PQ MEAL Officer

Background

Alianza por la Solidaridad-ActionAid Spain (Alianza-AA SP) is a non-governmental, non- denominational, progressive and independent organization founded in 1986 and which has been present in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) since 1993. In partnership with Palestinian civil society organisations, Alianza-AA SP’s work in the OPT has focused on women's rights and gender equality in general, including the prevention, response to and mitigation of gender-based violence (GBV) in particular.

The organisation is a member of ActionAid (AA) International, a global federation working with more than 41 million people in over 70 countries around the world. We want to see a just, fair, and sustainable world, in which everybody enjoys the right to a life of dignity, and freedom from poverty and oppression. We work to achieve social justice and gender equality and to eradicate poverty.  

In October 2023, together with its sister organisation, ActionAid Palestine and the AA’s International Humanitarian Action and Resilience Team (IHART), Alianza-AA SP launched an emergency response in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, centred on supporting partner organisations to sustain and expand critical basic needs, protection, health and livelihoods services and assistance, with a cross-cutting focus on supporting the participation and leadership of women and young people in the response.

 Overview of the role

The PQ MEAL Officer is a newly created role designed to support the quality preparation, implementation and justification of Alianza-AA SP’s humanitarian programs implemented with partners across the OPT. The position will form part of the organisation’s Humanitarian Team, will report to the Program Coordinator, be accountable to the Country Manager, and will work closely with project technical and finance staff in the Gaza Strip.

The purpose of the role is to support the development and implementation of PQ MEAL systems and processes in the OPT to meet internal and external requirements. The role will support and assist partners to design the MEAL systems in alignment with Alianza-AA SP’s Humanitarian Signature, Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) and MEAL approaches as well as applicable external humanitarian standards such as the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).

Main responsibilities

 Develop and roll out the MEAL system (materials, tools, processes etc.) across Alianza-AA SP’s humanitarian programs in the OPT

• Develop the MEAL system for Alianza-AA SP’s humanitarian programs in the OPT to monitor results and adapt strategies, as necessary.
• Develop an overall MEAL tool that provides quantitative and qualitative data analysis for report writing to multiple donors and internal and external audiences.
• Develop project MEAL plans and follow up on their implementation, maintaining and administering MEAL databases per project and producing regular consolidated reporting updates.
• Conduct field or onsite monitoring exercises and produce regular quality monitoring reports on implemented projects, share findings/gaps from field monitoring visits with Alianza-AA SP staff and agree and document actions for improvement.
• Support and assist partners in developing their MEAL systems for the monitoring of project and programme achievements, ensuring minimum standards for monitoring project activities and results.
• Work closely with partners to provide day to day technical MEAL support as required in areas such as proposal development, project design and inception, monitoring and outcome measurement.
• Provide capacity building support to Alianza-AA SP staff and partner MEAL and program staff as needed on MEAL processes and tools.
• Compile observations, data, lessons learned and findings from Alianza-AA SP and partner organisations, and feed this back internally to inform the overall response strategy.
• Support the use of documented evidence to improve program/project strategies, showcasing impact internally and externally.

Maintain oversight of the quality of work and accountability mechanisms

 Support and assist the Alianza-AA SP and partners on areas of quality and accountability, ensuring relevant staff understand and are confident using relevant Programme Quality concepts and tools.

• Assist the Alianza-AA SP and partners to ensure that accountability and community feedback mechanisms are implemented and utilised according to agreed principles and following the CHS and AA’s minimum standards of accountability.
• Works closely with partners to ensure information about the organisations, donors, project activities and timeframes etc. is being shared with communities in an accessible and inclusive way. Ensures good community engagement by Alianza-AA SP and partners throughout the full project cycle to inform activities and approaches.
• Attend monitoring and other relevant meetings as required and produce required reports.
• Engages with and represent Alianza-AA SP in relevant coordination groups related to PQ MEAL in the OPT.

Others

• Adhere to Alianza-AA SP’s security protocol under the instructions of Country Manager.
• Adhere to Alianza-AA SP’s Code of Conduct, and SHEA and safeguarding policies.

Jobs.ps, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Experience, skills and knowledge

• University degree in a relevant subject area (international development, humanitarian action, social sciences, gender, statistics, data management or a related field), or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 3 years of work experience with PQ MEAL-related functions, including experience leading data collection and analysis for multi-donor funded humanitarian programs.
• Excellent understanding of a range of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods.
• Demonstrated ability to develop functional and user-friendly systems to utilise routine and survey data in program quality improvement and evidence-based decision-making.
• Comprehensive knowledge of humanitarian accountability principles, strong understanding of accountability mechanisms and proven ability to build responsive user feedback systems.
• Excellent technical understanding of contemporary MEAL methods and practices, with hands-on experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Proficiency and experience with data collection software such as Kobo, as well as proficiency with Microsoft Excel, SPSS, STATA, or other similar software. Knowledge of PowerBI, or GIS software are additional assets.
• Excellent verbal and written data presentation and reporting skills. Able to interpret data and communicate complex analysis to external audiences in a concise and easy-to-understand manner.
• Excellent advance planning and organisational skills. Able to effectively prioritise and follow multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously and autonomously.
• Experience of working closely with national and local NGOs/CSOs, providing support, developing the capacity, and ensuring quality control of humanitarian PQ MEAL standards and principles.
• Experience of working with different donors (e.g., ECHO, Spanish Agency for Cooperation and International Development, UN etc.), including working on donor reporting and compliance requirements.
• Experience of humanitarian work, and an understanding of key technical sectors, including Protection, Cash and Vouchers, Food Security and Livelihoods, Local Partnerships and Women and Young People’s Leadership and Rights in Emergencies.

Personal and professional attributes

• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English.
• Systematic and organised in approach, with ability to work on own initiative.
• Proven ability to persuade and inspire through communication, as well as negotiate and influence change, with sensitivity.
• Able to work closely with others (often remotely) to meet tight deadlines and multiple priorities.
• Experience in fast-paced and difficult contexts and/or an adaptable approach to work with a willingness to work under pressure in a demanding environment.
• A high level of computer competency (excel, word, email, internet).
• Willingness to travel within the Gaza Strip.
• Experience of working in a diverse team and build good relationships with people at all levels and cross-culturally
• A commitment to the importance of downward accountability to rights holders and transparency in humanitarian response.
• A strong commitment to adhering to and promoting Alianza-AA SP’s approach to Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse and other Safeguarding concerns (including child abuse and abuse of adults at-risk).
• Understanding of and commitment to women’s and young people’s rights and cultural sensitivity.

Conditions

• Type and duration of contract: Full-time national employment contract.
• Salary: Competitive salary according to Alianza-AA SP’s salary scales for national staff.
• Other benefits: Monthly transportation and communication allowance; health insurance coverage; 28 days of annual leave plus 14 days of public holidays.
• Working hours: 40 hours per week.
• Starting date: As soon as possible.
• Duration: Initially until 30/06/25, with the possibility of extension if funding is secured.
• Location: Gaza Strip.