Senior MEAL Officer

Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty.

About Oxfam

Oxfam is a global movement of people who won’t live with the injustice of poverty. Together we save and rebuild lives in disasters. We help people build better lives for themselves. We speak out on the big issues that keep people poor, like inequality, discrimination against women and climate change. And we won’t stop until every person on the planet can live without poverty.

Our Team

To work with the Programme Quality team in Lebanon for strengthened Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) of projects implemented in north Lebanon.

 Job Purpose

Under the guidance of the Oxfam Lebanon PMEAL Coordinator, provide technical support and tools to Oxfam Lebanon’s programmes, ensuring effective, coordinated MEAL systems to drive programme quality and implementation. The Senior MEAL Officer will support the development and implementation of a systematic approach to MEAL, ensuring that Oxfam and partner teams are able to effectively track outputs and outcomes and manage data effectively for reporting and learning purposes, as well as ensure programmes are in line with Oxfam minimum standards. 

Core Details

Location:                                             Tripoli

Internal Grade:                                   D1

Contract type:                                     Fixed Term

This role reports to:                            PMEAL Coordinator

Staff reporting to this post:                 None

Annual budget for the post:                None

Key relationships/interactions:            Project Managers and Coordinators

Screening checks:                              Screening via Refinitiv

Key responsibilities

MEAL system development and implementation:

• Provide support to the PMEAL coordinator and programme team in project design and proposal development
• Support, and where applicable lead on the development and updating of relevant MEAL frameworks, working closely with relevant programme staff, the PMEAL Coordinator and Technical Coordinators.
• Independently develop MEAL plans and review/update them on a regular basis, in close coordination with the programme team and Oxfam’s partners.
• Work with the field project team in implementing MEAL plans, processes and tools, ensuring quality and consistency with Oxfam standards

Programme monitoring, information management and reporting:

• Develop/improve/update tools for data collection, processing and analysis
• Lead on data collection exercises and data management, involving:

-  Recruitment and training of data collectors

-  Carry out and supervise data collection (baseline and endline surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews etc.) and data entry.

• Perform analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, draft reports presenting the results of the analysis, and share the findings in an appropriate format.
• Investigate and conduct analysis of diverse secondary data sources.
• Report to and alert the project team on a regular basis regarding any anticipated project issues, risks and any emerging opportunities and threats to the project implementation related to this role.
• Act as a focal point for the team on Oxfam’s beneficiary counting methodology and processes.
• Support in the establishment of programme and beneficiary databases as per programme requirements.
• Ensure all MEAL-related data and files are properly organized and stored.

Accountability:

• Manage and strengthen the complaints and feedback mechanism for the programme through the “Your Word Counts” accountability platform
• Share feedback and complaints with field teams and track follow-up.

Capacity building for Oxfam and Partner staff:

• Provide training and technical assistance for capacity building of partners and programme teams to implement MEAL and reporting.
• Undertake periodic monitoring and technical support visits to partners to assess progress against agreed MEAL systems and recommend corrective actions as appropriate.
• Work closely with partner MEAL staff or focal points and provide support as appropriate
• Provide training to partners on  accountability and provide support in strengthening complaints and feedback mechanisms

Evaluation, Review, and Learning:

• Share relevant MEAL findings with projects teams in an appropriate format and follow-up on their implementation.
• Support in the design and management of evaluations, including:  the coordination of field-based data collection activities, review of evaluations reports, sharing of evaluation findings and recommendations with intended audiences.
• Support the implementation of evaluation recommendations at field level
• Assist the programme team and partners in documenting lessons learnt
• Collecting best practices, case studies which demonstrate qualitative and quantitative changes over the period.
• Organize/support field-based reviews and learning events

Coordination and Networking:

• Participate in and contribute to relevant inter-agency efforts to agree and develop coordinated / joint M&E and accountability frameworks and mechanisms as relevant
• Delivering any other responsibility related to MEAL assigned by the line manager.

Other

• Required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women's rights
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles

Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Strong commitment to the aims and objectives of Oxfam, including to social justice and gender equality
• Bachelors degree in a relevant field from a recognised university.
• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience working in MEAL or an associated field
• Demonstrable experience of gathering, analysing and presenting quantitative and qualitative data
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic
• Proven ability to work effectively with others - including in a multicultural team – and strong interpersonal skills
• Detail-oriented, able to organise and manage various programme files
• Good organisational and coordination skills
• Proven knowledge of computerised systems; high degree of computer literacy, particularly with Microsoft Office (strong Excel skills essential)
• Ability to work under pressure, ability to prioritize and commitment to meet deadlines.
• Potential and flexibility of attitude to learn.

Desirable

• Experience with mobile data collection technology and software - Survey CTO or any of the ODK tools
• Experience working on the development, management and/or maintenance of databases
• Practical experience using participatory approaches in MEAL

Key Attributes

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible

Organisational Values

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions
• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen
• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences