Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Manager in North East Syria

Starting date: Late April/May 2020

Contract duration: 1 year with possibility of extension

Country Program: Syria Response

Base: Derikh, North-East Syria

Line Manager:Area Programs Director

About the role:

PIN has been working in Northern Syria since 2012, providing emergency relief and early recovery support to conflict-affected communities and IDPs. PIN’s contribution to the overall Syria humanitarian response is amongst the largest, with an annual turnover of over $35 million, of which around 40% is in North East Syria. The major donors are: ECHO, OFDA, FFP, SDC and DFID. The program in NE Syria currently has 4 operational offices in Derik, Kobani, Manbij and Raqqa City with around 180 staff.

The MEAL Manager will have a key role in leading and capacity building the MEAL teams and directly line managing the MEAL Team Leader to ensure effective coordination of tasks and activities. The MEAL manager supports Programme Managers in developing and maintaining updated project-specific M&E plans, tools and frameworks and preparation of monthly evaluation and planning meetings. The MEAL manager is responsible for ensuring that M&E reporting and data sets are in line with mission-wide reporting requirements, of high quality and complying with reporting timelines. MEAL manager supervises development and implementation of the Complaints Response Mechanism with programme teams.

The position is initially based in Erbil with visits to the office in Derik. However, NE Syria is a dynamic environment and the position may be moved permanently into NE Syria if the security situation allows.

Duties and responsibilities:

Planning and Development of M&E processes

• Supports Programme Managers (PMs) in developing and maintaining updated project-specific M&E Plans, tools and frameworks in line with programmatic needs.
• Supports PMs in preparation of monthly evaluation and planning meetings
• Ensure that MEAL reporting and data sets are consistent with mission-wide reporting requirements, of high quality and on time. Ensure that MEAL activities are applied across all projects, and comply with the MEAL Plans.

Human Resources

• Manage MEAL Team in NES with direct line management of MEAL Team Leader. Provide M&E induction training.
• Capacity Building of programme and MEAL staff in planning, the value of MEAL and technical skills.

Accountability, knowledge sharing and organisational learning

• Supervises development and implementation of the Complaints Response Mechanism, including visibility and information sharing, receipt and logging of complaints, and provision of appropriate responses.
• In close coordination and cooperation with HoP and M&E Manager NWS, takes lead on preparing and organizing learning and information sharing workshops between MEAL and Program teams
• Supervise logging and follow up on MEAL related feedback in Program Feedback Tracker
• Engages with programme teams, HoP, NWS M&E Manager to support dissemination of project lessons

Data Management & Reporting

• Contributes towards review, revision and development of data collection tools, methodologies, and standardized reporting templates
• Develops analytical reports from region M&E data
• Ensures that M&E reports are submitted to Grants Officer to fulfil donor reporting requirements

Suitable candidates for this position should possess:

• At least 3 years of professional experience within a humanitarian and/or development organization with at least 1 year of experience as MEAL manager;
• Demonstrated experience in leading the MEAL development and roll-out for multi-sector programming;
• Demonstrated experience in leading monitoring and evaluations for core donors (ECHO, USAID, DFID, etc.);
• Experience with team management/supervision, interest and experience in capacity building of national teams;
• Excellent communication skills, including fluent spoken and written English, Arabic is a significant advantage;
• Strong organizational, critical analysis and problem solving skills;
• Experience of working in complex and volatile contexts, including familiarity with the humanitarian context of Syria or the Middle East, would be an advantage.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

• This position is an unaccompanied position. The position is based in Derik. A new office in Derik has been recently opened with a small contingent of international staff providing links to national staff in the other offices in NE Syria. The town is perceived as less conservative, offering opportunities for a social life outside work hours. Location of the position may change as the security situation in NE Syria is fluid.
• PIN currently has a Office in Derik. PIN has a new guesthouse to accommodate all the international staff with individual rooms being available.
• The position is expected to be able to travel to other PIN offices for visits in western NES in Raqqa City, Menbij and Kobane
• General security situation in Derik is generally good and there is potential for a relatively good social life with a number of restaurants and a growing expat community. It is close to the Iraq border. Outside Derik, Hasakeh Governorate is considered one of the more stable areas in Syria however, the recent incursion by Turkey has made the area less stable and the security situation is under constant review. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is available in all PIN’s offices and guesthouses. There are a number of health services available with medevac mechanism for INGO’s members. There is reasonable access to most consumer goods. 
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and PIN's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

People in Need offers:

• Working environment in a well-established and growing humanitarian organization;
• Salary and benefits according to PIN salary scale and HR policies; expected starting monthly salary 2 900 EUR (including per diems)
• Accommodation in PIN’s guesthouse on PIN’s expenses;
• 25 days of paid leave annually;
• Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence once per every 6 months of completed work, plus R&R benefits according to PIN’s Syria Mission HR policy;
• Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure;
• Free medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online; travel health insurance.

How to apply:

Are you interested in this position? Send us your CV (no longer than 4 pages) and short cover letter via this link. Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.

People in Need staff are expected to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need Code of conduct and key policies (available at: www.peopleinneed.cz/policies).