MEAL Grant Officer at World Vision Kenya

JOB PURPOSE

The DMEAL Coordinator will provide significant experience and fresh ideas to lead on FMNR MEAL system implementation, review and evaluations, MEAL budgeting, as well as support to proposal writing and log frame development. The DMEAL Coordinator will ensure that all projects are supported to ensure quality, effectiveness and appropriateness across 4 counties, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nakuru, Baringo and West Pokot.

 It will be important for the post-holder to capture lessons learned and communicate this information in various capacities to improve on-going and future programming. S/he will guide the organization to maintain an effective monitoring system across all sectors, including the use of beneficiary feedback data, to assure the quality of interventions.

The DMEAL Coordinator will lead on building capacity of staff on MEAL but particularly on accountability and participation, with a specific focus on FMNR. Ultimately, s/he will ensure that the programme has evidence-based knowledge to inform the direction of the programme from assessment and regular programme monitoring documents. Special attention should be paid to the positive and negative impact that interventions have in communities.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

System Design and Promoting MEAL

• Lead on the development and oversee the roll-out of an organizational MEAL system, ensuring accountability to donors and beneficiaries
• Promote all aspects of MEAL to support the creation of an organizational culture which prioritizes quality programming.
• Build strong relationships with colleagues and provide support as required to ensure MEAL system is understood and supported at field and office level.
• Work closely with the programme teams to ensure that MEAL becomes an integral element of project implementation leading to enhanced quality, accountability, management and impact. This may include the establishment of a Technical Working Group.

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development

• Manage the project team to ensure that the MEAL system operates effectively with the support and resources required and that there are clear reporting links and feedback mechanisms between field team, region, Management, MEAL and other departments.
• Support the project team progress on specific project activities, providing management oversight on progress and problem-solving in case of challenges.
• Define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed so that project team are able to perform their roles as required.
• Manage the performance of direct reports in the MEAL unit through performance management, coaching, mentoring, training and development.
• At the organisational level, devise and manage a MEAL training programme with the goal of increasing capacity and awareness of MEAL for all staff. Assess training needs and engage field staff to roll-out the training programme.

Internal Reporting and Documentation

• Responsible to ensure that the CRIFSUP 2.0 delivers on all internal MEAL requirements in a timely manner and with high quality information, including reporting on relevant indicators, total direct and indirect reach data.
• Identifies and incorporates all elements (systems, tools, processes, etc.) required under the MEAL system and enhances capacity of project team to effectively use them.
• Review regular field, quarterly, annual and ad-hoc monitoring and accountability reports received from project field team and circulate to the Management team, ensuring that action plans are included and agreed by Management.
• Facilitate documentation and reporting of assessments, project data, case studies, best practice and lessons learned for internal and external sharing.
• Develop project and operational reporting templates that facilitate the timely and accurate acquisition and aggregation of information.

Promoting Learning for Strategy Development and Decision Making

• Ensure that data and findings from across multiple thematic project activities form a coherent basis for analysis to promote learning and strategy development for the whole project.
• Lead on monitoring and improving the synergy and integration of thematic programmes to enhance delivery of outstanding results for target communities
• Communicate top level learning to ensure that management is able to make informed decisions on a timely basis to strengthen impact and overcome/mitigate challenges.

Programme Design and MEAL Resources

• Ensure that MEAL is an integral part of the project design stage and is integrated in all project activities in a sustainable way.
• Ensure that MEAL resources are included in proposal development to facilitate funding from a wide range of sources.
• Responsible for effectively managing the MEAL budget, in close collaboration with the Project manager.

External Reporting and Representation

• Ensure external accountability to donors through the implementation of quality MEAL activities leading to timely and accurate reporting.
• Ensure that high quality analysis reports to illustrate the project impact and assessment findings are produced, including evidence of good practice and replicable project, and that they are communicated in the most appropriate way for different audiences.
• With consultation, represent the FMNR project at relevant conferences, meetings, etc., to contribute to the sharing and learning, especially around best practice

MONITORING:

• Ensure that the programme has a solid MEAL plan, Indicator Performance Tracking Tables (IPTT) and log frames, that directly correlate to the programme theory of change.
• Support the Program and project team in updating the indicator tracking tables and provide necessary MEAL guidance regarding project performance.
• Lead in the development of harmonized tools and guidelines for data collection, collation and reporting across the 4 counties.
• Maintain a program database and ensure that the databases are updated regularly.
• Capacity building of program staff, project partners on project related M&E templates/forms for data collection; like Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) etc
• Leads in the quality of program design – reviewing log-frames, results frameworks, project plan, strategic plans, MEAL Plan etc.
• Lead in conducting data quality assessment to ensure that data reported is validated, is accurate and consistent while providing feedback as necessary to program teams
• Analysis against the performance indicators and targets on a periodic basis
• To carry out follow-up monitoring visits to materialize actions agreed and update these in the online “Monitoring-Action Plan Tracker’. Support program teams in developing quality program reports.

LEARNING:

• Work with the technical teams to develop an innovative learning approach for the program including an articulate agenda and implementation plan while providing leadership and oversight of the project teams’ learning approach.
• Adopt the use of digital technology to facilitate innovative strategies for shared learnings across all stakeholders and ensure the key learning's are incorporated in upcoming plans and interventions.
• Work with project team and partners to stay up to date with learnings from complementary programs and adopt best practices as necessary

Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Innovation

• In collaboration with design monitoring and evaluation team, Consultants, FMNR and ADP teams, ensure all Program indicators are properly baselined, monitoring and mid or end term evaluation of FMNR Program is done as per the FMNR proposal and DIP and that any recommendations are promptly acted upon. 
• Plan tracking for key CWB indicators of strategic relevance from secondary and primary data, with partners and communities.
• Review the learning and monitoring reports developed during the reporting period and using them as the basis for the Program report
• Use innovation in Monitoring data to compile the necessary monthly, quarterly and annual reports for forwarding to the Regional manager, NO as well as support office as advised
• Contextualize and utilize planning guidelines for the CRIFSUP Program
• Ensure accurate and quality Annual Development Plan (AD Plan) and Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) for the program in place and utilized
• Work closely with the project manager to effectively support the program to carry out all measurements and assessments – baselines, assessments, designs, monitoring and evaluations – in accordance with donor requirements and WV established standards, policies and procedures;
• Ensure community capacity building plan on monitoring is in place and utilized;
• Participate in monthly data collection – (involving communities and partners) using the standardized tools
• Generate quality Monthly Management Reports (MMR) informed by accurate analyzed data written using language that is appropriate to the reader and in line with World Vision reporting guidelines;
• Participate in quarterly monitoring visits to the field to review progress, gather stories of change associated with Market systems development, sustainable natural resources-based VCs, and financial inclusion to identify and address strategic gaps;

Other

• Develop ANCP Program Design ToR and guide Consultant in Program design and preparation of design documents (PDDs)
• Program implementation structure and strategy including recruitment of new staff
• Gender Equality Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) alignment to the Program with indicator tracking Lead in the interpretation, dissemination and utilization of GEDSI & LVCD survey reports to inform CRIFSUP phase 2 and ongoing Program implementation
• Provide technical support to Program Design Consultant as per ANCP/DFAT requirements
• Sensitize staff on donor requirements from time to time
• Coordinate and conduct Climate, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Integration Guidance (CEDRIG) assessment

KNOWLEDGE/QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE ROLE:

Required Professional Experience

The following may be acquired through a combination of formal or self-education, prior experience, or on-the-job training;

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Bachelor's Degree in social sciences, Mathematics, Statistic, development, or information technology Training in data management and M & E is an added advantage.
• Recommend a minimum of 8 years practical experience in M&E system development coordination/implementation in a large international non-governmental organization or other international relief/development body for large and complex grants, leadership experience is an added advantage
• Recommend a minimum of 3 years of relevant technical experience in MEAL for ANCP Natural resource management (NRM) Projects in Kenya or similar context.
• Experience managing large external evaluations and a clear, deep understanding of different evaluation methodologies appropriate for NRM professional development programs.
• Excellent knowledge of digital data collection and accountability systems and use of ONA, CommCare and Kobo. Excellent advanced quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills using SPSS and/or Stata as well as Nvivo/Atlas.ti software.
• Ability to use geographical information systems to collect geospatial data.
• Demonstrable track-record in data management, with the ability to manage large databases
• Ability to analyse and disseminate complex information to a range of stakeholder audiences;
• Computer literacy, particularly in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Strong familiarity with project frameworks [design/implementation/M&E] cycle
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, adapting and innovating where necessary, and defining a clear way forward and ensuring buy in Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind-sets, Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner
• Good management skills with ability to manage a team
• Highly developed cultural and political awareness and ability to work well in an international and matrix management environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Excellent planning, coordination, and reporting skills, with the ability to organize a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills in English, with experience working in multicultural, multi-location, values-driven teams;​

Required Education, training, license, registration, and certification

• Bachelor's Degree in social sciences, Mathematics, Statistic, development, or information technology Training in data management and M & E is an added advantage
• Certification in FMNR

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

• Training or certification in Portfolio and/or integrated programme Management with accredited institutions
• Good understanding of international, national and county environment/climate change strategies and policies
• Ability to lead a multi-cultural team with an empowering and outcome-oriented approach.
• Strong budgetary and financial management skills.
• The person must be results-oriented, able to handle public relations, able to satisfy donors and a team player.
• Good interpersonal, organizational and management skills. Ability to maintain performance expectations in diverse cultural contexts, and physical hardship conditions.
• Ability to solve complex problems and to exercise independent judgment