Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning Lead

Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning Lead

Description

MEAL Lead

Location: Based in Kathmandu with regular visits to field offices and areas of presence (at least 40-50% in Karnali, Lumbini and Madhesh provinces working geographies)

Duration: January to December 2025 (1 year with possibility of extension)

Reports to: MEAL Manager

Introduction

People in Need (PIN) is a non-governmental, non-profit, international organization founded in the Czech Republic in 1992. PIN arrived in Nepal as part of a humanitarian response to the April 25, 2015, earthquake. Since its inception in Nepal, PIN has had a strong role in designing and facilitating systemic solutions advocating for and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations affected by disasters including person categories who live in geographically remote areas of the country, historically marginalized ethnic groups, and those marginalized because of their age and/or gender identity. Currently, PIN Nepal is implementing programmes under three strategic pillars 1) Emergency response and recovery, 2) Climate resilience, and 3) Civil society and inclusive governance. PIN Nepal team works in and promotes strong partnerships with civil society, Government of Nepal, academia, private sector and other key stakeholders in Nepal. Together with them, PIN Nepal has been for example one of the pioneer organizations advancing programmes such as landslide disaster preparedness and anticipatory action, climate and flood resilient housing, durable local solutions, climate change modelling for more inclusive and efficient local decision-making, girls and inclusive education, waste management and circular economy approaches. PIN is strongly committed for safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, including persons with disabilities, in line with its safeguarding framework and child protection policy.

About the Project- “SARATHI”

SARATHI has been designed to support and contribute to the overarching early action and climate resilience aims of BEK’s Resilience, Adaptation and Inclusion in Nepal (RAIN) programme. Project SARATHI is aimed to bring significant value and sustainable scale up to RAIN programme especially in reaching the most vulnerable and marginalised communities at risk of multi hazards in Madhesh, Lumbini and Karnali provinces by 2029. To achieve this, SARATHI will use evidence-based approaches to tailor implementation for building resilience in a systemic way, centred around localisation, inclusion and leveraging fiscal resources to contribute to adaptation across differing contexts in the targeted provinces. SARATHI’s two intermediate outcomes will focus on 1) enhancing community resilience, 2) strengthening sub-national governmental systems in early warning (EW), early action (EA) and adaptation. SARATHI supports the attainment of NDRRMA’s strategic goals to strengthen Early Action, develop multi-hazard EWS and catalyse research and innovation to develop EA plans as per National Disaster Risk Financing Strategy (2020), DRR Policy (2018) and National Strategic Plan for Action (2018-2030).

SARATHI is built around equal and long-term existing partnerships between eligible international-national-local organizations, who bring the requisite knowledge, skills and comparative advantage. Besides, the consortium will partner with, and empower 121 CBOs who represent the most marginalised groups in 15 LGs across 3 provinces. Through trainings and sub-grants, they will actively co-design and participate in EWS, EA and adaptation in their localities. The CBOs, together with national thematic sub-leads and leads, will empower and hold accountable the subnational Local and Provincial Governments (LG, PG), together with the RAIN TA and other stakeholders, with an emphasis on ‘unlocking fiscal resources’ for EW, EA and adaptation.

Furthermore, SARATHI is centred around using science, technology, innovation and evidence of best practice to inform multi-hazard anticipatory action interventions. The consortium, including technical partner, will build on its extensive experience of the RAIN sub-themes and what works and what doesn’t in Nepal, to establish and/or strengthen multi-hazard EWS at the sub-national level, increase access of vulnerable and marginalised groups to risk communication through forecasting, using data management for inclusive and focused EA and adaptation, and supporting coordination across all spheres of government. The learning produced from these interventions will feed into the development of DRR and AA policy frameworks. The consortium will work closely at LG and PG levels with RAIN Technical Assistance (TA), Strategic Learning Unit (SLU) and other RAIN partners to influence government to endorse relevant disaster resilience and adaptation polices and allocate fiscal resources, so that they address gender inequalities, marginalisation and work with socially excluded groups. The consortium aims to directly target 987,299 people, and indirectly benefit 3,478,805 more.

Scope of Work

Under the guidance of the MEAL Manager and RAIN Programme Manager, MEAL Lead will drive key objectives to strengthen overall monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning system of SARATHI. MEAL Lead will work together with TA and SLU, RAIN Programme Manager and MEAL Manager, co-design comprehensive MEAL framework, including finalisation of Key Indicators (KIs) to design of joint strategic learning plan, data management system, and result/evidence documentation for RAIN. MEAL Lead will line manage and/or oversee three MEAL staff (2 MEAL Technical Officers, 1 MEAL Technical Officer for Adaptation from partner organization) and effectively collaborate with MEAL Manager from Project Co-lead. MEAL Lead will be responsible to adapt and implement the Community Resilience Measurement Framework together with EWS/EA Lead, and ensure its integration into SARATHI’s MEAL framework. They will also design a Programme Management Dashboard to provide real-time data for adaptive management. To support evidence generation, MEAL Lead will engage with relevant agencies and the Government of Nepal to ensure sustainability. Furthermore, this role includes monitoring project progress, building partner capacity, and preparing quality reports. The MEAL Lead will maintain clear communication with stakeholders, mainstream GEDSI in planning and reporting, and uphold PIN Nepal’s safeguarding policies. Additionally, they will use PIN’s accountability platform to gather feedback and promote government mechanisms for two-way communication with communities.

Key Summary of Function

• Together with TA and SLU, RAIN Programme Manager and MEAL Manager, co-design comprehensive MEAL framework, including finalisation of Key Indicators (KIs), design of joint learning plan, data management system, and result/evidence documentation for RAIN;
• Ensure that the MEAL framework integrates and includes guidance on how to measure localisation, supporting the UK’s Grand Bargain Commitments;
• Lead on adapting and implementing the RMF in selected pilot communities, in line with locally led adaptation (LLA) principles and the global recommendations to co-create a useable RMF with the target communities, LGs, PGs and SARATHI’s Technical Assistant (TA);
• Integrate the RMF process into the overall SARATHI MEAL framework;
• Lead on and ensure collection of data in the target communities and among the key target groups (CBOs, CSOs, LGs, wards, key local stakeholders, etc.);
• Design and lead the RAIN+ Programme Management Dashboard to provide robust and timely information and evidence that will allow adaptive management and learning, utilised throughout the Project Cycle;
• Design SARATHI monitoring tools/templates and approaches for participatory monitoring;
• For evidence generation, engage with NDRRMA’s Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment Framework, Multi-hazard EWS for Nepal, UNDRR’s EW4All, REAP, NDRRMA’s Disaster Risk Financing Strategy, SFN and other humanitarian agencies’ AA activations. Ensure the sustainability of the impacts of the action through strong GoN partnership. These evidences will be measured and tracked in the dashboard;
• Provide technical support to monitor and evaluate the project progress based on the quarterly and annual work plan and M&E framework to ensure the quality of the project implementation and allow for adaptive management;
• Establish internal control system and Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management and control of the workflows in the team;
• Oversee/line manage two Provincial MEAL technical officer and one MEAL Adaptation officer from partner organisation;
• Ensure together with Consortium Program Manager that the overall progress is updated in Dashboard and provide timely analysis to develop and update the Project overall strategic framework, impact chains and intervention logics; monitor and evaluate overall progress on achievement of results;
• Update as necessary Monitoring and Evaluation plans, consistent with the annual MEAL framework, in consultation with all the technical Leads;
• Facilitate field monitoring visits to the Project locations areas through closely working with implementing partner for community mobilization activities and conduct qualitative and quantitative assessment of the implementation status;
• Collect periodic data and information against the baseline to assess and report on the overall progress;
• Build the capacity of the partners on planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting; Organize and conduct training on MEAL/ MIS for project and government staff;
• Assess risks and challenges in achieving project goals/ outputs and recommend necessary actions;
• Design and lead the baseline, midline, end line and assessment conducted under the project, and organize the MEAL sharing meeting to relevant stakeholders/programme team.
• Work collaboratively with wider MEAL team on community resilience measurement and ensure quality data is generated to support understanding and implementation of community led interventions
• Support the training of consortium and wider partners (especially local officers) on community resilience measurement tools in specific geographic areas and assess applicability of results regularly

Data Collection, Reporting and Information Management/ Dissemination

• Establish and operationalise the data collection channel to feed the project dashboard in coordination with the project’s MEAL team/partner/programme team;
• Regularly update the dashboard with the latest data and communicate key findings to the respective manager;
• Lead and design assessments to produce the required evidence, knowledge and learning;
• Maintain data and information confidentiality as set out in the Data Protection Policy;
• Design and implement a system for data verification in order to ensure that the quality of information that partners are reporting is accurate, timely and relevant;
• Regularly update the Country Office, HQ, and donor representatives on the achievements and progress of the project implementing partners.
• Assist the SARATHI project management team in preparing Annual Progress Report and other knowledge products that include results of monitoring and evaluation.

Programmatic Support

• Prepare and update project annual/quarterly work plans in consultation with implementing partners;
• Ensure the system of capturing major findings and learnings from the baseline / midline / endline/ assessments / dashboard is timely and efficiently communicated to project team for adaptive management as per FCDO’s adaptive management strategy and value for money;
• Create indicators to track adaptive ways of working;
• Provide on-going analysis and concrete recommendations to improve quality and efficacy of projects in terms of procedures, advocacy, and accountability to beneficiaries;
• Coordinate and liaise with PIN and relevant stakeholders with respect to the implementation of the project activities;
• Support MEAL Manager, SARATHI project management team during review and reflection exercise;
• Support MEAL Manager and SARATHI Programme Manager in recruitment, supervision of staff, consultants, and service providers;
• Represent the project in meetings, workshops and other discussions with the partners and stakeholders;
• Strengthen knowledge sharing and learning process by ensuring regular dissemination of programme and project results, lessons learned and good practices to partners, development partners, beneficiaries and other wide range of stakeholders;
• Participate in PIN Nepal’s broader programme design and proposal discussions, including theory of change development and log frame development.

Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming

• Streamline and effectively initiate and implement MEAL activities and integrate GEDSI considerations throughout the programme to ensure genuine inclusion. Work closely with BEK to ensure any additional indicators within the Results Framework;
• Highlight GEDSI related results in monitoring and evaluation plan and reflect them in the reporting;
• Ensure GEDSI consideration in workstation, communication, and personal behaviour;
• Ensure the Project activities are planned and implemented in a gender sensitive and inclusive manner and that all implementing partners are sensitized and trained in monitoring and reporting of gender and social inclusion sensitive results.

Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM)

• Utilise PIN’s existing accountability platform (Community Feedback Response Mechanism – CFRM) and promote LG’s/GoN’s accountability platforms (federal platform Hello Sarkar, Hamra Kura Hamra Mukhaya Mantri in Karnali province, etc.) to receive community feedback and foster two-way communication with the community/stakeholders. Reinforce these mechanisms and channels through community consultations, surveys and discussions in line with Project’s MEAL Plan;
• Adhere to PIN-Nepal’s policies, guidance, and procedures; with special attention to Safeguarding Standards and Procedure, Case Handling Framework, Child Protection and Do No Harm policies; immediate reporting and redress of any complaints and issues based on its severity.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• At least master’s degree in disaster risk management, environmental science, social science, climate change and/or adaptation, data sciences, rural development or development related fields, with good understanding and interest in research and MEAL;
• Minimum of five years’ experience working in designing and implementing M&E/ MIS in development projects by national/ international NGOs, UN bodies and/or Government, in projects related to disaster risk reduction, climate resilience or inclusion;
• Proven experience with adaptive management and MEAL’s related procedures and tools for adaptive management;
• Proven ability to produce analytical reports with quantitative and qualitative data analysis;
• Good knowledge of participatory monitoring approaches and tools, including Citizen science, OSM, participatory GIS, etc.
• Orientation in frameworks measuring localisation and inclusion, including UK’s Grand Bargain commitments;
• Excellent skills in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Power Bi, SPSS etc.) and advanced knowledge of spread sheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems;
• Knowledge of Resilience Measurement Frameworks such as Zurich Alliance’s CRMC is an advantage;
• Experience with output/outcome metrics measuring short-, mid- and long-term impacts in adaptation is an advantage.

Desired Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

• Good understanding of gender issues and rights-based approach
• Willingness to undertake extensive field works in remote and rural/urban communities
• Outstanding communication skills- written and spoken
• Fluency in English-written and spoken
• Knowledge of local language/s to be considered an advantage
• Strong critical thinking and ability to self-initiate
• Preferably women candidates, with considerable field experience and knowledge of local language

Core Values

• Respect diversity and inclusion
• Have high level of commitment and integrity

Benefits

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND BENEFITS

• Salaries are according to People in Need Salary Scale. Candidates will be informed about the salaries in the beginning of the recruitment process
• Health insurance for both in-patient and out-patient care with maximum benefit limit of NPR 500,000.00 per year per person (Including dependents)
• Accident insurance for all injuries during work time NPR 3,000,000 per year (For Staff only)
• Compensation leave for working overtime when requested by the Line Manager
• Maternity, Paternity and mourning leave as per the labour law
• Communication or internet allowance on monthly basis (Reimbursable)
• Capacity Building program, both internal and external trainings – Induction training, internal online opportunities, such as access to e-learning platform and live webinars
• International environments with opportunities to learn from other country programs and HQ office in Prague
• Per diem for working outside of the duty town depending on the location. Full reimbursement of accommodation and transportation during business trips (as per the organization’s policy)
• Friendly and fair environment in small collective structure where everyone knows each other
• Work hours are from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday with 30 mins break for lunch

How to Apply

Submit an updated CV and Motivation letter before the deadline of December 27, 2024. Please note, that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and should a suitable candidate be found before the official closing date, the advertisement might be withdrawn before the deadline thus early submissions are strongly encouraged. No phone calls will be entertained. PIN promotes equal opportunities. Women, Dalits, Minorities (ethnic, sexual & gender), Janajati, persons with disability are strongly encouraged to apply!

People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity, and financial misconduct, and is committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need is involved. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities following the People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp).People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Note- If you need reasonable accommodation (especially for people with disability) to proceed with our recruitment process, please mention so in the cover letter.