Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Officer (Local position)

Duty Station: L’viv (Ukraine)

Starting Date: As soon as possible

Duration of Contract: 1 year (with possible extension)

Reporting Lines/Line Management: MEAL and Partnerships Manager

Job Summary:

CARE in Ukraine is working to provide humanitarian aid related to the crisis inside Ukraine through partnering with local organisations based inside Ukraine, with all the field implementation work being carried out by partner organizations. The main purpose of this role is to support the MEAL Manager establishing solid MEAL systems for the operation to enhance the quality and accountability of CARE and its partners.

With support from the MEAL Manager, the MEAL Officer will be responsible for key following tasks:

• Establish a basic MEAL system for the response
• Build the capacity of partners on MEAL and Quality
• Provides adequate operational support & guidance to partners on MEAL,
• Support establishing the reporting systems for CARE’s partners
• Act as a focal point for beneficiaries reporting

This role will drive the consolidation of the CARE MEAL approach by working closely with partners and program staff. S/he will work to continue to improve project level MEAL with a specific focus on the following areas: establishing a monitoring system for CARE and partners, support in setting up feedback and complaints mechanism, documentation of learning, capacity building support to partners. The MEAL Officer will ensure that all partners projects are continually monitored for their effectiveness and appropriateness and that lessons are documented and communicated to inform on-going implementation and future programming. S/he will guide partners teams towards achieving outcome/impact-focused projects and accountability to beneficiaries in line with international standards. S/he will generally coordinate MEAL across the program to ensure a standard level of quality and that learning, and accountability systems are working effectively.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

40% Job Responsibility #1

MEAL system coordination and implementation:

• Ensure up to date MEAL Frameworks for all projects agreed upon with partners and program teams, as well as the regular tracking of project indicators and progress.
• Ensure MEAL tools are meeting CARE and Donor’s requirements and in line with the standard developed a package for partners, and third-party monitoring agencies.
• Ensure that data collection and entry methodologies used at field level are those that have been agreed and approved as fit for purpose for program activities.
• Ensure SADD data and data on gender dynamics is regularly collected as per CARE’s internal SADD requirements and used in data analysis.
• Strengthen data analysis and use across the program by ensuring program teams have the MEAL information they need for program review and design.
• Ensure effective scheduling of MEAL led assessments, surveys and evaluations, as well as the analysis and dissemination of findings when needed.
• Ensure the essential information of each project is being disseminated to communities using the right channels and formats
• Work on promoting a culture of learning across partners and CARE, ensure lessons learned are documented and used for decision-making purposes.
• Support the MEAL Manager in establishing an accountability mechanism for CARE and partners, and ensure feedback cycle is closed on a timely manner.

40% Job Responsibility #2

Partner’s support and compliance

• Ensure positive and effective on the job coaching to partner MEAL teams to scale up their capacity.
• Assess partner’s MEAL capacity based on their performance and feedback to MEAL manager to discuss capacity development actions/plans.
• Provide constructive feedback on MEAL outputs to Partner and track MEAL related issues using CARE MEAL issue tracker, focusing on finding supportive solutions.
• Support the MEAL Manager to produce and implement capacity development plans for each partner on MEAL and monitoring progress.
• Provide training and capacity building to CARE and partners staff on MEAL topics that require improvement as per capacity development plans and ad hoc.
• Ensure that staff and partners fully understand the function of MEAL in quality assurance and strengthen a culture of open reflection and improvement.
• Lead on reviewing the data coming from partners on a monthly basis including but not limited to (databases, MEAL Frameworks, and any other relevant tools…)
• Design necessary data collection forms, ensuring that the purpose and use of data collected is clear and that questions are simple, clear, and collectible.
• Manage all CARE’s monitoring activities related to KOB, including managing the server, building survey forms, and managing data.

20% Job Responsibility #3

Reporting

• Schedule all donor’s/CARE related reporting deadlines and work closely with sector MEAL officers, partners and program teams on meeting those deadlines
• Ensure familiarity with all donor’s/CARE reporting requirements (template, SADD, content, Etc…)
• Ensure all partners, MEAL reports are being reviewed by CARE, and feedback on report content/quality is shared regularly with partners.
• Standardize reporting template for MEAL related activities as possible
• All MEAL reports are reviewed by the relevant staff from CARE and, ensure constructive feedback is given to partner’s staff with relevant follow and support provided.
• Coordinate CARE’s MEAL monthly data submissions between partners and CARE, ensuring the use of standard templates and strong review and feedback to partners.

Other:

• Any other task as required by line manager.

Key Interactions:

Internal: Project Managers, MEAL and Partnerships Manger, Country Representative, technical leads., other CARE staff.

External: Implementing partner, particularly its MEAL & Data Staff.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Extensive experience in data/database management
• Ability to work both in an advisory and a hands-on implementation capacity
• Strong skills in excel and other data management software
• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant subject.
• Previous experience working in MEAL and Data.
• Good command of the English language (written and oral).
• Good command of the Ukrainian language (written and oral).
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and similar applications.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Pro-active and helpful attitude, ready to take on a variety of new tasks.
• Ability to multi-task and manage competing priorities.
• Attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across a range of stakeholders, but particular with partners

Desired:

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in MEAL/Data for NGOs
• At least 1 years of experience of in undertaking a MEAL related role in a remote management humanitarian context
• Experience working with local partners
• Ability to facilitate/conduct technical capacity building events for partners face to face & remotely

Key Competencies:

1. Respect.
2. Integrity.
3. Commitment.
4. Diversity.
5. Initiative and Self-starter.
6. Facilitating Change.
7. Building Relations across Work Units.
8. Communicating with Impact.
9. Planning and organizing.
10. Innovation.

About CARE:

CARE International (CARE) is a non-religious, non-political international development and humanitarian organization, dedicated to fighting global poverty. CARE works in around 100 countries globally, engaging diverse partnerships to support communities to overcome poverty through development projects and delivers humanitarian assistance. CARE programmes address social injustice whilst placing women and girls at the core of programming in order to create sustainable positive change in poor communities. CARE is an equal opportunity employer irrespective of nationality, religion, ethnicity, caste, or gender.

Accountability within CARE:

A commitment to CARE values and CARE’s integrity framework is critical to working with CARE. Any candidate offered a job with CARE will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:

• Comply with CARE’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a CARE staff or partner.

Safeguarding:

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with CARE as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that CARE shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

Gender equality:

CARE is committed to meeting the standards of theCARE International Gender Policy(2019). Through this policy, CARE seeks to promote the equal realization of dignity and human rights for girls, women, boys and men in all diversities, and the elimination of poverty and injustice. Specifically, this policy seeks to improve the explicit incorporation of gender in programmatic and organizational practices.