MEAL MANAGER

Desired start date: 16/06/2021**
Duration of the mission:** 9 months (according to funding – with possible extension)
Location: Raqqa – North East Syria

ABOUT THE MISSION

SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) has been working in Syria since 2012. The mission counts about 230 national staff, more than 40 expatriates, and has a 25 million EUR budget forecasted for 2021. There are 3 implementing offices in Syria (2 in North East Syria/NES, 1 in North West Syria/NWS) with the coordination based in Amman – Jordan.

The NES programs provide an integrated assistance in the WASH, NFI, Shelter and Livelihoods sectors to displaced populations and host communities affected by the conflict. NWS programs are remotely managed and provide WASH and NFI/Winterization support to affected populations.

Syria mission is dedicated to work in areas recently opened (in 2017 in Raqqa) and in challenging contexts. A turn from lifesaving activities to more post-emergency/development has also been undertaken. There are 7 expatriates and 90 national employees in Ar-Raqqa base.

In Ar-Raqqa Governorate, main current activities are related to:

• Lifesaving: Wash – emergency package in IDPs settlements, distribution of NFIs and cash for vulnerable populations, COVID Response (WASH in Health, distributions).
• More sustainable activities: individuals’ houses rehabilitations, institutional rehabilitations and support: Water stations rehabilitations, capacity building of the Water Department, rehabilitation of schools.
• Additionally, SI has a contingency and capacity to respond to emergencies in all NES.

ABOUT THE JOB

General objective:

• Supervise all MEAL and IM activities and responsibilities of the Raqqa operations
• Manage, monitor and train the members of the MEAL team
• Contribute to the centralization and harmonization of MEAL tools and processes on the area of intervention, under the lead of MEAL Coordinator
• Provide a methodological support to all program teams on technical questions linked to MEAL and cross-cutting issues such as: design of M&E plan, quantitative and qualitative data collection, measure of indicators, complaint response mechanism, do no harm analysis etc.
• In collaboration with the MEAL Coordinator, look over the quality and relevance of internal monitoring and evaluation activities, recommendations and analysis produced by his/her department (studies, maps…)
• Provide support training of program teams within his/her fields of expertise
• Contribute to institutional knowledge building and improvement of MEAL methods and techniques

The main challenges:

• Important volume of work
• Challenging environment of intervention with high security constraint
• Systematic inclusion of MEAL activities into each program

Priorities for the 2/3 first months:

• MEAL dept. management and training
• Contribute to the MEAL strategy implementation (with a strong focus on accountability and learning)
• Ensure efficient communication flows towards implementation teams to ensure MEAL outputs are integrated in programming
• Engage in team’s capacity building in view of nationalization of the position at mid-term perspective

Management:

Current team set up of the Raqqa MEAL Team (10 staffs): 1 Deputy, 1 Supervisor, 7 Officers, 1 IM Supervisor (Raqqa MEAL team-embedded but functionally managed by IM Manager)

Budget:

Current approximate budget of the Raqqa Base: 8,322,824 EUR/ 10,174,653 USD with ECHO, CDCS, BHA, ICSP grants.

YOUR PROFILE

Education and experience:

• Bachelor degree in a field related to Project Management, Development studies, Economics, Social science, Political sciences, International relations or equivalent
• Education or training in data management and/or data analysis is desirable
• Minimum 3 years with INGO in Humanitarian Project Management including MEAL
• Previous experience with SI being a plus.
• Experience in team management
• Experience in a volatile security context highly appreciated

Technical skills:

• Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting in English
• Strong computer skills essential (Back office, project & database software, Power BI a plus)
• Working knowledge of Mobile Data Collection systems (e.g., Kobo or ONA)
• Experience in communication with communities and implementation of accountability mechanisms
• Ability to organize training and lead meetings
• Capacity building to local teams is paramount for the position
• Data analysis (quantitative and qualitative)
• Database management
• Technical experience in using GIS software (primarily QGIS) is an asset

Soft skills and spirit:

• Respect/compliance of security rules
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to cultural habits and towards changing work environment and possible volatile security situation
• Stress management skills: ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, with peaks of heavy workloads
• Team player, capacity to give a positive dynamic
• Acceptance towards being challenged by skilled national staff
• Solid organizational and communication skills

Language:

• Fluency in English (Speaking, Reading, Writing) mandatory

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post:
According to experience, starting from 1800 euros gross per month (+ 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly i.e. 1980 euros gross per month) and valorization according to experience (+100€/year of humanitarian experience on an equivalent position and +50€/year of humanitarian experience on a non-equivalent position)
and a monthly Per Diem of 700 USD

SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.

Vacation: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7 working days break at 3, 6 and 9 months (with 850 USD allocated by Solidarités).

To these break periods, it is necessary to add the granting of one additional rest day per month worked, i.e. 12 days in addition for a one-year contract.

Social and medical cover:
Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

LIVING CONDITIONS:

Accommodation will be in SI Guesthouse in Raqqa. Living conditions are simple but highly improved with few opportunities and places to socialize.

Security inside NES is overall volatile and justifies specific arrangements for accommodation and displacements in the areas of intervention. Adherence to strict security procedures is necessary, while the security levels can vary according to the different geographical locations and the changes of context.

Over the last period due to covid restrictions and challenges (some quarantine in particular), expats have been spending some time in Erbil (Iraq).