MEAL Officer (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Officer)

Norwegian People’s Aid is a politically independent membership-based organization working in Norway and in more than 30 countries around the world. Founded in 1939 as the labour movement's humanitarian solidarity organization, NPA aims to improve people's living conditions and to create a democratic, just, and safe society. NPA's international work covers three core areas: Mine Action and disarmament, Development and Humanitarian relief aid.

Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) is opening a vacancy of a MEAL Officer  with fluent English. The expected start date is 15 August 2024. 

This position involves business trips to the controlled territory of Ukraine as required and approved by the Security Department.

The monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Officer (MEAL) is responsibility for information and reporting processes and products to ensure professional, high-quality communication in NPA's activities and results. The MEAL Officer provides guidance and instruction throughout programme development by ensuring MEAL activities capture programme impact. The MEAL Officer also provides expertise and support in data collection and reporting and monitors and evaluates ongoing projects in the DHC department.  The MEAL Officer will play an important role in supporting the development of future programming. 

Responsibilities:

Monitoring, Evaluation

• Develop a monitoring system, approach, tools, and processes for adaptive management, data quality, data collection and protection, and learning practices of the DHC Programme in Ukraine, in close coordination with Programme management.
• Lead on the selection/revision of indicators, designing/revision of the logframe, and development of the MEAL plan, leveraging global best practice and lessons learned in monitoring and evaluating the DHC Programme.
• Facilitate annual reviews of problem analysis, applying the theory of change, work planning, and learning activities.
• Ensure high-quality programme monitoring of activities through the maintenance of internal electronic and paper-based recording systems and providing necessary data for programme reports and deliverables.
• Develop and disseminate data collection tools and reporting forms.
• Analyse partners' reports, support partners in developing and maintaining internal data collection tools and procedures.
• Coordinate data collection, collation, and timely reporting by the Project’s partners and staff.
• Collect and upload data into the Programme’s performance tracking tool/s (e.g., TolaData).
• Conduct monitoring visits to partners and attend Programme’s events and activities to collect data and photographs for monitoring, evaluation, and documentation in the database.
• Conduct context and data analysis for internal and external reporting.
• Generate and provide monitoring reports to Programme’s management as requested.
• Lead on the design, development, update, and/or review of Programme’s performance database.

Accountability and Learning

• Provide training to partners and staff on data collection and reporting, as necessary.
• Coordinate the compliance of data collection and analysis systems with the needs of the programme.
• Train staff and partner staff in relevant MEAL competencies.
• Conduct mentoring visits to partners.
• Develop capacity development plans with the programme team and partners to improve the technical competencies of partners on MEAL aspects.
• Provide ongoing follow-up, mentoring, coaching, training, and support to relevant staff on MEAL aspects of the programmes/projects.
• Ensure ongoing follow-up, mentoring, coaching, training, and support to relevant NPA and partner staff on MEAL aspects of the programmes/project. If/when needed shadow programme staff to help them gain confidence and improve the capacity for work with partners. 
• Contribute to development and facilitation of programme events.

Policy and Strategy

• Be a resource person for NPA in Ukraine and with the HO in relation to MEAL and data management.
• Advise NPA management on best approaches for MEAL in NPA programmes and discuss options for improvement with partners.

Other responsibilities

• As assigned by Programme Manager, Programme Coordinator

 Required qualifications: 

Must have: 

• Relevant university degree in social science, finance or a related field.
• Excellent Ukrainian language skills, both written and verbal.
• Good English language skills, both written and verbal.
• Good understanding of ICT systems and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI.

Desirable: 

The following qualifications are desirable and will be an advantage, but are not requirements: 

• Experience with statistical analysis and data visualisation
• Knowledge and understanding of humanitarian aid policies and working with international donors.

 Experience:

Must have:

• At least 2 years of proven experience in MEAL position.
• Understanding of humanitarian and resilience programming cycles and standards in complex emergencies.
• Strong experience working with local or national organisations in a partnership capacity.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate and develop the competence of staff, as well as achieve results in collaboration with diverse teams and partners. 
• Strong experience as a facilitator or trainer.
• Good understanding of the current Ukraine context.
• Good understanding of different donors regulation and requirements
• Proven abilities in communication, interpersonal relations, representation, negotiation, and liaison.
• Proven analytical and writing skills.
• Capability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to convey complex information in a manner that is easily understood by individuals without technical background. 

Personal Competencies:

• Collaborative approach to work and engagement with colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Self-motivated with integrity, initiative and ability to work proactively.
• Appropriate sensitivity to social and cultural diversity.
• Strong communication, networking and interpersonal skills.
• Resourcefulness and problem solving ability.

 What we offer:

• Monthly salary of USD 2000 before taxes. This salary shall be payable in Ukrainian Hryvnia at the exchange rate of the National Bank of Ukraine on the date of payment.
• Official employment by Ukrainian legislation;
• Medical insurance;
• 24 days of annual vacation;
• Positive working environment in a well-established and growing humanitarian organization.

NPA is an equal opportunities employer. The NPA will not discriminate against any candidate based on age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or any other quality. The recruitment process is conducted transparently and the selection is made solely based on the candidates' abilities.

As part of our recruitment process, we will screen candidates against applicable sanctions lists to ensure compliance with donor requirements and legal obligations. We will use a candidate’s full name to perform sanctions screening.

We take the privacy and security of your personal information very seriously and will only use it for the purpose of sanctions screening and for no other purposes. The sanctions screening platform is called CSI Watchdog and you can find their privacy policy here. Your personal data will not be shared with any governments or other third parties. Our Head Office in Oslo will verify any positive matches of a candidate’s name with a sanctions list to assess whether the match is a true or false positive. Please note that if you are found to be on a sanctions list, we will not be able to continue with your application or offer you employment. If you have any questions or concerns about the use of your personal information in this way, please do not hesitate to contact us.