Project MEAL Coordinator (GFFO)

Objective:

To Provide technical support for setting up MEAL system of the project and ensure quality control for compliance with standards committed to donor

Job Summary:  

Welthungerhilfe (WHH), is a German based, non-profit making, non-aligned international NGO that aspires to see a world without hunger and poverty. In Pakistan, WHH program goal is to “Build resilience and assist food and nutrition insecure communities in rural and semi-urban areas of Pakistan to realize their right to food in cooperation with local civil society and government.” Welthungerhilfe has a vision of a world in which everyone can lead a self-determined life in dignity and justice, free from hunger and poverty. 

Welthungerhilfe is looking for a Sector Advisor MEAL for its project ‘Localized Multi-Hazard Anticipatory Action Facility Pakistan. The position will be reporting to Sector Advisor MEAL under technical line management of the Project Coordinator. The position is based at country office Islamabad and will require frequent travel to the intervention sites across the country. The position requires competencies, experience, and skills to support, the project, and its partner organizations in setting up project MEAL system based on the commitments with the donor and WHH Pakistan MEAL framework and related standards; jointly plan and design post hazard outcome assessments, research/survey studies and writing quality reports for stakeholders, with technical support from Sector Advisor MEAL. The position holder requires an in-depth understanding and demonstrated experiences in dealing with the emergency preparedness and response projects and associated MEAL requirements along with excellent analytical and writing skills.  

Responsibilities:

1. MEAL Coordinator will closely work with and support project staff and local partners, in design and operationalization of Results Based MEAL system for quality and effective program delivery as per Donor guidelines and commitments, WHH Global MEAL Standards and WHH Pakistan MEAL Framework.
2. Support the MEAL-unit in the country office level to ensure timely, effective, and high-quality MEAL interventions at project and program level.
3. Develop MEAL quality standards for the project; MEAL pack for READY Pakistan operations, quality checklist for proposals evaluation, MEAL tools and formats.
4. Ensure gender specific approach in project implementation
5. Give organisational and conceptual support and guidance to partner organisation(s) on how to introduce and implement MEAL standards through-out project cycle in conjunction with WHH Pakistan MEAL Framework and Scope of Work.
6. Coordinate assessments and provide guidance in conducting assessments to partner organization in close cooperation with the Programme/Project & Sector Advisor MEAL
7. Coordinate capacity building for partners on any new templates, tools and/or methodology introduced by Donor, WHH Global or WHH Country Office.
8. Prepare, coordinate and follow-up on assessments or reviews and to steer and ensure that the results/actions being followed-up and implemented.
9. Regular field monitoring visits and PDMs, draft quality monitoring reports and share with appropriate audience for course correction, maintenance of quality standards and lessons learnt.
10. Accountability: follow-up on CRM functionality during field visits and PDMs, review CRM database during data audits and update centralised CRM on stipulated frequency.
11. Regularly make quality checks on data coming from partner organizations, provide feedback and upload progress on WHH Global MIS (ProMIS)
12. Collect case studies and success stories to capture learnings and effects of project intervention on community.
13. Produce accurate data sheets and high-quality reports for reporting to donor, Government of Pakistan and for other coordination forums on specified dates and timelines.
14. In collaboration with the Sector Advisor MEAL, facilitate field-level learning events (Review workshop, reflection, lesson learnt and external/internal evaluation) to capture, document and disseminate lessons learned for internal and external purposes. 
15. Report all security relevant issues and information to the Security Manager and the management
16. Other tasks as specified by her/his supervisor.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Details)

1.  Support the WHH team, including local partners, to deliver timely, effective, and high-quality MEAL tasks for WHH.

• Regularly conduct field visits to project sites to carry out monitoring, PDMs or outcome assessments using standard tools and submit a detail report.
• Provide hands on capacity building support to local partners’ MEAL staff to ensure compliance with WHH and Donor requirements.
• Organize and document monthly MEAL meetings and visits, share up to date information and ensure needed follow up
• Exchange and cooperate closely with project management, relevant project stakeholders and partner organizations
• Support CO MEAL Unit in standardization of tools and formats according to WHH standards and project needs.
• Conduct trainings on MEAL Framework, incl. application of standardized tools and formats.
• Orient partner organizations on WHH Pakistan Standard Operating Procedures (as per MEAL framework) with support from Country Office MEAL Unit.
• Assess data management system and provide technical support for effective reporting to partner organization.
• Closely liaise and coordinate with relevant partner staff to strategize information sharing with community on CRM
• Share feedback and complaints with programme teams and track follow-up.
• Assist project staff in the communication with beneficiaries.
• Ensure proper information sharing regarding WHH key policies (especially Staff Code of Conduct) are shared with beneficiaries and all stakeholders.
• Contribute to review & feedback on assessment/ study designs; conduct and report on a range of qualitative and quantitative research studies, baseline/ end line surveys, contextual analysis, needs assessment, mid/ end term evaluations, annual reviews, final evaluations etc.
• Review and update MEAL Plan on quarterly basis and share status of progress with all relevant staff.
• Assist in adapting standardized formats and tools to project requirements.

2.   Prepare, coordinate and follow-up on Reviews and Learning

• Set up and maintain a knowledge management system e.g. human-interest stories, visibility material, Complaint Response Mechanism, lessons learned, exchange meetings etc.
• Organize/support/participate field-based reviews and learning events.
• Organize monthly MEAL Meetings with partners to exchange information, provide and collect updates about field activities and programme interventions, provide solutions to challenges and to assess progress.
• Participate monthly MEAL coordination and learning meetings and attend meetings of MEAL technical working group (if any)
• Ensure adequate documentation and data management of evidence by partner organization(s) through regular data audit
• Collect best practices examples, which demonstrate qualitative and quantitative changes over the period.
• Responsible for design, implementation and reporting of qualitative studies using various methods, capture key learnings and share with all relevant staff and management.
• Take lead in Data Management (data cleaning and analysis) related to various Studies/assessments/surveys
• Support in cross-organizational learning, which includes providing information, guidelines, lessons learned, and user-friendly learning tools on MEAL

3.    Other Tasks

The MEAL Coordinator may be called upon as part of his/her roles and responsibilities to participate in and/ or provide support to emergency response situations when and where required in consultation with his/her line manager

 Professional Background:

• Minimum 4-7 years professional MEAL experience in a similar position preferably on disaster preparedness and emergency response projects within a national or international NGO
• Experience with MEAL design and implementation (incl. system for data collection, development of tools, data processing, data analysis, organizing learning events)
• Knowledge of participatory planning and monitoring methods
• Experience in setting up of and critical analysis of CRM system on the ground
• Very good communication, interviewing and reporting skills
• Very good contextual knowledge of community issues and social and cultural realities
• Good leadership skills
• Graduate/master’s degree, preferably in social sciences (Development Studies, Sociology, social work, or Economics etc.)
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in designing and implementing MEAL systems, monitoring, quantitative and qualitative studies and tools, CRM with a national or international NGO and/or research organization both in development as well as emergency context
• Acquired trainings or attended courses on MEAL/M&E
• Good background in basic statistics, data management and survey design
• Experience in wide range of data collection methodologies for qualitative and quantitative studies
• Proven experience in capacity building and facilitation skills
• Flexible when faced with the varying situations and needs of data collection exercises and exhibits strong nerves under pressure
• Willingness to travel and carry out extensive field work in program areas in Pakistan
• Skilful in promotion of knowledge/ learning sharing mechanisms
• Fluent in English, Urdu both written and verbal. Local language(s) is an asset 

Welthungerhilfe values diversity and ensures an inclusive, non-discriminatory working environment. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community."