MEAL Specialist – Libya

Work Context

CESVI has been operating in Libya since 2011 as the first Italian NGO to take action, in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, through humanitarian projects in Cyrenaica and Tripolitania. Nowadays CESVI is one of best positioned NGOs in Libya, with a diverse donor portfolio, serving all vulnerable target populations and with presence across the whole country.

In detail, CESVI has been implementing programs supporting mixed migrants, IDPs and vulnerable host communities through service provision and support to CSO. This includes centre-based and outreach protection activities (including child protection and GBV), warehouse management, non-food distributions, awareness-raising activities, psychosocial support, referrals to external services, cash assistance and non-formal education, community development and social inclusion at local level.

Current projects:

-UNHCR: Protection and lifesaving assistance to refugees and asylum seekers (Tripoli)

-ECW: Education Cannot wait consortium providing education for children in Libya (Tripoli)

-UNICEF: Empowered: Enriching Children’s Live Through Education in Tripoli

-EU: PEERS III: Protection Enabling Environment and Resilience Services (Misrata, Zwara, Zliten)

-EU: Leaving No One Behind Strengthen the capacity of CSOs (South and East of Libya)

-AICS: Al Saha: Improving health services and psychosocial support for children in Libya (Sebha and Kufra)

EU: Youth-centred dialogue for promoting peace and justice in Libya (country-wide)

Job Description

The collaboration will start in February 2025.

The main duty station is Tunisia/Libya: 50% presence in the Libya following the Mission planning managed at field level.

The Meal Specialist works under the supervision of the Head of Programmes. The MEAL Specialist manages a team of national MEAL staff. The position directly line manages one MEAL Supervisor and one Information Management Supervisor, and oversees a team of a further 3 MEAL Officers, 1 Information Management Officers, 1 Information Management Focal point and 2 CFM & Accountability Officer.

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist will provide the technical leadership necessary to ensure that the CEVI Libya mission meets its monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning commitments. The MEAL Specialist will lead the CESVI Libya MEAL Unit, contributing to evidence-based programme design and continuous quality improvements based on data and learning. The Specialist will work with his/her team to put in place strong data management systems, reinforce accountability and promote a culture around learning. The Specialist will also play a key role in supporting CESVI research initiatives.

1) Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure all approved projects have the following by the start of the project: MEAL plan with defined indicators (based on the log frame), Project Monitoring Framework (PMF), data collection tools and databases.
• Work with the MEAL Supervisor to oversee the design of new tools/systems and maintain an overview of data management in CESVI.
• Provide technical assistance and quality assurance to MEAL Unit staff (including but not limited to the design of MEAL plans, data collection tools, monitoring work plans, data management and analysis) to ensure the MEAL Unit adequately supports programmes.
• Lead on, or participate in, needs assessment exercises, including the development of assessment protocols, data collection tools, data analysis and reporting
• Support with the development of proposal logframes to ensure indicators are SMART,appropriate, and in line with CESVI Libya mission’s activities.
• Provide inputs and analysis to monthly Programme Meetings to ensure projects stay on track with their achievements and make corrections/improvements based on the evidence generated.
• Facilitate dialogue and collaboration between MEAL and Programme Teams at field level, in collaboration with Project Managers/Specialists.
• Oversee the MEAL unit’s day-to-day activities to ensure deadlines are met on time and reports and outputs are of high quality and accuracy.

2) Accountability

• Ensure continued functioning, use of and improvements to the beneficiary feedback and response mechanism, and adherence to regional standards and expectations.
• Contribute to staff understanding and capacity building of accountability principles.
• Ensure continued compliance with accountability SoPs.
• Ensure all projects have a CFM system in place and in line with CESVI’s CFM policies, procedures, and standards.

3) Evaluation and Learning

• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure learning events are conducted for implemented projects to document learnings and best practices for future programmes. This can be at project-level or programme-level.
• Lead on proactive impact data gathering to analyse specific CESVI activities or components.
• Lead CESVI’s external evaluations, including support with TOR development, recruitment of consultant, and advise on evaluation methodology and tools
• Set up reflection practices around research and evaluation results.

4) Information Management

• Provides guidance, recommendations, and leadership to ensure that the MEAL systems are standardized and meet the programme’s data, evidence, and learning needs, including the sharing of information internally and externally, and help address shortfalls in MEAL and data management that affect programme implementation.
• Act as the CESVI Libya country programme focal point for organisation-wide or cross-sectoral MEAL-related data management, consolidation/aggregation or reporting requirements.
• Work with the IM team to identify more streamlined/efficient data management systems and propose rollout and training plans.

5) Staff Recruitment, Capacity Building and Mentoring

• Participate in all relevant MEAL recruitments, including drafting ToRs and vacancy notices, preparing job requests, preparing tests and interview questions and participating in interviews.
• Engage in staff management of his/her team including setting objectives, performance evaluations and performance/behaviour management.
• Support CESVI to recruit any MEAL or research consultants, including drafting ToRs and participating in the hiring process.
• Be responsible for developing and implementing an internal capacity-building strategy, including training and mentoring MEAL staff and promoting a culture of peer-learning.

6) Implementation of Safeguarding policies –Adult at risk/Child Safeguarding/PSEA

Ensuring Safeguarding measures are implemented within his/her area of responsibility

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS:

-Bachelor’s Degree in humanitarian assistance, social work, human rights, international law, social studies, economics, international development or another appropriate field; Postgraduate degree in relevant field is preferred.

-Minimum 5 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning, 2 of which with international development or humanitarian organizations.

-Minimum 2 years of experience in producing qualitative and quantitative learning pieces used to support decision-making and program learning.

-Demonstrated skills in designing integrated monitoring tools, qualitative and quantitative data collection tools, statistical analysis methods, and database management.

-Demonstrated experience in providing relevant technical and programmatic contributions to project design and proposals, building logframe, and indicators.

-Experience developing and delivering in-person and remote training on MEAL.

-Experience in leading or contributing to research and evaluation activities utilising multi-method and grounded approaches.

-Experience providing technical and managerial leadership to MEAL teams in the development and humanitarian settings (in-person and remotely).

-Demonstrated skills in writing reports, best practice, case studies, and lessons learned.

-Ability and willingness to work in remote and isolated locations with ever-changing security scenarios.

SKILLS:

-Knowledge of project cycle management and how M&E fits into this cycle.

-Demonstrated understanding of data protection and confidentiality as part of data collection and management practices and ability to respect and maintain confidentiality.

-Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, PowerPoint, and Power BI; qualitative analysis software like Nvivo; Kobo/ODK software.

-Fluency in English (written and spoken),

-Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to facilitate a collaborative environment among colleagues and stakeholders to promote effective coordination.

-Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

– Self-motivated, able to take the initiative, resilient, and able to work independently.

– Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, and meet deadlines.

Desirable requirements

– Experience in remote management and training, including providing remote support and coaching to staff in the MEAL team.

– Competency in using statistical software (i.e. SPSS, STATA).

– Knowledge of Arabic.

– Experience in monitoring systems relevant to protection interventions.

SALARY PACKAGE

• Contract duration: 12 months, renewable
• Salary: 2.800 – 3.100€ monthly/gross
• House allowance: €550
• Insurance coverage
• 1 round-trip flight