MEAL Officer-Damascus- National

JOB TITLE: MEAL Officer- National- Damascus
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Program Development and Quality (PDQ)LOCATION: Damascus Syria

GRADE: 5
Type of Contract: Fixed term 1 year

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting the country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

TEAM PURPOSE:

The Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) department plays a central role in ensuring the Syria Country Offices (SCO) programming and operations are evidence-based and focused on quality programming. The department is accountable for tracking the progress of SCOs projects against their outcome and output targets and meeting donor commitments conducting evaluations of projects to determine their success and impact against key areas integrating learning into all aspects of the project cycle to ensure adaptive programming and a culture a continuous learning and improvement and ensuring accountability to affected communities through information sharing feedback and reporting mechanisms and that the voices of those we serve are incorporated into our programs and decision making processes.

Within the department are 4 sub-teams: MEAL Information Management Accountability and Research. The MEAL team is responsible for tasks associated with the implementation of programs including key parts of the data lifecycle (collection storage analysis usage archiving and destruction) regular internal and donor reporting managing relationships with partners including through capacity building and engaging directly with beneficiaries for information sharing and accountability activities.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The MEAL Officer is the main frontline staff for MEAL activities in the Field Office (FO) acting as Focal Point for a number of projects within the wider office portfolio and the primary point of contact for Implementing Partners. They are responsible for ensuring the successful completion of all MEAL activities for these projects according to the agreed MEAL Plans and maintaining SCIs high quality standards through continuous professional and collaborative support to partner MEAL staff. They are also responsible for supervising a team of Incentive Workers who conduct regular field visits and monitoring activities across implementation sites.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Field Office MEAL Coordinator

Staff directly reporting to this post: N/A

Staff indirectly reporting to this post: N/A

Budget responsibilities: No

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

and Evaluation
Support the FO MEAL Coordinator in the development of quality project MEAL Frameworks including MEAL Plans Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRS) IPTTs and data collection tools.
Responsible for ensuring the implementation by Partners of MEAL Frameworks for a number of projects within the wider portfolio confirming that Partners are adhering to the SCO MEAL Framework and SCI standards and procedures related to quality MEAL in collaboration with the FO MEAL Coordinator.
Train partners on the correct use of tools trackers and templates as well as SCI policies and quality standards.
Support partners in effectively implementing MEAL activities during projects (including baselines midlines endlines PDMs etc) in line with their MEAL Plans.
Ensure the timely submission of data according to MEAL Plans and project implementation schedules and in compliance with agreed clauses in Partnership Agreements.
Reviewing data submissions from partners and ensuring quality completeness accuracy validity and consistency prior to data entry.
Conduct regular field visits to implementation sites and other partner and SCO locations to monitor project activities and quality standards.
Supervise a team of Incentive Workers who conduct data collection monitoring evaluation and accountability activities for SCO in the field.
Provide timely accurate verified and high quality inputs into relevant internal and external reports including donor report.
Support the FO MEAL Coordinator and other staff in regular analysis of project data.

Evidence and Learning
Support the Research Evidence and Learning (REL) Coordinator in implementing research evaluations and assessments.
Support the REL Coordinator in running regular project and non-project based learning events for Save the Children and partner teams.
Promote a culture of learning and adaptation through documented evidence generation within the Field Office and across all departments.
Support consistent and systematic integration of MEAL into programs including helping to identify gaps in implementation and facilitating identification of solutions to enhance quality implementation.

Support the FO MEAL Coordinator in assessing partner capacity in MEAL including during the Partnership Assessment Tool (PAT) process and on an ad hoc basis.
Support the FO MEAL Coordinator in developing and implementing capacity building plans for partner MEAL staff.
Engage in professional collaborative and supportive partner relationship management acting as an equal member of all partnerships.
Provide ongoing and high quality technical guidance and support to partner MEAL staff ensuring that Save the Children is a value add in partnership relationships.

Management
Maintain proper and systematic storage and filing systems and comply with internal procedures.
Support IM teams to review data processing procedures in order to maximise their quality and effectiveness.
Support the IM team and WoS IM Manager in promoting innovative digital solutions for FO project implementation including Technology for Development (T4D) initiatives.
Support the Data Protection Committee and FO Data Protection Focal Point in implementing the annual Data Protection Workplan and ensure compliance with Save the Childrens policies and procedures when completing MEAL activities.
Support the IM team and WoS IM Manager in capacity building for implementing partners on IM topics and promote data quality and data protection as key concepts and activities when interacting with implementing partners.

Ensure that accountability and participation are integral elements of all aspects of the organizations approach to MEAL in the FO.
Ensure the full and meaningful integration of accountability data including from the FRM into FO level project implementation processes and decision-making.
Support the Accountability team and Accountability Coordinator in capacity building for implementing partners on accountability topics and promote accountability and participation as key concepts and activities when interacting with implementing partners.

Contribute towards the integration of MEAL within SCI as a core component of the programs and operations teams.
Contribute to safe and ethical MEAL and SCI activities ensuring compliance with policies on child safeguarding PSEA anti-harassment and bullying health and safety security equal opportunities and non-discrimination.
Contribute to age gender and disability sensitivity and child-focused programme implementation promoting these methodologies across MEAL and SCI activities.
Contribute to an approach of applied learning and adaptation based on evidence across MEAL and SCI activities.
Contribute to people centred MEAL and SCI activities that ensure that we respond to the needs of affected populations maintain contextual relevance act in an ethical manner and Do No Harm.
Contribute to accountable and participatory MEAL and SCI activities ensuring that accountability and participation are integral elements of all aspects of SCIs approach to MEAL in SRO.
Contribute to data protection and security by design as a core approach to MEAL IM and SCI activities ensuring that key international and local legislation SCI policies and industry best-practices are followed.
Any other tasks as requested or approved by your Line Manager.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal (excluding direct team and manager)
Operations (including Awards and Partnerships)
Safety and Security
Risk and Compliance
External
Implementing Partners
Consultants
Local Authorities
SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:
Holds self accountable for making decisions managing resources efficiently achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
Ambition:
Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team) takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children engages and motivates others
Future orientated thinks strategically.
Collaboration:
Builds and maintains effective relationships with their team colleagues other members and external partners and supporters
Values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength
Approachable good listener easy to talk to
Creativity:
Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
Willing to take disciplined risks
Integrity:
Honest encourages openness and transparency
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Required
A bachelors degree in a relevant subject or an equivalent amount of work experience (at least 4 years);
Minimum of 2 years experience in MEAL;
Experience working with implementing partners;
Experience of training and capacity building with technical and non-technical audiences;
Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English;
Experience implementing MEAL frameworks for large-scale humanitarian and/or development programs;
Excellent communication and presentation skills;
Ability to write clear and effective reports;
Proficient in MS Office (Outlook Word PowerPoint Excel)
Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience tact and diplomacy;
Strong influencing skills and experience in leadership;
The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances;
Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular a good understanding of the Save the Children mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.

Desirable:
Experience of and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability;
Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts;
Kurdish language skills;
Experience managing remote MEAL systems in humanitarian settings.
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process which includes rigorous background checks reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Safeguarding our Staff:
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.