Vacancy Announcement: MEAL Officer, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

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The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to shared and sustainable peace, an economy that works for people and earth, Just Approaches to Forced Displacement and Migration. Its work is based on the Quaker belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.

Job Description

Job Title: MEAL Officer

Job Category: Exempt

Status: Full Time, Contract (2 years)

Supervisor: Country Representative, Somalia

Region/Unit: Somalia, International Programs – Africa

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Date Approved:

Program Description:

AFSC works on behalf of American Quakers to build peace with justice in Africa and around the world. AFSC has been active on the African continent for over 50 years. The AFSC started to work in Somalia in 2008. AFSC focuses on conflict prevention and peacebuilding, social justice, human displacement, Migration and humanitarian assistance. Its geographic priorities are chosen according to the impact and potential for conflict.

Summary of Responsibilities:

The MEAL Officer will be an integral part of the AFSC Somalia team with a specific lens on Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability and Learning for the program interventions. His/her work will largely be based on the AFSC global, regional and country strategic plan for the period 2019-2029. S/he will be based in AFSC’s office in Nairobi and will undertake some travel in SOMALIA with the aim of supporting AFSC’s programs and partners across the country as required. S/he will also work closely with other AFSC programs in Africa. The MEAL Officer will also support report writing, development of peacebuilding tools, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, take an active role in needs assessments, baseline studies, stakeholder analyses, situation/conflict analyses. S/he will also support the organization’s fundraising efforts; document best practice and lessons learnt and ensure the cooption of research and project outcomes in future proposal applications. S/he will also take a leading role in ensuring both donor and internal compliance related aspects of the Somalia country program.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

  • Support AFSC Somalia programme team to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation plan in line with the results to be attained in the framework of AFSC current program cycle.
  • Responsible for the fine-tuning and operationalization of the developed log frame together with any other MEAL aspects of the country program’s current and future work;
  • Responsible for ensuring partner compliance to project agreements and AFSC compliance to internal and back donor reporting timelines, templates and achievement of program results;
  • Develop and periodically review and update Standards of Conduct to ensure continuing project viability and relevance in providing guidance to management, partners and project beneficiaries.
  • Responsible for the training and coaching of the implementing partners, to ensure that they build capacity to collect, analyze, reflect and use the monitoring data for quality improvement of the programme.
  • Responsible for aggregating the monitoring data and liaising with the AFSC Programme team to enter data into the country program system and also generally update the AFSC internal database for its past and current projects;
  • Together with the finance and administration officers process award documents, drafts sub‐agreements, MOUs, and similar documents to local partners to ensure that key compliance requirements are reflected;
  • Responsible for facilitation of use of monitoring information, evaluations for learning & accountability at both partnership and AFSC country program team level on an ongoing basis and during organized learning events;
  • In collaboration with the Program Team, responsible for the coordination of the work of external consultants involved in the baseline, mid-term and final evaluations, to ensure consistent, high-quality evaluations to enable organizational learning, accountability and visibility;
  • Responsible for making MEAL results visible via brochures, AFSC and partners’ websites, stakeholder meetings, and other relevant visibility/communication channels. Integration of this learning into funding proposals, whilst ensuring monitoring and evaluation aspects are adequately represented in proposals.
  • Provide periodic Monitoring and Evaluation briefing of AFSC programme implementation internally and to stakeholders as appropriate.
  • Provide guidance regarding identifying capacity building needs for participants and partner organizations with special attention to Monitoring and Evaluation of projects and activities using active accompaniment of program activities;
  • Participate in planning and implementing Dialogue and Exchange Programme organized by AFSC Somalia by enhancing Monitoring and Evaluation aspect of DEPs.
  • Assist with inputs into quarterly reports, biannual and annual reports and review narrative and financial reports of grants to partners from a monitoring, accountability and evaluation lens
  • Develop relevant tools, training modules, curricula, and courses for enhancing monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems of the organisation, pre-test/test/review/update tools for relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability.
  • Articulate AFSC’s values and principles including its commitment to peace and nonviolent approaches to social justice and peacebuilding at external meetings and when required;
  • Formulate performance objectives and personal development plan;
  • Meet regularly with line manager to review performance objectives and exchange feedback and perform any other duties deemed necessary by the Country Representative.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree, in related field such as Monitoring and Evaluation, Peace studies, conflict transformation, peacebuilding, international affairs/relations, humanitarian affairs or other fields relevant to AFSC’s work on peace, social justice and humanitarian assistance. Specific training in M&E will be an added advantage.

Experience:

  • Knowledge/experience in Program/Project cycle management, organizational development, evaluation and monitoring;
  • Knowledge/experience in Grant management and exposure to multiple donor agencies;
  • Knowledge/experience in the work of local and international NGOs or civil society organizations;
  • Knowledge/experience in documentation and database management
  • Knowledge/experience in peacebuilding approaches a big plus.

Other Required Skills & Abilities:

  • Commitment to Quaker values and testimonies. Understanding of and compatibility with the principles and philosophy of the American Friends Service Committee including nonviolence and the belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual
  •  Understanding of and commitment to the principles, concerns, and considerations of AFSC regarding issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff.
  • Demonstrated analytical and communications skills; fluency in spoken and written English is required,
  • Administrative competence and good computer skills (Microsoft Office programs).
  • An ability to take the initiative, manage priorities and work independently on specific issues.
  • Willingness to work in the context of insecurity, under tight schedules and keen interest in supporting communities living post/in conflict scenarios
  • Willingness to learn, and desire to use this placement to further your personal and career development in the field of peace and conflict work.

Assignment: This position will be offered on an initial two (2) year contract with possibility of renewal.

The American Friends Service Committee is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified persons are encouraged to apply regardless of their religious affiliation, race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.

AFSC’s Central Office and some of its offices in the U.S are unionized workplaces. This position is not represented under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

AFSC maintains a deep commitment to a mandate of care for our staff and communities, and thus requires vaccination for COVID-19; as well as adherence to social distancing, masking, and office occupancy protocols.

The American Friends Service Committee is a smoke-free workplace.

How to Apply

Applications should reach AFSC by close of business on 9th October 2022. Applications should be sent electronically to:

The Country Representative – Somalia

P.O. Box 66448-00800

Nairobi, Kenya

Email: infoafrica@afsc.org

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