MEAL officer

Medair is an international humanitarian organization established in 1988. Medair has been operating in Afghanistan since 1996 with programs mainly in the Health, Water & Sanitation, and Livelihoods sectors with significant reconstruction activities in remote areas. Current projects are Water & Sanitation, Food Security, & Disaster Risk Reduction.

An Integrated Emergency Response: Medair aims to respond to high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, and morbidity in Tirinkot district.  The project intends to improve and extend WASH services including water supply infrastructure and hygiene practices to improve outcomes for vulnerable families.

An Integrated Emergency Response: Medair aims to respond to high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, and morbidity in Uruzgan, which has been significantly affected by drought and conflict conditions. Building upon Medair’s decades of experience in the Central Highlands and Kandahar, the project intends to improve and extend utilisation of lifesaving preventive and curative nutrition and health services by mothers, PLWs and children U5; to increase access to clean water, to reduce vulnerability to water-related and other preventable diseases, and to improve and increase food security for the most vulnerable families through food voucher distributions.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Regular monitoring of the project activities in the targeted districts and report it to the project coordinator and MEAL manager.
• Directly manage MEAL/DQA assistant on regularly.
• Ensure that the data review of Health, Nutrition, WASH and Food security team into requested formats and databases is done properly.
• Ensure all data quality checks are completed, documented, and resolved as per SOPs.
• Ensure that the data entry of Health and Nutrition information into requested formats and data bases done properly
• Meet regularly with the community leaders and health Shura members to guarantee Medair is maintaining good working relations and provide feedback to office staff of any concerns identified.
• Identify any areas where the implementing clinics are not following Afghanistan IMAM guidelines and organise a plan to address these concerns, alongside the Project Manager and Nutrition Advisor.
• Compilation of data for reports on weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual basis as requested
• Ensure that the AAP feedback submitted to Medair is captured, processed and resolved according to SOPs and maintaining confidentiality.
• Responsible for opening of the feedback box at least biweekly
• Maintain a transparent, honest, and supportive communication structure with the Medair team, communities, beneficiaries and donors.
• Update ITTs of projects and share with PC and project managers for further actions.
• Support IM/Comms Officer on digital data collection system and visualization set-up and maintenance.
• Be flexible, willing to assist in other areas of work as relevant and needed and support all other data tasks as they arise.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Staff Management

• Manage and oversee routine activities of MEAL assistant, development/training, appraisal etc. according to Medair guidelines.
• Train sector teams on data collection tools and accurate data entering when needed.

Technical

• Create various reports, graphs or analysis from data as requested, from database within deadlines given and submit as requested.
• Edit the ODK form or contact to IM officer when some new sites are added to project or adapt data entry templates into ODK for IMNCI, ANC, PNC & FP for Health and OPD SAM/MAM, screening, IYCF for Nutrition and other related activities, as required by H&N team
• Ensure to review data of OPD-SAM/MAM and Community component and IMNCI, ANC, PNC & FP data by
• reviewing data deficiencies, resolving discrepancies by using standard procedures or returning data to the Health and Nutrition Managers for resolution

Data Management

• Ensure that unique data entry templates are used in all project sites by working closely together with project team and MEAL manager.  
• Participate and support data collection for baseline/end line surveys and field assessments as required by the PMs / PC/MEAL manager
• Producing periodic reports as per the guidance from the Project Coordinator, MEAL manager and PM’s.
• Flag and follow up as needed any errors, inconsistencies and omissions observed in reports with supervisors and Project Manager or Project Coordinator when needed
• Maintain organized file structure as per Medair guidelines.
• Secure information by completing data back-ups.

Quality assurance

• Conduct regular field visits and spot checks in discussion with Project Managers
• Contribute to the adaptation of the Data Quality SOP for assigned projects and ensure that all checks are done on time and properly documented.
• Train the Health & Nutrition team to submit their report through Tablet using ODK app
• Participate in regular data quality audits (DQA)
• Ensure that issues encountered, and solutions found are regularly discussed with the MEAL country team.

Accountability to Affected Populations

• Work as focal points of accountability system, which include beneficiary feedback forms, exit interviews and beneficiary phone line in close collaboration with AAP officer, MEAL manager and Project Coordinator.
• Translate feedback from local language to English and replies from English to local language.
• Conduct AAP refresher training to project staff

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in public management, information technology, economics, or any other relevant field.

Relevant experience

• 3-5 years relevant graduate experience
• Experience working with excel data bases
• Experience in Monitoring & Evaluation activities
• Familiar with Sphere Standards, Humanitarian and AAP (beneficiary Accountability) principles
• NGO experience

Languages

• Fluent Pashto oral and written skills
• Good written and oral understanding of Dari
• Good English oral and written skills

Computer and IT Skills

• Strong computer skills in Microsoft products particularly Excel
• Experience with electronic data collection systems like ODK/ONA.
• Strong skills in data analysis,
• visualization and reporting via programs like Qlik Sense or other data base applications

Other skills

• Organized and logical, good with numbers and calculations, dedicated with strong attention to detail
• Able to record and share information accurately and clearly
• Able to look critically at data and flag inconsistencies and inaccuracies
• Open to changes in systems and approaches, willing to learn and develop further 
• Willing to be flexible and take on new tasks as responsibilities change
• Honest and dependable, with strong anti-fraud principles and high level of integrity.
• Accountable with a strong work-ethic
• Prompt to take initiative and find solutions to problems
• Able to set priorities and manage time

Interested applicants should apply and forward their applications through the online JOB APPLICATION FORM which could be found under the submission email. The link should be copied, pasted and opened in a new page.

Note: Please indicate the position tittle and vacancy number in your application letter. Applications received after the closing date or without the exact position title and vacancy number will not be given consideration. After submitting the online application, if some applicants do not immediately receive an automatic email from Medair, they shouldn't worry about their submission. When you open the link. please use the dropdown menu and choose the tittle of the position.