Deputy MEAL Head of Department at Action Against Hunger | ACF-International

The Deputy MEAL HOD will be responsible for supporting the MEAL HoD to carry out monitoring and evaluating initiatives for programs and projects, both new and established, providing accountability and ensuring efficiency in project deliverables. The Deputy MEAL HOD will also be responsible for ensuring the MEAL teams are implementing an effective system to monitor progress, outcomes, impacts and successes of project activities and performance at all levels. The MEAL deputy HOD will act as Technical Advisor for his/her State of placement.

Key Responsibilities

The Deputy MEAL Head of Department is responsible:

• Support the HOD in ensuring appropriate and rigorous MEAL systems are developed to guide project start-up, implementation, adjustment, accountability and learning in compliance with ACF’s MEAL guidelines and minimum requirements for MEAL;
• Ensure systemized data collection, mobile data collection systems and other technologies to strengthen monitoring and reporting of activities;
• Review and validate the ToRs and data collection tools for baseline surveys, needs assessments, mid-term and end of project reviews/evaluations;
• Coordinate with field teams during preparation of comprehensive MEAL plans for each project to capture quantitative and qualitative data for project performance tracking and reporting;
• Support field Health, Nutrition, FSL and WASH teams to design the framework for the physical and process monitoring of project activities;
• Provide feedback to program and operational reporting templates that facilitate the timely and accurate acquisition, aggregation and analysis of information in programs;
• Conduct internal evaluation of projects and support external evaluations and consultancies;
• Provide support to program staffs and MEAL department staff for beneficiary data management;
• Support MIS staff in the management of the MIS platforms;
• Support M&E HOD and DCD in the development and follow up of departmental strategy;
• Support MEAL managers in the development on M&E workplan;
• Review and validate MEAL reports;
• Support development and revision of internal and external reports, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and that reports reflect an actual representation of field implementation activities and results based on MEAL findings;
• Support validation of projects activity progress reports and beneficiary count;
• Support donor reporting and project proposal development;
• To support MEAL HoD to build capacity of the MEAL department staff on Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning related topics, through trainings, coaching and mentoring;
• Support program staff for the use of MEAL data in their programming;
• Undertake regular visits to the field to support implementation of MEAL activities and to identify milestones and challenges where adaptations might be needed;
• Support the HoD in providing feedback to senior management team on standard indicators for all sectors while comparing across bases;
• Support the HoD to organize and coordinate mid-term reviews, learning workshops/review of program work plans with program teams at field level and other stakeholders;
• Review documentation of project activities with clear articulation of lessons learned, case studies and short articles for each project for internal and external sharing;
• Manage centralized information database by regularly updating contextual information dashboard  with current, explicit data and statistics to support during regional situational analysis, program  updates, concepts and  proposal development;
• With support from the HOD, institutionalize and document the tracking and implementation of lessons learnt and recommendations from all assessments conducted;
• Support the set up of Feedback Compliance Mechanism channels at base level in collaboration with Accountability Officer;
• Support timely resolution of complaints received from beneficiaries and stakeholders;
• Review and validation of Feedback Compliance Mechanism reporting requirements;
• Support MEAL Manager in ensuring that confidentiality and proper data protection related to beneficiary feedback and complaints are respected;
• Support the Accountability Officer in conducting training for field teams and external stakeholders;
• Support investigation of sensitive complaints, if required by the audit department;
• Support recruitment of MEAL staff;
• Liaise closely with MEAL HOD to understand and support the welfare of MEAL staff at all regions to ensure good working conditions and performance enhancement;
• Provide inputs for the appraisals of MEAL Managers and Deputy Manager if applicable, M&E Officers and Accountability Officers, from a technical point of view;
• In collaboration with MEAL HOD, ensure proper budget follow up for MEAL budget lines per projects;
• Support MEAL Managers and Programme Managers in logistical and budget planning of M&E activities;
• Support recruitment of external consultants;
• To represent ACF at state level and where appropriate, cluster, working groups, workshops and strategic think tanks related to the department;
• To proactively collaborate with national authorities, ACF counterparts and staff, partner agencies and consortia/alliances/partnerships;
• To ensure coherent and correct application of ACF guidelines and policies within the M&E department and across the organization.

Position Requirement:

Education Qualification: 

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Business, Administration, Statistics, Demography or related subject, Master’s degree preferred. With previous experience working in humanitarian projects;
• Minimum of 6 years of previous experience working with NGOs covering multi-sectorial programming, in the domain of MEAL;
• Fluency in English (both written and spoken skills);
• Proven management and coordination skills (HR, projects, and stress management);
• Proven ability to translate analysis and evaluation into operational planning and strategy;
• Knowledge and experience in qualitative and quantitative data management techniques including proficient and skillful use of Microsoft Office package, SPSS, STATA, EXCEL, Epi-info software’s, Power BI;
• Excellent written and spoken English, including the ability to write clear and engaging reports;
• Advanced knowledge of international humanitarian guidelines and standards including those of donors;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with respect for diversity;
• Ability to work independently and under pressure in a rapidly changing professional environment;
• Diplomacy and good interpersonal skills, with the ability to remain calm under pressure and not lose sight of strategic priorities;
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly to remote field sites;
• Experience in insecure context;
• Experience in nutrition, health, WASH and/or Food Security and Livelihood programming;
• Experience working in emergency settings;
• Familiarity with institutional donors (OFDA, ECHO, UN, DFID, FFP…) reporting and regulations;
• Knowledge of local languages (Hausa, Kanuri, Fulani, Shuwa, etc.)