Job Description

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

ROLE PROFILE

TITLE: MEAL Officer

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Programme Implementation

LOCATION: Taunggyi, Shan State

Number of Position: 1

GRADE NAT 4

CONTRACT LENGTH: Fixed Term

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The MEAL Officer, with support from MEAL Country Office Team, under the direct supervision of Project Manager (Malaria) will lead MEAL functions in the malaria prevention and control project of implementing Townships, Shan State, funded by GFATM. She/he is the key frontline MEAL staff interfacing with communities by spending at least 25% of work time in the field with communities. She/he will work closely with the program field staff to support the performance and quality of the project. The MEAL Officer will also be instrumental in establishing a robust accountability mechanism with communities targeted by the project. Within each of her/his jurisdiction area the MEAL Officer will be investing nearly 75% of time for implementing the MEAL Plan, archiving and managing database with support from the MEAL Coordinator.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

The MEAL Officer will be the key frontline staff outreaching MEAL functions to communities. Hence, the scope of operation ranges from interfacing with communities and engaging in key project activities to conducting and coordinating quality and accountability functions with program field staff involving constant dialogue and communication with MEAL Coordinator. The MEAL Officer also functions as the repository of activity and output data and manages database at his/her area level for the project. Experience of the MEAL Officer on using MEAL tools provides key inputs for lessons to improve MEAL functions.

Reports to: Project Manager- GC7

Direct Reports from: MEAL Assistants (implementing townships, Shan)

Financial Approval: No financial approval

External Representation: Regular contact with project volunteers and beneficiaries

Travel: Frequent (over 6 days per month)

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :

Monitoring and Evaluation (30%)

• Work closely with program field staff and Project Manager to plan, coordinate and priorities for preparing quality data reports for both internal and external purpose.
• Ensure timely data entry in the project database and share report to project focals on a monthly, quarterly and bi-annual basis.
• Lead program staffs in data entry, data check and compilation of township and area malaria project teams.
• Collect data from source (usually field or communities) on a regular frequency (usually monthly and quarterly) for supporting data quality assurance.
• Consolidate timely collection of data for malaria project activities and against outputs indicators on monthly basis to meet agreed deadlines
• Support programme team in development and management of databases for occasional surveys, need assessment and program expansion.
• Ensure data collection forms/necessary materials are present at township.
• Responsible to ensure the health related data (hard and soft) are kept in confidential.
• Maintain database for total reach, both direct and indirect, at the work area level (usually township) and by disaggregating data by gender, age, ethnicity and disability.
• Conduct constant dialogue with program field staff for enhancing the effectiveness of MEAL tools and provide feedback to MEAL Coordinator.
• Follow up on MEAL Plan with respective responsible program staff to collect all data and information that is planned and maintain database which is communicated to the MEAL Coordinator.
• Monitor the status of child participation in the project using the Child Participation Indicator tool on a quarterly basis and provide data to MEAL Coordinator for analysis.
• Support collection of data and information for internal studies like operation research, internal baselines and end lines, which are assigned by the country level MEAL team and Health Program Team.
• Support training for Mobile Case-based Reporting of malaria volunteers and analysing reported data.
• Participate in mobile migrant mapping of project townships together with supervisor and other field staff.
• Contribute to Total Reach annual planning and reporting processes, consistent with SCI operational requirement
• Use process level quality benchmarks as reference to undertake field monitoring visits, focusing on programme quality aspects, discuss with relevant staff and share reports with relevant colleagues
• Assist to Project Manager in donor report preparation in coordination with central MEAL team under the guidance of program manager.

Quality Monitoring (10%)

• Develop plans for quality monitoring in coordination with the Project Manager, Project Coordinators and Project Officers to prioritize project activities for quality monitoring.
• Conduct quality monitoring using checklists developed by the MEAL team on a regular frequency by conducting field visits.
• Share findings from quality monitoring with relevant project staffs and facilitate the preparation of action plan to fill gaps from quality monitoring.
• Share action plan from quality monitoring with direct supervisor, Program Manager (CO) and MEAL team through the MEAL Coordinator.
• Conduct follow-up monitoring visits to support implementation of action plans.
• Make and manage database from quality monitoring for wider organisation wise sharing and access.
• Support MEAL Coordinator and programme staff for developing effective working coordination of MEAL field team with program field team by enhancing their understanding on quality monitoring usually through trainings and orientations.

Information Systems Managements (10%)

• Perform regular field visits to ensure the quality of data collected by programme staff and to verify the accuracy of reported data
• Work closely with program field staff and MEAL Coordinator to plan, coordinate and priorities for preparing quality data reports for both internal and external purpose.
• Support programme team to collect data from source (usually field or communities) on a regular frequencies outline in the MEAL Plan
• Conduct quality audits for reports and data submitted by partners on a bu monthly basis.
• Maintain database for total reach, both direct and indirect, at for the Child poverty project (usually township) and by disaggregating data by gender, age, ethnicity and disability.
• Update and manage MEAL tracking tools (Accountability Tracker; QB Action Tracker; Indicator Performance Tracking Tool dashboard (only review); Project Evaluation and Research Tracker, Evaluation and research decomposing tool) for the project
• Assist MEAL coordinator in donor report preparation in coordination with Project Manager - in particular preparation of Dashboards to accompany Quarterly and semin annual and annual reports.

Evaluations Baselines/Assessments, dissemination and learning (10%)

• Work closely with the program team and Project Manager to support internal and external program/project evaluations, baseline and end-line assessments and final evaluations.
• Support programme team in development and management of databases for occasional surveys, need assessment and program expansion.
• Support dissemination of baselines/assessments/evaluations and effectively track recommendations and lessons learned from monitoring processes including program review meetings, assessments, surveys and evaluations and ensure they are incorporated in project planning and future programming by leading on the dissemination of findings to the project teams in close coordination with all relevant colleagues.

Accountability (20%)

• Ensure that communities are well oriented and know about and how to use Feedback and Response Mechanism.
• Ensure that all program standard are exhibited in selected sites in the project area.
• Establish an effective functional system for feedback handling and response mechanisms at community level with the support from MEAL Coordinator.
• Guide MEAL assistants in conducting monthly/quarterly discussions with communities targeting different sub-groups to collect feedbacks for improving project service delivery.
• Assist in carrying out preliminary first inquiry report in case of serious nature of feedback filed by beneficiaries/communities and support for investigation and verification.
• Collect data for bi-annual response satisfaction survey under the supervision of MEAL Coordinator.

Learning (5%)

• Lead and facilitate ongoing data collection analysis that supports data driven learning process that effectiveness and efficiency in project delivery
• Set up a practical learning mechanism within and across all programs in the Region to ensure and promote the integration and use of learnings from all MEAL processes into project planning and future programming.
• Participate in project design and proposal discussions to ensure lessons learnt from other programs are taken into considerations and project indicators are developed in a way, which are adapted and suitable for the context.

Capacity building (10%)

• Support training for partners and project staff on MEAL and data collection tools reported data.
• Ensure common understanding of SCI MEAL framework within the project team.

Child Safeguarding Responsibilities (5%)

• Support the process of ensuring that child safeguarding and child protection mainstreaming are integrated into all M&E frameworks through measurable output and outcome indicators; and support the process of piloting and scaling up local level beneficiary complaints’ mechanisms in relation to staff conduct, with an emphasis on the Child Safeguarding Policy and measure to prevent sexual exploitation of women and children.
• Take all necessary and appropriate steps to precent fraud, bribery, and corruption within their areas of responsibility, report and respond to all incidents and concerns and comply with the Counter-Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy and Procedure, including where it benefits the organization (SCI).

Others

• Responsible to undertake the project related tasks assigned by line manager.
• Work as a positive team member and contribute to objectives of SCI.
• Other activities as required by the project time to time.
• The candidate must have the flexibility of responsibility according to the project’s need.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.
• Always acts in the best interests of children.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree in computer science/ Health OR equivalent experience in Social / Development Sciences/Economics/ Information Technology or other related subjects.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• At least 4 years experience in related field with relevant knowledge, skills and experience in data management related to DHIS2 System and HMIS system, Malaria Mobile Case Based Report (MCBR) Android Application, especially for Malaria
• Must have Excellent skills and experience in using Microsoft Access, Excel and other databases
• Previous working experience of health data management and data analysis in INGO/NGO.
• Experience and knowledge in MEAL concepts; leading/conducting baselines and evaluations; Considerable knowledge of developing/reviewing programme frameworks and log-frames, data collection and storage methodologies, methods of analysis and interpretation.
• Experience working with ODK or KoBo Collect and PowerBI.
• Willingness to travel to field offices and work in difficult environments according to travel requirements.
• English communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent personal organisational skills, including time management, and ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
• Able to self-manage time effectively and execute plans independently.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across the organization developing effective working relationships.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.
• Willingness and capability to comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to health and safety, security, equal opportunities and other relevant policies, including the Child Safeguarding Policy.

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff:

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

The Organization
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

· No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
· All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
· Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/jobs We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.