Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Department Manager

Role & Responsibilities

Enhance the quality of Medair’s assistance to vulnerable populations through evidence-based collaboration with programme teams throughout the project cycle. Lead the MEAL and IM teams to support an integrated MEAL and IM system so that health, nutrition, and WASH interventions are accountable and focused on community and stakeholder engagement, generating strong acceptance, joint learning, ownership and systemic change.

Oversee the design of utilisation-focused quantitative and qualitative MEAL and IM tools for the collection, analysis, and use of data. Be responsible for promoting high quality MEAL practice while owning a vision for MEAL, in line with Medair’s global aspirations. Be responsible for promoting good data quality and data protection.

Be responsible for championing Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) throughout project cycles, including overseeing the effective functioning of Medair’s Feedback and Complaints Mechanism (FCM), within Medair’s global AAP Policy and Guidelines.

Project Overview

In Yemen, Medair is working in the sectors of health, nutrition, and WASH. Medair support primary health care facilities and community nutrition programming. This position will support health, nutrition, and WASH projects on static, EP&R, and community programming.

Workplace & Working conditions

Field position based in Aden, Yemen, with regular field visits.

Starting Date / Initial Contract Details

As soon as possible. Full-time, 24 months.

Key Activity Areas

Programming Responsibilities

• Vision: Collaboratively consolidate, refresh, and communicate a vision for MEAL (including IM) in the Yemen programme.
• Project and programme design: Support the development of evidence-based programme Theories of Change, logical frameworks, and the development and selection of indicators for new and existing grants in coordination with project teams. Provide direction to the Senior MEAL Officer and MEAL Assistants to contribute.
• Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP): Oversee the country programme’s approach to AAP and provide direction on all AAP related issues to the MEAL team, summarised in the AAP Feedback Guidelines, Feedback and Complaints Mechanism SOP, and AAP Communication guidelines. Develop and update the AAP narratives within donor proposals. Oversee the Feedback and Complaints Mechanism managed by the Senior MEAL Officer and/or MEAL Assistants.
• Assessments, monitoring, and evaluation: In consultation with senior management and in coordination with the Senior MEAL Officer, lead the design, development and/or modification of high-quality assessments, monitoring, and evaluation activities, including using tools for qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, visualisation, and use such as for post-implementation and post-distribution monitoring. Provide oversight of the MEAL team’s assessment and monitoring implementation work. Manage and/or oversee internal and external evaluations.

Cross-cutting Responsibilities

• Programme quality expectations: Promote the integration of programme quality expectations (including Humanitarian Principles, the Core Humanitarian Standard, Sphere, donor and Medair standards) into MEAL activities carried out by the Senior MEAL Officer and MEAL Assistants.
• Data quality and information management: Promote and oversee data quality (data integrity, validity, precision, reliability and timeliness) and protection throughout the data cycle. Oversee the implementation of Medair’s data protection policy, following Medair’s Data Quality checklist.
• Learning and adaptation: Promote continuous improvement and innovation, ensuring that endorsed action points from MEAL activities are discussed, documented, shared, and factored into project design and management, including through regular meetings with senior management.
• MEAL reporting: Streamline and facilitate monthly internal reporting so that is useful as internal communication tool between project and support teams and enhances timely action in adapting interventions and implementation strategies. Support project managers in all donor MEAL reporting according to scheduled deadlines by delegating tasks to the Senior MEAL Officer, as appropriate, and providing technical guidance for project teams.

Management Responsibilities

• MEAL planning: Oversee and streamline the development of donor M&E and AAP plans, SitReps and other MEAL related planning and management tools.
• HR: Oversee the recruitment of new MEAL and IM staff. Manage the MEAL and IM teams. line manage the Senior MEAL Officer and IM Officer. Oversee the MEAL and IM teams through capacity development, setting objectives, providing regular feedback, supporting staff personal development plans and carrying out appraisals.
• Training: Assess the capacity development needs among all project staff regarding MEAL and facilitate respective trainings in approaches, standards, methods and tools. Likewise, assess the capacity of current MEAL team and, and make available relevant training. Develop and deliver MEAL trainings, providing guidance to the Senior MEAL Officer and MEAL Assistants on the development and delivery of materials.
• Budgeting and financial management: Support budgeting for MEAL activities in coordination with programme and finance teams. Manage Purchase Requests (PRs) and Payment Disbursal Forms (PDFs) for MEAL related activities, in coordination with the logistics and finance department. Complete the monthly Cash Needs Forecast for MEAL activities.

Strategy, Approach, and other Components

• Internal and external communication: Promote appropriate, regular, transparent, and supportive communication between the MEAL team and all other departments, as well as Field and GSO advisors, and relevant external stakeholders (e.g., beneficiaries, community leaders, local and national government authorities, service providers, UN agencies and other NGOs) with the objective of ensuring good cooperation and partnership.
• Internal and external collaboration and networking: Participate in Medair’s Regional MEAL Community of Practice and other relevant groups, and pro-actively seek networking in the global MEAL community like the Pelican Initiative or evaluation societies, with the aim to bring valuable international developments of the MEAL community to the organization.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Economics, MIS, International Development, Political Science, Public Health, or other related fields.
• Excellent working knowledge of the English (spoken and written).

Experience

• At least three years of experience working in MEAL roles in a humanitarian setting.
• Experience managing staff and overseeing teams.
• Experience in practical monitoring and evaluations in a leading function, in the development or humanitarian context.
• Experience with designing, planning, implementing, and analysing surveys.
• Experience in participatory assessment, monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience facilitating focus group discussions or workshops.
• Experience promoting learning for innovation in humanitarian programmes.
• Experience with managing feedback and complaints mechanisms.
• Experience with contributing to donor proposals and reports.

All new deploying international staff to Medair’s country programmes (and other roles which require field travel) should be fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved COVID vaccine, supported with a COVID vaccination certificate as evidence.