Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is an international non-profit organization mandated to work with people around the world to eradicate poverty and injustice. Guided by its vision of ‘Together for a Just World’, NCA provides humanitarian assistance and supports long-term development. NCA is affiliated with the World Council of Churches and is a member of the ACT Alliance with a presence in 31 countries worldwide. 

In Ethiopia, NCA has been operating since 1974, marking 50 years of service in the country this year. NCA’s programmes are implemented together with local faith-based partners. NCA is a member of various civil society networks, coordination mechanisms, and clusters in Ethiopia. In its current strategic period (2020-2024), NCA Ethiopia implements programmes focused on Climate Resilient Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH); Faith-Based Climate Action; Peacebuilding; Gender-Based Violence/Sexual/ Reproductive Health; and Humanitarian Emergency Response.

NCA is 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.

NCA Ethiopia is seeking to hire a MEAL Advisor for the humanitarian Program based on the below descriptions.

Position Title:  Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Advisor 

Required number 1 (one)

Reporting to:    Head of the Humanitarian Program 

Duty Station:  Addis Ababa with intensive field travel

Length of Employment: One year with the possibility of extension based on performance and fund availability

Salary:  ETB 180,000  

Job Summary:

The purpose of this position is to support the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) Humanitarian program in Ethiopia. The overall goal of the program is to save lives and reduce the suffering of manmade or natural disaster-affected communities in the country. 

The MEAL Advisor will monitor the project performance, conduct needs assessments, baselines survey, KAP Survey, PDM, monitoring, preparation of the proposal, donor report learning and reflection and evaluations, as well as update and maintenance of humanitarian program information management systems. He/she will work under the direct supervision of NCA’s Humanitarian Program Head in Ethiopia in close collaboration with other key staff supporting the Program, including country and head offices MEAL and thematic advisors.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Overall purpose of the job

• Develop/Adapt/revise standard MEAL Tools for the program in collaboration with the Operations Team such as revising/preparing a detailed MEAL Plan and revising routine data collection tools.

• Providing 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.

• Supervising 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.

2. Planning 

• Contribute to the preparation of need assessment, project proposal, and donor reports.

• Ensure improved, efficient and effective program MEAL processes.

• Support the development of responsive and appropriate MEAL plans, systems and, databases that integrate the cross-cutting targets and results across all programs.

• Ensure that the cross-cutting themes such as gender, disability, children’s participation, conflict, environment, human rights, UNSCR 1325 are integrated in the joint program 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 and updated regularly, and key M&E events are 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 the development of MEAL training program.

• Promote all aspects of MEAL to support the creation of an organizational culture that prioritizes quality programming and promotes meaningful participation.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning 

• Conduct regular visits to project sites to monitor the implementation of NCA 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, analyze 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 humanitarian program. 

• 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 facilitate the process of evaluations and assessments 

• Conducted KAP survey, PDM and need assessment in collaboration with the humanitarian team.

4. Evidence and learning 

• Prepare reports of the humanitarian program required for different purposes Evidence, Learning, and reflection.

• Plan for and facilitate evidence, learning, and reflection events at the community level, with partners and program staff for the programs in the region.

• Identify, document, and 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, and challenges.

• Ensure the proper documentation of the program as well as partners. 

• Support the Technical Working Group on the design and substance of a learning document to be shared publicly. 

5. Capacity building 

• Identify capacity gaps and conduct training and awareness-raising activities for program 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, and lead rapid recruitment, induction, performance management, and training alongside HR, when required.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience:

1. Essential 

• Bachelor’s/master’s degree in development studies, Project management, Economics. humanitarian response social sciences, project management, and/or other relevant fields from an accredited university with at least 7 years of relevant professional work experience. 

• 7/5+ years’ experience working in technical MEAL roles particular to the humanitarian and emergency response program.

• Demonstrated ability to design and establish MEAL systems for humanitarian program. 

• Strong skills in collecting, analysing, 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. 

• Proven experience working through systems of community participation and accountability, including training staff in relevant approaches. 

• A high level of written and spoken English and other local languages, 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. 

2. Desirable

• Experience in “Communicating with Communities” 

• Outstanding experience in using 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.

3. 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/organization. 

• Problem Solving and Decision-Making takes effective, considered, and timely decisions by gathering and evaluating relevant information from within or outside the organization. 

• Applying technical and professional expertise Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shares best practices within and outside the organization.

• 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.

N.B.: 

• Posting date 20 December 2024

• Closing date 31 December 2024.

• Only short-listed applicants will be contacted via telephone/email.

• NCA is an equal opportunity organization.

• Qualified women applicants are highly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should directly apply through THIS LINK