Monitoring, evaluation, accountabilities and learning (MEAL) Officer at People In Need

Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Prefecture, Laos -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

04 May, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

03 Feb, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

MEAL System Management, Data Collection Tools Development, Indicator Tracking, Data Analysis, Monitoring Reports Drafting, Accountability Mechanisms, Capacity Building, Safeguarding Implementation, Data Protection, Value For Money Analysis, Project Progress Tracking, Field Monitoring Visits, Needs Assessment Support, Donor Reporting Support, Gender Equality Mainstreaming

Industry

Non-profit Organizations

Description

1- People in Need People in Need (PIN) is a Czech non-profit, non-governmental organization that has been implementing relief and development projects in crisis regions around the globe over its twenty-year history. PIN is an international, non-profit organization providing humanitarian and development assistance in over 20 countries worldwide. PIN draws on extensive past experiences and lessons learned across development, emergency and post emergency contexts to design, implement and monitor quality programming. Since 2013, People in Need (PIN) has been involved in disaster risk management activities, particularly in Cambodia with the development of the Early Warning System EWS1294. In 2023, PIN started to provide technical support to disaster management organizations (DMOs) in Laos to improve their current early warning dissemination capacities and explore innovative approaches to transboundary risk communication, shared data management, and cooperation. This project developed formative research and piloted an early warning system in three provinces of Southern Laos (Champasak, Attapeu, and Saravane provinces). In 2025, the next phase of the EWS national scale-up has been launched covering in total 9 provinces. Position: MEAL Officer Line Manager: Country Representative with technical supervision provided by Regional MEAL Advisor. Externally Duty station: Vientiane Capital with frequent travel to the field across Champasak, Attapeu, Sekong, Savannakhet, Khammuane, Saravane, Borikhamxay, Luangprabang, and Xayabouly provinces, requiring adaptability and commitment to fieldwork. Schedule: Full time position Duration: 12 months with possibility of extensions Starting date: October April 1st, 2026 2. About the position The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer supports the implementation of MEAL activities across PIN’s Country Programme in Laos, under the direct supervision of the Head of Programmes and technical guidance of the Regional MEAL Advisor. The MEAL Officer contributes to the development and application of MEAL tools and systems, ensuring that monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning processes are carried out in line with PIN standards and donor requirements. The MEAL Officer assists in tracking project indicators, collecting and verifying field data, supporting evaluations, and documenting lessons learned. S/he plays a key role in ensuring that feedback from communities is collected and referred appropriately, and that project teams are supported in using MEAL findings to improve implementation. The MEAL Officer works closely with project teams, field staff, and support departments to ensure that MEAL activities are well-integrated into project workflows. Based in Vientiane. The position involves frequent travel to the field across Champasak, Attapeu, Sekong, Savannakhet, Khammuane, Saravane, Borikhamxay, Luangprabang, and Xanyabuly provinces, requiring adaptability and commitment to fieldwork. Main responsibilities: Quality MEAL system management: · The MEAL Officer plans and coordinates the implementation of the MEAL activities of the project(s) in the country program; · Contributes to the development of Log frames and drafts the Results frameworks/ MEAL Frameworks during the inception phase of different components of programming; · Develops and/or contributes to specific M&E Narrative Plan(s) for programming and/or particular sector, component, project/donor that will describe MEAL approaches and activities reflecting in narrative and in greater detail Results Framework/MEAL Framework; · In collaboration with the PM develops Indicator Tracking Tables (ITTs) to track progress towards achieving the indicators on the monthly basis; · Drafts and regularly updates MEAL workplan(s) and data collection plans; agrees workplan with stakeholders across the organization; · Oversees planning, preparation, and conducting of monitoring and evaluation activities for PIN programming at country program (including and where relevant routine/random monitoring activities, baseline and end-line studies, post distribution and post intervention monitoring, (if applicable) mid-term and post-project evaluation etc.). In particular, she/he is responsible for: · Preparation of the MEAL data collection tools; · Mobilization and training of enumerators; · Planning data collection activities in cooperation with the relevant project team; · Facilitating quantitative (e.g. surveys) and qualitative (e.g. FGDs, KIIs, etc.) data collection activities through ensuring clear instructions and other necessary support to the enumerators; · Providing technical means for conducting surveys (incl. preparing smartphones, tablets); · Ensuring daily updates on progress and challenges to the Regional MEAL Advisor; · Analysing data obtained during data collection activities and secondary data analysis as well as drafting monitoring reports; · Ensuring proper dissemination of findings and recommendations that results from the MEAL activities, including organizing feedback sessions/workshops with project teams; · Following-up on the execution of the recommendations provided to the project team; · In collaboration with HoP and PM establishes and/or maintains mechanism of disseminating key MEAL findings, through implementation of improvements such as interactive dashboards and/or any similar, etc; · Establishes and/or maintains mechanism of tracking recommendations from post intervention monitoring- PIM, post distribution monitoring- PDM, evaluations and other monitoring activities to strengthen their usage and programmatic improvement; · Leads preparation of standard operational procedures - SOPs and relevant tools for partners’ monitoring; strongly contributes towards improving monitoring and evaluation efforts towards partners and their activities; · Conducts value for money, impact assessment, and cost-benefit and cost-effective analysis of project interventions, including activities, outputs, and outcomes as relevant; · Engages in relevant external working groups, if found relevant. Project progress tracking and reporting: · The MEAL Officer collaborates with program staff to ensure timely execution of the MEAL activities; ensures smooth cooperation between the MEAL team and project team; · Performs and organizes field-monitoring visits to assess progress of the project implementation and design monitoring and evaluation tools and methodologies, including surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, etc; · Travels frequently to the field to interact with partner organizations, beneficiaries and other stakeholders and to monitor implementation of the activities; · Supports project staff in needs assessments studies, both commissioned internally by PIN and those initiated at the interagency level; assists in designing the terms of reference, tools for needs assessment and supports in desk research, carrying out quantitative and qualitative data collection exercises, analyses and reporting; · Supports the MEAL department and project team in regular donor reporting. · Ensures data collected under different projects are properly stored on ELO (the organization's internal archiving system, and other databases) in accordance with the relevant PIN Data Protection policies, and Sharepoint is used for the ongoing working documentation. Organizational learning and capacity-building: · The MEAL Officer promotes and strengthens understanding of the importance of MEAL among other PIN’s staff in country program; · Supports and mainstreams learning efforts at PIN country program through organizing via sharing findings from the MEAL activities; · Assists in trainings, learning events in regard to MEAL and contributes to the MEAL team members capacity development, including trainings for enumerators and the MEAL officers and staff of partner CSOs. Accountability, use and dissemination of findings · Supports the efforts in developing and establishing accountability mechanisms for PIN programming, including the improvement of Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) adjusted to the different sectors and target groups, in particularly considering the nature of implementation through sub-grantees/CSOs and the need of their capacitation in regard to CFRM; · Assists in feedback collection and analysis through capacitating dedicated to CFRM junior team members; · In collaboration with the HoP ensures that humanitarian as well as protection principles and standards are properly mainstreamed through all the MEAL activities including through the planning, implementation, reporting and evaluation phase; · Mainstream gender equality and social inclusion into planning, monitoring, evaluation as well as reporting by devising necessary forms and formats. Accountability and Safeguarding including Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH) · Carry out the duties in accordance with the PIN Code of Conduct and Key policies · Participate in training and awareness raising (CoC and KP, Safeguarding…) · Create and maintain a fulfilling and protective environment. · Ensure strict application of media policy, including consent form for use of photos and testimonials of beneficiaries and community members, data protection/secure storage. · Ensure that safeguarding is taken into account in the proposal development, report, etc. · Support the operation manager in the implementation of Safeguarding measures throughout the project cycle including risk analysis related to SEAH and Child protection at the project/program level and develop a mitigation plan accordingly. · Provide trainings and awareness sessions on Safeguarding, CoC and Key policies to partner organizations/beneficiaries, when necessary · Monitor the implementation of Safeguarding measures (e.g awareness session for affected population, training for staff, CFRM etc) Note: The Employer reserves the right to assign the MEAL Officer any additional tasks related to his/her area of specialization. Qualifications required: Desired Knowledge, Skills and Competencies: · Bachelor’s degree in development studies, statistics, social sciences, or another relevant field. · Lao language: Native speaker level; English: Strong written and verbal communication skills (minimum B2 level or equivalent). · Minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in MEAL, data collection, analysis, or project monitoring. · Experience working with community-based monitoring systems is a strong advantage. · Proven experience in supporting the design and implementation of monitoring tools, conducting field-level data collection, and contributing to evaluations or learning processes. · Strong teamwork and communication skills · Ability to draft clear and concise reports in both Lao and English. · Strong analytical and interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively with team members, communities, and external stakeholders. · Ability to work independently and meet deadlines under pressure. Preferred · Familiarity with disaster risk reduction frameworks, community-based approaches, or climate change adaptation. · Familiarity with project management tools and/or GIS software is an advantage. BENFITS: · 18 days of Annual Leave per year. · Insurance (Hospital & Surgical, Accident, NSSO). · Extensive Capacity Building program, both internal and external trainings - Induction training, internal online opportunities, such as access to e-learning platform and live webinars. · Monthly Phone Card Allowance. · A friendly and good working environment. This Position is open for National Candidates only. Interested candidates should send their CV (with 3 references) and cover letter via our application form to Human Resources Department by this link: https://apply.workable.com/people-in-need-2/j/669E2943EB/, no later than 17th February 2025. Candidates are also encouraged to familiarize themselves with PIN’s website and Facebook. PIN reserves the right to select the candidate before the closure of the vacancy and only short-listed applicants will be contacted. PIN are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply, especially women. People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need engages /is in contact with. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks which can include criminal record. We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Please note: PIN does not charge a fee at any stages of the recruitment process. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. CONTACT DETAIL: Address : Sourisa Apartment, Nongbone Village, Saysettha District, Vientiane Capital, Lao P.D.R Name : People In Need (PIN) Contact : (+856) 2097092329 Facebook : People In Need Laos

Responsibilities

The MEAL Officer supports the implementation of MEAL activities across the Country Programme in Laos, contributing to the development and application of MEAL tools and systems to ensure quality programming aligned with organizational and donor standards. Key duties include tracking project indicators, collecting and verifying field data, supporting evaluations, documenting lessons learned, and ensuring community feedback is appropriately managed to improve implementation.