MEAL Manager for North West Syria and Turkey

Country Programme: North West Syria and Turkey

Base: Gaziantep, Turkey

Line Manager: Country Director

Coordination: NWS/TR Program Director, Senior Data Analyst

Line Managing: Northwest Syria and Turkey MEAL Team (Gaziantep, Northwest Syria teams)

Starting date: ASAP

Period: 12 months

Background:

People in Need (PIN) has been working in Türkiye & Northwest Syria since 2012, providing emergency relief and early recovery support to conflict-affected communities and IDPs. PIN’s contribution to the overall Syria humanitarian response is amongst the largest, with an annual turnover of over $55 million. The major donors are: ECHO, BHA, ENI and SDC. In NW Syria the annual turnover is $40 million with offices in Gaziantep and 3 offices inside Syria and over 560 staff.

Position Summary

Under the strategic guidance from Country Director and Program Director and in close cooperation with Programs teams and Whole of Syria MEAL and program advisors the position is responsible for the overall coordination of all MEAL related processes and activities across PIN’s Country Programme in Northwest Syria & Turkey, lead the MEAL department in developing quality MEAL related deliverables in compliance with donors’ guidelines and PIN’s internal guidelines.

Duties & Responsibilities

Lead the monitoring, evaluation duties and assist-in in accountability and learning processes at the Country Programme:

· Lead implementation of the ethical principles in all MEAL processes at the Country Programme. Draft and regularly update MEAL workplans and data collection plans at the Country Programme. Agree workplan with stakeholders across the organization (Country Programme and HQ). Support program/project teams in developing accountability mechanisms, including the Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) and assist in analysis.

· Support project teams in developing quality standards for all key program interventions to strengthen the compliance and quality aspects.

Ensure technical, programmatic or strategic consultancy in MEAL assignments to the program personnel at the Country Programme:

· Set up an adequate monitoring and evaluation system applicable for the whole Area Programme and particular projects and ensure planning of M&E activities for each project in accordance with the projects overall M&E Plans

· Provide MEAL related inputs to project proposal, review the logframe/Theory of Change (ToC) and the logic of intervention. Review project budget to ensure implementation of adequate high-quality monitoring.

· Plan, prepare, organise and conduct monitoring and evaluation activities for all projects (including and where relevant routine/random monitoring activities, baseline and end-line studies, Post Distribution and Post Intervention Monitoring, mid-term and post-project evaluation etc.) and provide support to external evaluators as required.

· Ensure implementation of high-quality MEAL process and ensure delivery of adequate MEAL products at the Country Programme.

· Analyse existing monitoring and evaluation tools and generate new ones if need arises, coordinating with the WoS structure as needed.

· Manage and supervise MEAL team at the Country Programme to ensure they deliver on all internal and external MEAL requirements in a timely manner and with high quality information. Support in beneficiary verification and assist in preparing tools for data collection; when relevant collect data and process it.

· Help design and review data collection/tracking tools/formats/databases to ensure data quality, reliability and consistency throughout project implementation.

· Contribute to periodic projects’ review process in cooperation with Programme Director and other relevant staff.

· Implement electronic, mobile data collection systems in MEAL processes.

· Conduct data and feedback analysis, secondary sources overview when adequate and prepare adequate reports.

· Support project staff in needs assessments studies; assist in designing the tools for needs assessment and support in carrying out quantitative data collection exercises.

Support internal learning, capacity building and facilitate quality improvement in relation to domain of MEAL:

· Carry out or assist in trainings, learning events in regards to MEAL and contribute to MEAL team members capacity development, including trainings for enumerators and MEAL officers. Share knowledge and experience in MEAL and program-related knowledge based on MEAL activity.

· Promote internal learning via sharing findings from MEAL activities and reflection on lessons learned related to MEAL domain. Help in adapting them and tracking recommendations from PIM, PDM, other monitoring activities, evaluation for future learning processes, usage and improvements.

· Establish appropriate MEAL structures; verify, consult, participate and assist in establishing the division of roles at the Country Programme in Northwest Syria & Turkey between MEAL and other staff.

Lead the MEAL processes and manage staff in tasks related to MEAL:

· Review existing structure dedicated to MEAL; set objectives for the employees; assess the workload and performance of MEAL employees.

· Facilitate recruitment of staff dedicated for MEAL processes.

· Update job description of MEAL staff and in cooperation and support of Area Director and M&E Coordinator ensure division of roles between MEAL personnel and other staff.

· Carry out other duties assigned by direct supervisor.

Suitable candidates for this position should possess

· University degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Social Science, Data Science, Economics, Business, or a related field, MA/MS preferred.

· Significant experience of undertaking a MEAL related role (at least 4 years), including planning/participating in evaluations

· Advanced skills in data analysis as well as in MEAL concepts and methodologies

· Capacity for analysing and synthetizing comprehensive information & technical data, ability to write clear and well-argued assessment reports

· Ability to facilitate trainings and workshops, experience leading a consultative process to develop and finalize a Theory of Change is an advantage

· Excellent communication skills, a high level of written and spoken English, including editing skills

· Strong organizational, critical analysis and problem-solving skills; with excellent attention to detail

· Ability to plan and work with limited supervision to meet objectives.

· Knowledge of quasi- experimental and experimental research methods an advantage

· Experience of, and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability, experience in participatory MEAL methods an advantage

People in Need offers:

· Salary as per PIN salary scale (per diems included): 3.700-3.800 EUR
· Opportunities for learning, training and capacity development;
· 25 days of paid leave annually;
· Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence once per every 6 months of completed work, plus regional flights according to PIN’s policy;
· Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure;
· Free medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online;
· Travel health insurance and 24/7 medical helpdesk;
· Housing in PIN guesthouse covered by PIN.

Successful candidates with nationality of the country program this role will be operating in will be undergoing the national hiring process in that country.