MEAL Manager - ECHO at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Ref Code: MME210318
Location:  Borno

Project Background

• Under the direction of the MEAL Coordinator and the ECHO program manager, the MEAL Manager will be responsible for all MEAL related activities for the ECHO funded project, including, but not limited to: monitoring progress on project indicators, elaboration of M&E tools, conducting needs/market/post activity assessments, beneficiary database management, recalibration of beneficiary targeting at project mid-point, development and implementation of accountability mechanism as well as compilation of monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly reports.
• The MEAL Manager will be based in Maiduguri with frequent trips to the project area and will report to the ECHO PM, working closely with the Emergency MEAL Coordinator, based in Maiduguri, and the MEAL Coordinator, based in Abuja.

Job Responsibilities
Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Design and manage Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning system with the support from the Senior MEAL Manager.
• Conduct SMILER workshop at the project start-up
• Facilitate to design and conduct of MEAL surveys including PDMs, evaluation, baselines and others related to the project; in close consultation with the project management and MEAL leads
• Develop or adapt project specific MEAL tools and carry out field testing where necessary.
• Track donor and CRS reporting requirements and deadlines and provide MEAL information to Program Manager for drafting reports.
• Determine role of all actors involved in providing technical support to project monitoring and evaluation.
• Ensure consistency of standards, harmonization of information and input from beneficiaries and sharing of learnings.
• Maintain the project database and supervise related matters
• Facilitate to perform quantitative and qualitative analysis of data for project requirements
• Verify data for completeness, correctness and consistency and follow up on any data/program quality issues.
• Lead regular MEAL field visits to collect data with the help of partners, assess the application of MEAL tools and assist in preparation of monthly/quarterly report to donors and CRS office.
• Identify bottlenecks in the program MEAL systems, recommend appropriate solutions and ensure follow-through.
• Promote the use of Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) solutions throughout the project or digital data collection.
• Ensure regular analysis and action planning meetings to (1) compare data against project milestones, targets, and quality expectations across project sites; (2) identify issues requiring further attention; (3) define action needed and assign responsibility and deadlines- are conducted and prepare report.
• Ensure that the cross-cutting themes such as gender and protection are integrated in the partners’ and in the project’s MEAL plans and systems.
• Ensure ethical and safe collection and storage of data.

Accountability:

• Lead the development and implementation of feedback and response channels to reflect the preferences of community members and beneficiaries of the project
• Coordinate and support emergency response for accountability specific requirements including accountability needs for distributions interventions
• Facilitate to orient program staff and partners on the basic principles and practices of beneficiary accountability.
• Ensure that beneficiary feedback is adequately analyzed and documented.
• Ensure that all sensitive and not sensitive cases are channeled (including documentation) according to the framework with a high level of confidentiality and neutrality
• Coordinate closely with MEAL Coordinator on for accountability related cases that involves gender and protection factors

Learning:

• Identify, document, store and share lessons learned (this includes success story too) that have implications for refinement of best programmatic practice.
• Conduct and document end of project learning reviews and share learning with stakeholders.
• Liaise with the PM, Senior MEAL Manager and EC to carry out needs assessments and initial evaluations to inform proposal development.

Supervision:

• Provide quality mentoring and coaching to ECHO program MEAL staff and ensure that coaching and performance plans are completed on time and with adherence to CRS talent management quality standards.
• Together with the Emergency MEAL Coordinator, EC, Country Program MEAL Coordinator and PM, identify capacity building needs for staff/partners.
• Support training events organized by CRS for staff and/or partners, including project reflections, learning assessments, planning and facilitation guides.

Qualifications and Skills

• University degree, preferably in Statistics, Information Management, Management, Social sciences or related fields.
• At least 5 years of experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning, preferably in humanitarian or development context.
• Proven track record and experience in developing M&E plan, systems and database using MS office applications (Excel or Access) and software applications.
• Strong knowledge and proven experience on developing and analyzing logical and conceptual framework.
• Ability to train partners and staff on developing and maintaining the M&E system.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a diverse team and manage complex and sensitive organizational relationships.
• Demonstrable understanding of and commitment to promoting gender equity and the interests of vulnerable people.
• Enthusiasm for and commitment to CRS’s values and guiding principles.
• Ability to manage complex workloads and deliver work to tight deadlines.
• Ability to travel frequently and stay in difficult environments