JOB ADVERT RE-LAUNCH

MEAL MANAGER

ABOUT US

Action Against Hunger is operating in Liberia since 1990 following the first Civil War, and has become one of the main humanitarian and development actors in the country focusing on the links between nutrition, health, mental health, psychosocial support and protection (MHPSS P). Other areas of intervention include food security and livelihoods (FSL), water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and advocacy to address the underlying and root causes of nutrition insecurity. Action Against Hunger has been created in 1979 and is one of the major actors in fighting hunger operating in around 50 countries around the world. Action Against Hunger works in Liberia have evolved significantly over the years from classic humanitarian to post crisis response during the civil wars period (1990-2003), and then progressively moving to a development approach based on ensuring the provision of nutrition services within the health system; promoting and implementing FSL and WASH interventions; and developing strong partnerships such as those within the Liberia INGO Forum (LINGO), Liberia WASH Consortium (LWC), local civil society and national NGOs as well as the Government of Liberia. Action Against Hunger has also developed a strong acceptance within the communities in the areas of interventions. Throughout the in-country presence period, Action Against Hunger continued to respond to emergency needs, such as the Ivory Coast Refugee crisis in 2012 as well as the 2014-16 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic and Covid-19 in 2020-22. The country office has implemented localization strategy and currently works with several national partners. Action Against Hunger currently works in in eight counties (out of the total 15 nationally), with main beneficiaries being children under 5 years, pregnant and lactating women and adolescents. Action Against Hunger has operational offices in Montserrado (Monrovia) and Nimba (Sanniquellie) counties and nearly 50 staff members in Liberia.

1. Summary of position

Action Against Hunger is seeking to recruit an experienced MEAL Manager, that will lead the process of developing, updating, and monitoring the mission’s MEAL strategy through regular MEAL system diagnostics. He/she will support the MEAL staff in the implementation of the mission’s MEAL strategies and to ensure that the MEAL systems developed at the operational level follow the lines defined in the mission’s MEAL strategy

1. Key job roles

Mission 1: Establish and operationalize Mission MEAL system for the programs implementation, including the right tools for reporting, tracking beneficiaries and knowledge management

Some of the core responsibilities of the MEAL Manager will be:

∙ Provide technical support to the MEAL team in the development of project MEAL plans and ensure that MEAL activities are implemented as defined in these plans. ∙ Ensure the Mission projects have specific MEAL framework, developed to guide project start-up, implementation, adjustment, accountability and learning in

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compliance with Action Against Hunger MEAL Guidelines and Minimum Requirements for MEAL.

∙ Train and build the capacity of program team on the required monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning, with emphasize on the MEAL tools, information management and use.

∙ Work with the data managers based at the Government Line Ministries according to our field of expertise (WASH, Health and Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihood, Mental Health Psychosocial and Protection, Advocacy and Communication) on the project information management (health facilities data collection, quality, consistency and timeliness), the monthly reporting and contribute to strengthening the county health information management system

∙ Organize and carry regular program MEAL reviews of the project progress against the targets, communicate to the program team of any deviation of the targets, provide clarity on how such need to be improved. At least there shall be quarterly programing meeting to assess the program progress.

∙ Ensure harmonized application of tools, methods, and informed consent procedures across all the projects and counties that are consistent with the MOH data management, as well as consistency with ACF MEAL guidelines.

∙ In collaboration with program coordinator, represent ACF externally in relevant forums and working groups at national level on issues related to project monitoring, evaluation and accountability (County health authorities coordination forums, HMIS meeting etc).

Mission 2: Ensure proper and timely implementation of MEAL activities, including program monitoring, reporting, and accountability mechanisms

Some of the core responsibilities of the MEAL Manager will be:

∙ Undertake regular field visits to support the implementation of MEAL and to identify milestones and challenges where adaptations might be needed. Health staff are supported on recording and transmitting information to the health districts on timely basis.

∙ Support the development of standardized methodologies and tools for community consultations on their preferences according to the operational context for the implementation of feedback and complaints response mechanisms (FCRM

∙ Provide technical support to MEAL program staff in organizing trainings for staff, partners and local structures (focal points, community feedback and complaints committees, distribution committees, targeting committees, community leaders, etc.) on accountability, quality and community engagement.

∙ Manage the FCRM’s country/global information database, compile monthly data from all projects, analyze it and produce a summary report of trends to be shared with the coordination and the program

∙ At field level, work with Program Coordinator, Program Managers, Program Officers, Field Coordinator, and technical managers to ensure MEAL findings are incorporated into both qualitative and quantitative Activity Progress Report (APR), lessons learned are documented.

∙ Provide the technical lead in the report writing process with respect to MEAL aspects and in the development of the MEAL section of project proposals.

Mission 3: Ensure quality and efficiency of data collected through the Mission’s MEAL Teams Some core responsibilities of the MEAL Manager will be:

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∙ Manage Kobo platforms for the mission; lead on roll-out of mobile data collection within the Mission, to include training, troubleshooting, and support for ODK/Kobo use in the field.

∙ Support survey process and quality review of data from surveys (KAP, SMART, SQEAC, NCA, PVCA, baseline – end line),

∙ Facilitate the analysis by producing visual summaries (maps, graphs) upon request of the coordination team

∙ Develop mission-level data flows, support the MEAL team and program managers in the development of these tools at the operational level, and monitor their application. ∙ Provide permanent support for the use of data management tools (collection, processing, analysis, visualization, etc.), make corrections and provide regular feedback to improve the utilization, especially the tools to be filled monthly by the MEAL team.

Mission 4: Document good practice from planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities

Some core responsibilities of the MEAL Manager will be:

∙ Provide technical support to the MEAL and program teams in the design of tools to collect and manage information generated by the learning initiatives, linked to the tools developed by Action Against Hunger.

∙ Facilitate and centralize documentation of lessons learned, best practices and case studies produced in the mission for internal and external sharing. Organize and coordinate mid-term reviews, learning workshops, review of program work plans with Nutrition and Health, WASH and FSL, MHPSS-P teams at Mission and field level involving other stakeholders.

∙ Ensure that lessons learned and recommendations in planning, monitoring, evaluation and accountability are documented, shared and considered / addressed in the design of new projects and technical plans and discussed during periodic reviews workshop and ultimately fed into current work and future program development.

∙ Advise on the inclusion of MEAL resources and activities in new project proposals ∙ Support the quality, timeliness and dissemination of MEAL outputs internally and externally.

∙ Provide quarterly feedback to senior management team on standard indicators for NUT-Health, WASH, MHPSS-P and FSL while comparing information over time and between sectors.

Mission 5: Ensure all the MEAL reports are of quality and timely submitted Some core responsibilities of the MEAL Manager will be:

∙ Ensure the Monthly activity progress reports are submitted on time and complete ∙ Participate and contribute to the Weekly/monthly mission SITREP/updates ∙ Participate in donor reporting and proposal development

∙ Compile and report the Annual Beneficiary count and progress report ∙ Lead or participate the Ad-hoc reports (assessments and surveys)

Mission 5: Gender mainstreaming

Some core responsibilities of the MEAL Manager will be:

∙ Attend one (1) Gender Analysis for Strategic Programming (GASP) training

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∙ Ensure all project data is disaggregated by sex and age

∙ Contribute to generating gender statistics on targeted beneficiaries

III Supervisory Responsibilities

∙ MEAL Officer

IV Qualifications & Experience

∙ Bachelor of Arts or Science/Bac (or higher) in International Relations/Affairs, Humanitarian Affairs, International Development, Public Health, Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Epidemiology, Demography or related field

∙ Minimum 5 years relevant work experience in a similar role, with minimum 2 year humanitarian experience.

∙ Good quantitative analysis skills (experience with statistical software, especially SPSS, EPI Info, ENA for SMART, and/or Stata)

∙ Proficiency with Open Data Kit (ODK), Kobo Toolbox and/or other mobile data collection tools (Commcare, DataWinners, ONA)

∙ Proficiency in the use of geographic information processing software is a major asset (e.g. QGIS, ArcGIS, etc.).

V REQUIRED COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

∙ Solid knowledge of the Logical Framework approach

∙ Proven management and coordination skills (HR, projects)

∙ MEAL or operational background related to at least 2 of the following sectors: Nutrition, Health, WASH, Food Security, Resilience, and livelihood programmes ∙ Excellent communication, writing and analytical skills

∙ Diplomacy and good interpersonal skills, with the ability to remain calm under pressure and not lose sight of strategic priorities.

∙ Willingness and ability to travel to program areas

HOW TO APPLY:

Send your motivation letter, CV with names of three (3) professional referees by email with the position title: MEAL Manager 002 clearly stated in the subject line to:

recruitment@lr-actionagainsthunger.orgno later than 5:30pm, October 21, 2022. You must state the

Action Against Hunger is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all competent persons, irrespective of gender, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply and become part of the organization. Action Against Hunger has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of Action Against Hunger, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.