MEAL Officer

Background

HelpAge International(www.helpage.org) is the secretariat to the HelpAge Global Network, which brings together a wide range of organizations and individuals working to promote the rights and meet the needs of older women and men, nationally and/or internationally. At the core of this network, are civil society members, a group of civil society organizations working with older people around the world. These organizations share a vision of a world in which all older people are valued, and lead dignified, healthy and secure lives. HelpAge has been operating in Ethiopia since 1992 and has been involved on thematic sectors including social protection, health and wellbeing, emergency response, capacity building of partners and advocacy efforts.

Currently, we are responding to the conflict and drought related humanitarian crisis in central and western Tigray as well as North wollo of Amhara, responding to the most and critically affected communities in the areas of Protection. HelpAge is mandated organisation to address the specific needs of older people and PWDs in the region. These humanitarian response project will be implemented with full engagement of stakeholders and in close consultation and coordination with Community based institutions, as well as Government humanitarian actors.

We are looking for motivated and self-driven individuals for the various positions in Woldiya (five project locations), Tigray (2 project locations). Read the below cross-cutting points applicable for all positions.

Our Values: Everyone who works at HelpAge share our values and are committed to behaviors that demonstrate and support them:

Overall Purpose of the Job

The MEAL officer will be responsible for the development and follow up of performance against set indicators, including strengthening community complaint and feedback mechanisms. He/She will be responsible to guide the field team of HelpAge and RaDO team in continuous improvement in quality delivery of the consortium project interventions, and plan, conduct and report on assessments, evaluations and learnings.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES AND KEY TASKS

Monitoring and Reporting

• Ensure all grants have updated workplan and performance management /M & E/ plan in tandem with approved proposals and indicators, regularly review and update as needed;
• Work closely with the program team of the consortium project to develop quality monitoring systems and tools which addresses indicators set out in project proposals
• Review & control the quality of monthly & quarterly M&E reports based on agreed indicators to guide decision making, and provide feedback to the respective staff/team
• Provide alert to the respective programme officers/managers and head office and the consortium management on corrective actions required to avoid delays in implementation, including flagging operational issues and risks requiring timely actions
• Ensure programmes are delivered in a professional and ethical manner
• Oversee adherence to grant contracts and government regulations, including donor reporting
• Ensure that cross cutting issues such as participation, vulnerability and protection risks as well as age, gender, and disability are effectively addressed/mainstreamed in all project implementations as part of ensuring accountability
• Advise and make appropriate recommendations to management on identified project implementation strategies and project targets and operational problems through reports, review meetings and site visits.
• Allocate some to document active project’s performance by case stories, pictures, short videos for active projects, etc

Assessments, Surveys and Evaluation

• Monitor and evaluate the impact of programme responses on target beneficiaries
• Lead and/or coordinate all assessments including those required for proposal development and evidence gathering (eg. PDM), evaluations and performance evaluation tasks including planning and reporting on the same
• Assist in preparation of TOR for external survey consultants
• Timely plan and initiate all pre and post intervention assessments, KAP surveys
• In conjunction with technical managers and other program team, develop evaluation design, including specification of the necessary staff and resources to conduct the evaluation
• Review all evaluation reports prepared to ensure data relevance and consistency
• Provide input into monitoring and evaluation needs during project design phase to ensure sufficient resources allocated

Tools Development and Data Management

• Develop and implement systems that will ensure tracking of all project inputs, outputs, outcomes and impact results for all emergency projects
• Roll out the database of PSNs in Gambella and ensure the proper operation of the management information system through data updates, regularly check on data integrity and working in collaboration with the data collectors
• Review existing data management systems for each sector and identify additional needs
• Timely update and share data on the 4W matrix to the cluster management system

Learning, Accountability and Capacity Building

• Consult beneficiaries on a regular basis and provide support to programme officers on processes of programme implementation and establishing a responsive complaint handling system
• Along with respective programme staff, document learning from projects
• Ensure that learning from projects is systematically captured and shared to colleagues with constructive comments in order to ensure programme quality
• Ensure cross-learning among projects, creating systems for accountability to beneficiaries, donors and other stakeholders
• Guide and participate in project learning and reflection events at field level;
• Work to ensure that lessons learned, and best practices are incorporated into new program design.
• Ensure Sex, Age, Disability Disaggregated Data (SADD), Accountability and Gender standards, Donor’s protection policy and guidlines are consistently adhered in programme delivery
• Build capacity of staff through training to ensure adoption of new data monitoring tools and quality of data collected
• Keep abreast of new approaches and tools on M&E, and provide training to HelpAge staff
• Contract Length: 1 year
• RESPONSIBLE TO: Area Programme Manager _ Woldiya
• KEY RELATIONSHIPS:
• Internal: Sector Programme Officers and Managers, Humanitarian team @ Addis (field and Addis)
• External: Government, INGO and other partners, HIs management & MEAL focal person

Person Specifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Information Technology, Statistics, Economics, Demography, Population Studies, or any other related subjects
• At least 3 years direct experience in a position of monitoring and evaluation of large-scale projects preferably in INGOs;
• Good knowledge of Accountability Standards and Humanitarian principles including the Code of Conduct, Protection of beneficiaries, Age and Disability Inclusion in Humanitarian activities.
• Demonstrated experience in data processing and management of large-scale surveys;
• Demonstrated experience on application of Computer statistical packages and/ or data analysis software (e.g. SPSS, Excel, Epi Info, SMART, STAT 01) and advanced computer skills (word-processing, spread sheets, and databases) are a must;
• Good oral and written communication skills;
• High level of self-initiative and use critical thinking skills to identify and fill gaps in MEAL
• Result oriented and ability to meet deadlines;
• Ability to adapt and work well in team environment;
• Good analytical skills;
• Technical knowledge and experience in implementation of gender sensitive approaches is a plus;