MEL Manager

ROLE TYPE: 1 year FTC

LOCATION:  Beirut, Lebanon 

REPORTING TO: Project Manager

CLOSING DATE: 21st October 2024

ABOUT ARK

ARK is a social enterprise, empowering local communities through the provision of agile and sustainable interventions to create greater stability, opportunity and hope for the future. 

We believe that strong, resilient communities are the foundation of local, national, regional and international development and stability – and ultimately a safer, peaceful and more prosperous world. At ARK, we have delivered research and programmatic interventions validating this approach in over twenty countries since 2008. As a social enterprise we work in partnership with communities, our donors, and other implementers to build local capacities, generate opportunity and bring about sustainable change. 

Learn more about our impact here:  https://www.ark.international/impact

About the Role

ARK MEL function plays a key role in the evidence-based design and delivery of ARK’s portfolio of programmes and projects, ranging from conflict prevention and mitigation, stabilisation and development to security sector capacity building and the climate/conflict nexus, among other areas.

The MEAL Manager will support the British Training and Advisory Team (BTAT) with monitoring, evaluation, and learning functions. The MEL Manager will make a key contribution to the quality, effectiveness, adaptability, and appropriateness of BTAT’s delivery, as well as its accountability to donors and affected communities/populations.

The MEL Manager will work closely with other ARK MEL colleagues, project personnel and colleagues across research and strategic communications functions to ensure MEL is coherent and rigorous across ARK’s portfolio in the region. They will also coordinate with the business development and research teams in the design of bids/new programme proposals and build relationships with a range of partners and institutions. They also take on a leading role in the recruitment of new MEL expertise as needed (consultants and full-time staff), coordinating with senior management and the finance department to ensure appropriate budgeting of existing and future MEL colleagues.

What you'll be doing

System Design and Implementation

• Support the development and implementation of MEL systems, methodologies, approaches, and tools, based on industry standards/best practice. This includes, among other frameworks, Theories of Change, Results Frameworks, progress markers, Value for Money (VfM) frameworks and Conflict Sensitivity frameworks, etc;
• ·Promote all aspects of MEL to support the creation of an organisational culture that prioritises quality, adaptive programming based on learning, and accountability to funders;
• Build effective relationships with the project leadership, project management, and project subject matter experts (SMEs) to provide support as required to ensure MEL systems are understood and supported.

Direct MEL Support to BTAT

• Function as the MEL lead for BTAT, supporting the Project Manager and the wider BTAT team with performance monitoring, including the following activities:
• Analyse training data and develop reports/dashboards summarising training performance;
• Liaise with the BTAT MIS Coordinator to ensure data is stored accurately in the master BTAT database and dashboards are accurate and informative;
• Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with BTAT stakeholders and project beneficiaries to inform analysis and develop MEL products;
• Contribute to weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports;
• Develop case studies, spotlights, and change stories;
• Support evaluations and reviews;
• Participate in meetings and engagements with donors;
• Lead regular learning sessions with the BTAT team to drive adaptation and improvements;
• Ensure that MEL is an integral part of the project design stage and features in all proposal development, including budgeting for MEL resources.