MEAL Manager

Children have the right to grow up in peace, free from fear and violence. To develop their full potential and become the person they want to be. War Child makes a lasting impact. By protecting children from violence and offering psychosocial support and education. We unleash the children’s inner strength with our creative and involving approach. And inspire as many people as we can to participate in our cause. War Child is both implementing its own programmes and cooperating with a variety of partner organizations in 14 countries around the world. www.warchildholland.org

War Child is looking for a:

MEAL Manager based in Amman, Jordan

War Child Holland (WCH) is an international non-governmental organization that works exclusively to improve the well-being and resilience of children and youths affected by violence and armed conflict. As a learning organisation, War Child (WCH) continuously enhances its services to children affected by war and conflict. This includes striving to become a networked expert organisation, able to mobilise and provide services and technical assistance within and outside the organisation, as well as across programme teams in its various country offices.

War Child Programme for Syria

War Child has been responding to the needs of Syrian children. The programme is expanding and it is in need of professional supervision, as well as an entrepreneurial spirit for further growth. We are therefore seeking to employ an enthusiastic and passionate Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager to join our dynamic team of professionals, who are dedicated to helping children and their families to positively deal with the consequences of being exposed to armed conflict.

The Challenge

The MEAL Manager is the focal point for monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning processes in the Syria country office. This role ensures that all MEAL activities are in line with global War Child standards and that effective processes are built into the project life cycles. The MEAL Manager offers technical input on the development and improvement of planning, monitoring and evaluation systems, manages the MEAL Unit, and guides capacity building on these technical areas for local partner organisations.

Result Areas

Manage monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning processes

• Identify the need for and develop new tools in collaboration with the sector-specific Technical Advisors and Implementation teams, to address any gaps in information.
• Manage the implementation of a MEAL system with associated documentation, processes and standards, tools, templates, and databases, to optimise planning, managing, and reporting on policies, programmes and projects, in accordance with WCH Global Monitoring Framework.
• Act as the primary placeholder of MEAL data collected through projects and support the team in presenting this on country level through interactive dashboards.
• Maintain, improve, and adapt accountability channels to support programming that is participatory and responsive to the views of the children and communities we work with.
• Support MEAL team to develop reports using the information and data obtained, ensuring that these are shared with the team, partners, and communities, to develop feedback loops of information.

Manage third-party monitoring and evaluation activities

• Lead on planning for and conducting needs/contextual assessments, reviews and evaluations through third-party monitoring/evaluation entities or partners.
• Manage third party monitoring and evaluation contracts from end-to-end, including procurement, contracting, tools development, delivery of final reports, and dissemination.
• Ensure that third-party quantitative and qualitative findings inform decision-making and planning in the Country Office.

Training, capacity building and line management

• Manage the Country Office MEAL team to ensure that project-level data is collected and analysed in a systematic manner, all deadlines are met, and key questions on the projects area addressed through the data collected.
• Ensure the MEAL components of projects are implemented through guiding, supporting, and building the competency of the staff of War Child and partner organisations.
• Support MEAL team to engage with local partner organisations and build their capacity on MEAL systems and tools and ensure that these are being used in an efficient and effective way throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support the professional development of the MEAL team, engage them in the project cycle and increase levels of input and complexity.
• Host learning events for the MEAL team, partner M&E staff, and the wider War Child country office when appropriate.

Advising and informing

• Act as a point of contact for internal and donor/peer agency questions regarding MEAL as an area of expertise (in particular with country Technical, Implementation and Finance teams).
• Contribute to new proposals, develop log frames, and advise on key indicators as outlined by the War Child Global Monitoring Framework, coordination bodies, peer agencies, partner capacities and donor requirements.
• Provide advice, information, and assistance, both on request and on own initiative, for organisational projects, activities, partners, and the associated reporting.
• Lead on the generation of data information for annual reports and plans, internal and external reporting, and budget control.
• Provide guidance to MEAL, project and partner team members on War Child’s internal data protection framework which aligns with the EU General Data Protection Guidelines.

Coordination and networking

• Maintain a network of internal and external contacts relevant to the position, represent War Child in relevant technical working groups as needed.
• Grow and nurture a network with stakeholder organisations.
• Initiate and develop exchanges of information and knowledge relating to the MEAL Manager’s area of policy. Instructs, informs and advises internal and external stakeholders.
• Participate in donor and partner meetings when required to facilitate information sharing.
• Liaise with other War Child M&E colleagues both at the Home Office in Amsterdam and in other country offices to help facilitate the exchange of best practice, tool development, and promote learning.

Your Profile

• Relevant academic background (eg: development, research, social science, statistics)
• Demonstrated knowledge of quantitative and qualitative MEAL systems and tools – especially Excel, Kobo, and database management (PHP, MySQL).
• Minimum 5 years active MEAL experience in humanitarian or development programming.
• Proven ability to work productively with a variety of stakeholders to run participatory processes and meet tight deadlines with an emphasis on quality.
• Experience in designing, conducting, and training on qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with vulnerable persons as well as a variety of stakeholders.
• Experience in programming for children and/or experience in methods and methodologies in understanding programme progress and effectiveness for children desirable.
• Experience in data analysis and assessments.
• Commitment to local capacity building and the ability to engage local stakeholders and communities in the project design and implementation.

Skills

• Critical thinking and strong analytical skills
• Strong reporting and writing skills: excellent data interpretation skills and an ability to translate and present complex ideas into simple concepts and graphics/messages, in a convincing and unbiased manner.
• Ability to identify needs/gaps and work towards solutions.
• Commitment to training, capacity building, and collaboration with local organisations.
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills, maintaining close working relationships with local authorities, international NGOs, and local NGOs and associations.
• Excellent management skills, teamwork and flexibility.
• Commitment to a high level of confidentiality with sensitive information.
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English.

We Offer

• A dynamic and challenging work environment, with opportunities to grow and enhance your skills.
• A fair salary and comprehensive secondary benefits including opportunities to develop professionally.
• Working as part of a multinational team who is hands on to make change happen!

Job Location: Amman, Jordan

**Contract:**The duration of the contract is 12 months with the intention to extend.

The safety of children is essential to War Child. War Child does not tolerate or accept any form of abuse. This subject is addressed in our recruitment and selection procedures. War Child prides itself on being an equal opportunity employer. We support & promote diversity & inclusion, and we will consider all qualified applicants without regard to sex, race, colour, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.