Deputy MEAL Coordinator (Research / M&E)

DEPARTMENT DETAILS

MEAL is a department responsible for:

Assessment – coordination and compilation of needs assessment exercises, management of enumerators rosters;

Research – coordination and facilitation for research studies;

Monitoring – providing assurance that targets have been achieved as reported by the relevant programmes. In this regard, conduct secondary verification (after the technical teams) on a sample basis;

Evaluation – internal/external review of impacts of projects and programmes;

Learning – supporting lessons learned exercises and use of learning;

Accountability – ensuring that beneficiaries and other stakeholders have a two-way information channel regarding Action Against Hunger’s activities in Pakistan through maintenance of a Feedback and Complaint Mechanism.

MEAL unit is also responsible for overall coordination of any AMELA[i] activities whether implemented by MEAL or the technical teams.

POSITION DETAILS

This position is the senior position within the MEAL department. S/he is responsible for supporting MEAL Coordinator in departmental oversight, direction and mainstreaming related activities at grass root level.

Objective 1

To support in developing the in-house strategies and systems to ensure research, assessment, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning across programmes

Tasks & responsibilities

·         Strategically develop the research program at the mission level, identifying gaps in evidence and designing studies accordingly;

·         Facilitate research studies and offer technical support to field research teams;

·         Support in updating and maintaining MEAL Strategy for Action Against Hunger Pakistan;

·         Coordinate with field managers/supervisors in developing action plan for MEAL development;

·         Offer technical support for field staff in surveys, monitoring, and accountability aspects

·         Support in instruments/tools development for tracking strategic level indicators;

·         Support in developing research and MEAL coordination mechanism for the entire country programme;

·         Facilitate in implementation of MEAL standard operating procedures in line with the strategy;

·         Design and lead research studies and surveys (assessments, beneficiary satisfaction surveys, etc) as and when required;

·         Coordinate and facilitate evaluations of projects

Objective 2

To facilitate and mainstream the process of data management from research studies, information storage, and reporting of all research and MEAL related activities across the country mission, and to support information management for other programs.

Tasks & responsibilities

·         Develop data plans for research studies, ensuring appropriate data checking and cleaning processes;

·         Develop system for data storage that maintains confidentiality of study participants and project beneficiaries;

·         Provide technical guidance to research study managers with regard to management and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data;

·         Provide technical guidance to MEAL managers in conducting lessons learnt exercises that they can be capitalized on for future programming;

·         Support in continuously compiling and improving mission technical documentation related to MEAL (reports, evaluations, meeting minutes, guidelines, case studies) and proactively disseminate learning to the field teams, coordination team, and HQ;

·         Coordinate with field research study and MEAL managers/supervisors and compile all the required and requested reports and adhoc updates on time including reports for donors;

·         Draft a documentation checklist and cross-verify completion of research-related and MEAL-related project documentation at field level;

·         Compile and manage information and data from various programs;

·         To offer particular support to the LANSA project in terms of MEAL through following up on the endline report and supporting the study manager in dissemination and study wrap-up.

Objective 3

To support in departmental oversight in terms of HR, logistics, and finance

Tasks & responsibilities

·         Support in the recruitment of departmental staff at capital and field level:

o    Support in updating staff JDs and ensure technical validation of Job Descriptions, in absence of MEAL co.

o    Support recruitment processes.

o    Support recruitment in the field in the absence of a MEAL Manager (for example for new or emergency interventions)

·         Support supervisors in timely, accurate, and complete technical performance appraisals of reporting managers that include objectives setting, feedback, and career development as per HR policy;

·         Facilitate and carry out relevant technical training for the research and MEAL staff as indicated by appraisal or directed by line manager;

·         Support research and MEAL procurements at capital level and facilitate field teams as and when required 

·         Provide oversight of budgets allocated specifically to research and MEAL.

Objective 4

To support in providing day-to-day oversight of all MEAL activities

Tasks & responsibilities

·         Support field MEAL managers/supervisors in inclusion of MEAL within project DIPs;

·         Support and provide technical guidance to field teams in completion of research and MEAL activities as per project plans;

·         Coordinate research and MEAL activities that are being completed by technical coordinators to ensure that they are in line with the overall research goals and/or MEAL strategy;

·         Facilitate consultants in field during internal and external evaluations.

·         Review routine research and MEAL monitoring/regular reports and provide feedback to MEAL field teams

·         Coordinate with field teams to get and compile research and MEAL monthly reports and sitreps

·         Update monthly movement tracker

·         Support field teams in mainstreaming accountability mechanism (FCM) with program, do project wise FCM analysis and reporting;

·         Support in proposal development.

Objective 5

To represent the department and the organization at national, regional, or international levels and promote Action Against Hunger’s technical viewpoints, guidelines and methods of work

Tasks & responsibilities

·         In absence of supervisor or as delegated by supervisor, represent Action Against Hunger at national/provincial/field-level and where appropriate, important international technical fora, working groups, workshops and strategic think tanks related to the department;

·         Any other task assigned by line supervisor.

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIP

Internal

·         Under the guidance of - MEAL Coordinator / Head of Programs; CD

·         In coordination with - Field Coordinators, Finance Co, Log Co, HR Co, Tech Cos, Grants Co;

·         With supervision of – research study and MEAL PMs and field MEAL staff

External

·       NGOs and INGOs particularly those with whom we have partnerships;

·       International standards bodies;

·       Government of Pakistan representatives including line departments, ministries and local officials.

REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Technical Monthly Report to be submitted on monthly basis.
• Activity Progress Reports to be submitted on monthly basis.
• Field visit reports
• Donor-related report inputs as per requirement
• Assessments (Rapid/General) and Surveys as per requirement
• Governmental Reports as per requirement
• Workplans and task lists submitted as requested;

[i] AMELA - Assessment, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Accountability