MEAL Officer

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience, and promote long-term health and wellbeing. Established 60 years ago, Relief International has grown through mergers and alliances between four organizations, now operating in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The organization employs over 7,000 staff and local volunteers, focusing on Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education, and Livelihoods programming that is safe, local, conflict-sensitive, climate-smart, evidence-based, and reaches those in need. The mission of Relief International is to address the complex crises faced by communities in fragile settings, working closely with community leaders to rebuild the social fabric and enhance resilience.

Job Overview:
The MEAL Officer will work under the guidance of the MEAL Manager, actively supporting field Health, Nutrition, and WASH MEAL activities. This includes the compilation, verification, and submission of Health, Nutrition, and WASH data on a monthly basis. The position requires close collaboration with Health and Nutrition Coordinators, supervisors, and the coordinator" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">MEAL Coordinator to ensure that complaints and feedback from beneficiaries and stakeholders are properly received, logged, addressed, and resolved in a timely and transparent manner. The role is crucial for enhancing accountability and trust within the community and ensuring that all projects adhere to Relief International’s mission, values, and ethical standards. The MEAL Officer will also be responsible for promoting the use of standard tools and forms for monitoring and evaluation, leading regular reviews of projects, and undertaking field monitoring visits to support the application of MEAL frameworks and tools.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The MEAL Officer will supervise Health, Nutrition, and WASH monitoring, tracking, and reporting systems, ensuring the generation of quality evidence on project impacts. Responsibilities include leading the collection of information for county-level reporting, conducting regular field monitoring visits, compiling and validating project data, facilitating research tool deployment, and supporting assessments and evaluations. The Officer will also manage the complaints and feedback mechanism, ensuring timely responses and monitoring its effectiveness. Additional duties involve training staff and partners on the complaints mechanism, conducting community sensitization sessions, and supporting data analysis to identify trends and performance. The role requires innovation in developing new methods to improve program performance and accountability, as well as effective communication and planning skills to achieve project goals.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants should possess a Bachelor's degree in public health, statistics, or a Diploma in Clinical Medicine and public health, or a Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation. A minimum of 2 years of experience in implementing MEAL in Health, Nutrition, and WASH projects at the field level in South Sudan is required. Candidates must demonstrate a strong understanding of MEAL at the project level and ethical standards, including Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS). Previous exposure to CHS guidelines is an advantage, as is experience in humanitarian or development contexts. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills are essential, along with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor's degree in public health, statistics, or a related field, or a Diploma in Clinical Medicine and public health, or a Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of health and nutrition programming and the methodologies used in monitoring and evaluation.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in implementing MEAL activities specifically in Health, Nutrition, and WASH projects at the field level in South Sudan. Candidates should have a strong understanding of MEAL processes and ethical standards, as well as experience working in humanitarian or development contexts, which will enhance their ability to effectively contribute to the organization's mission.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential for communication and reporting purposes. Knowledge of local languages may be beneficial for community engagement and understanding local contexts, enhancing the effectiveness of the MEAL Officer's role.

Additional Notes:
This is a national position, and applicants must not have criminal records or convictions related to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Sexual Harassment, or Child Abuse. The application process requires submission of a motivational letter, national ID, CV, and academic documents through the specified platform. The position is urgently needed, and shortlisting will occur on a rolling basis, with only shortlisted applicants contacted within two weeks of the closing date. Qualified females are highly encouraged to apply.