MEAL Coordinator (Fluency in French)

CONTEXT:

Since 2008, MENTOR Initiative has been setting up networks of community health workers (CHWs) in the sub prefectures of Paoua, Bocaranga, Koui and Ngaoundaye (Ouham Pendé prefecture) as well as of Markounda, Batangafo, Nangha Boguila and Nana Bakassa (Ouham Prefecture). Additionally, health structures are supported by MENTOR in several of these sub-prefectures. More than 200,000 children have been treated over the past year by the MENTOR Initiative teams through the provision of basic healthcare for malaria and other common diseases at community level.

A part of the program is executed under DFID funding for a consortium of 4 INGO’s since April 2015. As of October 2016, of which The Mentor Initiative is the lead agency. The consortium programme is implemented in four prefectures; Ouham Pendé, Ouham, Haute Kotto, and Basse Kotto.

Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning in Mentor’s program cycles aims to remain accountable to communities in need, national authorities and donors. Mentor’s MEAL operational procedures need to describe basic project/programme monitoring and evaluations, including tools and processes to develop management tools and learning from evaluations. The current system needs to be updated to meet future MoH-, donor- and Mentor requirements. The MEAL coordinator is a member of the Country Management Team (CMT) and as such responsible for the development of the mission’s program strategies and for the quality of the health programmes all along the project cycle, in particular on the level of monitoring and evaluation. S/he works closely with the health program coordinator (HPC) and field programme coordination members.

Overall Job Purpose:

The MEAL Coordinator provides methodological support to all the Mentor program teams. S/he also guarantees the quality and the relevance of any monitoring activities and internal evaluations carried out on the mission, together with any recommendations and analysis provided.

S/he is involved with experience capitalisation and developing Mentor’s strategy, by providing a support framework for the programs in terms of monitoring, evaluation and integration of any “cross-functional issues” (type, protection, accountability, negative impact, community participation, disability inclusion, etc.). The MEAL Coordinator will make the learning process a functional part of Mentor’s overall capacity to implement quality programs.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• With inputs from the HPC and field medical coordinators, map the results for the different programs in the country, including inputs, activities, outputs, intermediate and final outcomes. Assess current status of accountability and learning strategies in the existing framework.
• Review existing M&E/MEAL systems, tools and indicators in use, identify sources of data already available and various flows of information with particular focus on including accountability and learning elements.
• Discuss progress and share early drafts of an improved MEAL framework with the country management team and field medical coordinators for inputs and comments, as well as discuss constraints and opportunities, and how sensitive or confidential data are to be handled.
• Under the responsibility of the HPC, facilitate a workshop to share the final draft of the MEAL framework and associated guidelines to reach consensus. Disseminate framework among M&E/MEAL staff.

SCOPE OF WORK

• With inputs from the health program coordinator (HPC) and field medical coordinators, map the results for the different programs in the country, including inputs, activities, outputs, intermediate and final outcomes.
• Review existing MEAL system, tools and indicators in use, identify sources of data already available and various flows of information.
• Discuss progress and share early drafts of an improved MEAL framework with the country management team and field medical coordinators for inputs and comments, as well as discuss constraints and opportunities, and how sensitive or confidential data are to be handled.
• Under the responsibility of the HPC, facilitate a workshop to share the final draft of the MEAL framework and associated guidelines to reach consensus. Disseminate framework among MEAL staff.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

MEAL framework will update and identify:

• expected results based on analysis and consultations with HPC, MoH and other relevant stakeholders
• indicators for expected results and for other elements of the results chain with baselines and targets.
• To the extent possible, an MEAL framework will rely on available tools and indicators of existing MEAL systems. Where such indicators are not available, recommendations will be developed in consultation with HPC and MoH.
• MEAL guidelines will be prepared in the form of an operational manual or guideline, including : monitoring and evaluation principles, procedures and templates for data collection and reporting for results indicators; and roles and responsibilities for reporting on the results achieved, including format, content, frequency, source(s) of data.

TIMEFRAME DELIVERABLES

• First month: review existing M&E/ MEAL systems (field and capital levels). Consultations with MoH and other stakeholders to identify expected results and indicators
• Second month: share the first updated MEAL framework draft with counterparts for inputs and comments. Facilitate consensus workshop
• Third month: adjust and finalize MEAL framework and associated guidelines expected results and indicators.
• From then on: under the guidance and supervision of the HPC, ensure the effective implementation of the evaluation policy, set minimum monitoring and evaluation requirements for the Mentor mission, and initiate thematic evaluations.
• Ensure that objective evaluation is designed and managed to assess the programme relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of results.
• Evaluations carried out in a credible and systematic manner; evaluation lessons and recommendations are used for further programme design, and donor priorities.
• 6th month: finalizing terms of reference for future monitoring and evaluation, including operational consequences.

FUNCTIONS / KEY RESULTS EXPECTED

1. Ensures the implementation of evaluation policies and strategies, focusing on achievement of the following results:

– Responsibility for planning, preparation, budgeting, reporting and oversight of programme/project evaluations.

– Contact with CO Evaluation and evaluation units in other Country Offices (if necessary and through coordinated effort involving the CO) with a view to harmonizing evaluation approaches.

2. Ensures effective management of the evaluation process:

– Provision of the technical advice at the design stage of programmes/projects setting up a framework with defined indicators at the design stage to facilitate the evaluation at the later stages.

– Provision of evaluation feedback into project/programme design

– Follow up on implementation of evaluation recommendations. Ensuring the optimal use of evaluations by providing guidance in preparation of timely management response to all mandatory evaluations and by developing a communication plan.

3. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the area of monitoring and evaluation, focusing on achievement of the following results:

– Identification and formulation of evaluation findings, lessons learned and recommendations

– Conduct of results-oriented monitoring and evaluation trainings.

Job requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of experience. Higher level degree with fewer years of experience will be considered.
• Experience conducting quantitative and qualitative field research in an overseas environment and in conflict zones or complex emergencies.
• Experience designing and/or facilitating staff trainings and/or experience supporting capacity building projects in a humanitarian, development, or transition context.
• Experience working in sensitive contexts where an understanding of gender and social inclusion and familiarity with or experience in Protection programming including work responding to gender-based violence.
• Fluency in French, with good verbal and written English skills.

Conditions:

Consultancy contract of 6 months