Consortium MEAL Manager- CASH Consortium of Afghanistan

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.  In disaster and hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we collaborate to put bold solutions into action, helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Enhancing resilience is at the heart of what Mercy Corps does and how we work. Resilience means that people and systems can protect and improve wellbeing in the face of shocks and stresses. Mercy Corps strengthens sources of resilience to enhance the capacities of people, markets, and institutions to handle shocks, reduce risk, build more equitable and responsive systems, and improve well-being. Through our programs, partnerships, and influence, we support communities to cope, adapt, and ultimately thrive.

Since 1986, Mercy Corps Afghanistan has supported communities to recover and build resilience to future shocks and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives, with a focus on the most marginalized. Our objectives include meeting immediate food and nutrition needs through cash, voucher, and WASH assistance, strengthening capacities for crisis preparedness and response, and in so doing, contribute to resilience through inclusive, climate-smart water systems, enhanced livelihoods opportunities, food security, and social cohesion. 

Description: The MEAL Manager is a core member of the CCA Consortium Management Unit and provides strategic leadership for consortium-wide Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) systems across all consortium partners and implementing locations.

The MEAL Manager will lead the harmonization, implementation, and continuous improvement of consortium MEAL systems to ensure high-quality, accountable, evidence-driven, and adaptive humanitarian programming. The position will oversee monitoring frameworks, accountability mechanisms, learning agendas, data governance systems, rapid response monitoring, and information management processes for the consortium.

The role will directly support:

• quality implementation of Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA),
• accountability to affected populations (AAP),
• protection-sensitive programming,
• referral pathway monitoring,
• rapid emergency response monitoring,
• localization and Afghan NGO capacity strengthening,
• market and shock monitoring,
• evidence generation and adaptive management. 

The MEAL Manager will coordinate closely with consortium partners, including program, protection, operations, accountability, and information management teams, as well as national and sub-national coordination structures including the Cash Working Group (CWG), clusters, and other humanitarian coordination mechanisms.

The position will provide strategic technical supervision to consortium MEAL staff and technical guidance to MEAL focal points across consortium partners and participating Afghan NGOs.

The MEAL Manager will ensure compliance with donor requirements, including DG ECHO standards, data protection obligations, and humanitarian accountability standards, while promoting a strong culture of learning, adaptation, and evidence-based decision-making across the consortium.

Essential Job Responsibilities

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

·       Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work

·       Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members

·       Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for all consortium-wide MEAL systems and approaches.
• Lead implementation of the Consortium MEAL Framework, Learning Agenda, Accountability Framework, and Information Management Strategy.
• Ensure harmonized MEAL approaches and standardized tools are implemented consistently across consortium partners.
• Support consortium leadership and partners in evidence-based program adaptation and strategic decision-making.
• Lead consortium-level MEAL coordination meetings with partner focal points and technical teams.
• Support integration of accountability, protection mainstreaming, gender, disability inclusion, and safeguarding across all MEAL systems.
• Ensure consortium monitoring systems reflect the evolving humanitarian context and operational realities in Afghanistan.
• Support implementation of adaptive management approaches through regular analysis and learning reviews.
• Participate in consortium strategic planning, donor engagement, and program review meetings.
• Coordinate with consortium leadership to ensure MEAL priorities are integrated into operational planning and implementation.
• Support harmonization of consortium approaches with national humanitarian coordination structures and technical working groups.
• Contribute to strategic discussions related to localization, anticipatory action, emergency response, and cash coordination. 

MEAL Data Systems

• Design, maintenance, and continuous improvement of consortium-wide MEAL systems and data architecture using CommCare, Azure, and PowerBI.
• Harmonize monitoring tools, indicator tracking systems, data collection methodologies, and reporting templates across partners.
• Ensure accurate and timely collection, analysis, storage, and reporting of program data.
• Oversee indicator performance tracking against donor and consortium targets.
• Lead the regular data verification exercises and periodic data quality assessments (DQAs) conducted at the consortium level.
• Ensure MEAL systems comply with DG ECHO requirements and consortium reporting obligations.
• Supervise management of consortium databases, dashboards, and reporting systems.
• Support implementation and use of MIS platforms including, CommCare, Power BI, Excel, and other approved systems.
• Coordinate data cleaning, deduplication, validation, and harmonization processes across consortium partners.
• Ensure data systems support sex-, age-, and disability-disaggregated analysis.
• Support remote monitoring systems where access constraints limit in-person monitoring.
• Ensure consortium data systems remain functional during rapid emergency responses and crisis modifier activations.
• Coordinate with REACH and consortium technical teams to support integration of market monitoring, shock monitoring, and analytical products into consortium learning systems.

Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)

• Develop and implement the consortium Accountability Framework.
• Harmonize Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanisms (CARMs) across consortium partners.
• Ensure feedback and complaints mechanisms are accessible, confidential, inclusive, and context appropriate.
• Monitor effectiveness and accessibility of accountability channels for women, persons with disabilities, returnees, and marginalized populations.
• Establish systems for feedback trend analysis and escalation of sensitive complaints.
• Ensure community feedback informs program adaptation and operational decision-making.
• Coordinate feedback referral pathways and ensure timely response and resolution of complaints.
• Support partners to strengthen community engagement and communication approaches.
• Ensure communities receive clear and transparent information regarding targeting, entitlements, timelines, and complaints processes.
• Lead analysis of accountability data and produce periodic accountability reports and recommendations.
• Support closure of feedback loops with communities and affected populations. 

Protection Mainstreaming and Safer Cash

• Ensure protection mainstreaming principles are integrated across all MEAL activities and tools.
• Support implementation of safer cash programming approaches in coordination with protection teams.
• Monitor protection risks associated with cash assistance including exclusion, diversion, exploitation, intra-household tension, and access barriers.
• Ensure monitoring systems assess safety, dignity, accessibility, and participation of affected populations.
• Support integration of protection-related indicators into monitoring tools and assessments.
• Ensure monitoring systems capture gender, age, disability, and vulnerability dimensions.
• Support safe and ethical data collection practices in line with safeguarding and humanitarian standards.
• Coordinate with protection actors and referral focal points to strengthen protection-sensitive referral systems.
• Monitor unintended consequences and protection concerns arising from consortium interventions.

Rapid Response Monitoring

• Develop and maintain and lead the implementation of harmonized rapid monitoring systems for emergency response interventions.
• Support consortium partners to conduct Rapid Needs Assessments (RNAs) during sudden-onset emergencies.
• Ensure rapid monitoring tools and systems are operational and standardized across consortium partners.
• Support activation monitoring and reporting for crisis modifier responses.
• Coordinate emergency response data flows and rapid analytical products.
• Monitor timeliness and quality of emergency response implementation against consortium standards.
• Support anticipatory action monitoring and shock analysis processes.
• Ensure emergency monitoring systems remain functional in high-risk and hard-to-access environments. 

Program Learning

• Lead implementation of the consortium Learning Agenda.
• Facilitate consortium-wide pause-and-reflection sessions, after-action reviews, and learning workshops.
• Promote use of monitoring findings and accountability data for adaptive management and program improvement.
• Lead development of learning products, case studies, lessons learned documents, dashboards, and analytical briefs.
• Coordinate internal and external dissemination of key findings and learning products.
• Support operational research, evaluations, and thematic studies across consortium activities.
• Coordinate with REACH and consortium technical teams on joint analysis initiatives and evidence generation.
• Ensure learning from community feedback and monitoring findings informs future programming and response design.
• Support documentation of best practices and innovations in cash programming, accountability, coordination, and localization.

Localization and Capacity Strengthening

• Support implementation of consortium localization objectives through MEAL capacity strengthening initiatives.
• Lead MEAL mentoring and technical support for Afghan NGO partners and consortium focal points.
• Conduct MEAL capacity assessments and support development plans for local partners.
• Develop simplified and context-appropriate MEAL tools, guidance, and training materials for local partners.
• Facilitate consortium learning exchanges and peer-to-peer learning initiatives.
• Support partners to strengthen accountability, data quality, and evidence-based programming capacities.
• Promote locally led approaches to monitoring, accountability, and emergency response analysis.

Team Management

• Supervise consortium MEAL staff and support technical coordination with partner MEAL focal points.
• With the support of consortium management unit, establish the consortium MEAL Technical Working Group (MEAL TWG) and lead the TWG’s ad hoc and periodic meetings.
• Create a collaborative and inclusive work environment that promotes teamwork, learning, accountability, and professional development.
• Support onboarding, training, coaching, and performance management of MEAL staff.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, workflows, and coordination structures across MEAL teams.
• Ensure staff understand consortium standards, donor requirements, and humanitarian principles.
• Promote staff well-being and safe working practices in challenging operational contexts.
• Support recruitment and technical evaluation of MEAL-related staff where required. 

Internal and External Coordination

• Represent the consortium in relevant technical coordination forums including the Cash Working Group (CWG), clusters, and other relevant platforms.
• Coordinate closely with consortium program, operations, finance, accountability, and protection teams.
• Maintain strong working relationships with consortium partners, local NGOs, clusters, and humanitarian coordination actors.
• Coordinate with REACH on market monitoring, JMMI processes, and analytical outputs.
• Support harmonized reporting and information-sharing processes across consortium partners.
• Contribute to donor reporting, technical presentations, and consortium communication products.
• Promote collaboration, transparency, and information sharing across the consortium.

Organizational Learning 

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Participants

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

Consortium MEAL staff

 Security

●       Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.   

●       Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies. 

Accountability

Reports Directly To: the Consortium lead/director with a matrix reporting to Mercy Corps

Works Directly With: Mercy Corps’ HQ TEQ/MEL team, CCA Consortium lead/director, CCA partner MEAL and consortium partners’ national/local teams (including Mercy Corps Afghanistan MEL team), and CCA operations areas to coordinate logistics or contracting services for MEAL activities and product.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our projects.

Knowledge and Experience 

●       Education: BA/S or equivalent, degree or equivalent in development studies, computer science, business administration, statistics, economics, social sciences, monitoring and evaluation, project management or other relevant field required. 

●       Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of work experience, at least three (3) years of specific experience in the areas of program development and monitoring and evaluation in emergency, transition, and development programs with international cooperation, including relevant experience building and managing complex MEAL systems and teams. Relevant experience supervising data collection and data validation exercises and building staff capacity.  

●       Knowledge of key donors: A minimum of three (3) years of experience in monitoring and evaluation management for international development programs; ECHO, USAID/BHA, SDC, FCDO or other donors, preferred.

●       Knowledge of thematic areas: Experience in conducting MEAL activities for CVA programs and diverse sectors including food security, water security, and economic empowerment is required. Please consult our website for more details and review our P2P strategy for definitions of those outcome areas. 

●       Knowledge of mobile technologies: A high degree of computer literacy is required. Knowledge and prior significant experience of using MEAL technologies: CommCare for data collection, Azure for data engineering, PowerBI for data visualization and reporting.  Strong qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills and knowledge.  Demonstrated understanding of intermediate statistics and ability to summarize and make predictions from multiple data sets: power user with Excel; experience with statistical packages including STATA, R, or SPSS; prior experience of using a qualitative analysis package, and MAXQDA is preferred.

●       Knowledge of data analysis: The candidate needs to demonstrate knowledge of statistical analysis methods, as well as qualitative methods in order to succeed in this role.

●       Knowledge of evaluation: Demonstrated academic and practical knowledge of various evaluation and study methodologies, including quantitative, mixed methods and qualitative methods. Prior experience with leading, commissioning and conducting complex studies will be a strong benefit to the applicant of this position.

●       Emergencies: Experience in conducting MEAL for emergency response, early recovery, and development programs is highly appreciated.  Knowledge of cash transfer programming is essential

●       Writing and presentation skills: Ability to prepare clear and concise reports. Ability to communicate clearly in a multicultural environment. 

●       Planning and organization skills: Ability to manage and meet deadlines. Ability to work independently on multi-task load.

●       Language skills: Fluency in written and oral English, Dari and Pashto is required. Must be able to read and interpret documents and communicate with others as necessary to perform job duties effectively.

Success Factors   

A successful candidate must have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Afghanistan. The candidate must be a hands-on manager, ready to respond to a diverse portfolio of needs,  an excellent communicator, and skilled at maintaining good relationships with the HQ and country teams involved in program implementation. They must have strategic leadership skills to coordinate diverse teams based on trust, cooperation, learning, effectiveness, and efficiency.

The candidate must demonstrate strong experience and understanding of large-scale humanitarian programs implemented under consortium coordination models as well as of the best practices, standards and technologies for data collection and storage. They must be a rigorous and multitasker person, committed to data quality and accountability processes. They should demonstrate independence, creativity and flexibility to solve problems given by changing contexts and needs.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Kabul, Afghanistan and it requires minimum travels to support consortium programming and operations in different regions of Afghanistan.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Consent Language: 

“Mercy Corps collects your personal data for the purposes of managing Mercy Corps recruitment related activities as well as for organizational planning purposes globally. Consequently, Mercy Corps may use your personal data in relation to the evaluation and selection of applicants including, for example, setting up and conducting interviews and tests, evaluating and assessing the results thereto and as is otherwise needed in the recruitment processes including the final recruitment. 

Mercy Corps is an international organization consisting of multiple affiliated companies in various countries. Mercy Corps has international sites and uses resources located throughout the world. Your data may be held on secure platforms globally, including outside . All personal data whether relating to recruitment or employment, is held on a secure platform and system which is subject to regular testing and audit. Unless stated in the job description that the post involves other organizations with which the information will be shared as part of the recruitment process, your personal data will only be shared with third parties where consent is given. Mercy Corps participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (the “Scheme”) (www.schr.info/the-misconduct-disclosure-scheme). Accordingly, we request information from a job applicant’s previous employer(s) about any investigations which found that the applicant committed sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents of misconduct under investigation when the applicant left employment. By applying, you confirm your consent to Mercy Corps collecting your prior employment history under the Scheme as part of the application process. Your data will be stored for up to four years.” 

By applying for this position, I attest that I have never violated a sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or human trafficking policy and that I have never been disciplined for violating an employer’s code of conduct.”

To apply for this position, please follow the below given link.

Consortium MEL Manager- CASH Consortium of Afghanistan

Please note that only shortlisted candidates whose application responds to the above criteria will be contacted for the written test/interview.

Note:  Please note that MCA will provide office space and facilities only and is not providing any lodging facilities for its Team Members/Employees in HQ and field offices and it is the employee’s responsibility to arrange the lodgings for themselves if they work in a field office other than their home province.

Females are highly encouraged to apply for the MCA Open positions.

Note: This Position is Contigent Upon donor approval