society, Government of Nepal, academia, private sector and other key stakeholders in Nepal. Together with them, PIN Nepal has been for example one of the pioneer organizations advancing programmes such as landslide disaster preparedness and anticipatory action, climate and flood resilient housing, durable local solutions, climate change modelling for more inclusive and efficient local decision-making, girls and inclusive education, waste management and circular economy approaches. PIN is strongly committed for safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, including persons with disabilities, in line with its safeguarding framework and child protection policy.

Scope of Work

The role of the MEAL Manager is to establish and implement systems to measure impact of PIN’s programmes in both standard and innovative ways, to promote evidence-based decision-making and to ensure harmonized monitoring and evaluation practices across the Country Programme. The position holder will support the design and continuation of standardized MEAL processes and tools in coordination with both PIN Nepal staff and relevant partners. This will involve: developing and supporting programme and partner teams to use MEAL systems to collect, aggregate and analyse data in addition to playing a key role in ensuring the compliance and reporting needs of key stakeholders are met in full. The MEAL Manager will contribute to generating and sharing knowledge including through commissioning research studies, assessments, evaluations and promote organizational learning and application of good practices and standards. The MEAL Manager will have full oversight of MEAL related program and project activities, as well as development of innovations in MEAL including in cost benefit analysis (CBA) and Value for Money (VfM).

Key Job Responsibilities

MEAL Management responsibilities

  • Lead the development of MEAL systems, including guidelines, procedures, and tools;
  • Advise PIN Nepal Country management team on MEAL solutions/options in the design of staffing, resourcing and budgeting, and priorities for the programme and partner staff;
  • Participate in programme design and proposal discussions, including theory of change development and log frame development;
  • Support programme and partner staff in planning for and executing MEAL activities, including data collection methodologies/tools, data management, analysis and use;
  • Support the implementation, dissemination and use of assessments and evaluations in addition to monitoring data in programme development, adjustment, and review;
  • Contribute to organizational learning through supporting specific analysis such as impact evaluations, lessons learned, and reporting;
  • Ensure capacity building and training of programme, support and partner staff on MEAL conceptual and technical areas;
  • Ensure effective communication and knowledge/information sharing between project and partner members;
  • Contribute to external coordination and relations including high-level donor communication and engagement;
  • Support to strengthen CP’s accountability framework thereby further improving Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) and contributing to design and implementation of CFRM project focused on supporting local government’s accountability mechanism.
  • Take lead in conducting value for money, impact assessment/measuring and cost-benefit and cost-effective analysis of project interventions, including activities, outputs and outcomes.
  • Play active role of PIN Nepal Senior management team member;
  • Adhere to PIN-Nepal’s policies, guidance, and procedures; with special attention to Safeguarding Standards and Procedure, Case Handling Framework, Child Protection and Do No Harm policies; immediate reporting and redress of any complaints and issues based on its severity.

Programme development and implementation responsibilities

  • Ensure that MEAL frameworks and implementation plans are finalized working with relevant programme, support and partner members to ensure the timely roll-out and delivery of planned MEAL activities;
  • Design and develop methodologies and tools related to monitoring, evaluation and capitalization of lessons learned, and accountability and reporting ensuring that they are age/gender sensitive;
  • Formulate results, logical framework and Theory of Change for the Programme and project in consultation with program and headquarters team and relevant stakeholders.
  • Provide on-going analysis and concrete recommendations to improve quality and efficacy of projects in terms of procedures, advocacy, and accountability to beneficiaries;
  • Identify the needed analytics for monitoring programme efficiency and other reporting purposes;
  • Coordinate closely with Project Managers and partners on the needed information management, analysis, data collection tools, and any other relevant MEAL-related area of concern;
  • Regularly review the relevance of MEAL tools, indicators, and planning; ensuring that the indicator tracking tables are updated;
  • Actively contribute to the data analysis for needs assessments and outcome/impact-level monitoring and evaluations;
  • Liaise and coordinate with the External Evaluator to manage all aspects of their engagement with the project/s and evaluate their performance completion of various aspects of the project.
  • Conduct regular field visits in coordination with programme and partner staff to ensure technical and operational compliance with MEAL systems and methodologies;
  • Monitor reporting deadlines and support relevant programme and partner staff with the preparation of donor reports to ensure compliance with key programmatic objectives and indicators;
  • Supports evaluations by contribution in preparation of ToRs, recruitment of consultants, coordination of field work, review of inception report and evaluation report;
  • Maintains PIN’s library of lessons learned in the country programme; supports Program Managers to prepare Evaluation briefs and ensures that they are added to global Library of Evaluations;
  • Promote the principles and practices of beneficiary accountability to programme, support and partner staff, providing advise and mentoring in beneficiary feedback practices, as required.
  • Strengthen knowledge sharing and learning process by ensuring regular dissemination of program and project results, lessons learned and good practices to partners, development partners, beneficiaries and other wide range of stakeholders.
  • Develop impact and success stories and other knowledge products and support in disseminating the lessons learned, achievements and good practices with a broad range of stakeholders.
  • Provide inputs to various project concept notes and proposals that are submitted to donors for the development of projects.
  • Contribute to integration of gender, equality, disability, protection, human rights, and other inclusion issues as appropriate in all MEAL work and processes.

Requirements

Minimal requirements

  • Masters’ degree in social science or development related fields;
  • Minimum of 5-years relevant MEAL experience in a professional environment, preferably in a humanitarian/development setting;
  • Minimum of 3-year experience and progressive responsibility coordinating and managing donor level initiatives including direct engagement and reporting;
  • Minimum of 3-year experience in direct line management of MEAL support teams;
  • Excellent knowledge of and experience with results-based management methodologies and tools (project and programme management, design, monitoring and evaluation) and research and policy-level analysis.
  • Proven track record in implementing innovative approaches in MEAL;
  • Strong communication and influencing skills using evidence-based methods;
  • Technical expertise in evidence-based monitoring and evaluation approaches and practices both for accountability and learning processes;
  • Excellent understanding of data and information phases/needs for programme management and decision-making;
  • Demonstrable experience participating in MEAL assessments and surveys including leading field enumerators;
  • Excellent ability to articulate oral and written technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences;
  • Must have demonstrated leadership qualities, depth and breadth of management expertise and experience; previous experience supervising and mentoring staff;
  • Experience with both quantitative and qualitative methods, including guidance/tool/SOP development, and facilitating community-level and key stakeholder KIIs & FGDs;
  • Experience with KoBo Toolbox or other ODK software is desirable. Experience of statistical and data management software (STATA, SPSS) is an advantage;
  • Fluent in both English and Nepali.

Behavior competencies

  • Results orientation;
  • Strategic thinking;
  • Initiating action and change;
  • Team-work, interpersonal skills;
  • Communicating with impact and respect;
  • Analytical skills, sound judgement;
  • Flexible, proactive approach;
  • Gender and cultural sensitivity;
  • Handling sensitive data.

How to Apply

Submit an updated CV and Motivation letter to the following link on or before 26th April 2023. Please note, applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis and should a suitable candidate be found before the official closing date, the advertisement might be withdrawn prior to the deadline thus early submissions are strongly encouraged. No phone calls will be entertained. PIN promotes equal opportunities. Women candidates are highly encouraged. Preference will be given to candidates available to join immediately.

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Overview

Category Development and Project, Development / NGO
Openings 1
Position Type Full Time
Experience Please check vacancy details.
Education Please check vacancy details
Posted Date 04 Apr, 2023
Apply Before 26 Apr, 2023
City Kathmandu