Project MEAL Coordinator

Objective:

Provide technical backstopping to project partners for setting up MEAL system at project and ensure compliance to standards committed to the 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 MEAL Coordinator for its project ‘Towards Greater Effectiveness and Timeliness in Humanitarian Emergency Response (Localisation Programme)’. The position will report to Sector Advisor MEAL and will work closely with Country Programme Coordinator and Consortium MEAL Advisor. 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 Local Humanitarian Partners (LHPs) in strengthening their MEAL system based on the commitments with the donor and with technical support from WHH Pakistan Sector Advisor MEAL. The position holder requires an in-depth understanding and demonstrated experiences in dealing with the local organizations, setting up MEAL systems and associated MEAL requirements along with excellent analytical and writing skills. The position will ensure that learning from the programme is systematically captured and used throughout the country program.

Responsibilities:

1. Project MEAL Coordinator will closely work with Project Coordinator and Consortium MEAL Advisor to support LHPs in design and operationalization of Results Based MEAL system for quality and effective program delivery as per Donor guidelines and commitments
2. Give organisational and conceptual support and guidance to LHPs on how to introduce and implement MEAL standards through-out project cycle in conjunction with Core Humanitarian Standards
3. Coordinate capacity strengthening of LHPs based on their already developed Capacity Strengthening Plans (CSPs).
4. Accountability: follow-up on LHPs Feedback and Complain Response Mechanism (FCRM) functionality, outreach (inclusive), and effectiveness (safe and accessible) during field visits
5. Regularly make quality checks on data coming from LHPs, provide feedback and upload progress on WHH Global MIS (ProMIS) and program-based data management platforms.

6.      Act as a communication focal person for the ToGETHER programme from WHH Pakistan.

7.    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.

1. 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. 
2. Report all security relevant issues and information to the Security Manager and the management
3. Other tasks as specified by her/his supervisor.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Details)

1. Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Develop and implement high quality monitoring and evaluation systems which assess and reflect the projects’ achievement
• Manage MEAL plan, review program MEAL and project progress reports of LHPs and consolidate them; develop and apply the appropriate reporting system that keeps all relevant stakeholders informed on progress and outcomes
• Develop a plan for capacity strengthening on MEAL for LHPs based on their individual capacity strengthening plans (CSPs); organize and undertake training for project and implementing partner staff, local organisations, and primary stakeholders,
• Assist Sector Advisor MEAL in project evaluations; develop TORs, follow up and facilitate necessary planning and administrative support to external evaluations
• Support revise project planning documents, particularly about the intervention logic and indicators
• Conceptualize and operationalize a MEAL system for the LHPs based on internationally recognized standards
• Develop the capabilities of LHPs in the areas of collection and analysis of data (method, formats, software, etc.), indicator measurement, feedback and complaint mechanisms, negative impact analysis, etc.
• Provide technical and methodological support to the LHPs for the implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities, data management (development of questionnaires for surveys, sampling, input method, extraction of useful data and interpretation) and integration of cross-functional issues.
• Support Local Humanitarian Partners (LHPs) teams through the creation or adaptation of tools to: monitor indicators on the project and the impact of activities (through both a monitoring and evaluation plan, and the ensuing surveys/tools) or analyse risk factors.
• Initiate in-country Peer Review Mechanism and support South-South exchange
• Initiate and organize peer-mid-term evaluation and endline evaluation

1. Accountability

• Improve understanding of LHPs on CHS particularly on importance of information sharing with communities (CHS 4) and consultations with communities for setting up of FCRM (CHS 5)
• Assist LHPs to designs or strengthen and implement FCRM within their organizations.
• Ensures that LHPs has a system in place to officially document FCRM in an official database, processed and that people receive an appropriate, timely response.

1. Learning, Knowledge Management and Reporting

• Facilitate learning process, document, and prioritize the findings in an adequate form and share with relevant stakeholders
• Support the publication on the results of the initiative (learning and /or advocacy tool), Progress reports, and case studies
• Facilitate knowledge management of the LHPs, including exchange and review of experiences, lessons-learned and best practices
• Initiate and organize publication about lessons learned (incl. suggestions for the way forward and a capacity mapping of participating local actors)
• Coordinate and facilitate LHPs on communication material and act as a country communication focal person for the programme.

4.       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: 

• University degree in a speciality relevant to the humanitarian and development sector. At least 5-7 years of experience in humanitarian- and/or development work of which 4-5 years of proven experience in MEAL
• Previous experience in localization and/or capacity building projects with NGOs or INGOs.
• Proven skills in MS-Word, Excel, KOBO Toolbox, database management
• Fluent in English, Urdu both written and verbal. Local language(s) is an asset
• Ability to contribute to report writing, document development, strong coaching, mentoring and facilitation skills
• Ability to work independently to a high standard and able to travel
• Full competence of tools for collection, data management and statistical analysis
• Graduate/master’s degree, preferably in social sciences (Development Studies, Sociology, social work, or Economics etc.)
• Minimum 4 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 

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