MEAL Officer

General job description:

The MEAL Officer provides methodological and technical support to teams in order to ensure the quality of MEAL tools in projects and programmes, working within the framework established by the organisation.

The MEA; Officer ensures that MEALapproaches, methods, tools are relevant and consistent across Tdh teams and partner organisations.  He/she helps plan and implement activities requiring specific MEAL expertise.

The Officer helps develop a dynamic approach to MEAL inside and outside Tdh (as part of regional partnerships, networks, centres of expertise, working groups, etc.). He/she ensures MEAL is an integral part of all Tdh departments, and that the MEAL department plays a support role for the rest of the organisation.

He/she helps develop an institutional culture that encourages critical thinking, collective learning and teamwork, as part of the organisation’s focus on quality and accountability.

Main responsibilities:

General

§  Helps programme coordinators and project leaders develop and implement monitoring plans that are consistent with the organisation’s orientations.

§  Helps implement an appropriate and effective MEAL system that, where possible, brings together project and programme partners during the monitoring plan design phase and during the sharing and using of data.

§  Helps establish MEAL budgets by encouraging the optimal allocation of available resources (including financial, logistical, technical and human resources) for MEAL.

§  Helps produce communication and reporting tools (for MEAL issues) while optimal diffusion of MEAL information.

§  Ensures ethical principles related to MEAL  are respected, especially those concerning gender equality, fairness and “do no harm”. Protects confidential data, applies the principles of informed consent, and protects children during the collection, processing, analysis and use of MEAL data.

§  Helps to implement the accountability component (information provision, consultation, participation,CFRM)

§  Helps to coordinate and support the MEAL manager in evaluations and learning workshops.

Technical support

§  Ensures internal  directives on MEAL are correctly rolled out within the delegation, and that Tdh  teams adopt all of Tdh’s existing / recommended MEAL methodological guidelines and tools.

§  Helps develop and write sections on MEAL in project proposal (covering indicators, budgets and M&E framework).

§  Provides technical support during the design of monitoring tools and the collection and analysis of data, working with the Information Management and programme teams.

§  Helps prepare and organise routine monitoring activities and special monitoring projects.

§  Ensures monitoring tools are used correctly during the implementation phase, and provides support during data collection activities.

§  Supports data analysis processes and assists in drafting qualitative reports for effective programme management.

§  Provides technical support to ensure that MEAL information is used successfully and adapted to target audiences during operational and strategic decision-making, at the delegation and in coordination with head office, including for institutional reporting.

§  Informs the Project Leader and/or Programme Coordinator of any unmet targets, contextual changes (risks and opportunities) and negative effects on beneficiaries. 

§  Provides advice and methodological support during the recruitment of MEAL consultants (by drafting terms of reference recruiting and following up on consultancy).

§  Ensure that the accountability toward affected populations is implemented and followed up according to the internal guidance and procedures.

Learning/training

§  Helps build the skills of the teams and partners he/she supports in the MEAL field.

§  Helps capitalise on knowledge in MEAL related issues.

Security and child safety

§  Understands and applies security policies, the Child Safeguarding Policy and fraud prevention policies.

Competencies: This position requires personal, social and leadership competencies (PSLC) and technical and methodological competencies (TMC)  

In particular:

1. Ability to work independently, as well as to provide support and advice
2. Ability to create a cooperative and collaborative environment
3. Command of supporting and advising roles and competencies
4. Analytical skills
5. Discipline, precision, transparency and intellectual honesty
6. Excellent oral and written communication skills (in constructive negotiations) in all areas (internal and external), active listening skills
7. Flexibility, openness and adaptability
8. Results-oriented focus and problem-solving abilities
9. Ability to learn from negative experiences, capitalizing on errors and seizing opportunities

General job description:

The MEAL Officer provides methodological and technical support to teams in order to ensure the quality of MEAL tools in projects and programmes, working within the framework established by the organisation.

The MEA; Officer ensures that MEALapproaches, methods, tools are relevant and consistent across Tdh teams and partner organisations.  He/she helps plan and implement activities requiring specific MEAL expertise.

The Officer helps develop a dynamic approach to MEAL inside and outside Tdh (as part of regional partnerships, networks, centres of expertise, working groups, etc.). He/she ensures MEAL is an integral part of all Tdh departments, and that the MEAL department plays a support role for the rest of the organisation.

He/she helps develop an institutional culture that encourages critical thinking, collective learning and teamwork, as part of the organisation’s focus on quality and accountability.

Main responsibilities:

General

§  Helps programme coordinators and project leaders develop and implement monitoring plans that are consistent with the organisation’s orientations.

§  Helps implement an appropriate and effective MEAL system that, where possible, brings together project and programme partners during the monitoring plan design phase and during the sharing and using of data.

§  Helps establish MEAL budgets by encouraging the optimal allocation of available resources (including financial, logistical, technical and human resources) for MEAL.

§  Helps produce communication and reporting tools (for MEAL issues) while optimal diffusion of MEAL information.

§  Ensures ethical principles related to MEAL  are respected, especially those concerning gender equality, fairness and “do no harm”. Protects confidential data, applies the principles of informed consent, and protects children during the collection, processing, analysis and use of MEAL data.

§  Helps to implement the accountability component (information provision, consultation, participation,CFRM)

§  Helps to coordinate and support the MEAL manager in evaluations and learning workshops.

Technical support

§  Ensures internal  directives on MEAL are correctly rolled out within the delegation, and that Tdh  teams adopt all of Tdh’s existing / recommended MEAL methodological guidelines and tools.

§  Helps develop and write sections on MEAL in project proposal (covering indicators, budgets and M&E framework).

§  Provides technical support during the design of monitoring tools and the collection and analysis of data, working with the Information Management and programme teams.

§  Helps prepare and organise routine monitoring activities and special monitoring projects.

§  Ensures monitoring tools are used correctly during the implementation phase, and provides support during data collection activities.

§  Supports data analysis processes and assists in drafting qualitative reports for effective programme management.

§  Provides technical support to ensure that MEAL information is used successfully and adapted to target audiences during operational and strategic decision-making, at the delegation and in coordination with head office, including for institutional reporting.

§  Informs the Project Leader and/or Programme Coordinator of any unmet targets, contextual changes (risks and opportunities) and negative effects on beneficiaries. 

§  Provides advice and methodological support during the recruitment of MEAL consultants (by drafting terms of reference recruiting and following up on consultancy).

§  Ensure that the accountability toward affected populations is implemented and followed up according to the internal guidance and procedures.

Learning/training

§  Helps build the skills of the teams and partners he/she supports in the MEAL field.

§  Helps capitalise on knowledge in MEAL related issues.

Security and child safety

§  Understands and applies security policies, the Child Safeguarding Policy and fraud prevention policies.

Competencies: This position requires personal, social and leadership competencies (PSLC) and technical and methodological competencies (TMC)  

In particular:

1. Ability to work independently, as well as to provide support and advice
2. Ability to create a cooperative and collaborative environment
3. Command of supporting and advising roles and competencies
4. Analytical skills
5. Discipline, precision, transparency and intellectual honesty
6. Excellent oral and written communication skills (in constructive negotiations) in all areas (internal and external), active listening skills
7. Flexibility, openness and adaptability
8. Results-oriented focus and problem-solving abilities
9. Ability to learn from negative experiences, capitalizing on errors and seizing opportunities

Other professional skills required:

1. Knowledge of project cycle management concepts, processes and tools, and experience in leading participative processes
2. Expertise in developing, planning and implementing MEAL systems, procedures and tools
3. Knowledge of and experience with quantitative and qualitative methods in the humanitarian aid/development sector.  
4. Extensive experience in data collection and analysis Knowledge of information management software and tools (statistics, investigation management and mapping)
5. Experience in preparing, planning and monitoring consultancies in the MEAL field
6. Awareness and knowledge of ethical issues related to MEAL: do no harm and sensitivity to gender and diversity