MEAL Manager

CARE is a leading global humanitarian and development organization. In Pakistan, CARE started its operations in 2005 and since then has supported the Government of Pakistan’s efforts to reduce poverty and suffering of the people affected by disasters. CARE’s programs focus on helping Pakistan achieve its Sustainable Development Goals especially in the areas of Health, Education, Women’s Economic Empowerment and Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR). Since starting operations in Pakistan, CARE has responded with life-saving support to a series of large-scale disasters. CIP works through its local partners and a range of stakeholders for development, as well as emergency response related interventions, which makes collaboration a key component of its work, across the country. We are a nationally inclusive organization that strives to support the most vulnerable communities all over Pakistan, with particular attention to women and girls and youth.Relevant Experience:

I.  JOB SUMMARY:

• The AAWAZ II programme focuses on social inclusion, and protecting the rights of women and children. Partnering with the CARE consortium, the initiative leverages CARE's expertise in preventing gender-based violence (GBV) and child marriage. The programme aims to foster social norms change, engage communities, and generate evidence-based interventions to address complex issues like child marriage, GBV, and the exclusion of special interest groups persons with disabilities, and religious minorities. AAWAZ II promotes community engagement, social action research, and capacity building to enhance civil society's ability to influence policy and protect vulnerable populations. Through coordinated efforts, the programme seeks to drive legislative and policy changes to support social cohesion and inclusion.
• MEAL Manager will provide technical support to Partners and CARE staff in design, implementation and maintenance of the MEAL system and tools. Furthermore, the position will assess and build capacity of the staff, both at field level and also of partner organizations to ensure effective program monitoring and accountability whilst ensuring that M&E tools and mechanism are set up and running smoothly. The MEAL Manager will support continuous learning and reporting of ongoing interventions and will be responsible for conducting timely and effective monitoring and evaluation, impact assessment and undertake assessments to inform management and field team/s, in order to meet high quality standards. The MEAL Manager will also focus on the learning and accountability agenda of the CO. The incumbent will develop and roll out MEAL Plan for the project and ensure that donor and the CO compliances are met. The MEAL Manager will lead the development and implementation of project learning agenda and suggest adaptation in program position will be based in Karachi with frequent (50%) visits to filed in Sindh and Islamabad.
• JOB RESPONSIBILITY

•  Setting up MEAL System for the project; 30%
• Develop a monitoring framework on focused on promoting social inclusion, safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities, and combating gender-based violence (GBV) against women;
• Lead and strengthen the MEAL System in line with CARE's Quality Framework, Standards, donors quality benchmarks/milestones and procedures including monitoring, action research, learning and knowledge management, evaluations, and accountability functions;
• Help understand the program and partners specifically on CARE’s MEAL Strategy, Global MEAL Framework, and approaches particularly in the areas of objective hierarchy, indicators, and monitoring mechanisms.
• In consultation with the field supervisor, develop the overall MEAL plan consistent with CARE’s MEAL strategy that includes baseline, mid-term reviews, participatory impact assessments, Participatory Conflict Sensitivity Analysis, Knowledge Attidtude and Practices (KAP) studies process monitoring, operations monitoring, Political economy analysis and lessons-learned workshops.
• Design and roll out the social action research for the program using gender transformative approaches to establish a governance structure which promotes women’s voice and leadership and includes special interest groups who are one of the most marginalised populations: transgender persons, religious minorities and persons with disabilities.
• Develop systems to track results fo community mobilization, advocay campaign in a systamatic way to report on set milestones.
• Lead the process for identifying and designing the key indicators and KPIs for each component, to record and report physical progress against the work plan;
• Develop an inclusive and accessible feedback channel, such as suggestion boxes, community meetings, and digital platforms, to gather ongoing input from community members, ensuring their voices are heard and addressed;
• Support partner in establishing and maintaining a functional case management system to track the progress.
• Roll out Management Information System for the program, and ensure timely data submission from partners’/field offices;
• Monitor the performance of partner NGOs on a continuous basis, assessing the quality of work and suggesting changes if required;
• Guide the process of identifying the key performance questions and parameters for monitoring project performance and comparing it to the targets; also design appropriate format for performance reports.
• Roll out Management Information System for the program, and ensure timely data submission from partners’/field offices; Assess the quality of data in the MIS system and generate reports for project and CARE country office reporting.
• Monitor the performance of partner NGOs on a continuously basis, assessing the quality of work and suggesting changes if required
• • Guide the process for identifying and designing the key indicators for each component, to record and report physical progress against the work plan;
• • Assist the MEAL and reporting staff in synthesizing accurate information in monthly, interim, and end project reports and output tracker;
• • Guide the process of identifying the key performance questions and parameters for monitoring project performance and comparing it to targets; also design appropriate format for such performance reports;
• • Roll out Management Information System for country office programs, and ensure timely data submission from partners’/field offices;
• • Assess the quality of data in MIS system and generate reports for projects and CARE country office reporting.
• • Monitor the performance of partner NGOs continuously, assessing the quality of work, targeting of beneficiaries, and general progress.
• Implementation of MEAL System in the project 40%
• Collaborate with partners and CARE staff on quantitative and qualitative monitoring to provide relevant information on project activities, effects, and impacts.
• Engaging community members in the evaluation process ensures that their insights and feedback are incorporated, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability.
• Assist partners and CARE MEAL and reporting functions in reviewing and analyzing project progress reports in terms of problems identified and actions required; also prepare consolidated progress reports for sector managers to submit to the respective donor in accordance with approved reporting formats and deadlines;
• Supervise and constantly track all project activities, inputs, outputs, and outcomes ensuring continued relevance to the project; Lead the process for identifying and designing the key indicators and KPIs for each component, to record and report physical progress against the work plan;
• Assist the MEAL and reporting staff in synthesizing accurate information in monthly, interim, and end project reports and output tracker;
• Ensure that partner organizations have effective Complaint Response Mechanisms in place and roll them out from the inception stage of the project;
• Review monitoring reports, analyze them for impact evaluation, and identify the causes of potential bottlenecks in project implementation.
• Recruit, guide, and supervise external teams that are contracted to implement special surveys and studies required for various field assessments related to project effects and impacts;
•  Assess the quality of data in the MIS system and generate reports for project and CARE country office reporting;
• Ensure that follow-up procedures are in place and are regularly tracked and reported;
• Plan for regular opportunities to identify lessons learned and implications for the project’s next steps; participate in these events when possible;
• Design and conduct real-time evaluation, baseline, and end line of the project;
• Act as CO focal person for engaging consultants for MEAL or surveys;
• Coordinate with the country MEAL team to ensure the CO is collecting and reporting data according to the organizational standards.
• Act as a focal person to work closely with the internal audit team.
• Communication and Reporting of Results: 15 %
• Develop a mechanism whereby monitoring feedback is owned by the program team and ensure that learning is being incorporated into the program implementation cycle;
• Collaborate with stakeholders on research and advocacy to address bonded labor issues in Sindh
• Generate reports on M&E findings, as required, and work closely with sector managers, technical staff, and partner organizations.
• Undertake regular visits to the field to support the implementation of M&E and to identify where adaptations might be needed.
• Help in systematic information and communication flow on process, progress, and impact-related information for vertical and horizontal communication.
• Set up and maintain a common electronic and hard copy system to access key documents such as MEAL tools, tracking and reporting forms, monitoring reports, proposals, donor requirements and reports, evaluations, other program information, and other necessary documents against immediate outputs of projects.
• Learning and Knowledge Management: 5%
• Keep abreast with M&E systems and knowledge management and reporting requirements of the larger CARE organization;
• Submit M&E annual reports on PIIRS (data management on reach and impact) to CARE USA;
• Support CIP in developing a system of managing and storing information from the project;
• Work with the program teams to identify KML priority agendas and needs;
• Ensure regular review of progress against the KML plan
• Technical support to partners and MEAL staff: 5%
• Conduct training needs assessment of the CARE and partner staff on MEAL.
• Develop a plan to build the capacities of the partners, staff and consultants;
• Provide on the job technical support to the field team and partners.
• Organize learning workshops that bring together internal and external stakeholders and generate learning products.
• Produce regular documentation and analysis of KML work for raising cross-learning and sharing with other CARE teams in the region (and internationally);
• Ensure synthesis of key learnings is documented and fed into proposal development and advocacy planning processes.
• Support Project/Program Teams to develop KML plans/strategies (as needed);
• Support the development of knowledge products for the project.
• Any other tasks or responsibilities based on organizational and programming needs as assigned by the Line Manager. 5%
• Safety and Security is everyone’s responsibility within CI through full compliance and accountability (as per Principle of the CARE International Safety & Security Principles).
• The position will be based in Karachi with 50% frequent visits to the field locations.
• Education/Training
• At least a bachelor’s degree in sociology, economics, development studies or equivalent;
• A Master’s degree will be strongly preferred.
• Experience/Technical Skills

• Required
• At least 10 years of work experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning areas, conversant with socio-economic issues in Pakistan; out of which at least 5 years of experience in a senior role of MEAL preferably with an INGO, contractor, or UN;
• Experience in research and analysis, statistical analysis, strategy development; mainstreaming, and capacity building with a specific focus on women empowerment, Gender, and advocacy interventions;
• Experience in conducting MEAL audits in social development program focused on human rights;
• Proven track record of developing MEAL framework, strategy, and tools for social action programs.
• MEAL experience of right-based programs specific to women and children in Pakistan.
• Required
• Strong research, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies.
• Experience of working on Child Rights, Women's Development, Health, Child Protection;
• Significant experience of delivering large scale social and behaviour change campaigns;
• Excellent creative and conceptual reporting skills;
• Computer skills (word, Excel, MS Project, SPSS, Access);
• Experience in conducting Training (TOTs)/facilitating the training;
• Quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills;
• Strong written and spoken skills.
• CARE participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we hereby request information from the candidate’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the candidate left employment. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.
• Note: Individuals can apply using Brightspyre or send their resumes directly to [email protected] clearly mentioning the position title in the subject line of the email, before the stated deadline. Please share your current as well as salary expectations along with the CV.