MEAL Manager in Afghanistan

Location: Based in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan with regular trip to Kabul, Afghanistan

People in Need (PIN) is a Czech NGO that provides relief and development assistant in 22 countries around the world. In Afghanistan, PIN has been responding to humanitarian needs and implementing development programs since 2001 PIN implements projects focused on agriculture, women’s economic empowerment, social integration, and humanitarian response.

PIN has a long-term strategic commitment to contribute to the alleviation of suffering caused by extreme poverty and both natural and man-made disasters in Afghanistan, by providing neutral and impartial relief and assistance, regardless of the prevailing national and international dynamics. PIN supports community-based approaches and maintains considerable field presence in Afghanistan. This approach is a core part of PIN, in order to ensure that our programming remains relevant and appropriate, and field exposure will form an important component of the work of all international staff.

Project Description:

In order to address the lack of sustainable job opportunities and revenue granting initiatives as well as to tackle the solid waste management problems, PIN recently launched a four-year project titled “Recycling Plant Value Chain in Northern Afghanistan for Sustainable Jobs Creation Program”(AJCP). The project is implemented in Mazar-e Sharif and Northern provinces of Afghanistan (Balkh, Samangan, Jawzjan, Sar-e-Pul, Baghlan, Faryab) and is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The aim of the project is establishing a commercially viable plastic recycling value chain, creating sustainable job opportunities for at least 1860 individuals. The project expects the following outcomes:

• Providing employment at 30 established/ newly created solid waste Collection Hubs
• Identification of vulnerable youth, IDPs, women and other marginalized groups which can be a part of the project within the value chain.
• Establishing a Recycling Plant, producing recycled plastic pellets, providing jobs at the Recycling Plant
• Establishing 60 Business Hubs which will purchase the plastic pellets for further processing into final products, tailor-made to individual needs, thus creating more jobs

Overall description:

Project level: MEAL Manager will have the overall responsibility of project MEAL activities and will support MEAL coordination to ensure project quality and information dissemination. S/he will lead the development of a full-fledged MEAL strategy in coordination with USAID. S/he will develop tools for quantitative and qualitative data collection, oversee the initial stages of data collection, supervise data validity and quality of analysis. S/he will build capacity of MEAL staff (Officers, Assistants etc.) and together with them, s/he will facilitate capacity building of all project staff on MEAL topics, including partner staff, to ensure consistent and systematic data collection that can be compared throughout the project.

CP level: MEAL Manager well develop MEAL standards, procedures and strategic priorities for improvement of the MEAL system in line with the global PIN MEAL priorities. S/he will promote programmatic learning to improve the quality of programs at PIN Afghanistan. This role will focus on strengthening internal coordination and robust information management in the country program and building capacity of staff in MEAL to ensure technical quality, effectiveness and cost-efficiency of MEAL activities and processes. MEAL Manager will manage and supervise the MEAL unit, composed of 5-7 employees in Afghanistan. In regards to promotion of quality standards

At the country program level, the MEAL Manager will also support the team in developing their capacities in streamlining the Project cycle management process, development of new proposals, and in building strategic partnerships in regards to MEAL related aspects, such as knowledge management, assessments, indicator setting, etc.

Tasks in detail:

Project level:

• review project MEAL plan in coordination with local project team members and USAID
• Oversee design and implementation of project MEAL activities and tools
• Develop the projects results framework and indicator tracking tables
• Develop standard procedures and protocols for CRM, and establish an effective CRM that is accessible to all project stakeholders
• Oversee capacity development of all project staff, including partner staff, to ensure consistent and systematic data collection that can be compared throughout the project
• Coordinate with the AJPC USAID team on a technical level to harmonize information reporting as needed by USAID
• Promote a culture of “learning from mistakes” and “evidence-based adaptive programming” in the project team as well as among partners
• Develop internal feedback channel between MEAL and project team to utilize data generated by MEAL team for decision-making and corrective measures
• Network with external stakeholders to promote wider learning
• Review ToRs for studies and evaluations
• Ensure quality of data of all project partners as well as external evaluators by developing and implementing standard Data Quality Assurance (DQA) protocol
• Ensure quality of all MEAL reports, including studies and evaluations

CP level:

Planning, implementation, progress tracking and reporting:

• Provide technical support during project MEAL planning, including guidance on developing the Results Framework, Indicator Tracking Table (ITT), and methodologies and MEAL tools
• Maintain an overview/calendar of planned MEAL related activities (baselines, mid-term, endline surveys, other data collection and research activities, and evaluations) to be undertaken in ongoing projects
• Provide technical support in activity and results-based monitoring (surveys, FGDs, KIIs, etc.) in the field, including ensuring that MEAL unit, project teams, implementing partners and enumerators follow the instructions/agreed methodology
• Support project teams in interpretation of findings, formulation of recommendations and reporting
• Support project teams in preparation for regular project review meetings, including regular update of ITT and reporting on indicators, and organization of dedicated MEAL meetings as needed
• Support consultants and research partners in conducting commissioned evaluations/activities (e.g. interpretation, conducting FGDs or interviews, etc.)
• Provide technical support in evaluations and other research activities, including engaging in ToR preparation, selection of consultants, review of evaluation design and data collection methodology, data quality assurance, data analysis, involvement of stakeholders and dissemination plan
• Support Program Managers in setting up and maintaining the project databases

Accountability, learning, dissemination and use of findings:

• Support project teams in planning for and implementation of Beneficiary Feedback Mechanisms (BFMs) providing opportunity for beneficiaries to receive information about PIN commitment and standards, raise suggestions and recommendations for improvements, and understand protocols for action to be taken in response
• Provide technical support in developing and managing Complaints Response Mechanism (CRM) tools to ensure accessibility by beneficiaries and stakeholders
• Support Program teams in identification and documentation of lessons learned and best practices
• Facilitate dissemination of assessment and MEAL findings to stakeholders via preparation of learning/MEAL briefs, fact sheets, and presentations

Capacity building:

• Identify MEAL capacity development needs of CP staff, and provide tailor-made, practical trainings to project staff based on capacity needs assessment
• Ensure that all MEAL unit, project team members and implementing partners’ staff understand and know how to use MEAL tools. This is to be achieved through intensive, direct on-job-training with a focus on practical application of MEAL tools
• Train MEAL unit, related project team members and implementing partners in assessment methodologies and tools Orient project team members, partners, and key stakeholders on PIN Afghanistan’s approach to CRM, existing CRM protocol, and CRM tools

Business and Programme Quality development:

• Strengthen the CP´s ability to conduct integrated assessments through improving existing tools and ensuring mainstreaming of key issues, such as gender, protection, environment
• Support the CP´s capacity to develop good quality proposals and work efficiently with the Programme Quality Standard Checklist
• Further the CP´s coherence regarding all aspects of the Project Cycle management, such as data gathering and analysis, program development, implementation and MEAL
• Strengthen the mission in knowledge management, support team members attending cluster meetings to ensure the collection of relevant information, especially in regards to ongoing or recently completed assessments which are available in PIN priority sectors.
• in collaboration with Program Team, develop a database and system for the collection and analysis of secondary information
• assist the CP in networking and partnership building efforts in order to create stronger a long-lasting strategic engagements

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated technical skills in results-based monitoring, development of CRM (Complaint Response Mechanism) procedures, data quality assurance, capacity building of staff on M&E, as specified in the Duties and Responsibilities above
• At least 5 years of work experience in managing Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning on development or humanitarian projects
• Experience working on income generation and job creation programs, experience working with USAID projects, and knowledge of the context of Afghanistan are considered an advantage
• Willingness to travel to project sites within Afghanistan
• Enthusiasm about fostering a culture of learning and evidence-based adaptive programming

PIN Offers:

• Working environment in a well-established and growing humanitarian and development organization;
• Flexible and challenging working environment with room for personal growth;
• Accommodation in PIN guesthouse on PIN expense;
• 25 days of paid leave annually plus 15 days of R&R, depending on the length of contract
• Reimbursement of cost of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure;
• Free medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online; travel medical insurance.
• Starting salary according to salary scale, in range of 3400 – 3900 USD including per diems