Reference No:  REC/ 087 /21

Job title: Head of MEAL

Location:  Addis Ababa with frequent field travel

Reports to: Programs Director

Number of Posts 1 (One)

Closing date:    October 02, 2021

About GOAL

GOAL is an Irish international humanitarian organization founded in 1977 and currently operational in 13 countries^[1]; in both protracted crisis

and long-term development contexts. GOAL has four programmatic foci: people survive crisis; people have resilient health; people have food and nutrition security; and people have sustainable livelihoods.

Globally, GOAL’s systems approach guides our partnerships to create shared value and promote inclusive growth by linking communities, government, business, and civil society. These initiatives blend social and economic objectives, strengthening the bottom line whilst contributing to social, economic, and environmental outcomes for society. Partnering with the permanent players i.e., government, community & civil society and the private sector is key to improving the systems in which the people we work for live. GOAL works with corporate players to leverage; technology and skills, financial and business development service; and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to increase access to goods and services and economic opportunities for poor people.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ROLE

The purpose of this position is to manage, coordinate, lead, strengthen, and provide strategic direction to GOAL Ethiopia Country Program’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Policies and Procedures, ensuring cross-learning among projects, creating systems for accountability to beneficiaries, donors and other stakeholders, and to build capacity of MEAL and accountability staff. The Head of MEAL will be responsible for supervision of MEAL activities, assessment and context analysis for new business development in emergency response and long-term program and assessments required for proposal development. S/he will be expected to work very closely with MEAL officers in field as well as Head Office levels.

The Head of MEAL works closely with GOAL program team in emergency, recovery and development programs and partner staff to develop high quality monitoring systems and tools which address indicators set out in project proposals. He/she will ensure that learning from projects is systematically captured and used throughout the country program. He/she will also take learning needs into account and develop and conduct capacity building for MEAL and program staff, with support of the Assistant Country Director for Program and Global MEAL technical adviser. The Head of MEAL is expected to have a high level of self-initiative and use critical thinking skills to identify and fill gaps in MEAL. He/she will also work closely with the Assistant Country Directors to ensure that the Ethiopia country program complies with GOAL global MEAL systems, standards and good practices.

The Head of MEAL is responsible for GOAL E program quality and improve the quality of GOAL Ethiopia’s programme approaches by strengthening institutional memory and lesson learning through a systematized approach to recording, documenting and internalizing experience with maximum participation of internal and external stakeholders.

Working with his team, he /she will ensure that the programme has evidence-based knowledge to inform the direction of the programme from assessment and regular programme monitoring documents and in collaboration with GOAL Global MEAL staff, lead the installation and operationalize Management information system (MIS) and other computer-based database systems in GOAL Ethiopia.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY/DUTIES:

Planning and MEAL Quality

• Lead on the development and oversee the rollout of an organizational MEAL system- MIS for emergency and development programme ensuring accountability to donors and beneficiaries
• Promote all aspects of MEAL to support the creation of an organizational culture which prioritizes quality programming
• Build strong relationships with colleagues and provide support as required to ensure MEAL system is understood and supported at Head office and field office level
• Work closely with the programme teams to ensure that MEAL becomes an integral element of project implementation leading to enhanced quality, accountability
• Provide technical assistance at head office and project offices to maintain the quality of project and programme planning.
• Provide technical assistance in areas of project identification, preparation, appraisal, monitoring and evaluation.
• Consolidate and document programme, project and work plans.
• Develop effective planning system and guideline mechanism for country and project offices
• Lead the development annual country plan of GOAL Ethiopia
• In collaboration with other programme staff, formulate phase-in and phase-out strategies and guiding procedures for GOAL Ethiopia 

Monitoring and evaluation

• Coordinate the development of GOAL Ethiopia Monitoring and Evaluation strategy, toolkit, and guidebook.
• In collaboration with respective coordinators, formulate monitoring and evaluation plan of programmes and field offices
• Assist partner organizations in formulating monitoring and evaluation plan
• In collaboration with immediate supervisor, Programme coordinators/Advisors and other relevant staff, formulate and update formats for reporting purposes. Provide technical assistance in the preparation of quarterly, half year and annual reports both at country office, project offices and partners
• Provide technical assistance to project offices and partners monitoring and evaluation planning and activities
• In coordination with respective technical persons, identify and document cases (success and failure stories) for learning, scale-up and proposal development
• Assist and oversee establishment and strengthening of sector-based database and functioning at country and project offices and sharing
• Coordinate the process of all (internal and external) field surveys, mid-term and terminal evaluation at project offices. It also includes providing required technical assistance in undertaking operational research at project office and in partner organizations
• Facilitate bi-annual organizational review and reflection process in addition to supporting technical assistance to project offices in conducting regular review and reflection process
• Assist programme coordinators in planning, monitoring and evaluation plan and exercise

Internal Reporting

• Responsible to ensure that the organization delivers on all internal M&E requirements in emergency and development programmes in a timely manner and with high quality information, including reporting on GOAL global indicators and monthly/quarterly reports, total direct and indirect reach data.
• Identifies and introduces new elements (systems, tools, processes) required under the MEAL system and project manages development by MEAL team members
• Receive regular field monitoring and accountability reports, analyze and circulate to the country office teams, ensuring that action plans are included and followed up and that SMT reviews reports regularly

External Reporting and Representation

• Ensures external accountability to donors through the implementation of timely and quality MEAL activities leading to timely and accurate reporting
• Ensure that high quality analysis reports to illustrate GE’s impact and assessment findings are  produced, including  evidence  of  good  practice  and  replicable programme, and that they are communicated at appropriate events.
• Ensure that GOAL Ethiopia is represented at relevant inter-NGO and government level meetings at the field level (related to MEAL) to enhance inter-agencies best practices sharing and learning

Compliance Issues

• Familiarize self and understand to GOAL Donor Compliance issues, specifically to the terms and conditions of the Donor the programme is working on and comply with same in area of responsibility. 
• While conducting trainings, make sure the training report and the signed attendees list is formally addressed to Compliance and Internal Audit (CIA) for a central donor file.
• Participate in the grant management meetings and cover part of the meeting in the respective areas
• Make sure M and E reports for all grants are formally addressed to the CIA Unit

Mainstreaming Issues:

• Familiarize self, understand and implement, according to area of responsibility, GOAL’s polices and procedures on mainstreaming of Gender, HIV/AIDS and Child Protection.
• Work jointly with sectoral coordinators/advisors to ensure effective mainstreaming and well representation of the sectors in the project cycle management and ensure M & E indicators are developed in the same manner.
• Work on increasing the sensitivity and awareness of staff towards Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Gender, HIV/AIDS and Child Protection issues.
• Be a role model and provide feedback to encourage others in supporting equity and diversity principals, and the accommodation of others differences in the workplace

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development

• Head up the MEAL team in GOAL Ethiopia, forming a solid team identity within the organization and creating cohesion between team members working in different geographic areas.
• Oversee the recruitment of appropriate MEAL staffing in head office and field offices
• Manage the MEAL team to ensure that the MEAL system operates effectively within the support and resources required and that there are clear links and reporting lines between field and CO level and between MEAL and other departments.
• Define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed so that MEAL staff are able to perform their roles as required
• Manage the performance of direct reports in the MEAL unit through performance management, coaching, mentoring, training and development.
• At the organizational level, devise and manage a MEAL training programme with the goal of increasing capacity and awareness of MEAL for all staff. Assess training needs and engage MEAL team staff to rollout the training programme.
• Ensure that GOAL Ethiopia’s work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and government, and support and take part Interagency Coordination forums,

Promoting Learning for Strategy Development and Decision Making

• Ensure that data brought together and findings from across thematic and operational regions to form a coherent basis for analysis of impact which promotes learning and strategy development for the whole organization.
• Lead  on  monitoring  and  improving  the  synergy  and  integration  of  thematic programmes to enhance delivery of outstanding results for target communities.
• Communicate top level learning / analysis reports and monitoring data to ensure that management is able to make informed decisions on a timely basis to scale up and face operational challenges External Reporting and Representation.
• Conduct any other task assigned by his/her supervisor.

COMMITMENTS:

GOAL’s recruitment procedure is fair and transparent which is also in line with the organization’s commitment to its integrity, honesty and culture. GOAL is committed to ensure that, its performance complies with the terms and conditions of relevant agreements, applicable laws & regulations. Hence, pre-employment background checks will be conducted, and employees are required to read, understand, sign and implement different polices including safe guarding and child protection policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and abuse policy, sexual harassment policy, code of conducts and any other policy, rules and regulation of the organization. 

Job Requirements

JOIN US

Do you want to join an exciting organization that brings high level impact to the community and add value to your professional advancement? Then join us if you have:

• MA/MSc with in Monitoring and Evaluation, rural development, development studies, economics, public health comprehensive knowledge of integrated rural development programme, and humanitarian response programme and other related programs.
• A minimum of Seven years of experience in the same/similar role
• Good understanding of information for action concept
• Multi task management orientation; Self-directed and detail oriented
• Good communication skills
• Participatory leadership skills
• Planning, time management and presentation skills
• Written and oral proficiency in English
• Computer proficiency in Basic Microsoft and data analysis packages; Team work; Committed to work in non-traditional office hours; Ability to perform under short deadline and multiple competing needs; Concept paper /proposal development to a very high standard, operational planning, budget planning and management.

Desirable qualities, skills and competences:

• Advanced degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, rural development, development studies, economics, public health or other relevant fields.
• Health and/or food security related data management experience is a plus; Skills in organizing and facilitating training events; Expertise in one or more of the following program areas: food security, community-based nutrition, water/sanitation, non-formal /alternative basic education. Familiarity to GOAL geographical area of interventions and knowledge of local language (Oromifa, , etc.)

Note: This description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with the position.

REMUNERATION and BENEFITS:

• GOAL will pay a competitive basic salary based on the salary grading with addition benefits.
• A chance to develop tangible experience.
• Being part of a team who continue to make a real difference to the lives of the most vulnerable people.  

How to Apply

APPLICATION PROCEEDURE:

Interested and qualified applicants need to submit ONLY once their non - returnable application with CV for one vacancy. The vacancy reference number along with the title & Duty station need to be written in the application letter and/or subject of the email. Applicants can apply using the following option.

• Applicants can directly apply online using CLICK HERE or goaljobs@et.goal.ie

GOAL strongly encourages female candidates to apply!

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview and exam. Shortlisted candidates will need to submit other supporting documents upon request at later stage. GOAL is not able to contribute towards any costs incurred by candidates during the recruitment process.