MEAL Specialist  - (220007MH)

JOB TITLE:  MEAL Specialist (Routine Monitoring)
TEAM/PROGRAMME:  PDQ    
LOCATION: Sana’a with frequent travel to the Field Offices
GRADE:  TBC    
CONTRACT LENGTH: 12 months, Fixed Term 

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: 

Level 3 – the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people.

The post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g., once a week or more) or intensively (e.g., four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the policy checking/vetting.

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability Learning (MEAL) Specialist is a key position within Program Development and Quality unit based in the Country Office and with guidance from the Head of MEAL, the incumbent will have oversight in the implementation of a quality, comprehensive and integrated MEAL system that meets SCI standards. The MEAL Specialist working closely with thematic/ sector specific Technical Specialists/ Advisors will develop and adapt MEAL tools/approaches, build the capacity of SC internal and partner staff, provide support and guidance to operations teams during designing, planning and rolling project MEAL systems in line with SCI and donor requirements.  The incumbent will ensure timely collaborative evidence generation timely course correction and reporting. 

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Head of MEAL 
Indirect: FO MEAL leads
Budget Responsibilities: None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability:

• Providing roving technical support to all field offices and ensure one to one support to all PMS and MEAL leads at field offices 
• Do all data analysis and share information with the Head of MEAL specially around regular monitoring activities.
• Regularly do projects sites visit at field offices and report back to the Head of MEAL. 
• Support the day-to-day MEAL systems development supporting to lead on the implementation of the system/ MEAL Framework of SCI Yemen Office & Ensure that the organisation delivers on all internal and external MEAL requirements in a timely manner and with high quality information.
• Ensure the team is supported to manage and present information generated by MEAL activities, such as complaints databases, output tracker.
• Conduct data analysis and present, and disseminate information to inform programme management. Including compile and review, the updates of the IPTT, OT, CRM and Program database at country office level.
• Identify MEAL supply needs and coordinate with the logistics team to ensure materials arrive in good time.
• Ensure the MEAL system captures both quality and quantitative components; Initiate and Manage the implementation of Quality benchmarks review on a regular system.
• Lead the review of accountability mechanisms at field level, e.g., complaints and feedback response mechanisms –assessment, design, implementation, and review. Implement activities to raise awareness of prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and handling of serious complaints in line with child safeguarding policy.
• Support technical sector specialists and program managers to ensure that projects are carried out with participation of all affected communities (including children), that information is shared with affected communities (through traditional and high-tech solutions) and that they solicit and respond to community feedback. 
• Technically participate and provide support to implement evaluation, baseline and end lines.

Knowledge Management and Evidence Building:

• Provide monthly reviews of IMPACT system (DHIS2 database), ensuring that all field offices capture and update the system in timely manner with support, working closely with the country office MIS team.
• Ensure that all Means of verification are archived in the respective folders.
• Undertake indicator analysis for selected activities to ascertain their viability.
• Work closely with PMs and field office MEAL managers and coordinators to ensure that the data quality assurance procedure is implemented according to the SCI global and country office policies and guidance.
• Facilitate program units’ application of best practices and advocate Save the Children’s successful experiences in project quality design as well as areas of expertise through global knowledge networks.
• Lead in undertaking quarterly data quality assurance (DQA) for selected field offices and ensure effective reporting including follow up on DQA action areas.
• Update the centralized information system and maintain a resource library (MoV’s) in conjunction with field staff.

Reporting:

• Work closely with field staff and ensure timely development of internal and external reports and related deliverables; verify accuracy, timeliness and appropriateness of information.
• Ensure compliance with recommended guidelines, formats and standards of SCI.
• Assist Head of MEAL to consolidate annual program reports and organize appropriate learning to disseminate key achievements and lessons learnt.
• First line of review of routine monitoring reports, periodic assessments and studies through close cooperation with PDQ team members.

Using Learning and Feeding in Program Design:

• Contribute to all project design and proposal development: theory of change, log frame and indicators and budget 
• Present Information that supports technical team develop an evidence-based programmes 
• Support and ensures that programme goals and activities uphold the principles of the key national and international humanitarian frameworks, codes and commitments
• Integrates beneficiary accountability principles into the approach
• Ensure the development and functionality of a learning system that regularly feed into high programme design.

Capacity Building:

• Identify MEAL staffing needs for emergency programmes, and support rapid recruitment, induction, performance management and training. 
• Lead Capacity Building Events for the MEAL and other programme staff ensuring a highly capable team is in place all the time.
• Assisting Head of MEAL in implementation of Strategic Initiatives:
• Under the direction of the Head of MEAL, contribute in development and implementation of the strategy for knowledge generation and evidence building for identifying, generating, sorting, retrieving, validating, sharing and disseminating information in a more efficient & effective manner.
• Participate in the development of the country Annual plans and Country Annual reports.
• Lead the reporting process of the SC Global Indicators and ensure timely and high-quality submission.

Maintaining and developing collaborative relationships:

• Actively listens to different perspectives and experiences of stakeholders.
• Actively participates in networks to access and contribute to good practice at SC MEAL System 
• Regularly   represent SC in all networks, relevant clusters and working groups.
• Support the teams to Establishes and maintains clear communication and dialogue with disaster and conflict affected people and other stakeholders.

Additional job responsibilities

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
• Creates a managerial environment across the Region to lead, enable and maintain our culture of child safeguarding

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale

Collaboration:

• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to; builds and maintains effective relationships with colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity and different people’s perspectives, able to work cross-culturally.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Cuts away bureaucracy and encourages an entrepreneurial approach

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency, builds trust and confidence
• displays consistent excellent judgement

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master of Science in Social Sciences, Humanitarian studies or other related fields

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Minimum of 5 years of working in humanitarian programmes.
• Significant experience of undertaking a MEAL related role in a humanitarian context.
• Previous experience of managing a team and managing projects.
• Experience of, and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability.
• Demonstrated strong monitoring and evaluation skills, including planning/participating in evaluations
• Experience of training and capacity building.
• Some experience of representation and ability to represent SC effectively in external forums.
• Knowledge of institutional donors and experience of developing proposals.
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• A high level of written and spoken English.
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.

Desirable

• Language skills in Arabic
• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts
• Experience in promoting children’s participation in programme design, implementation and evaluation.

Additional job responsibilities

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities 

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

• We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Health and Safety

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Location: Sanaa

Employee Status: Fixed Term

Closing Date: Oct 20, 2022