MEAL Assistant, Hargeisa – Somaliland-National Position (1 Position) 16 views0 applications

MEAL Assistant, Hargeisa – Somaliland-National Position (1 Position)

Position Title: MEAL Assistant

Reporting to: MEAL Manager

Duty Station: Hargeisa-Somaliland

Position Status: locally hired position

Area of Operation: Somaliland

Employment period: Starting in March 2025, 1 year with the possibility of extension.

Background:

FCA works to enable people to break the circle of poverty and violence. We are a rights-based actor, a Finnish organization with 70 years of experience, with operations in 15 countries. FCA is Finland’s largest NGO in development cooperation and second largest provider of disaster relief. Our action is guided by international human rights standards and principles. We realize our mission and vision through development cooperation, humanitarian assistance, and advocacy work. We contribute to positive change by supporting people in the most vulnerable situations within fragile and disaster-affected areas. We consider three thematic areas as central to sustainable change: the right to peace (R2P), livelihood (R2L) and quality education (R2QE).

In Somaliland FCA has been working under a right to peace thematic areas since 2008 including governance and reconciliation projects and later has expanded in quality education (R2QE) thematic area.

Primary purpose of the position:

The primary purpose of the position is to provide support to the FCA Somaliland program monitoring and evaluation (MEAL) department staff, monitor the quality delivery of program activities, accountability right holders and effected target audiences, and manage project stakeholders’ information. The MEAL Assistant role is to support and conduct registration and verification of the project’s target beneficiaries, as well as to update the beneficiaries tracking table in the FCA workspace and to assist in reviewing project documentation such as ToRs, BR, quarterly and annual project reports.

Main tasks:

• To help the delivery of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) strategy, policy, and practice by helping design program monitoring systems, support the MEAL staff in their analysis and dissemination of MEAL data, carry out independent/joint field monitor visits to the projects target location (Hargeisa, Somaliland),
• S/he will spend 80% of the time in the field, monitoring Projects in Hargeisa, Somaliland. The post holder also supports the MEAL staff in hiring and supervising enumerators,
• S/he will also be responsible for routine quality benchmark monitoring, proactive calls, the post holder will also manage and follow up enumerator payments.
• S/he will support the delivery of an effective Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning function and will play a key role in the expansion and improvement of the quality of FCA programs in Somaliland to increase impact and enable positive change for children,
• CRM Focal Point for Somaliland Programs. He or she oversees collecting feedback from the installed boxes at the project’s target location and documenting it on a weekly and monthly basis. Share the feedback with the project team for corrective actions, and then return those corrected actions to the community for their information as project owners,
• Conduct assessments, collecting and analyzing the data and drafting report and information for the evidence-based design of FCA Somaliland country programs and projects.
• Conduct regular field visits for monitoring of implementation following the proposed plans and submit reports accordingly.
• Ensure to conduct monthly updates of MEAL database and Activity Tracking Table for the assigned projects.
• Participate in all other aspects of MEAL, for example surveys, baselines, evaluations, joint projects monitoring and reviews / learning workshops/events.
• Promote learning in the project, particularly on issues of program quality, and contribute to quality assurance of projects. Regularly produce and report on best practices and case studies; ensure new analysis and information is available.
• Performs any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Specific Tasks

• Under the direct guidance of Country MEAL Coordinator, establishing and maintaining feedback mechanisms of FCA program and the assigned TVET & ACT Consortia projects for decision making.
• Adapting accountability and quality tools to ensure accountability in programming.
• Integrate mobile technology and other innovative solutions where feasible.
• Being the focal point for FCA MEAL Community of Practice for Right 2 Livelihood projects.

Impact:

• Contribute to effective implementation of SOCO programme through well-developed and delivery of vigorous monitoring, evaluation and learning system and processes.

•Contribute to monitor and evaluate FCA global and programme goals and indicators, M&E and quality assurance.

Physical and psychological burden imposed:

• Based in Somaliland that is conflict environment where political and security situation is constantly changing

• Frequent travel to unsecure field locations

• High security threats (kidnapping, terroristic attacks, armed clashes, etc.)

• Demanding relations with several administrations

• Fraud and corruption threats.

Interaction needed:

• Constant interaction with project beneficiaries, partners and stakeholders from clans to the government, as well as with donors and other development actors involved in the same or related activities and fields.

Substitution and representation:

•Representing FCA in different forums based on the request from Somaliland OiC and project manager and MEAL Unit Manager.

Experience:

• Experience with the use of ICT for Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Experience in GIS software is an asset,
• Knowledge of human rights-based approach and sectoral understanding in education, governance, and emergencies preferred,
• Demonstrated sensitivity to (cultural) diversity and gender issues.
• Ability to work in a high-risk security area,
• Minimum 1 years within a busy working environment,
• University degree in social sciences, economy, statistics, social work, social administration, development studies, information technology or other relevant academic discipline.
• Demonstrable track-record in data tracking, with the ability to support staff and partners on M&E methodology and analyze and disseminate information to a range of stakeholder audiences,
• Computer literacy, particularly in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; knowledge of other data analysis software such STATA, SPSS, etc, will be an added value,
• 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.

FCA practices zero tolerance against concerning aid diversion and illegal actions and may screen [contractor/external party name] (i.e. applicants, contracts, suppliers, consultants, etc.) against international lists to ensure due diligence and compliance with Anti-money laundering and Combating the Financing of terrorism requirements). FCA’s Child Safeguarding Policy applies to all FCA staff.

Application process:

Please apply by using the link no later than on 26th Jan 2025. Female candidates are encouraged to apply. Applicants will be short-listed and contacted for an interview on a progressive basis.