Job Title: MEAL Advisor - Re-advertised

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Application Deadline: May 6, 2022

Internal/External Vacancy Announcement

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is a non-profit organization working in 24 countries worldwide to eradicate poverty. In Ethiopia, we have been operating since 1974, engaged in short term emergency response and long-term development programs.

Our intervention in Ethiopia focuses on Climate Resilient Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene; Gender-Based Violence; Peacebuilding; Faith-Based Climate Action; and Humanitarian Emergency Response. We are currently operating in eight regions: Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Gambella, Southern Nations Nationalities and People’s State, Sidama, and at the Federal level. To achieve our development goals, we work with faith based and non-faith-based actors that have demonstrated strong grassroots reach and influence in the society.

We are a member of the ACT Alliance, a coalition of organizations working together in over 140 countries to create positive and sustainable change in people’s lives.

For the joint program NCA is working in consortia with Save the Children (SC) towards ending FGM/CEFM in Ethiopia, NCA/E would like to invite interested and qualified applicants on the following position.

Job Summary: 

The purpose of this position is to support Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and Save the Children’s (SC) Joint five-year program “Accelerating and cementing change towards the total abandonment of all forms of female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) in Ethiopia”. The overall goal of the program is to contribute to the end of all forms of FGM and CEFM in the intervention areas by 2024.  The program aims to reach 144,000 people directly and 12,000,000 indirectly and implemented in six regions namely Afar, Somali, Amhara, Oromia, Harari and SNNP.

MEAL advisor will support the NCA/SC consortium working under the direct supervision of NCA’s Head of GBV Program in Ethiopia but will also have a dotted reporting line to SC’s Senior Program Manager on child protection in Ethiopia. S/he is required to work closely with other key staff supporting the Joint Program, including country and head offices MEAL and technical advisors.

Child Safeguarding:

The position holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently or intensively because s/he works in country programs or are visiting country programs or because of the responsibility of implementing. Hence NCA may require police clearance and do vetting before placement. In addition, s/he shall have compliance responsibility to the PSHEA & CS policies of NCA.

Major Duties & Responsibilities:

Role purpose

• Develop/Adapt/revise standard MEAL Tools for the joint program in collaboration with the Operations Team such as revising/ prepare detail MEAL plan, revising routine data collection tool.
• Provide technical support to MEAL processes as required by the joint project team members.
• Liaise with consultants to quality assure consultants deliverables and data collection is sound and in line with technical standards and the project result framework.
• Supervise data collection and analysis and tracking key program indicators.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of standardized MEAL tools and processes at all levels to ensure accurate and reliable data collection, validation, storage, analysis and consolidation in appropriate formats and timely reporting in compliance with donor requirements.
• Ensure proper documentation of key learnings of the programme and sharing learning documents for relevant stakeholders Provide MEAL capacity building for the project and partner staff.

Planning  

• Ensure improved, efficient, and effective program MEAL processes.
• Support the development of responsive and appropriate MEAL plans, systems and database which integrate the cross-cutting targets and results across all programmes.
• Ensure that the cross-cutting themes such as gender, disability, children’s participation, conflict, environment, human rights, UNSCR 1325 are integrated in the joint programme MEAL plans and systems.
• Ensure efficient and effective methods and tools for data collection such as Kobo collect other data collection systems are operationalized
• Plan for outcome monitoring and generate real time data for program reporting
• Ensure the M&E and reporting calendar is developed, updated regularly and key M&E events shared with all staff.
• Lead in recruitment, including drafting initial ToRs, on-boarding, etc of any new consultants - with support and inputs from relevant team members
• Support partners in developing and maintaining MEAL plans and systems and ensuring that partners are equipped with the required skills to undertake the plan and maintain the system.
• Identify staff and partners MEAL gaps and needs and support development of MEAL training programme.
• Promote all aspects of MEAL to support the creation of an organisational culture which prioritises quality programming and promotes meaningful participation.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• Conduct regular visits (minimum 2 visits per partner per year) to project sites to monitor the implementation of NCA/SC and partners activities, gather feedback from beneficiaries and provide documentation and dissemination of key findings stemming from monitoring, assessment, and other learning activities.
• Support the planning and scale up of digitalization and innovation in the field.
• In coordination with consultants, collect data on project indicators and maintain an updated database on project progress.
• Conduct periodic data quality checks and ensure the accuracy of all data presented in reports to stakeholders including to local government units, partners, community beneficiaries, among others
• Support the staff and partners in mobile data collection using existing data collection systems, collect, analyse monitoring data for reporting and timely communicate the results of analysis to inform program decision making and planning
• Support in the result reporting of outcomes, output of activities and provide accurate data as per the results frameworks and enhance quality of reports.
• In collaboration with the team, prepare progress and final project reports based on accurate and evidence-based data.
• Compile and synthesize the periodic report of the joint project. 
• Support partners in the development of quality reporting and quality data tracking.
• Review partners report and compile reports to produce integrated results for the project periodically.
• Engage with the consultants and facilitating the process of evaluations and assessments

Evidence and learning

• Prepare reports of the joint program required by the two organizations for different purposes Evidence, Learning and reflection
• Plan for and facilitate evidence, learning and reflection events at community level, with partners and programme staff for the programs in the region
• Identify, document, disseminate change stories, case studies, lessons learned, and best practices on a quarterly basis.
• Plan staff and partners periodic review meetings on project monitoring and learning updates, achievements, challenges
• Ensure the proper documentation of the joint program as well as partners.
• Support Technical Working Group on the design and substance of a learning document to be shared publicly

Capacity building 

• Identify capacity gaps and conduct training and awareness raising activities for operations and programme technical staff regarding MEAL priorities, quality standards and MEAL related tools and guidelines.
• Manage the MEAL team, including identifying MEAL staffing needs for the partners, lead rapid recruitment, induction, performance management and training alongside HR, when required.

Competencies for this role:

• Delivering Results Takes personal responsibility and holds others accountable for delivering our ambitious goals for children, continually improving their own performance or that of the team/ organisation.
• Problem Solving and Decision-Making Takes effective, considered, and timely decisions by gathering and evaluating relevant information from within or outside the organisation.
• Applying technical and professional expertise Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shares best practice within and outside the organisation.
• Working Effectively with Others Works collaboratively to achieve shared goals and thrives on diversity of people and perspectives; knows when to lead and when to follow and how to ensure effective cross-boundary working.

Area of Specialization: Monitoring & evaluation, GBV/SRH, consortium management

Reporting to: Head of GBV/SRH Program

Length of Contract: One year (with possibility of extension based on performance & fund availability)

Salary: Ranges from 48 to 56 K (ETB) based on income history & profile

Job Requirements

Minimum qualifications and experience 

Essential

• Bachelor/Masters’ degree in Monitoring & Evaluation or Project Management or Sociology or International Development.
• 7+/5+ years experiences of working in technical MEAL roles.
• Previous experience with programmes related to FGM, Child marriage and/or GBV. 
• Demonstrated ability to design and establish MEAL systems for gender-based violence programmes. 
• Strong skills in collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and encouraging the use of both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Proven ability in using data and analysis to influence programmatic change.
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach/mentor staff.
• Experience of working through systems of community participation and accountability, including training staff in relevant approaches.
• A high level of written and spoken English and local language, including an ability to write clear and well-argued reports.
• Excellent communication, influencing and representational skills.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact, and diplomacy.
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.

Desirable

• Experience in both development as well as Humanitarian contexts is preferable.
• Managing joint programs or projects/programs that are implemented in Consortiums.
• Experience of using child-friendly participatory methodologies.
• Experience in “Communicating with Communities”.
• Experience (outstanding) in applying Microsoft Office Tools for MEAL related purposes as well including Excel, Access, and PowerPoint. 
• Experience in data collection through technology (e.g. KoBo Toolbox).
• Experience in statistical and qualitative analysis software e.g. NVivo and SPSS.

How to Apply

Interested applicants are required to send their application, CV and other supportive documents via email: nca@ethiojobs.net  

Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted via telephone/email. Qualified women applicants are highly encouraged to apply