Regional MEAL Advisor – Ukraine and Regional Refugee Response

Regional Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Advisor – Ukraine and Regional Refugee Response

ROLE PURPOSE:

role is for an engaging leader who will provide strong technical direction for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), for Save the Children International’s responses to the Ukraine crisis (currently structured as the Ukraine Conflict Response in Ukraine, and the Regional Refugee Response in neighbouring countries). This includes ensuring MEAL processes are well coordinated across all operational countries.

The Regional MEAL will provide hands on support to SCI’s MEAL advisors and experts in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, to develop, position and implement MEAL systems in an ongoing humanitarian crisis. The role requires innovative thinking and approaches that will match the affected population e.g. use of digital data gathering.

The position may include travel to SC’s response programs in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.

ROLE SCOPE:

Reports to: Regional Senior Technical Support Manager – Ukraine and Regional Refugee Response (MEEE RO)

Staff reporting to this post: Regional Research, Evidence and Learning Advisor, Regional Accountability and Child Participation Advisor, Information Management Coordinator and dotted line support to Ukraine Country Office and Regional Refugee Response MEAL Leads.

Budget Responsibilities: None

Role Dimensions: Key stakeholders for this position include Response Team MEAL Leads, RO PDQ Team, plus RO Operations, Advocacy, and Resource Mobilisation Teams; SCI’s Global One Humanitarian Team (Programs staff). In addition, the role will foster relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including Save the Children Members and technical partners.

Context: Humanitarian

Location: Home based, able to work in CET time zone.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Leadership and Strategy

• Lead the implementation of response-level MEAL strategy, frameworks and systems and ensure roll out of core SCI MEAL tools, in line with Save the Children’s MEAL in Emergencies (MiE) System Quality Benchmarks and SC MiE Procedure
• Support the development of the response Master Logframe to support proposal logframes, MEAL frameworks; plans and budgets
• Maintain a MEAL master-budget and work with the New Business Development team, fundraising and technical teams to ensure MEAL activities and costs are adequately covered
• Support the Ukraine Country Office and Regional Refugee Response teams to manage monitoring and evaluation of programme/project activities as agreed in MEAL frameworks or plans
• Ensure technology is efficiently used for data collection and analysis (e.g. through KoBo Toolbox), as well as for data management, supporting the design and development of databases
• Set up systems to manage complex information generated by MEAL activities using PowerBi, such as feedback and response databases and qualitative outcome monitoring data systems, indicator performance tracking
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis to inform course adaptation of the response
• Present and disseminate information to inform senior management decision-making
• Ensure all relevant Save the Children Humanitarian Plan (SCHP) indicators are collected and reported on a quarterly basis in the HART system
• Ensure the Ukraine Country office and Regional Refugee Response teams are supported to develop quality project proposals, particularly facilitating linkages for multi-country proposals

Assessments and Monitoring

• Lead the SC “Needs Snapshot” assessment process across countries responding to the crisis. Clean data and visually present data in PowerBi Dashboard
• Lead planning, delivery and analysis of (multi-sectoral) needs assessments in coordination with other external sector agencies, ensuring assessment findings include an analysis of children’s needs
• Support the development of programme baseline surveys and endlines where required
• Lead on development of systems and tools to support performance monitoring against humanitarian global minimum and quality standards (e.g. Core Humanitarian Standard, Sphere, INEE etc.), as well as driving the roll-out of standardised quality benchmarks for core activities of the responses
• Support the Ukraine Country Office and Regional Refugee Response teams to analyse progress against response objectives and strategies
• Lead in the process of undertaking regular data quality assessment and providing feedback on data improvement

Accountability to Children and Communities

• Support the Regional Accountability and Child Participation Advisor to roll out key accountability initiatives and ensure that Feedback data is used for decision making at regional and country management level
• Ensure all response countries report on SCI’s Accountability KPI 18

Evaluations and Learning

• Support the Regional Research and Evaluation Advisor by identifying which projects should include and budget for an evaluation to fill key evidence gaps to inform the existing and future responses
• Have oversight of all completed evaluations and ensure that reports are scored by two reviewers and uploaded to the Evaluation Repository. These report scores will be included in the Program KPI submissions
• With support from senior staff, lead planning, design, implementation and follow-up of response-level reviews/evaluations (e.g. Real Time Review) and provide support to technical teams on the design and implementation of sector/project specific evaluations
• Lead on response-specific learning activities e.g. facilitating the development of the Response Learning Agenda, prepare lessons learnt process and develop PowerBi Dashboards for staff to easily access information etc.
• Ensure that evaluations and documents capturing learning are centrally stored, that their main findings are communicated to response management for decision-making, and that their main findings feed into programme design and future responses
• Coordinate the desired body of evidence for the response through research that could be contributing to the Country Strategic Plan

Capacity Building and Technical Support

• Support response MEAL leads to identify capacity gaps and conduct training and awareness raising activities for operations and programme technical staff regarding MEAL priorities, quality standards and MEAL related tools and guidelines
• Provide technical support to country response MEAL leads and management support to regional MEAL and Research staff. This includes identifying MEAL staffing needs for the humanitarian response, and lead rapid recruitment, induction, performance management and training alongside HR, when required.

Representation & Advocacy

• Ensure that SC’s work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and Government, and support Interagency Coordination forums, advocating for the specific needs of children. This will involve participation in coordination groups such as the Communicating with Communities Working Group

General

• Ensure effective linkages with MEEE regional and global work and broader initiatives
• Contribute to regional team collaboration, meetings and planning processes, internal initiatives and reporting requirements
• Demonstrate leadership in relation to Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, bullying and harassment, code of conduct, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.