MEAL Officer

The Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli - International Committee for the Development of Peoples (CISP) is a non-governmental international organization established in 1983 in Italy. CISP has been operating in Ethiopia since 1986 and has always been alongside local institutions and communities to face humanitarian emergencies and lay the foundations for the consolidation of long-term development processes.

In the last 38 years in Ethiopia CISP has been implementing hundreds of multi-sectoral and multi-regional projects, mainly in the sectors of food security and rural development, Livelihood, WASH, Education, Health, Migration, Protection, CMDRR, and Emergency and Rehabilitation in Oromia, Tigray, Benishangul Gumuz, Somali, Afar regions and Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa City Administration. In all projects, CISP sets gender, children and environment either mainstream or as crosscutting issues. 

Currently, CISP with fund secured from AICS with lead partnership of Action Aid; aims to mitigate to improve the resilience of vulnerable populations in the southern and south-eastern zones of ??Tigray, in the sectors of FSL, WASH and Protection with particular attention to displaced people, survivors of SGBV and people with disabilities.

Job description:

The MEAL Officer plays a crucial role in the implementation of the SOLVE projects by ensuring quality, accountability, and a learning experience that continuously contributes to the successful achievement of project targets through the MEAL system across all program interventions in designated areas.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of MEAL, the MEAL Officer will be responsible for the following:

A. Monitoring:

• Develop and review monitoring checklists for the project activities. Translate them into the local language if required.
• Prepare a database for the project beneficiaries, disaggregated by age, sex, and status at the beginning of the project period to track project contributions throughout its execution.
• Lead and coordinate assessments in line with established system and or donor related guidelines at his operational area; analyze and interpreted findings and ensure findings are documented
• Build the capacity of project staff on M&E formats/templates/forms for data collection, including Output Tracker (OT) and Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT).
• Organize frequent field visits to monitor program activities/interventions against Quality Benchmarks/Quality Checklists. Produce and share reports with the program and management teams based on quality and accountability findings, and incorporate inputs from the program team into the action plan.
• Support program staff in strengthening joint planning and monitoring with stakeholders.
• Assist the Head of MEAL and program staff in conducting situation analysis studies.
• Contribute to the quality of program design by reviewing log-frames, results frameworks, project plans, strategic plans, MEAL plans, etc.
• Lead the technical aspects of developing MEAL plans and conducting baseline studies.
• Lead the technical process of collecting quality data and analyzing it against performance indicators and targets on a periodic basis.
• Ensure the quality of reporting data by verifying it periodically on a sample basis.
• Review and reflect on whether the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) is being followed during all staff meetings.
• Conduct follow-up monitoring visits to ensure agreed actions are implemented as per the plan. Maintain the 'Monitoring-Action Plan Tracker' at the field level.
• Maintain close coordination with the Head of MEAL on quality and accountability issues. Share all information (monitoring reports, CFM database preliminary inquiry reports) with the MEAL Expert while keeping the Field Manager informed.

B. Evaluation:

• Assist the Head of MEAL and program staff with all formative and operational research.
• Support the evaluation team in conducting periodic evaluations of project interventions at the field level if required.
• Assist the Head of MEAL and program staff in preparing and conducting baseline studies.
• Ensure the quality of case studies through the program team.

C. Accountability:

• Establish an effective system for handling and responding to complaints/feedback at the community level with the support of the Project Coordinator.
• Ensure that the Complaint Feedback Mechanism (CFM) is functional and accessible to beneficiaries.
• Develop regular trend analyses of complaints at the organizational level and share them with the program team as per protocols.
• Share information on quality and accountability issues (monitoring reports, CFM databases, preliminary verification reports, case studies, etc.).
• Present MEAL findings and CFM issues at each monthly meeting as defined in the protocol.
• Ensure that the CFM guidelines are followed by all staff within the project stakeholders.

D. Learning:

• Assist the Head of MEAL and program staff in developing quality reports and findings.
• Generate periodic reports and share key learning documents from the MEAL system.
• Ensure that key learnings are incorporated into upcoming plans and interventions.

Others:

Collaboration:

• Build and maintain effective relationships with team members, colleagues, members, external partners, the consortium members particularly the leading agency ActionAid, and stakeholders.
• Value diversity and see it as a source of competitive strength.
• Be approachable, a good listener, and easy to talk to.

Reporting:

• Produce and share MEAL monthly, quarterly, and half-yearly plans, and compile cumulative monthly/yearly reports for the Head of MEAL, Field Manager, and program team through proper channels.
• Ensure that all data related to the MEAL action plan tracker and CFM database are recorded and updated in a timely manner.
• Coordinate closely with all CISP staff and report on updated complaints registered, their resolution process, action plan tracker, and other MEAL-related issues.
• Assist the Head of MEAL in generating quality MEAL reports.
• Carry out additional responsibilities in case of emergencies as per organizational requirements.

  Perform any other tasks assigned by the line manager.

Behavioral & Accountability

Accepts and gives constructive criticism

Follows all relevant procedures, processes, and policies

Meets deadline, cost, and quality requirements for outputs

Monitors own work to correct errors

Takes responsibility for meeting commitments and for any shortcomings

Continuous Learning

Demonstrates interest in improving relevant skills

Demonstrates interest in acquiring skills relevant to other functional areas

Keeps abreast of developments in own professional area

Communication

Actively shares relevant information

Clearly communicates, and listens to feedback on, changing priorities and procedures

Writes clearly and effectively, adapting wording and style to the intended audience

Listens effectively and communicates clearly, 

Creativity and Initiative

Actively seeks new ways of improving programs or services

Planning and Organizing

Identifies priority activities and assignments for self 

Organizes and documents work to allow for planned and unplanned handovers

Identifies risks and makes contingency plans

Adjusts priorities and plans to achieve goals

Allocates appropriate times and resources for own work 

Professionalism

Identifies issues, opportunities, and risks central to responsibilities

Treats all colleagues with respect and dignity

Works effectively with people from different cultures by adapting to relevant cultural contexts

Knowledgeable about and promotes CISP’s core mandate.

Teamwork

Actively contributes to an effective, collegial, and agreeable team environment

Contributes to, and follows team objectives

Seeks input and feedback from others

Actively supports and implements final group decisions

Takes joint responsibility for team's work

Salary: As per the Organization Scale 

Employment type: Regular

Contract Duration: 12 Months with possibility of Extension

Job requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Sociology, Project Management, M&E or relevant discipline.

• 5 years proven experience in the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Accountability of humanitarian or development programs.

• Trained in data management and with at least one-year experience working with Excel managing databases

• Familiarity with project frameworks [design/implementation/M&E] cycle

• Experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection (M&E methods) and data analysis

Competencies/Technical Skills

• Excellent computer skills: Microsoft Office, Kobo, Statistical Analysis tools. 
• Proficiency of English, Tigrigna and Amharic,
• Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality

• Commitment to values and working styles of CISP 

• Excellent interpersonal skills – builds good relationships with internal and external stakeholders and maintain effective collaboration with all staff,

• Ability to manage a complex and demanding workload,

• Ability to travel within the country whenever required

How To Apply

Application Instructions: Please submit cover letter and CV not more than four pages with three professional references to ethiopia@cisp-ngo.org, by September 2, 2024. You will submit relevant 

credentials up on request. Please include the name of the position in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Finalists will be contacted. 

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

In the selection of its staff, CISP is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction of race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities.