MEAL Manager

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes and believes shall guide our actions and relationships.

1. Background:

The Lebanon Protection Consortium (LPC) is funded by ECHO and created by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in consortium with Gruppo Volontariato Civil (GVC) and Action Against Hunger (ACF). The programme aims to identify factors the prevent people from exercising their basic human rights, and seek innovative ways to collaborate with stakeholders through integrated protection responses.

1. Role Summary:

The role of the MEAL Manager is to establish and implement systems to promote evidence-based decision-making and to ensure harmonised monitoring and evaluation practices (M&E) practices across M&E units and programme teams of the Consortium members. The position holder will support the design of standardized MEAL processes and tools in coordination with all partners. This will involve: creating, developing, and supporting partner programme teams to use MEAL systems to collect, aggregate and analyse data; and play a key role in ensuring that the reporting needs of key stakeholders are met.

Generic Responsibilities:

1. Adhere to NRC policies, guidance, and procedures.
2. Lead the development of MEAL systems, including procedures, guidelines, procedures, and tools.
3. Advise management on MEAL solutions/options in the design of staffing, resourcing and budgeting, and priorities for the Consortium.
4. Participate in programme design and proposal discussions, including theory of change development and log frame design.
5. Support the Consortium members in planning for and executing MEAL activities, including, data collection methodologies and tools; and data management, analysis and use.
6. Support the implementation, dissemination and use of evaluations and assessments; and also in monitoring data in programme development, adjustment, or review.
7. Contribute to organisational learning through supporting specific analysis, lessons learned, and reports.
8. Ensure effective communication and knowledge sharing between the Consortium members on related matters.
9. Oversee and be responsible of mainstreaming protection guidelines in the NRC’s related activities as per NRC’s Protection mainstreaming guidelines and ensure that all breaches/concerns reported are properly resolved.

Specific Responsibilities:

1. Ensure that LPC MEAL plan is finalised and work with the Consortium members to ensure the timely roll-out and delivery of planned MEAL activities, including organizing and chairing MEAL technical reference group meetings.
2. Design and develop methodologies and tools related to monitoring, evaluation and capitalization of lessons learned, and accountability and reporting; and ensure that they are age/gender sensitive.
3. Provide ongoing analysis and concrete recommendations to improve accountability to beneficiaries as well as the quality and efficacy of humanitarian assistance
4. Identify the needed analytics for monitoring programme efficiency and other reporting purposes.
5. Coordinate closely with the Consortium Information Coordinator (CIC) on the needed information management, analysis, data collection tools, and any other relevant subject.
6. Contribute to data analysis, provide feedback, and closely coordinate with the Consortium Information Coordinator.
7. Regularly update the CIC on the development of MEAL tools, indicators, and MEAL plan.
8. Conduct regular field visits in coordination with consortia members to ensure technical and operational compliance with MEAL systems and methodologies.
9. Monitor reports deadlines and support Consortium management with the preparation of donor reports to ensure compliance with key programme indicators and objectives.
10. Lead the implementation of lessons learned workshops or sessions during key phases of the project.
11. Promote the principles and practices of beneficiary accountability to partner staff, providing training and coaching in beneficiary feedback and other good practices, as required.

Critical Interfaces:

By interfaces, NRC means processes and projects that are interlinked with other departments/units or persons. Relevant interfaces for this position are:

• Consortium Manager
• Consortium Protection Manager
• Consortium Information Management team
• Technical Reference Groups members
• Project Managers
• Partner Technical Advisers
• NRC Advisers (Regional and Head Office)

1. Competencies:

Competencies are important in order for the employee and the organisation to deliver desired results. They are relevant for all staff and are divided into the following two categories:

1. Professional Competencies:

• Bachelor degree in Economics, Political or Social Sciences, Quantitative or Statistical Analysis, or any other relevant field
• Minimum 5 years of relevant MEAL experience with a minimum of 3 years in a leading position within professional environment, preferably in an emergency or post-conflict setting.
• Experience with and knowledge of current approaches to MEAL in relief and development programs.
• Experience in working with partners or consortiums is desired
• Strong ability to identify the needed analysis for both programme efficiency and reporting
• Excellent understanding of data and information needs for program management and decision-making.
• Demonstrable experience participating in assessments or surveys
• Experience with both quantitative and qualitative methods; this should include survey development, facilitating KIIs and FGDs. Experience with SPSS or STATA is desirable.
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written. Fluency in Arabic is desired.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

2. Behavioral Competencies:

These are personal qualities that influence how successful people are in their job. NRC’s Competency Framework states 12 behavioral competencies and the following are essential for this position:

• Planning and delivering results
• Working with people
• Strategic thinking
• Initiating action and change
• Empowering and building trust
• Handling insecure environments