MEAL Technical Advisor

Position Information

Post Title: MEAL Technical Advisor

Duty Station: Kyiv, Ukraine

Travel: Approx. 30% Travel to project locations, pending security approval

Supervisor / Reports to: Livelihoods Technical Advisor (Program Quality Team Lead)

Reporting lines: NIL

Key interfaces: Country Director, Program Manager, Livelihoods Technical Advisor, REMARKET Project Manager, Program Coordinator, Finance and Operations Manager, Income Advisor (HO), MHPSS Advisor, Protection Advisor, Conflict Sensitivity Advisor

Duration: 12 months (with a possibility for extension)

Expected Workload: 100%

Terms: Service Agreement (National)

Background

Caritas Switzerland is one of the leading Swiss NGOs in the field of poverty reduction in Switzerland and abroad. International Cooperation programs focus on humanitarian aid, income generation, climate change, and migration. Within the Ukraine Country Programme, Caritas Switzerland implements its response through local partners, embracing a localization approach and focusing on delivering technical value to project management.

As part its livelihoods programming, CACH launched the project REMARKET (Recovery and Empowerment through Market Access and Resilient Economic Transformation in Ukraine) together with its local implementing partners from August 2024 to July 2027. It was designed to empower Ukrainian communities by enhancing market access and economic opportunities for IDPs, returnees, and host community members. The project also plans a transition to a more MSD-centric approach in its next phase, promoting long-term income generation, economic stability, and social cohesion among the affected communities.

As part of its humanitarian programme, CACH is implementing two multi-sectoral humanitarian projects – CARE4U3 and RISE – that are complementary projects designed to enhance the resilience, safety, and well-being of vulnerable populations affected by conflict in Eastern and Southern Ukraine. Building on the previous joint project CARE4U Phase 2, both CARE4U3 and RISE continue to respond to emergency needs, and transition to stabilisation-focused activities by prioritising and supporting long-term and sustainable solutions through the holistic approach combining shelter, protection, MHPSS, and cash assistance activities to empower beneficiaries to address their intersectoral needs.

Purpose

The purpose of the MEAL Technical Advisor role is to ensure Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems are effectively implemented across CACH’s Ukraine Country Programme, to guarantee programme quality and accountability to affected populations. This includes overseeing the design and execution of CACH and partner organisation M&E frameworks, ensuring high-quality data collection, and facilitating accountability through robust feedback mechanisms. The role also involves supporting the capacity building of CACH staff and partner organizations, through the provision of technical oversight, advisory and trainings.

Key Responsibilities

1. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E):

• Provide guidance to partner organizations in developing and implementing M&E systems, frameworks, and data collection tools to assess project progress and outcomes.
  • In conjunction with CACH program staff, conduct regular field visits to monitor project activities and ensure they are in line with objectives.
  • Support data collection, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data is of high quality and meets both internal and donor requirements.
  • Facilitate the design and ongoing adjustment of results frameworks and indicator sets across several projects.
  • Lead on the design and implementation of external evaluations and third-party monitoring, ensuring that TPM or evaluation service providers receive appropriate support, and oversee the quality of the work.

2. Accountability:

• Support partner organizations in developing and implementing accountability frameworks, ensuring that affected populations are consulted and informed about programs and their rights.
  • Support partner organizations in setting up and managing complaints and feedback mechanisms, ensuring issues raised by beneficiaries are addressed in a timely and transparent manner.
  • Provide capacity building on accountability standards for staff and partners.
  • Establish and manage CACH UCP’s complaints and feedback mechanisms, ensuring issues raised by beneficiaries are addressed in a timely and transparent manner.

3. Learning and Capacity Building:

• Promote a learning culture by facilitating workshops, reviews, and reflections to foster program improvements.
  • Document best practices, lessons learned, and case studies for internal knowledge sharing and external dissemination.
  • Conduct a comprehensive needs / gap assessment in partners current MEAL systems to identify areas for targeted technical assistance for our partners.
  • Design and conduct training for project staff on M&E, data collection, and accountability practices.
  • Collaborate with the Program team to ensure findings are integrated into program design and implementation.

4. Reporting and Documentation:

• Support the preparation of regular reports on program/project performance, through the provision of high-quality inputs, progress on indicators and analysis of outcomes (including data visualization). These reports will include, but are not limited to, CACH internal reporting, donor reports, and communication materials.
• Facilitate the use of evidence for strategic decision-making at senior levels, including presenting findings to leadership and external stakeholders.

5. IM Data Management and Analysis:

• Oversee the design and implementation of data collection tools with partner organizations (e.g., surveys, focus groups) and ensure project M&E adheres to international standards and provides accurate assessments on project impact.
• Support Partner MEAL staff with technical oversight on accuracy of collected data, database management and use of the appropriate tools for data quality assurance and accuracy.
• Maintain CACH M&E databases and data visualization tools to ensure timely and accurate data to support programmatic decisions.

6. Programme Quality, Compliance and Standards:

• Support CACH UCP’s program team in project development to ensure integration of MEAL framework in project design (including Logframe, MEAL plan, data collection methodologies, analysis and budget development).
  • Support and work closely with CACH’s Program Quality (PQ) specialists to support the development of program quality improvement strategies.
  • Support the integration of cross-cutting themes (e.g., gender, protection, localization) into MEAL systems and analysis.
  • Ensure M&E activities comply with international standards and humanitarian guidelines (e.g., Sphere Standards, CHS, etc.).
  • Monitor compliance with donor-specific M&E requirements and report regularly to ensure alignment with those requirements.

Mode of Cooperation and Deliverables

The MEAL Technical Advisor will agree on work plans with the superior monthly and quarterly. He/she is requested to keep the line manager informed about activities undertaken and progress made.

Competencies and Qualifications

1. Education

• A university degree in humanitarian or development studies, international relations, business administration, social work, mathematics and statistics or a related field, is highly desirable.

2. Professional Experience

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a MEAL related role with strong monitoring and evaluation skills, including planning/participating in evaluations.
  • Sectoral Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of one or more of CACH’s Ukraine Country Programme sectors of intervention, including livelihoods and humanitarian assistance (shelter, protection, MHPSS, CVA), is highly desirable.
  • Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff as well as ability to facilitate/conduct large technical trainings for staff.
  • Proven work experience in emergency response and fragile state contexts.

3. Technical Skills and Competencies

• Advanced Research Skills: Experience with advanced research methodologies and the ability to conduct rigorous data quality checks.
  • Reporting and Documentation: Strong skills in producing clear, concise, and well-structured reports that effectively communicate findings and recommendations.
  • Knowledge of MEAL Standards: Good understanding of international MEAL standards and frameworks, such as OECD-DAC criteria, SPHERE standards, and the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).
  • Data collection and Analysis Toos: Experience using data collection tools (eg. Kobo Toolbox) and data processing and visualisation tools such as MS Excel/Access, SPSS, Nvivo, PowerBi, Tableau, etc.)

4. Interpersonal Skills and Personal Attributes

• Partnership focused: Commitment to CACH’s localisation strategy, working with national partners to implement programme in accordance with Caritas International’s Partnership Principles.
• Effective Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of presenting complex information in an accessible manner to different stakeholders.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Strong ability to work collaboratively with internal teams, partners, and external stakeholders, fostering a spirit of cooperation and shared purpose.
• Training and Capacity Building: Ability to train and build the capacity of staff and partners in MEAL practices, promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
• Continuous Learning: Commitment to ongoing professional development. Attending relevant training sessions, workshops, and conferences. Staying current with MEAL best practices and methodologies.

5. Language Requirements

• Excellent written and spoken English
• Excellent written and spoken Ukrainian

How to apply

How to apply

Proposals responding to this RFQ should include:

• CV detailing experience in conducting work relevant to this role.
• Maximum 1 page cover letter, with the inclusion of the desired month salary in UAH.
• Contact information for two references (will be requested after 2nd round interview)

Submit the proposal before 20.06.2025 COB to ua_program@caritas.ch

Please send us CV in English.