Bangladesh: MEAL Manager - Cox Bazar

GENERAL CONTEXT:

Outraged by the injustice faced by people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, we aspire to a world of solidarity and inclusion, enriched by our differences, where everyone can live in dignity.
Handicap International is an independent and impartial aid and development organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside disabled and vulnerable people to help meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

For further information about the association: http://www.handicap-international.org

COUNTRY CONTEXT:
Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in South Asia with one of the highest density of population in the world – 160 million. Bangladesh is a delta where 3 main rivers reach the sea. Most of the country is a disaster prone area in term of floods.
Emergency context and needs
A high proportion of the Undocumented Myanmar Nationals (UNM) refugees in Cox’s Bazar remain in a chronic emergency situation due to long-term challenges to find a durable solution to their status in Myanmar and Bangladesh and therefore require continuous humanitarian assistance. The new influx, with more than 600,000 arrivals from August 2018, has created even more pressure on resources and increasing humanitarian needs. The host Bangladeshi communities are also affected by the presence of a large refugee population living in the region. The two sub-districts of Ukhiya and Teknaf, where the refugees are mostly residing, are vulnerable to increased rates of poverty due to lack of public and private services, scarce job opportunities and limited natural resources, among other key causes. In addition, this coastal region is continuously dealing with the impacts of natural disasters, mostly cyclones and flooding, during which meagre assets of the local population are damaged or destroyed. The humanitarian needs resulting from the Mora’s devastating impact and the new arrivals of refugees have not been fully met yet, and the cyclone season is expected to start soon.

MISSION CONTEXT:
HI has been working in Bangladesh since 1997, with a focus on creating sustainable changes in terms of ensuring rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in society.
In Cox Bazar’s district, HI has a strong knowledge and experience in chronic emergency response. Thanks to three projects implemented before the crisis, HI is providing services in rehabilitation, protection and PSS, with an inclusive mainstreaming approach to refugees and host population. HI works not only with people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations, but also with their families, their communities, and the society, in order to provide sustainability in its action.

Emergency Response
In response to the massive influx of refugees, HI also set-up an emergency intervention responding to the needs of thousands of refugees. Multi-sectorial mobile teams are currently working in the “mega camp”, providing services in rehabilitation, health, protection and PSS. Because of the extremely vulnerability of certain persons, the mobile intervention helps reaching people forgotten by static activities. HI is also providing kits (shelter, NFI, WaSH, dignity, dry food) through a dedicated team in order to have a more integrated approach and respond to the needs of new arrivals.
Through its brands ATLAS logistics, HI set-up two storages in Ukiya and Teknaf and is facilitating transport to support other actors in their intervention.
Last, being very concern by the next monsoon season, HI is currently building a strategy of disaster risk reduction in coordination with an already experimented HI team in Dhaka as well as with the other actors in the zone.

Line-manager: Technical Unit Coordinator
Funding body(ies): DFID, EU-DEVCO, ECHO, IOM, IKEA, CDCS, UNHCR, SDC, GAC, MoFA Lux
Size of budget managed: 0€
Duration of funding (project): Until end of September 2018
Size of team (Total mission): Around 150 National staff + 15 Expats
Number of persons directly managed: 5

OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION :
The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager will assist project teams in Cox’s Bazar in enhancing projects’ accountability by implementing the MEAL strategy for each project/specific technical sector, according to HI MEAL frameworks, project monitoring plans, and common outcome indicators, and in line with HI Project Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Policy.
S/he will set up the MEAL Team, as well as MEAL communication and information exchange in the Bangladesh programme
Under the line management of the Technical Unit Coordinator, the MEAL Manager is responsible for the technically sound development and implementation of the MEAL strategy and methodological approach of the response to the crisis, in Cox’s Bazar.
In a very close collaboration with the sectoral managers, the MEAL manager will be key in in facilitating full accountability of HI´s intervention vis-a-vis communities, partners, governments, donors and other humanitarian actors, analysing achievements and objectives, and in ensuring a sound learning-based approach within the project cycle management.

MAIN RESPONSABILITIES :
1- Responsibility 1: Lead the MEAL unit in HI´s area of intervention in Cox’s Bazar
2- Responsibility 2: Implementation of the MEAL plan per project
3- Responsibility 3: Proposal development and Reporting
4- Responsibility 4: Team Management
5- Responsibility 5: Representation and Coordination

Safety and Security
Security is an issue of ongoing concern in the country. The Hill Tracts (Myanmar border and Indian border) are zones where expatriates are not allowed to go except with an authorization from the government. In Dhaka, the blockades and Hartals (national strikes) can restrict project activity. Expatriates have to strictly follow the security rules, which are periodically updated. The security for expatriates has recently deteriorated with attacks specifically targeting foreigners, putting additional restrictions on expatriate movement. In July 2016, 29 people including 18 expatriates were killed by suspected extremist militants at the Holey Artisan Bakery. From then on, the government has been taking serious steps in cracking down of militant activities in the country. Expatriates are currently only allowed to move by car; walking in the streets is restricted to specific areas. Security in Cox’s Bazar is even more sensitive with the presence of a growing number of foreign aid workers and the lareg numbe of refugee population. Although Bangladesh remains a family duty station, considering the security restrictions, HI does not recommend the position for families with schoolchildren. Cox’s Bazar remains a non-family duty station.

PROFILE SOUGHT

QUALIFICATIONS
• Academic background within the fields of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning, Humanitarian Assistance, Social Sciences or related;

EXPERIENCES
• At least 2 years of professional experience in a managerial NGO position, including a minimum of 1 year in the position of MEAL manager;
• Strong experience in survey design, data management, project cycle management, preferably within multisector approaches;
• Knowledge of protection risks and proven capacity of mainstreaming protection and inclusion into the operations is desirable
• Writing skills;
• Capacity building and coaching skills.
• Experience with HI is a strong asset;
• Experience launching of operations is an asset;

COMPETENCIES
• Proven managerial experience;
• Proven representation experience;
• Strong communication skills;
• English mandatory (oral and written);
• Strong writing and reporting skills;
• Computer skills: Very good knowledge of the MS office software (including Word, Excel, Outlook); other software is an asset (Survey CTO, iData, Le Sphinx, STATA, SPSS…).

QUALITIES
• Ability to work under high pressure;
• Good coordination skills;
• Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills.

CONDITIONS

• Starting date: ASAP
• Length of the contract: 12 months
• Contract: salaried contract (from 2215€/month gross depending on experience)
• Per-diem: 536,14 €/month net
• Hardship allowance: 250€/month net
• Insurances: medical health coverage, retirement planning, repatriation
• Paid holiday: 25 days per year
• R&R: 5 days every 6 weeks
• Status: single position not open to couple or families
• Accommodation: collective accommodation

https://hi.profilsearch.com/recrute/fr/fo_annonce_voir.php?id=2631&idpartenaire=136