MEAL Adviser at Save The Children

Role Purpose

• The MEAL Adviser will be expected to lead on MEAL system design and implementation, evaluations, MEAL budgeting, recruitment as well as support proposal writing and logframe development usually at national level. 
• In most circumstances, the post holder will be expected to mentor and/or capacity building existing country programme staff.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead planning of needs assessments in coordination other external sector agencies, ensuring assessment findings are documented and include an analysis of children’s needs. Lead development of SC programme baseline surveys where required.
• Working with the Deputy Team Leader – Programmes or Team Leader to support senior technical colleagues in their development of sector logframes, plans, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks and plans.  Contribute to development of programme plan/strategy and masterbudget.
• Lead development of M&E systems (such as output trackers) and their roll out.  Support sector technical staff to carry out monitoring and evaluation of project activities as agreed in M&E frameworks and plans and to strengthen integration between sectors.
• With support from senior technical colleagues, support fundraising, including contributing to proposal writing and review to ensure MEAL activities and costs are adequately covered. Develop standard guidance for incorporation of MEAL costs into proposals in specific responses.
• Lead planning, implementation and follow-up of evaluations (real times, evaluations of humanitarian action etc.). Participate in evaluations were required.
• Set up systems to manage complex information generated by MEAL activities, such as complaints databases and qualitative outcome monitoring data systems.  Conduct statistical and qualitative data analysis and present and disseminate information to inform programme management at all levels of management within a response. Seek solutions for more complex data management requirements by working with IT colleagues, leading development of databases etc.
• With the HR team, identify MEAL staffing needs for emergency programmes, and lead rapid recruitment, induction, performance management and training.
• With support from other programme staff, identify MEAL activities supply needs and coordinate with the logistics team to ensure materials arrive in good time.
• Support sector technical leads to develop monitoring & evaluation plans and required tools. Capacity build technical field staff in carrying out the work.
• Implement accountability mechanisms at field level, such as complaints response mechanisms – working on community assessment, design, implementation, review etc.. Ensure that activities are carried out 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 to ensure that projects are carried out with participation from all disaster traditional and high-tech solutions) and that they solicit and respond to community feedback:

• To ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct. For instance, with support from senior colleagues, work with sector technical specialists to ensure quality monitoring systems are set up to ensure adherence of programmes to minimum standards.

Capacity Building:

• Identify learning and training opportunities for MEAL and other staff and work as a mentor and role model for less experienced staff.
• Conduct training and awareness raising activities for operations and programme technical staff at field and country-office level regarding MEAL priorities and quality standards.

Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Ensure that Save the Children's work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and Government, and support Interagency Coordination forums, advocating for the specific needs of children. This may involve taking the lead in coordination working groups.  Participate in Interagency coordinated joint MEAL activities (for instance, inter-agency RTEs).
• With support from the Lead MEAL Adviser and/or other senior programme staff, assist in advocacy activities that target decision-makers in-country.
• In collaboration with SC MEAL colleagues, feed in learning, experiences and evidence to relevant global advocacy objectives Lead on response-specific learning activities.  For instance, support planning of After Action Review workshops, prepare lessons learnt reports and conducting accountability mechanism pilots. Take steps to document lessons learned for wider dissemination.
• To identify opportunities and material to contribute to communications and media work, acting as a spokesperson when required.

General:

• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

Key Areas of Accountability
Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Develop and implement a framework for monitoring programmes including rapid assessment and baseline tools, project specific monitoring tools, approaches, staff and team responsibilities and frequency of monitoring and evaluation activities
• Develop clear, systematic and feasible monitoring plans for projects, based on project logframes (including data collection-frequency and data management)
• Provide guidance to the MEAL Coordinator and MEAL staff to collect good quality monitoring data in a timely manner and collate/organize data received for reporting purposes
• Assist in data quality assurance and compliance with all grants related reporting requirements and their timely submission.
• Support project managers and technical advisors in conducting regular reviews of each project and ensure there is a clear process for staff/teams to raise concerns over programme progress and quality
• Ensure that the Humanitarian Response office complies with SCI MEAL standard operating procedures including: the global quality framework, Global Initiative requirements, total reach and the advocacy measurement tool.
• Ensure that all programmes are designed and implemented in accordance with international MEAL standards (such as, but not limited to, Accountability Partnership International (HAP-I) Benchmarks, SPHERE, DEC Accountability Framework, and the Core Humanitarian Standards)
• Support the PDQ Team bringing together data and findings from across projects and operational regions to form a coherent basis for analysis of impact which promotes learning and strategy development.
• Work closely with the regional MEAL team and share best experiences through the community of practice fora.
• Support the MEAL team, and Project Managers with technology-driven and innovative systems, including Segovia platform, biometrics, and mHeath.
• Develop and implement partner capacity building, including the inclusion of logframes in partner agreements and training for partner staff.

Accountability
Work closely with the Accountability Officer to:

• Ensure that accountability to beneficiaries becomes a core element and success indicator for all program activities.
• Build on progress to date on integrating accountability to beneficiaries (and particularly children) within programmes through supporting the establishment of feedback mechanisms and producing information materials in a way which mainstreams accountability across all programmes.
• Contribute to improvements in existing policies and procedures to enhance effective accountability mechanisms.
• Assess how beneficiaries can best be involved at every stage of the programme cycle.
• Develop regular trend analysis of complaints on the organisation and sharing for wider learning and improvement.
• Coordinate with the Accountability Coordinator at Abuja level to ensure information flow for CRM.

Learning:

• Work closely with the Country Office Knowledge Management Advisor, the Technical Advisors, and the Response MEAL team to:
• Promote learning throughout the Response Team, particularly on issues of programme quality, policy analysis and advocacy. Ensure new analysis and information is constantly available.
• Communicate program learning (through document sharing, presentations, etc) internally to provide guidance and technical input on strategic direction and programme design, and externally with key stakeholders (NGOs, government partners, working groups, etc).
• Ensure that lessons learned are properly documented and are incorporated into programme implementation and design.
• Regularly produce and report on best practices and case studies.
• Participate in designing and implementation of studies, assessments and learning in coordination and cooperation with PDQ teams and programme staff.

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

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

Qualifications and Experience
Required:

• Significant management experience in emergency response and fragile state contexts.
• Previous first phase emergency response experience is essential
• Significant experience of undertaking a MEAL related role in an humanitarian context
• Education to MSc/MA/MEng level in a relevant subject or equivalent field experience
• Experience of, and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability
• Previous experience of managing a team and managing projects
• Demonstrated strong monitoring and evaluation skills, including planning/participating in evaluations
• Ability to work both in an advisory and a hands on implementation capacity
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff
• Experience of representation and ability to represent SC effectively in external forums.
• Experience of preparing successful funding proposals for donors
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with experience in advocacy
• 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 French, Spanish, and/or Arabic
• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts
• Specific experience of designing and managing DFID and ECHO projects
• Specific experience of working in consortia projects.