Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning Sector Lead at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

Role Purpose

• The MEAL Sector Lead at COOPI plays a crucial role in ensuring the successful implementation of projects by focusing on quality, accountability, and learning.
• This role is essential in contributing to the overall success of each project that targets populations affected by crises or broader development needs.
• The MEAL Sector Lead is responsible for executing the MEAL system across all programme interventions—both humanitarian and general development in designated areas, ensuring that data-driven insights and lessons learned continuously enhance the effectiveness of COOPI's efforts.
• In addition to humanitarian interventions, the role involves adapting the MEAL approach to diverse contexts, considering evolving community needs, socio-political changes and long-term development goals.
• In the event of a major humanitarian emergency or other significant changes in context, the role holder will be expected to adapt and work beyond the normal role profile, including varying working hours as necessary to respond effectively.

Role Dimensions

• Ensure the smooth functioning of the MEAL system across all COOPI projects in the designated area, continuously supporting the overall project quality.
• Conduct frequent quality monitoring visits using established Quality Benchmarks and provide capacity-building support to the program team for regular use of COOPI's MEAL templates, formats, and data collection forms. This also includes updating the Output Tracker (OT) and Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTTs) for all ongoing projects in the designated area.
• Support the MEAL Manager and team during baseline surveys, formative and operational research, evaluations, new proposal developments, and reporting periods, ensuring that all processes align with COOPI's standards and objectives.
• Ensure that Complaint and Feedback Mechanisms are well-functioning and accessible in the designated area, promoting accountability to affected populations.
• Foster strong coordination and Collaboration with all program teams and partner staff, ensuring that COOPI's projects are effectively implemented and monitored.
• Maintain regular preparation of Reports, ensuring they are shared through the proper channels to keep all stakeholders informed and aligned with COOPI's objectives and strategic goals.
• Support documenting and sharing periodical updates of policies, secondary data, and updated assessment reports from government stakeholders and other partners.

Key Areas of Accountability
Monitoring:

• Develop and review Monitoring Checklists for COOPI program activities, translating them into local languages if required.
• Build the capacity of program staff on project-related M&E formats, templates, and data collection forms, including Output Trackers (OT) and Indicator Performance Tracking Tables (IPTT).
• Organize frequent field visits to monitor program activities and interventions against Quality Benchmarks/Quality Checklists, producing and sharing reports with the concerned program team and management based on quality and accountability findings. Incorporate feedback from the program team into agreed action plans.
• Support program staff in strengthening joint planning and monitoring with stakeholders.
• Assist the MEAL Manager, Program Manager and Area Coordinator in conducting situation analysis studies.
• Contribute to the quality of program design by reviewing log frames, results frameworks, project plans, strategic plans, and MEAL plans.
• Provide technical support in developing MEAL plans, conducting baseline studies, collecting quality data, and analysing performance indicators and targets on a periodic basis.
• Provide technical support in reporting COOPI’s Total Reach and Global Indicators.
• Ensure the quality and accuracy of reporting data, periodically verifying data and information from sources on a sample basis.
• Review and reflect on whether the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) is being followed during all staff meetings.
• Conduct follow-up monitoring visits to ensure actions agreed upon in action plans are implemented, and maintain a 'Monitoring-Action Plan Tracker' at the field level.
• Maintain close coordination with the MEAL Manager on quality and accountability issues, sharing all relevant information (monitoring reports, CFM databases, preliminary inquiry reports) with the MEAL Manager, while keeping the Field Manager informed.

Evaluation:

• Assist the MEAL Manager, Program Manager and Area Coordinator in conducting formative and operational research
• Support evaluation teams in conducting periodic evaluations of project interventions at the field level, as required.
• Assist the MEAL Manager, Program Manager and Area Coordinator in preparing and conducting baseline endline and other studies.
• Ensure the development of quality case studies through the program team with support of Communication / Advocacy Officer.

Accountability:

• Establish and strengthen an effective and functional system for complaints/feedback handling and response mechanisms at the community level, with the support of the MEAL Assistant.
• Ensure that the Complaint Feedback Mechanism (CFM) is functional and accessible to the all-project beneficiaries and stakeholders
• Develop regular trend analysis of complaints at the organizational level and share it with the program team as per protocols.
• Assist the MEAL Manager in preparing preliminary first verification reports in cases of serious complaints filed by beneficiaries or communities, and support investigations as per the CFM protocol.
• Ensure that agreed action plans and CFM action plans are followed in a timely manner by the program team.
• Share all information related to quality and accountability issues, including monitoring reports, CFM databases, preliminary verification reports, and case studies.
• Present MEAL findings and CFM issues in each monthly meeting as defined in the protocol.
• Ensure that the CFM guideline is being followed by all staff members.

Learning:

• Assist the MEAL Manager, Program Manager and Area Coordinator in developing quality reports and findings.
• Generate periodic reports and document key learnings from the MEAL system.
• Ensure that key learnings are incorporated into future plans and intervention

Collaboration:

• Build and maintain effective relationships with the entire COOPI team, colleagues, members, external partners, supporters, and stakeholders.
• Value diversity, recognizing it as a source of competitive strength.
• Be approachable, a good listener, and easy to talk to.

Reporting:

• Produce and share MEAL monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and cumulative yearly reports with the MEAL Manager, Field Manager, and program team through the proper channels.
• Ensure that all data related to the MEAL Action Plan Tracker and CFM database are recorded and updated in a timely manner, with the support of the MEAL Assistant.
• Coordinate closely with all COOPI staff and report on registered complaints, their resolution process, Action Plan Tracker updates, and other MEAL-related issues.
• Assist the MEAL Manager in generating quality MEAL reports.
• Be prepared to assume dual responsibilities in the event of a major emergency, as per organizational requirements.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the line manager.

Security and Safeguarding:

• Adherence to security protocols and safeguarding principles would be prudent.

Gender Sensitivity and Inclusion:

• Focus on strengthening gender-sensitive approaches and inclusivity in MEAL activities.

Innovation:

• To explore and implement innovative MEAL practices to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

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.

Qualification

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences (Public Health, Education, Development or Information Technology)

Experience & Skills:
Essential:

• 5 years of Monitoring and Evaluation and/or research experience with at least 3 years of supervisory experience preferably with NGO/ INGOs
• Trained in data management and with at leastthree years experience working with Excel managing databases
• Familiarity with project frameworks [design/implementation/M&E] cycle
• Experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection (M&E methods) and data analysis
• Commitment to and understanding of COOPI's vision, mission, and values
• Enthusiasm, motivation, self-confidence, and a proactive approach to problem-solving
• Excellent interpersonal skills and can work as part of a team

Desirable:

• Speaks several local languages of the context.