About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger-USA is a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the lives of malnourished children and we enable entire communities to be free from hunger. With more than 8,000 staff in over 50 countries, our programs reached 17 million people in 2019. 

About the Country Program in Ethiopia

Action Against Hunger has been operational in Ethiopia since 1984 responding to both chronic and acute needs through a multi-sectoral strategy where nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience.

Action Against Hunger currently operates in 5 different regions (Oromia, Somali, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, and Gambella) with a portfolio of 20m USD/year of emergency, resilience building, research, and innovation programs. We have a country team of around 600 staff in 17 regional and satellite offices. Our main donors in Ethiopia in 2020/2021 are BHA, ECHO, Europaid, UNHCR, UNICEF, GFFO, BPRM, SIDA, EHF, WFP, CIAA, and others

Summary of position

The MEAL HoD is responsible for effective planning and implementation of a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning system for the Action Against Hunger Ethiopia mission in line with Action Against Hunger's M&E Minimum Standards and MEAL Strategy. S/he will provide technical support to needs assessments, baseline/end-line studies, post-distribution monitoring, and other routine monitoring and surveys. S/he will oversee the mission’s accountability and feedback mechanisms, ensuring sensitization of Action Against Hunger staff and communities as well as timely follow-up on all feedback. S/he will supervise program knowledge management of the mission.

The MEAL HoD role’s purpose, engagement, and delivery are:

Purpose (The substantive focus of the job encompassing scope, depth, and difficulty of work both conceptual and applied)

Objective 1: Strengthen the MEAL system of the mission including human resources, tools, and knowledge management Lead the development of MEAL country strategy, structure, staffing, and financing

• Help coordination missions to better define the follow-up of country strategies based on SMART indicators and targets on the mission’s strategy defined by the coordination under the validation of ADRO/DRO

• Provide analysis about MEAL performance at country or project levels

• Ensure M&E systems are developed to guide project start-up, implementation, adjustment, accountability, and learning in compliance with ACF’s M&E Guidelines and Minimum Requirements for M&E.

• Stocktaking of existing data collection and monitoring tools in the mission

• In collaboration with other sector HoDs (WASH, FSL, NUT-HEALTH, MHCP), the MEAL Specialist in HQ/ HEARO and the PD propose possible improvements and/or streamlining of tools

• Support the recruitment, capacity building (formal and on-the-job training), and management of qualified staff to carry out regular MEAL functions

• Organize in collaboration with Field Coordinators regular workshops for program staff on principles of MEAL and other relevant topics

• Supervise and provide technical support to MEAL staffs’ development of systems and tools, including promoting and rolling out new technologies relevant to MEAL

• Ensure harmonized application of tools, methods, and informed consent procedures across all bases

• In close collaboration with Field Coordinators, PMs, Technical Advisors, and MEAL staff, ensure that field teams develop centralized project databases with appropriate levels of data protection, storage, and management.

• In collaboration with Field Coordinators, Technical Advisors and Program Director, represent ACF externally in relevant forums and working groups at national level on issues related to monitoring, evaluation and accountability (consortia, alliances and clusters).

Objective 2: Ensure proper and timely implementation of MEAL activities, including program monitoring, reporting, and accountability mechanisms

• In close collaboration with Field Coordinators, follow-up on MEAL staff timeframes and budgets are respected as per the MEAL Plan

• Actively participate in the development of project logical frameworks to ensure objectives are clearly constructed and indicators are SMART and respond to process outputs and outcome

• Support the inclusion of MEAL activities in new project proposals and their implementation at the country level, in collaboration with the senior management country team

• Reinforce systems and tools for MEAL, developing new tools as necessary; ensure appropriate process-, output-, and outcome level monitoring is carried out across all program sectors using effective qualitative and quantitative methods

• Establish and monitor systems for accountability, including community and other stakeholder feedback and participation across programs

• Support the development of Terms of Reference (TORs) for external evaluations

• At the field level, work with MEAL Managers, Programme Managers, and Field Coordinators to ensure MEAL findings are incorporated into both qualitative and quantitative Activity Progress Report (APR).

• Ensure that Activity Progress Reports (APR) are submitted on time to the Addis office, centralize the APR, and ensure they are on the server.

Objective 3: Ensure quality and efficiency of data collected through the mission’s MEAL teams

• Manage Open Data Kit (ODK) / Kobo platform for the mission; lead on the roll-out of mobile data collection within the mission, including training, troubleshooting, and support for ODK / Kobo use in the field.

• The support survey process and quality review of data from surveys (KAP, SMART, SQUEAC, NCA, PVCA, baseline – end line), Post-Distribution Monitoring, and mapping exercise as needed.

• Facilitate the analysis by producing visual summaries (maps, graphs) upon request of the coordination team

• Ensure rigorous application of procedures based on sampling methodology

• Supervise field staff to ensure rigorous training for internal and external enumerators incorporating ACF mandate, key project information, and application of ethical and rigorous data collection procedures

• Support on strategy development for expanding ICT opportunities in the mission (new technological innovations and their application to Ethiopia context/AAH projects, GIS and spatial analysis capacity, and other technical platforms).

• Support humanitarian context surveillance system and ensure coherence of ACF system with external system (government, cluster, etc.)

• Lead and support the improvement of the mission’s data collection and management system.

Objective 4: Capitalization / Knowledge management

• Facilitate knowledge building and learning process to ensure previous recommendations and lessons learned from evaluations and other data (including monitoring data) are incorporated in new proposal design, decision-making, and activity planning

• Organize and coordinate mid-term reviews, and review of program work plans with nutrition, WASH, and FSL team at field level and other stakeholders.

• Facilitate lessons learned by meeting at different stages of the project cycle management (kick-off, during implementation, close-out) and share findings with relevant stakeholders

• Ensure that lessons learned and recommendations in planning, monitoring, evaluation, and accountability are documented, shared, and considered/addressed in the design of new projects and technical plans and discussed during periodic program reviews, and ultimately fed into current work and future program development.

• Advise on the inclusion of MEAL resources and activities in new project proposals

• Support the quality, timeliness, and dissemination of M&E outputs internally and externally

• Provide quarterly feedback to the senior management team on standard indicators while comparing information over time and between sectors.

Additional responsibilities

Ensure gender mainstreaming in the MEAL department

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and the employee will also perform other related tasks as required and is responsible for reporting and communicating of progress and achievement of the specific assigned task

Engagement: (The focus of interaction both internally and externally needed to deliver a service seek collaboration and build effective partnerships)

Internal relation                  

• Project-level MEAL staff: technical supervision / functional link, capacity-building, support, and advisory role (direct line management is by Field Coordinator under current structure)

• Technical advisors, Field Coordinators, PD, CD, Business Development, and Grant and Reporting team: collaborative relationship – technical support – exchange of information

• Program Managers and other technical staff: exchange of information and coordination

• HR Coordinator: exchange of information and collaboration on recruitment and training plans

• Finance Coordinator: exchange of information

• Technical Advisor at HQ level: Technical support, exchange of information, and harmonization of systems and procedures

External relation

• National governmental and non-governmental partners, regional BOFED: exchange of information, coordination, and training

• Counterparts of NGOs, INGOs, and Consortia: exchange of information

• Donor contact persons

• Relevant UN agencies, clusters, and other coordination forums 

Delivery: (The focus on the execution of the work and the role of the team for supporting business/operational functions in terms of timeliness and quality)         

Reporting responsibilities

• Assessment, survey, and evaluation

• Monthly/ quarterly/ bi-annual and an annual compilation of APRs

• Support to donor reporting and proposal development

• Monthly/quarterly contribution to mission reports

• Annual Beneficiary count and mission annual report/ capacity statement

• Ad-hoc reports  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Deputy MEAL Head of Department

• Roving MEAL Managers

Gender Equality Commitments  

• Foster an environment that supports the values of women and men, and equal access to information.

• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.

• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, and children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, or religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status. 

• Value and respect all cultures. 

Fiscal Responsibility

• N/A

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.

• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high-security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases. 

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

• MA/MSC/BSC/BA in Social Studies, Development Planning, Survey Implementation, Statistical Research or Project Management, Statistics/M&E, Nutrition, Water Sanitation, and Hygiene or related field of study from recognized university or college with relevant work experience 6/8 years respectively. Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation of projects in a humanitarian setting is mandatory. Strong experience in information management systems and database management. 

Required Skills & Competencies

• Good interpersonal and communication skills with a focus on collaboration, influence, negotiation, leading, and coaching

• Excellent English writing and speaking skills.

• Sensitivity and respect for diversity and difference

• Being results-oriented with the ability to positively challenge existing/ inherited mindsets

• Flexibility to work in a stressful environment and ability to travel to all ACF operational areas

• Commitment to ACF’s values and principles

How to Apply

Apply using THIS LINK

 NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be communicated and the selection process includes a technical test and an interview. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.

 Action Against Hunger-USA provides all staff with an attractive salary & benefits package. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment