Duty Station
Remote and Aden, Yemen- Travel to Implementing Partner Offices and field (if feasible)
Reporting to
MEAL Coordinator and Country Representative
Time Frame
1 October 2021 – 30 June 2022
Total number of days: 115 (75 in 2021 and 40 in 2022)
This is a part-time position for 9 months. Note that visa application procedures may take time, work starts remotely. Days indicated per activity below are indicative only.
BACKGROUND DKH
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) is a German non-government organisation that renders humanitarian aid in 36 countries across the world. DKH supports people who are affected by natural disasters, war and displacement and who are not able to cope on their own in the emergency situation they find themselves in. The work is guided by the Humanitarian Principles and the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS). It is DKH's approach to work through a global network of partner organisations. DKH is part of the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung e.V. (EWDE), one of the biggest welfare institutions in Germany.
DKH provides technical and other backstopping support to all partner organisations within its area of responsibility. It also continuously aims at increasing and further strengthening relations with local partners on the ground and building their capacities. For this purpose, in addition to project and program support, DKH will provide a partner-tailored Capacity Building programme, targeting all strategic partners.
PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT
While DKH is not planning to directly implement humanitarian projects, it wants to ensure that the partner organisations in Yemen have the administrative and technical capacities to implement their projects and programmes according to highest quality standards possible. DKH wants to ensure that the humanitarian response in Yemen is meeting expectations in all relevant aspects, that DKH can fully rely on the partner organisations, and an added-value becomes visible through the own presence on the ground.
The consultant manages the DKH Program Staff and ensures coordination with partners on proposal development and reporting, and during program implementation (incl. needs assessments, targeting and evaluation) providing technical, administrative as well as other backstopping to the partner organisations. It is a continuous effort to increase and further strengthen relations with the local partner organisations and building their capacities while ensuring quality standards.
WORK CONTEXT
In June 2019, DKH registered with MOPIC in Yemen to work with government agencies, national partner organisations, and the wider humanitarian community to provide emergency response and resilience building initiatives across the country.
DKH started with small pilot initiatives for the provision of life-saving emergency response with selected civil society organisations in Yemen. Currently, larger-scale programming is in preparation phase. DKH is currently operating primarily from its office in Aden.
DKH recognises that there is active conflict in parts of the country and a possibility for further expansion of the conflict and violence into other areas. Staff and consultants must comply with all DKH security policies and procedures.
Purpose of the Position / Overall Task
Overall task of the MEAL Consultant is to provide programmatic support to DKH Yemen Country Office (CO) and its partner organizations (PO) in the design and implementation MEAL tools.
Through a review of partner documentation, an assessment will be made of skills to meet quality standards, and capacity building needs will be identified.
Specifically under GFFO:
Two partners will be assessed (YFCA and BFD) and a capacity building plan will be developed in 2021
Initial orientation will be provided in 2021
Further capacity building for these partners to take place in the first half of 2022.
The consultant works on equal footing with: DKH MEAL Coordinator
Close coordination with GFFO Coordinator (on GFFO related component)
The consultant may engage in different stages with: Program and Partnership Manager (1); CVA Coordinator (1); Program Officers (3)
The consultant works in close coordination with Country Representative, Security & Logistics Manager and Finance & Admin Manager.
Description of Tasks
1) MEAL manual and tools (12 days in 2021)**
Review of existing DKH internal MEAL resources and tools, and develop to a DKH Yemen Operational Guideline (15-20 pages) and tool templates (annexes)
o The DKH Yemen MEAL operational guideline will be informed by available documents and tools (desk research) and should outline the minimum standards and provide templates related to:
§ M&E phases in the project cycle
§ Basic/general guidance on indicator development and description of how to calculate standard indicators
§ Baseline data collection
- How to ensure all Logframe indicators are adequately collected
§ Data-collection best practices, including survey templates and description of locally feasible and recommended sampling methodologies.
§ Beneficiary breakdown standards, and methodologies on beneficiary counting (Eg. for interventions that cover large swaths of the population, such as water network rehabilitation)
2) Complaint Mechanism (8 days in 2021)**
DKH Country-Level complaint mechanism
o Assess the pro/con of establishing a parallel complaint and feedback mechanism, alongside partner CFM at field-level versus an integrated or alternative approach
o Propose a methodology that is both effective and practical for any person to communicate any complaint or feedback to the CO
3) M&E Capacity Building (15 days in 2021)**
M&E Capacity Assessment Tool (MECAT)
o Review draft MECAT and edit/finalize into a clear checklist
o Review the DKH Project Performance Monitoring System – Guidance and make sure that the MECAT is in line with it.
o Advice on adopting the DHK Project Performance Monitoring System – Guidance to suites the DKH Yemen country programs and partners.
Partner staff training
o 3-days training: Based on the already completed rapid gap analysis develop content relevant for all partners (MEAL staff and project managers; 4-5 staff per partner; 5 partners and DKH program team – around 30 participants)
o 1-day follow-up meetings with each partner to apply the content of the 3-day workshop to their individual organization (total 4 days)
Note. Key findings from partner consultations:
Some of the expected gaps or need for inclusion in training, include:
- Counting BNFs
· Counting BNFs for infrastructural projects
· Counting Unique BNFs
· Beneficiary targeting and exclusion errors
Survey design and sampling
Developing outcome indicators
Developing assessment tools
Developing Indicator Performance Tracking Table
How to conduct market assessment
How to develop Theory of Change
How to Digitalize the MEAL Tools
PARTNERS / GFFO-specific
4) GFFO partners (YFCA and BFD) in Shabwa and Marib 2021 (20 days)
Partner complaint mechanism
o Prepare a check-list to review partner CFM. Conduct a gap analysis, based on the completed check-lists (data to be collected by DKH program team)
o Establish minimum standards for partners (YFCA and BFD) in terms of CFM, recognizing that there are various types of activities and timelines
Review partner’s MEAL documents
o Support DKH MEAL Coordinator in collecting the data from YFCA and BFD and review the final version.
o Conduct a gap analysis based on the findings per partner, taking into consideration the gaps pre-assessment conducted in the joint partners meeting.
o Prepare a detailed capacity building plan for each partner
Two days review workshop / training
o Conduct two day review workshop / training based on the gap analysis findings of both (YFCA and BFD) partner organization, and focus on some of the expected gaps:
Data-analysis and data quality assurance
Critical thinking: what does the data tell us?
Presentation of findings (writing, tables, etc)
Develop data flow diagram (DFD) for activities
5) GFFO partners (YFCA and BFD) in Shabwa and Marib 2022 (40 days)**
o Provide a combination of remote and in-country support and trainings to the partner MEAL teams, as per the Capacity Building Plan developed in 2021.
6) Any other issues
o Support the MEAL Coordinator in his tasks
o In case the situation requires additional tasks may be assigned within the scope of this Terms of Reference
QUALIFICATION, EXPERTISE AND SKILLS
· At least 7 years of relevant experience in leading MEAL departments or related activities, including evaluating, managing and/or coordinating projects in the field of humanitarian assistance. Experience in Yemen is an advantage;
· Sound knowledge of and skills in needs assessment, survey design (baseline, endline, PDM) and monitoring & evaluation; incl. extensive experience in development of Theory of Change, Logical Frames and indicators.
· University degree (or comparable work experience) in a relevant field;
· Experience in working with relevant tools, such as Kobo-tool, STATA, SPSS or EPinfo
· Proven skills in developing and providing trainings for national staff / local actors.
· Experience in emergency relief, with special emphasis on the following sectors: WASH, Cash Based Assistance, Livelihoods, Protection, Psychosocial Support (other relevant experience can be considered); Particularly as it relates to MEAL activities.
· Experience in working through local partner organizations based on equal partnership principle and in providing them technical and other backstopping support;
· Good understanding of humanitarian principles and other key principles of international NGOs including accountability, impartiality, neutrality, independence;
· Languages: Fluent in written and spoken English. German and Arabic are a strong asset;
· Excellent English writing, with proven experience in developing manuals and tools
· Excellent coaching and mentoring skills, ability to listen, to organize and to present information, views and concepts in a concise, understandable and interesting way for a variety of audiences, both written and oral;
· Experience working in different cultural work environments & ability to perform tasks with sensitivity to the local culture, to interact effectively and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socio-economic, educational, ethnic and professional backgrounds;
· Experience in working in fast changing contexts of sensitive political nature while remaining organized, detail oriented, and able to work under pressure with minimal supervision;
· Proactively working with excellent problem-solving skills;
· Team player with outstanding personal attitude: especially sense of responsibility, diplomacy, concern for quality, result orientation;
· Outstanding personal values: integrity, commitment, respect for diversity, patience, and sense of humour.
How to apply:
Kindly send your application (clearly indicating expected daily rate) and CV by email to:
jobs@diakonie-katastrophenhilfe.de
Further questions regarding the assignment kindly address to MEAL Coordinator: zubair.aziz@diakonie-katastrophenhilfe.org
The remuneration follows internationally accepted standards. Consultancy status. Deadline September 12, 2021.