Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning Officer (MEAL) - Grade NOC

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

1. Background and Justification

South Sudan has continued to experience protracted humanitarian crises since 2013, orchestrated by cyclic trends of disasters and conflict. The current wave of acute food insecurity, famine, malnutrition, and their related risk of epidemic-prone disease, is driven by climatic shocks (floods and dry spells), insecurity (caused by sub-national and localized violence), population displacements, persistent annual cereal deficits, diseases and pests, economic crisis and hyperinflation. The protracted emergencies currently graded at UN Level 3 have resulted in mass population displacement, worsening food insecurity, malnutrition, and heightened risk of disease outbreaks leaving an estimated 8.9 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance (HRP 2022). Access to essential services has been cut off increasing dependency on humanitarian assistance. Available data posits that the country has suffered from a triple shock of sub-national violence, food insecurity, and flooding that began in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 depleting local coping mechanisms, and it is projected that the trends will continue into the last quarter of 2022 as evidence by the current floods in most states of south Sudan. It is expected that the floods and insecurity will further decimate people’s livelihoods and social services mechanisms sending more people into displaced camps where the risk of disease outbreaks is higher.

Objectives of the WHO’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Programme.

Since the start of 2022, South Sudan has suffered simultaneous outbreaks of diseases, including cholera, hepatitis E, meningitis, anthrax, and measles in most of the high-risk counties, with COVID-19, and malaria affecting all 80 counties. The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme is to help countries, and coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. The ongoing floods, acute food insecurity, and other humanitarian responses in the country are intended to ensure continuity of access to essential health and nutrition services, address the increased health needs, and prevent and respond to disease outbreaks in emergency locations in a fashionable and well-coordinated manner.

Purpose of the Position:

In the context of the WHO Emergencies Preparedness and Response program Incident Management System (IMS), the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning officer will work with the Planning and Performance Management officer and technical officers to collect store, and analyze information on the programming context; process and make available information to inform programming decisions including support to preparedness and response design, strategic and operational planning. The incumbent will also support project/program performance monitoring, program accountability, and reporting alongside partner coordination and capacity building in line with WHO South Sudan Emergency Preparedness and Response strategies.

2. Job Description

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Planning and Performance Management officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning officer will:

1. Support emergency rapid needs assessment exercises along with health partners in locations experiencing conflicts and disasters to ensure systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of information pertaining to public health events to inform quick decisions.
2. Laisses with the Planning officer and relevant technical teams to support evidence-based Emergency Response operations planning, joint operations planning, and proposal designs in line with the WHO Emergency Management Framework.
3. Develop/ Adopt an integrated database of all EPR projects and ensure accountability through regular data updates and data integrity working in collaboration with respective technical officers.
4. Build the capacity of staff through training to ensure the adoption of new data monitoring tools and the quality of data collected.
5. Ensure the collection of relevant and appropriate data needed for an effective M&E system which will be utilized in monitoring strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in existing projects and services and for reporting on donor commitments.
6. Support the development of Monitoring and Evaluation plans and project performance indicator trackers for all approved projects and follows up to ensure compliance during implementation.
7. Support the development and review of data collection tools, project monitoring and evaluation tools, and train users on their applications.
8. Ensure all grants maintain updated work plans and performance management plans in tandem with all approved proposals, which are regularly reviewed and updated as required.
9. Participate in the Planning and implementation of baseline surveys, operational research, project evaluations, On-site and Post distribution monitoring, and After-Action Reviews for emergency projects/programs and responses.
10. Support in establishing project/program accountability mechanisms that facilitate systematic information sharing with affected persons, strong complaints mechanisms, and provision of beneficiary feedback.
11. Prepare project start-up files and facilitate project start-up workshops with relevant stakeholders in line with WHO grants management guidelines.
12. Conduct grant review meetings, track progress, and support in following up on action points from grant review workshops.
13. Support IP due diligence, contracting, and partner monitoring in line with WHO FENSA guidelines.
14. Works with technical officers to compile donor reports; WHO semi-annual and annual reports for submission to donors as well as WHO senior management.
15. Promote evidence-based learning and cross-fertilization of lessons across the emergency program through learning events, After Action, and Intra-action reviews.
16. Any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications

3. Education

Essential: Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Economics, Monitoring & Evaluation, Demography, Population Studies.

Desirable: Specialized training in Emergency management, health management, business administration, or humanitarian interventions.

Demonstrated experience with statistical packages and/ or data analysis software (e.g. SPSS, Excel, Epi Info, SMART, STAT 01) and advanced computer skills (word-processing, spreadsheets, and databases) are a must;

Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel including knowledge of Excel functions and experience in routinely collating and summarizing large datasets in Excel.

4. Experience.

Essential: At least 3 years of progressive responsible program Monitoring and Evaluation, of which at least 1 year is closely related to implementing emergency health activities. Demonstrated experience in coordinating with and reporting on the work of diverse teams and partners.

Desirable: Familiarity with web-based grants management systems (GSM), Prior experience managing and reporting on grants from major donors e.g USAID, ECHO, EU, World Bank, AfDB, DFID, KOICA, and the UN funding streams.

5. Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge.

6. Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, and reporting skills.

7. Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
8. Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
9. Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
10. Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
11. Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; Sound security awareness; Have affinity with or interest in core values of the World Health Organization.
12. Use of Language Skills

Excellent knowledge of English. Working knowledge of another WHO official language would be an asset.

1. Other Skills (e.g. IT)

Knowledge of Microsoft Office software applications. Excellent presentation skills.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.