🇸🇱 Job Vacancy @ Action Against Hunger – Head of Department (MEAL)

JOB ADVERT

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT -MEAL

Action Against Hunger is an equal opportunity employer

Women are strongly encouraged to apply

ABOUT US 

An International Non-governmental organization, Action Against Hunger has been working to fight undernutrition and support communities affected by crisis across the globe for over 40 years and across nearly 55 countries. Action Against Hunger established its presence in Sierra Leone in 1991 during the Civil War and since then it has been operational in the country by implementing various humanitarian and development programs related to health, nutrition, food security/livelihoods and advocacy geared towards the reduction of the prevalence rates of under-nutrition. The Sierra Leone Country office is based in Freetown, Sierra Leone overseeing the operations in Bonthe, Falaba and Moyamba.

ACF in partnership with 3 partners is rolling out an integrated, multi-sectoral climate change adaptation and mitigation project focusing on food security and livelihoods, WASH, nutrition and health, and environment across three districts.

Action Against Hunger is recruiting a suitably qualified Sierra Leonean as a MEAL Head of Department To develop and lead Department as well as effective planning and implementation of MEAL system

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES : 

Specific Objectives:

Mission 1: Development of MEAL Strategy, context appropriate Monitoring and Evaluation System for projects and support streamline the use ACF M&E guideline and tools within ACF projects.

• Ensure that all programmes are designed and implemented in accordance with international standards (such as but not limited to: SPHERE, INEE, CPWG)
• Develop outcome and learning indicators for log frames and other purposes.
• Ensure that MEAL analysis is regularly shared with relevant stakeholders to inform programme design and review.
• Review existing methodologies and tools for MEAL system
• Develop guidelines, methodologies and questionnaires for monitoring and evaluation of the programs
• Ensure MEAL systems are strengthened to guide project start-up, implementation, adjustment, accountability and learning in compliance with ACF MEAL Guidelines and Minimum Requirements for MEAL.
• Develop MEAL strategy for the mission in coordination with the HoDs and mission’s leadership
• Design and rolling out baseline, endline and internal evaluations of ACF projects, and function as focal. point for external evaluations
• Explore and implement M&E tool rationalization through continuous review and consultations with field staff.
• Support the technical HoDs / Managers to develop M&E plans for each single project of the concerned program and update M&E frameworks which provide sufficient detail on monitoring their performance, including what will be monitored, how, when, and by whom.
• Strengthen the capacity of projects and programs staff to implement the M&E plans, including data collection, analysis, reporting, conducting regular evaluations and learning and quality monitoring.
• Plan and coordinate data verification visits to selected field sites.
• Capitalize and identify best practices regarding monitoring and evaluation methodologies and tools
• Support the recruitment, capacity building (formal and on-the-job training), and management of qualified staff to carry out regular MEAL functions

Mission 2: Develop a dynamic program of information management systems including databases and tools/M&E Forms analysis based ACF experience in the field and management information.

• • Develop and manage the information management strategy – including the internal management of information within ACF, records management, flows of information and discovery of data/information
  • Develop a centralized information management system for ACF in consultation with HoD, Field Manager and country management.
  • Set up simple systems to manage information generated by MEAL activities, such as complaints and feedback databases.
• Lead strengthening of KIM systems at mission level through ACF Sharepoint (No Hunger Forum)

Mission 3: Effectively lead the required needs assessment as identified by the HOD and the Country director and Country Representative:

• Design in collaboration with HOD and senior managers the methodology for the needs assessment to be conducted
• Facilitate the coordination with stakeholders taking part in the assessment
• Coordinate the assessment exercise / participate to the exercise when others are leading
• Lead/participate to the report drafting of the assessment including the identification of operational recommendations for the mission.

Mission 4: Effectively lead the creation of a learning culture and space in the country office thereby institutionalizing a learning culture in the country office. 

• Support program planning of After Action Review – Reflective Learning workshops, Prepare with the technical HoDs / managers lessons learned report of past and ongoing projects’ performances and conducting accountability mechanism pilots
• Capture and disseminate major lessons from current and previous evaluations and reports with the technical HoD;
• Draft a learning strategy that documents the learning and uses of the learning effectively in implementation, design, best practices development and sharing.
• Institutionalize/promote learning culture throughout ACF Sectors, particularly on issues of program quality. Regularly encourage technical HoDs / Managers to produce and report on best practices, lessons learnt and case studies
• Build institutionalized resource center of books and documents that are not only M&E related but also the organization relevant information
• Ensure that lessons learned and recommendations in planning, monitoring, evaluation and accountability are documented, shared and considered / addressed in the design of new projects and technical plans and discussed during periodic program reviews and ultimately fed into current work and future program development.
• Provide quarterly feedback to senior management team on standard indicators for NUT-Health, WASH and FSL, MHCP, Advocacy while comparing information over time and between sectors.
• Lead / coordinate / facilitate the in-country learning component of the ongoing projects.

Mission 5: M&E Technical Support for Programs team and operations: 

• Provide technical support, MEAL trainings, inductions and input in program design and proposals, including, log frame, propose M&E Activities, and budgeting for M&E at proposal development stage.
• Manage, coordinate and supervise the daily activities and planning of, MEAL staff, M&E officers at base levels and ensure proper management of performance, learning and development and retention of the MEAL team.
• Work with new project teams once their funding has been secured to develop an M&E plan that outlines the different steps that are required, setting out who will deliver what and by when.
• Provide a comprehensive GIS and mapping service to program/the missions leader when requested and as needed
• Lead on the institutionalization and the management of the use of technology and innovations that improves quality of programming- the use of Open Data Kit (ODK) platform for the mission; lead on roll-out of mobile data collection within the mission, to include training, troubleshooting, and support for ODK use in the field.

Mission 6: Perform any other duty as assigned by CD/CR

Any other duties as need arise and as assigned by the line manager

WORK CONDITIONS

STARTING DATE: 15TH February 2025

DURATION OF CONTRACT: Twelve(12) Months (Renewable)

LOCATION: Freetown with, possible travels to  other field areas

HOW TO APPLY:

Send Motivation Letter, CV saved in your name – for example (Joe Blue CV) for your CV, and (Joe Blue Motivation Letter) for your motivation letter, with names of three (3) referees by EMAIL, under the Subject “Field Coordinator” to

[email protected]

Deadline for the receipt of applications is Friday, 26th January 2025.

Due to the urgency of this position, applications may be sorted on a rolling basis.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for a written test and oral interview.

Please state the position applied for on the subject line of your email.

Action Against Hunger is committed to Safeguarding Policy and safer recruitment.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply