Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Manager, Sudan (Based in Nairobi)

About ACTED

Since 1993, as an international non-governmental organization, ACTED has been committed to immediate

humanitarian relief to support those in urgent need and protect people’s dignity, while co-creating longer term opportunities for sustainable growth and fulfilling people’s potential. ACTED endeavours to respond to humanitarian crises and build resilience; promote inclusive and sustainable growth; co-construct effective governance and support the building of civil society worldwide by investing in people and their potential. We go the last mile: ACTED’s mission is to save lives and support people in meeting their needs in hard-to-reach areas. With a team of 7000 staff, ACTED is active in 42 countries and implements more than 550 projects a year reaching over 20 million beneficiaries. More on www.acted.org

Context of the position and key challenges

Under the management of the Country Coordinator, the MEAL Manager oversees the research activities and staff within the purview of the project under the Cash Consortium of Sudan (CCS). The MEAL Manager shall oversee and execute all research activities within the above-mentioned project, meeting quarterly deliverables in a timely fashion while ensuring that the quality of research remains high. S/he will moreover liaise extensively with counterparts from the CCS members and implementing Partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

The MEAL Manager responsibilities includethe following:

1. STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION

• With specific attention to the CSS MEAL Project’s, and while supervised by the CC, the MEAL Manager is to ensure that REACH has an up to date understanding of the country’s socio-economic situation, the impact of a crisis and the aid/humanitarian situation, as well as the humanitarian planning, coordination, response mechanism developments, and key humanitarian stakeholders.
• For the MEAL Project, develop and oversee the implementation of the project’s strategy. Specifically, during the inception period, in conjunction with the CC, set out the project’s overall strategy, develop concomitant workplans for each staff member, and put in place the requisite structures for the staff members such that each individual has clarity as to how to work towards the common goal of completing deliverables in a timely manner and at a high standard, and ultimately supplying impact to the CSS and Implementing Partners at the outcome level.

1. RESEARCH PLANNING:

• For the MEALProject, ensure that all the research is planned in line with the relevant projectand programme objectives, as well as the Project and Country Strategy. This is to include:
  • Ensure that all research complies with IMAPCT’s HQ Research Department guidelines and standards.
  • Ensure that all necessary Secondary Data Reviews are conducted and integrated intothe research.
  • Ensure that research ToRs are validated by HQ priorto the commencement of data collection.
  • Ensure that research ToRs are understood by the team and updatedaccordingly.
  • Keep track of progress and delays of all assigned assessments throughout theresearch cycle.
  • Where necessary, proactively support the team by conducting research (research design. ToRs, tool building, data management, data analysis, product drafting).
  • While supported by the CC, conduct dissemination and stakeholder meetings with CCS members.

1. RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION

• Ensure that all collected data is stored in line with IMPACT’s Data Management Guidelines, as well as with the data management plan.
• Ensure that data is revised and cleaned, with all revisions recorded as per IMPACT data management guidelines.
• Oversee all the analyses of the collected data, as stipulated in the Research ToRs.
• Ensure that data and its analysis do not contain personal information and are validated by IMPACT HQ, before sharing to external parties.
• Supervise and where necessary support the team with the analysis and drafting of the information products.
• Review all products before they are sent to the CC or IMPACT HQ for validation.
• Ensure that all written products are validated by IMPACT HQ before release to CCS members.

1. TEAM MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

• Ensure that all staff members understand and are able to perform their roles and responsibilities, as well as their reporting and validation duties to HQ.
• Ensure that all staff members have clear and regularly updated ToRs, Workplans, and Key performance Indicators (KPIs) against which their performance will be appraised.
• Promote team building, productivity, and staff welfare.
• Mentor and support the team to build capacities, improve efficiency and performance.
• Promote the growth and development of staff within the organisation, actively linking with HQ to provide feedback and support retention and internal mobility. Identify capacity building opportunities for growth, proactively provide high-performing staff with opportunities to surge (a short-term deployment to another mission) and develop pathways for junior staff to grow and move into management or specialist positions.
• Ensure communication and linkages with HQ are made immediately in case of the occurrence of an HR-related problem.

4.INTERNAL COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION

• Ensure regular reporting to the CC.

1. INFLUENCING – EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

• With the support from the CC, on a regular basis, engage with CCS members and the Implementing Partners to share findings and hold analysis and lessons learned workshops.
• Under the supervision of the CC, and where necessary, engage with the humanitarian response beyond the remit of the MEAL Project.
• In conjunction with CCS members, support the CC in the dissemination of selected research with key stakeholders and coordination forums.

Required qualifications and technical expertise

• Academic Excellent academic qualifications, including a master’s degree in a relevant discipline (International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Research, Economics, Development Studies, or similar)
• Management experience Previous experience in a management role in an INGO at field level. Proven track record in successful management of international and national teams in humanitarian contexts
• Familiarity aid system Familiarity with the aid system, and the research community.
• Communication/reporting skills Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting, including proven experience in contributing to high level presentations/briefings.
• Years of work experience At least 3 years of relevant working experience
• Research skills: Excellent research and analytical skills an asset. Experience in assessments. M&E, field research, evaluations is an asset.
• Software skills: Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with R, SPSS and/or STATA or other statistical analysis software an asset.
• Multi-tasking skills Ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles in complex environment.
• Level of independence A self-starter with a proven ability to work independently.
• Cross-cultural work environment Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility.
• Experience in geographical region Past experience in the [relevant] region is desirable.
• Language skills English required. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
• Security environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment.