MEAL Manager, Syria

Near East Foundation (NEF)

Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Manager, Syria

Reports to: Director, Syria

Location: Preferably Amman, Jordan; or Lebanon.

Travel: Travel: Up to 10%, limited to external meetings only, with no travel to Syria

The Near East Foundation (NEF) is seeking candidates for a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager for its Syria program to be based in Jordan, or Lebanon. NEF is a non-profit international development organization that has supported livelihoods recovery and community-based economic development in the Middle East, Africa, and Caucasus since 1915. NEF draws on local teams, experience, and partnerships in these regions to create community-led solutions to improve livelihoods and local governance among conflict and crisis-affected groups, while maintaining neutrality and ensuring inclusiveness in our approach. Working through a network of country offices and local partners, NEF currently has operations in ten countries: Armenia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Mali, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria. Our programs are organized around three pillars: Inclusive Economic Development, Climate-resilient Development, and Stabilization and Peacebuilding.

Position Description

The MEAL Manager is a member of the NEF Syria team, reporting to the Syria Director. The purpose of the MEAL Manager is to ensure all MEAL responsibilities are performed to the highest standards and according to donor and NEF guidelines. The post-holder also assumes communication and visibility responsibilities for the Syria operation.

Responsibilities

• Proposal Development and MEL Planning:

  • Participate in the development of project proposals, including designing log frames, indicators, and MEL plans.
  • Design and update the project’s log frame and MEAL plan in collaboration with relevant team members.

• MEAL System Implementation and Oversight:

  • Ensure an appropriate MEAL system is in place, functioning effectively, and periodically reviewed to adapt to changing program and operating contexts.
  • Manage and report on the implementation of the project’s MEAL plans, including regular progress tracking and reporting to the Director.
  • Coordinate closely with program team counterparts and ensure data is available in a timely and easily digestible format (e.g. dashboard creation) to facilitate data-informed and robust adaptive management processes

• Data Management and Analysis:

  • Operationalize NEF MEAL procedures and tools, including data collection, storage, analysis, and reporting (using KOBO, and other relevant tools).
  • Ensure the quality and accuracy of data collected and stored, performing data cleaning, entry, and statistical analysis using tools such as SPSS and Excel.
  • Analyze data against performance indicators and promptly inform when progress is ahead or behind targets.
  • Conduct qualitative and quantitative data analysis to provide comprehensive insights into project performance.
  • Facilitate various types of assessments, including impact, outcome, and process evaluations, in coordination with the HQ MEAL team.

• Data Quality Assurance:

  – Support the management of data entry and data quality control operations, which includes:
  a) Conducting ongoing MEAL databases or trackers analysis to identify data quality strengths and weaknesses.
  b) Support the development, implementation, and supervision of procedures to improve data quality and reporting.
  c) Assisting the Data Analystin conducting internal Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) to ensure the validity and reliability of data used to measure program impact.
  d) Collecting and verifying (when applicable) all supportive documentation to ensure consistency and accuracy in data management.

• Training and Capacity Building:

  • Train, support, and supervise M&E staff, volunteers, and field agents on data collection, surveys, and project monitoring.
  • Where relevant, conduct capacity-building training for partner organizations and team members, including institutional needs assessments and socio-economic assessments.

• Accountability and Feedback Mechanisms:

  • Ensure that accountability and feedback mechanisms are applied consistently across all projects, locations, and partners, emphasizing adherence to ethical and transparency standards, including managing feedback and complaint mechanisms.

• Learning and Documentation:

  • Contribute to the project’s learning activities by generating learning papers and beneficiary profiles to document and share key insights and lessons learned.
  • Develop and disseminate communication and visibility materials (e.g., project overviews, fact sheets).

• Evaluation and Reporting:

  • Facilitate mid-term, final, and other ad hoc evaluations in coordination with the HQ MEL team and regional office.
  • Contribute to and lead on projects’ narrative reporting requirements, ensuring quality, data accuracy, and analysis.
  • Review and finalize MEL reports (e.g., semiannual, endline) and provide feedback on project strategies to enhance performance and sustainability.

• Collaboration and Coordination:

  • Participate in monthly country coordination calls organized by HQ-based Program Officers.
  • Collaborate with the broader Syria team to ensure alignment on data collection, and MEAL system implementation.
  • Coordinate with the Regional MEAL Director for regional inputs, data, and initiatives.
  • Participate and contribute to donor meetings as required.

• Field Monitoring and Support:

  • Conduct regular field monitoring follow-up activities, including focus group discussions with NEF beneficiaries.
  • Support partner capacity assessments and build capacity where necessary.

• Additional Duties:

  • Prepare remotley field visits for NEF and external visitors, including photographers, journalists, or media if relevant.
  • Perform other duties as required and requested by the direct line manager or technical supervisor.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor of Arts, Science, Social Sciences, Economics, Agriculture, Food Security, monitoring & evaluation, demography, biostatistics, statistics, analytics or a related field;
• Minimum of 6 years of similar position and work experience in designing, establishing, and managing monitoring and evaluation systems, ensuring data quality, and managing data intensive, performance-based programs.
• Demonstrated written, presentation, communication and organizational skills;
• Experience using data management systems, including databases, data entry, extraction, and analysis
• Demonstrated experience and capacity in designing M&E tools and surveys, conducting data collection and data analysis;
• Proven experience managing staff (face-to-face and in a remote context) involved in M&E activities;
• Demonstrated ability to perform complex data analysis utilizing Microsoft Excel, Stata, and/or Business Intelligence tools;
• Previous experience in supporting experimental or quasi-experimental impact evaluation preferred;
• Demonstrated ability to prepare quality data visualizations and present data to a variety of audiences;
• Previous experience in drafting reports or contributing to reports;
• INGO experience required, and experience interacting with vulnerable populations in the field of inclusive economic development (including microfinance) preferably in Syria and Jordan;
• Fluency in English and Arabic required;
• Ability to live and work in Jordan without company sponsorship.

Position Criteria

• Strategic thinking, including identification of MEL system weaknesses and initiative to address problem(s);
• Excellent organizational skills, accuracy and attention to detail;
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines;
• Ability to operate both independently and collaboratively as required.