Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Manager at Search For Common Ground’s International

Team Overview

• The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) unit plays a key role within the programme department in supporting the adaptation of projects based on the evidence that Search's programmes generate in each country. The MEAL unit implements best practices in monitoring, research, and evaluation, and contributes to wider institutional learning across programmes, with technical support and in collaboration with the Strategic Alignment Team (SAT). The MEAL unit also contributes to activity development processes by ensuring the quality of programme design that incorporates lessons learned and data collected, as well as alignment with global and conflict geography strategies. The MEAL unit is responsible for ensuring that national programmes are aligned with global standards, including the Evidence and Learning Protocols and the Peace Impact Framework (PIF). The unit is led by the Senior Manager under the supervision of the Country Director. The unit engages at several levels of the programme structure and with other departments within the country structure, such as finance, human resources, logistics, etc.
• In the specific case of Nigeria, the size of the programme and a large number of projects means that a single manager cannot cover all the needs and deliverables in terms of MEAL.

Main Responsibilities Of The Position

• Under the supervision of the Country Director and in close collaboration with the first MEAL Manager and with the technical support of the SAT Focal Point for West Africa, the second MEAL Manager will be responsible for :
• Co-managing the country's MEAL strategy and the health and sustainability of the MEAL unit;
• Manage part of the Nigeria programme's MEAL portfolio (projects to be determined),
• Ensure compliance with SEARCH organisational standards, in close collaboration with the Strategic Alignment Team (SAT);
• Co-coordinate in a matrix structure within and across country level teams to pursue objectives in collaboration with a wider set of teams and departments;
• Co-define expectations for coordination within the MEAL Unit and between different program departments;
• Co-lead the process of reflective practice and evidence-based programming through quarterly reflection meetings and other means of sharing innovative methods and approaches to monitoring and evaluation.
• Co-fix core competency and leadership development objectives with direct reports and create opportunities for staff to pursue objectives throughout the year; pursue competency development objectives to improve leadership in the field each year ;

Contributions

• Implementing the program and learning
• To play a leading role in the development, implementation and review of the country strategy, ensuring that it is aligned with the regional outlook and the organization's global strategy.
• Planification
• Leads the planning of MEAL activities and products within its portfolio, ensuring alignment between resource allocation and deliverables.
• Organizational Performance
• Co-leads MEAL unit staff orientation and action planning to identify and eliminate performance bottlenecks;
• Ensures that staff objectives are aligned with organisational performance measures and that team results are pursued in line with organisational and departmental results.
• Evidence & Impact
• Manages MEAL deliverables within portfolio to ensure they enhance our ability to talk about impact and build evidence for our field in line with Search standards, following quality expectations ;
• Produces, reviews and approves learning products and deliverables within its portfolio that contribute directly to evidence in line with country needs and the organisation's learning agenda ;

Technical positioning

• Co-develops initiatives that support staff capacity building to improve our impact and programme quality, in line with organisational standards and the Global Impact Framework;
• Collaborates with the Strategic Alignment Team (SAT) on initiatives to help staff enter and develop skills in the organisation's networks of technical expertise;
• Co-supervises data capture and management, ensuring the grants management system is regularly updated and used;
• Provides leadership within technical networks to channel learning back into programming, act as a focal point of technical expertise with external groups, and position Search as a field leader affecting policy and practice at country level;
• Ensures that staff develop professional skills within the organisation's learning platform and leads the development of relevant training and resources for technical growth.

New frontiers

• Engages in the business development process, leading and reviewing projects, with a focus on bringing evidence and lessons learned into programmatic design;
• Participates and serves as a monitoring and evaluation representative at relevant events and initiatives developed with national partners.
• Develops partnerships with high quality institutions and stakeholders who demonstrate leadership in the field at national level, and organizes events and initiatives around opportunities and future directions.
• Instills the values of the organisation in all work within its portfolio.

Competency Indicators (knowledge, Skills And Abilities)

• Manages the overall strategy and vision. Manages the functions and projects in its portfolio. Anticipates and plans needs and takes action accordingly. Provides guidance to direct reports and matrix teams.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with suppliers, organisations, professional associations, partners, funders and Search's network of experts, which are essential in his/her area of expertise.
• Modifies a planned course of action in the light of new information or circumstances.
• Easily adapts to changing circumstances and expectations.
• Articulates the aims and objectives of Search's programme/project/function within and outside Search.
• Develops programme objectives that reflect wider Search strategies and approaches.
• Contributes to the development of standards across functions globally within shared service teams and from a multicultural perspective that takes into account other cultures, perspectives and ways of doing things.
• Overcomes obstacles using ethical practices; formulates and evaluates morally and ethically justified solutions.
• Assesses risks and opportunities in order to bring decision-makers to a favourable outcome.
• Checks the accuracy of own and others' work and implements systematic controls to ensure the integrity of content and data.
• Knows project management tools, including technology as a resource for efficiency and stress reduction.
• Works with employees to fix and communicate specific, measurable performance standards.
• Anticipates the consequences of health issues and plans accordingly.
• Analyses the costs, benefits, risks and chances of success of a decision.
• Provides coaching and mentoring to staff.

Type & Nature of Contacts

• Regularly coordinates his/her activities with those of colleagues and consultants on site and in the field, and resolves problematic issues tactfully.
• Represents the organisation, depending on the tasks assigned to him/her, particularly at external meetings and conferences, and with donors, service providers and international and local partners.
• Interacts with the national office and regional staff.

Other duties broadly related to the above-mentioned key tasks may be assigned.

Required Profile (training, Experience, Skills And Attitudes)

• Have a degree (BAC + 5) in statistics, social sciences, public health, development economics or an equivalent field
• At least nine (9) years‘ experience in monitoring-evaluation, accountability and learning, including at least five (5) years’ experience in international NGOs and at least 2 years at managerial level;
• Leadership experience in setting up, managing and overseeing quality MEAL systems, from project inception to closure, that lead to evidence-based decision-making and inform strategic decisions;
• Experience in MEAL management in multi-sectoral and multi-donor funded programmes.
• Ability to develop monitoring plans, and organize data collection, information management, use of databases, analysis and performance monitoring;
• Demonstrated ability to train and build the capacity of other team members;
• Knowledge of humanitarian accountability principles and how to put them into practice;
• Strong planning, organisational and interpersonal skills;
• Excellent analytical, presentation and reporting skills;
• Excellent database, data management and data analysis skills, and experience in using at least 2 software applications such as Microsoft Excel, Access, SPSS, STATA ;
• Experience in electronic/mobile data collection (ODK, CommCare, CSPRO) and GIS mapping preferred;
• Ability to listen to others and facilitate discussions with staff from different groups and backgrounds;
• Excellent command of written and spoken French;
• Fluency in English is an asset;
• Training and experience in conflict transformation is an asset.