POSITION ADVERTISED: MONITORING, EVALUATION, ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEARNING (MEAL) SPECIALIST

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is a global humanitarian organization with a mission to work with people in poverty and distress to create just and positive change. ADRA Somalia belongs to the world wide network, comprised of more than 130 supporting and implementing country offices. ADRA Somalia is seeking to recruit MONITORING, EVALUATION, ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEARNING (MEAL) SPECIALIST to be based in Mogadishu with frequent travels to other parts of Somalia.

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

Program Quality Management Support:

• Provide strategic direction for the development and optimization of MEAL system that measures program-wide performance and achievements towards outcomes (using the Outcomes & Evidence Framework core indicators and other methods as appropriate) including roll-out of new MEAL-related initiatives
• Establish a coherent MEAL system (approaches, procedures, structures) encompassing both programs implemented by ADRA Somalia and with consortium partners
• Provide technical assistance and quality assurance to Program/Project Manager and officers in their support of sector programs in project and program monitoring initiatives (including but not limited to the design of M&E plans, data collection tools, data management and analysis), to ensure programs are properly supported by the MEAL Unit
• Develop and oversee implementation of robust context-appropriate systems for data collection, quality assurance, analysis and reporting on activity outputs/outcomes and program quality
• Participate in proposal development sessions to facilitate and develop Theories of Change, MEAL plans and Project Management Plans
• Set up Project Management Information Systems including digital data gathering and analytic software allowing real time data gathering and mapping to improve implementation of activities and technology-driven MEAL system and tools
• Support programme teams in preparing and managing internal assessments, external program evaluations, impact studies and case studies

· Compile ADRA Somalia’s Results Framework to monitor the progress of the country strategic plan implementation

· Assess the achievement of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and work with the Program team to design effective Quality Improvement (QI) strategies

· Provide staff support including on-the-job training/learning to strengthen technical capacity on MEAL priorities and quality standards

Accountability

• Establish/strengthen and supervise the implementation of accountability mechanisms including complaints and beneficiary feedback and response mechanisms during the project life cycle
• Ensure that program teams have planned and clear MEAL calendars, drawing links and efficiency gains between them
• Liaise with Program/Project Manager to organize review meetings with project stakeholders to highlight components for replicating good practices and strengthening synergies and complementarities between activities, partners and other interventions

Learning

• Develop formats and templates to aid documentation of learning from the MEAL system to support networking and advocacy processes
• Support project leadership to champion holistic approaches to collaboration, learning and adapting (CLA), including design and implementation of an action-oriented project research and learning agenda, routine analysis of available sector/sub-sector data sources, and application of lessons learned and best/promising practices in knowledge management
• Build an organizational knowledge base through research and partnerships

Qualification and Requirements

· A minimum of a bachelor’s degree (Master’s Degree preferred) in Statistics, Information Management, Social Science, or relevant field;

· At least seven (7) years experience of undertaking a MEAL related role in positions of greater responsibilities.;

· Certification or specific training in Statistics and/or Data Management highly preferred, but can be supplemented with practical experience of information management in an international NGO;

· Strong conceptual knowledge about theories of change, logic model, M&E systems design, performance measurement, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, data quality assurance, database management, data visualization and reporting as well as integration of gender and protection into MEAL;

· Proven competency in programme cycle management systems (PCMS) and in setting up and implementing multi-sectoral programme M&E systems, methodologies & tools for promoting organizational accountability towards stakeholders;

· High level proficiency in Windows Excel including ability to process and analyze data using at least one or more statistical packages (SPSS, Stata, Epi Info);

· Experience using mobile data collection platforms (ODK, Kobo, SurveyCTO);

· Ability to manage and prioritize high workload with a flexible approach to changing environments;

· Strong interpersonal, writing and presentation skills;

· Fluent in both spoken and written English;