MEAL Coordinator 46 views

Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organization dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year.  Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).  Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant.  For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.

Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community

Currently, Concern has been working in Afghanistan since 1998, when it responded to an earthquake disaster in Takhar province.  Currently Concern has been working in Takhar, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Khost and Paktika provinces undertaking both emergency response and long term developmental work in the areas of livelihood security, primary education and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning:

• Manage and further develop Concern Afghanistan’s MEAL system, to ensure effective information management and tracking of programme progress across projects.
• Lead on innovation regarding information management within the country, including through integration of management tools, and visualization using dashboards, in consultation with head office Digital Data gathering (DDG) advisors, Desk Officers and Programme Director.
• Support the implementation of technical surveys working with the relevant programme teams to ensure that data collection techniques are robust, that staff and external agents involved have a good understanding of their roles, that the data entry processes are timely and accurate, and that the data analysis is timely and meaningful.
• Oversee the design and lead on the implementation of baseline, midline, and endline surveys for all projects, and develop a knowledge management system to capture lessons learned for dissemination.
• Lead Quarterly Programme Review Workshops in collaboration with programme teams and Programme Director
• Prepare for, and oversee any research activity conducted by the country programme, both directly and through consultants and ensure research outcomes are clearly documented. Facilitate support visits from technical advisors and ensure dissemination of learning.
• Support the use of DDGs (Digital Data Gathering) devices for all data collection activities.
• Lead on research design and implementation of all needs assessments, rapid assessments and rapid assessments.
• Lead on synthesis of secondary data to inform programme design

Programme Quality:

• Support the Programme Director and the rest of the programme team through writing proposals and ensuring that indicators are SMART and that log frames are robust.
• Support adherence to the Concern Programme Cycle Management Systems (PCMS) approach in all programme and proposal development processes as relevant to each sector.
• Provide technical support and oversight regarding geographic targeting and beneficiary selection for all projects.
• Provide regular recommendations based on monitoring data to programme director and programme teams.

Accountability

• Oversee the implementation of a robust complaints and response mechanism (CRM) and ensure that any feedback or complaints from stakeholders are handled in an appropriate, timely and systematic way.
• Monitor programme activities to ensure they are carried out in line with Concern’s internal systems and procedures and that adherence to the Core Humanitarian Standard’s (CHS) commitments on accountability are met.
• Lead on inclusion of Accountability indicators in assessments and monitoring approaches.

Management:

• Manage monthly MEAL department work plan to ensure all project MEAL deliverables are prepared in a timely fashion
• Participate in preparing complete, accurate and realistic budgets for donor proposals and as part of Concern’s internal budget procedures, ensuring that all M&E, mainstreaming and programme quality initiatives are fully and accurately costed and included in budgets, liaising with other PMs as appropriate.
• Support programme staff in the writing of testimonies and case studies to illustrate key outcomes and impact of programme interventions for annual and donor reporting.
• Encourage innovation and learning and, in line with Concern procedures in this regard, help ensure that lessons learned are documented and shared (within and outside of Concern), encouraging the wider application of such learning where appropriate.
• Support the Programme Team in rolling out Concern Afghanistan’s PEER plan.
• Support the emergency response as required with particular attention to collecting needs assessment data and post distribution monitoring aimed at capturing the process of implementation with a view to improving programme quality in future
• Support and oversee recruitment in the MEAL department in alignment with project objectives, country strategy, and gender equality.

Capacity Development:

• Provide training to MEAL staff on technical skills, including Excel, Dashboard Design, Technical Writing, GIS and Research Methods
• Provide needs-based training for Concern staff and partners on PCMS and PM&E tools that will enable the teams to implement the PM&E plan effectively. Expose staff to a range of PM&E methodologies for the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data
• Build the capacity of the staff in development and use of log frames for planning and monitoring of progress
• Support promotion of gender equality with the Afghan mission, through capacity building, recruitment and career development support.

Other:

• Actively participate in collective exercises such as preparation of updates for Effective Emergency Response (PEER) planning, Security Management Planning (SMP) and other Concern initiatives. Take measures to address equality issues, particularly relating to gender, in programme as well as operational (e.g. HR) activities.

• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Country Director or Programme Director.
• Ensure the Afghanistan Mission adheres to organization wide Data Protection rules, and best practice concerning data management during instances of data collection, including those that involve external enumerators or consultants.
• Under guidance of Programme Director, engage with partners as necessary regarding interagency assessments, analysis exercises and information sharing, particularly partner MEAL counterparts.

CHS & Emergency:

• Concern is committed to the Common Humanitarian Standards (CHS) to ensure accountability to all stakeholders. Concern activities guided by CHS in all stages both emergency and development projects /programs. In Afghanistan, we have an Accountability framework and therefore any Afghanistan employees are responsible to comply with CHS principles and benchmarks. To give your full support in relation to emergencies when occurring in any area that Concern
• Afghanistan will give your full support in relation to emergencies when occurring in any area that Concern Afghanistan will respond.

Essential:

• Relevant graduate degree (development, economics, statistics, data analytics, public policy, geography, GIS, evaluation, or equivalent)
• Two years + of relevant field based experience in the development/ humanitarian sector
• Understanding of all stages of the PCMS (Programme Cycle Management Systems): assessments , programme development, including the logical framework approach
• Strong writing skills, including donor reports and people management
• Strong competence in research design and methodology, including ability to design surveys & data collection tools
• Experience managing data collection, including logistical and HR aspects.
• Experience and familiarity with data cleaning practices.
• Experience and familiarity with monitoring and research approaches related to Cash and Voucher Assistance.
• Software skills including Microsoft Word and Excel. Proficiency with SPSS, R or Python, required and proficiency with GIS tools (QGIS, ArcGIS etc.) strongly preferred.
• Ability to work independently and under own initiative.
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritize, often to strict deadlines.
• Good networking skills, interpersonal communication, presentation and motivational skills.
• Strong Analytical and problem solving abilities.
• Empathy with Concern’s goals and a commitment to capacity building, protection and participation.
• Willingness to travel to rural areas up to 50% of the time

Desirable:

• Experience of setting up and implementing multi-sectorial PM&E systems
• Demonstrated experience in all stages of the PCMS (Programme Cycle Management Systems): assessments , programme development, including the logical framework approach
• Familiarity with data visualization techniques. Familiarity and experience with Power BI or Tableau highly preferred.
• Familiarity with Afghan Context
• Experience in preparing budgets and reports for international donors.
• Experience in staff capacity development and management.
• The ability to quickly develop fluency in Concern Worldwide’s policies and procedures, including policies such as equality and systems policies in logistics and transport.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Knowledge of development issues and concepts.
• Experience of digital transformation or innovation in information management

Applications should be written in English and demonstrate the applicants suitability for the job. A current Curriculum Vita and three referee’s reports should be included in the application. All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net and Afghanistan.hr@concern.net by closing date 5 June 2023.  CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length.

All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net and Afghanistan.hr@concern.net by closing date 5 June 2023.  CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length.