MEAL Manager – International Medical Corps (IMC)

Development and Project Management

International Medical Corps (IMC)

Job Purpose Summary:

 The role of the Manager, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) is to support better performance and greater accountability by implementing evidence-based program/project management at the field level, to guide and improve performance. The Manager, MEAL will provide technical support to the design of methodologies and tools to ensure the availability of clear and accurate information at the program/project level. The Manager, MEAL also plays a vital role in data management and quality by designing a MEAL system that adheres to the IMC’s MEAL Global Guidelines, the MEAL Minimum Standards for Quality, and the guiding MEAL policies and procedures, among others. The Manager, MEAL will provide technical support to the program and build capacity in the country Mission through strengthening learning and knowledge sharing across the IMC and with the wider humanitarian community. The role holder will also support project development, including the preparation and management of the MEAL budget and project design.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

IMC’s policies, guidelines, and procedures

·         Mainstream the Global MEAL Guidelines across all related MEAL activities at the field level and ensure the guidance notes for monitoring, evaluation, and accountability are functional at the field level.

·         Apply and adapt existing Global MEAL Guidelines, tools, and templates at the relevant stages of the project cycle.

·         Actively promote the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards within IMC and amongst its beneficiaries.

·         Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application of the Code of Conduct, ethics, values, and standpoint with regards to internal and external stakeholders.

Project design and planning

·         Design and coordinate needs assessment and situation analysis through various approaches (e.g., direct data collection, secondary sources, problem tree analysis, SWOT analysis) and ensure that needs assessment and project design are linked.

·         Support to program and MEAL team with developing the results framework, theory of change, log frame, and MEAL plan including indicators for existing and new projects.

·         Identify the budget/resources needed for MEAL activities of projects.

·         Represent the organization in the MEAL and Assessment Working Groups promoting a positive image.

MEAL system

·         Follow full MEAL procedures and operating plans within the mission and develop harmonized data collection tools involving the different stakeholders (project team, partners).

·         Ensure that accountability to affected populations (AAP) data is collected routinely throughout the project cycle, enabling evidence-based programming and corrective action.

·         Develop data gathering strategies and reporting flows for projects in the mission.

·         Oversee the collection and timely reporting of data and statistics from the health facilities and other centers.

·         Collaborate with the MEAL and DHIS2 teams at HQ to develop and maintain the data management system including updating, troubleshooting, and promptly addressing all problems as they arise

·         Lead the Quarterly Country Report process and work closely with technical program leads to aggregate project data at the country level

·        Conduct regular site visits or when required to monitor service provision and ensure data quality.

Data quality management

·         Collaborate with technical staff in data quality maintenance and routine monitoring of programs.

·         Assess the quality of collected data for the indicators and ensure that data pitfalls and issues are mitigated.

·         Coordinate routine data quality audits conducted in different sites, compile results at the level of a project, and develop action plans to implement corrective measures.

·         Manage tools and methods for assessing data quality and security.

·         Ensure ethical practices are followed in the collection and management of all data; informed consent practices are used in all interviews, and privacy risks are mitigated in the storage and transfer of data.

Sampling techniques

·         Use proper sampling (probability and non-probability) techniques considering desired power, type of survey or evaluation (e.g., single point or multiple points; baseline vs end line), the objective of the survey or evaluation (e.g., testing for change or getting the point prevalence), and budget limitations.

·         Review the sampling approach proposed by an expert/consultant (if applicable)

·         Develop the sampling frame and calculate the sample size for surveys.

Qualitative and quantitative techniques

·         Develop and use different qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection, including structured/ semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, group discussions, focus group discussions, and direct observations as an M&E tool.

·         Conduct training on quantitative and qualitative techniques for data collection for MEAL, program, and interviewers.

·         Keeping the social dynamics, managing errors/bias, and strategy to minimize them and to ensure the data collected is representative of populations without power (avoiding over-dependence on community leaders, local authorities, and/or government authorities as primary sources for defining communities’ needs and preferences).

·         Coordinate the logistics of data collection, data management, and ensure adequate resources are available.

·         Develop questionnaires for monitoring purposes and apply the different interview techniques (structured/semi-structured).

·         Develop database structures to store and manipulate quantitative data.

·         Conduct regular site visits or when required to monitor and assist partners in the data collection process to ensure data quality.

Mobile and manual data collection

·         Determine the appropriate data collection tool based on the purpose, advantages, and disadvantages of mobile data collection techniques.

·         Design simple and complex questionnaires using XLS or form builder (Kobo form builder, ONA form builder, etc.)

·         Support in installing and configuring mobile data collection tools (OKD collect, Kobo collect, ONA collect, etc.) on smartphones or tablets and manage data on mobile servers (Kobo form builder, ONA form builder, etc.)

·         Increase the capacity of other staff in developing XLS form and setting up mobile data collection.

Data analysis, including use of statistical software

·         Apply standard methodologies for the analysis of data to allow for comparison and aggregation across time and the different projects.

·         Support MEAL and the project/program team on conducting statistical analysis, including descriptive (univariate and bivariate data analysis) and inferential analysis using statistical software.

·         Perform qualitative textual analysis and develop topical outlines (coding).

·         Triangulate findings from several qualitative and quantitative sources.

·         Interpret statistical data for use in decision-making and synthesize quantitative and qualitative information for write-up/reports and decision-making.

Evaluation design

·        Support in developing TOR for internal and external baseline surveys, mid-term evaluations, final evaluations, and frame the different types of study questions such as barrier analysis, market analysis, and Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Surveys (KAP).

·        Identify the needed resources for evaluation, such as information, expertise, personnel, instruments, and budget.

·        Organize various Government planned evaluations

·        Manage the administrative and logistic process of evaluations involving external evaluators.

·        Support in training and supervising data gathering of internal performance evaluation and design and synthesize the findings from participative evaluation techniques (actively involving affected communities in the evaluation exercises).

Presenting information

·        Write full narrative reports (needs assessments, internal reviews, progress reports) and executive summaries.

·        Present information and ‘tell the story of the project to multiple audiences and decision-makers based on the findings from the analysis and monitoring.

·        Verify reports’ accuracy and presentation of information, including the use of appropriate graphs and tables.

·        Disseminate qualitative and quantitative results using the established dashboard or system as per agreed frequency.

·        Presents AAP data in simplified yet informative formats, depicting disaggregated community perceptions on the quality of humanitarian actions and accountability commitments.

Management and leadership

·        Support the Country Office in identifying the human resources needs in the MEAL department and support recruitment, onboarding, and training.

·        Provide technical supervision and coordination of MEAL Officers from field sites.

Capacity development and training

·        Provide training based on identified gaps.

·        Provide coaching/mentoring of staff and on-the-job training to improve the skills of the staff in MEAL.

·        Provide training and on-the-job learning to IMC staff and volunteers based on required skills for MEAL activities

·        Support program staff with additional training and mentoring on routine monitoring procedures and surveillance techniques.

Knowledge Management and Learning

·        Support in developing KML mechanisms and processes for the mission while ensuring these mechanisms are in line with IMC’s guidelines

·        Establish basic learning systems that incorporate program studies’ findings, lessons learned, achievements and gaps, and develop all the tools required to support learning practices.

·        Facilitate after-action reviews and lessons learned exercises, including data collected through CBFRM and other participative forms of community engagement and feedback collection.

Community-Based Feedback and Response Mechanism

·        Provide technical support to the team on establishing and maintaining effective feedback mechanisms for decision making, fully in line with commitments regarding accountability to affected populations (AAP), including IASC CAAP, CHS, and Sphere Humanitarian Charter

·        Implement and monitor the CBFRM, accountability initiatives, and practices across the mission.

·        Lead the implementation of methodologies to consult communities on their preferences based on the operational context.

Cross-cutting themes

·        Support IMC program staff and management to mainstream critical concepts around gender, age, disability protection, and conflict sensitivity across all projects and programs by:

·        Supporting dedicated gender, protection, and conflict sensitivity analyses as may be required by programs.

·        Following up with program teams to utilize findings and strengthen activities in line with gender, protection, and conflict-sensitive approaches.

Competency

·        Able to identify gaps in staff knowledge of MEAL concepts and skills and provide training in these topics.

·        Ability to write full narrative reports (needs assessments, internal reviews, progress reports) and executive summaries.

·        Demonstrated understanding of data protection and confidentiality as part of data collection and management practices and ability to respect and maintain confidentiality.

·        Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.

·        Competency in using statistical software EPI-Info, SPSS, and STATA.

·        Possess skills in qualitative data analysis software such as MaxQDA, NVivo, Atlas.ti.

·        Possess skills in mobile data collection software such as Ona, KoboToolBox.

·        Have analytical, conceptual, and strategic thinking skills.

·        Build collaborative relationships and foster teamwork.

Required Education and Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Information Technology, Statistics, Demography or related discipline, public health with M&E experience
• At least 5 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation of programs, preferably with an International non-Government organization.
• Understand the basic monitoring and evaluation concepts and the purpose of MEAL.
• Personal and organizational skills, including time management and the ability to meet deadlines
• Knowledge of humanitarian accountability and understanding of the current accountability initiatives. 
• Knowledge of research and data collection methods and familiarity with statistical tools such as KOBO, ODK, Commcare, SPSS, Epilnfo, SMART, STAT 0t, and others (at least two).
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a team environment
• Strong analytical skills o excellent organizational and time management skills and a high level of attention to detail.
• Fully computer literate with working knowledge of database and spreadsheet applications and Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

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Lien