Meal Technical Advisor

Location: Lebanon

Contract - Full-Time

Closing date: Monday 10 June 2013

All jobs close at midnight UK time on the date specified

Save the Children is the world's leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children's lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfill their potential.

We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised 1.6 billion dollars last year to reach more children than ever before, through programmes in health, nutrition, education, protection and child rights, also in times of humanitarian crises.

There are 30 national Save the Children organisations around the world. By the end of 2012 all our international programmes will be delivered through a merged operation with 14 000 staff, managed through seven regional hubs and reporting to a relatively small, central office. We're changing to become more efficient, more aligned, a better partner, a stronger advocate, a magnet for world-class people and relevant for the 21st century.

Role:

Save the Children International is a 'dual mandate' organisation that seeks to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and create lasting change in children's lives. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) is a core function in all Save the Children International programmes globally, representing our commitment to accountability and transparency.

The MEAL Technical Adviser will provide leadership in ensuring quality and accountability standards are integrated into the regular MEAL of the Save the Children's Emergency Response in Lebanon. S/he will accomplish this through leading the development and implementation of an integrated MEAL framework for Save the Children in Lebanon, focusing on building the capacity of relevant programme staff, as well as promoting and fostering a culture of shared learning and accountability, and promoting innovation within the country programme. This includes the development and integration of accountability, learning and programme quality standards in programme assessments, design, monitoring, review and evaluation (ADM&E), as well as consistent documentation of learning and progress in this area. The role is for one year and based in Beirut. Key areas of accountability:

• Lead planning of needs assessments in coordination with other external sector agencies, ensuring assessment findings are documented and include an analysis of children's needs. Lead development of Save the Children programme baseline surveys where required
• Working with the Director of PDQ to support senior technical colleagues in their development of sector logframes, plans, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks and plans. Contribute to development of programme plan/strategy
• Lead development of M&E systems (such as output trackers) and their roll out. Support sector technical staff to carry out monitoring and evaluation of project activities as agreed in M&E frameworks and plans and to strengthen integration between sectors
• With support from senior technical colleagues, support fundraising, including contributing to proposal writing and review to ensure MEAL activities and costs are adequately covered. Develop standard guidance for incorporation of MEAL costs into proposals in specific responses
• Lead planning, implementation and follow-up of evaluations (real times, evaluations of humanitarian action etc.) Participate in evaluations were required.
• Set up systems to manage complex information generated by MEAL activities, such as complaints databases and qualitative outcome monitoring data systems. Conduct statistical and qualitative data analysis and present and disseminate information to inform programme management at all levels of management within a response. Seek solutions for more complex data management requirements by working with IT colleagues, leading development of databases etc.
• With the HR team, identify MEAL staffing needs for emergency programmes, and lead rapid recruitment, induction, performance management and training.
• With support from other programme staff, identify MEAL activities supply needs and coordinate with the logistics team to ensure materials arrive in good time
• Support sector technical leads to develop monitoring & evaluation plans and required tools to ensure programme quality. Capacity build technical field staff in carrying out the work
• Design and ensure implementation of accountability mechanisms at field level, such as complaints response mechanisms - working on community assessment, design, implementation, review etc.
• Ensure that activities are carried out to raise awareness of prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and handling of serious complaints in line with child safeguarding policy
• Support technical sector specialists to ensure that projects are carried out with participation from all disaster-affected communities (including children), that information is shared with affected communities (through traditional and high-tech solutions) and that they solicit and respond to community feedback
• Ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct.

Staff Management and Capacity Building:

• Line manage staff as required, consistent with SCI HR policy
• Identify learning and training opportunities for MEAL and other staff and work as a mentor and role model for less experienced staff
• Conduct training and awareness raising activities for operations and programme technical staff at field and country-office level regarding MEAL priorities and quality standards

Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Participate in interagency coordinated joint MEAL activities (for instance, inter-agency RTEs)
• With support from senior programme staff, assist in advocacy activities that target decision-makers in-country.
• Develop a clear agenda and inclusive process for learning and reflection, which informs planning.
• Ensure the maintenance of a central database of research information and evidence about what works within our areas of programme implementation.
• Support internal lessons learned processes
• Support learning with communities through a participatory process with programme participants and key stakeholders, including children.
• Ensure learning from relevant best practice and assess performance regularly against agreed programme objectives and indicators.

General:

• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures

Qualifications and Experience:

Required:

• Master's degree in a relevant subject or equivalent field experience
• Significant experience in emergency response and fragile state contexts.
• Significant experience of undertaking a MEAL related role in an humanitarian context
• Experience of, and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability
• Previous experience of managing a team and managing projects
• Demonstrated strong monitoring and evaluation skills, including planning/participating in evaluations
• Ability to work both in an advisory and a hands on implementation capacity
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports
• Excellent communication skills
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• A high level of written and spoken English
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support

Desirable:

• Experience of representation and advocacy desirable
• Language skills in Arabic highly desirable
• Experience or knowledge of working and living in Lebanon and/or the region highly desirable
• Experience in both implementation and design highly desirable
• Prior experience with Save the Children International desirable

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Please note that the closing date for applications is on Tuesday, 11th June 2013

For further information on this role, please see our website at www.savethechildren.net/jobs

How to apply: Please apply with a covering letter and up-to-date CV to the link provided