MEAL Assistant

Request for Expression of Interest 

People in Need Moldova needed a MEAL Assistant  

Organization - People in Need  

Job Title – MEAL Assistant  

Duty station - Chișinău or Bălți or Comrat, with significant interest in area of Bălți, and willingness for mobility throughout Moldova. 

Salary range – 13 870,00 – 19 000,00 MDL gross  

Based on the assessment of the candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and previous experience. 

The applicants will be invited for interviews on a rolling basis. The application process might be stopped earlier if a suitable candidate is identified before the application deadline. 

Type of contract - Employment contract; Full-time work 

Expected Duration of Assignment - 15/03/2025 - 31/12/2025 

Education & Work Experience  

Qualification: 

  • Degree in social studies (e.g. sociology, statistics)/related fields or track record of relevant experience, including research experience and skills: designing a research, designing data collection tools, coordinating a research, and doing the actual data collection (quantitative, e.g. surveys and qualitative, e.g. various types of interviews or focus group discussion, etc.) in the field as well as analyzing data using various methods and tools. 

  • Analytical skills, experience and ability in analysing and presenting data, but also reflective thinking, and being able to understand the stories behind the data. 

  • Stakeholders engagement, communication skills and team work, ability to engage, manage and deal with different internal (team members from other departments, e.g. programme/project staff, logistics, finance, etc.) and external stakeholders, including different type of beneficiaries (individuals, representatives of other I/NGOs), representatives of different level authorities, civil society organizations and donors utilizing both written and oral communication skills.  

  • Technology and software related skills, ability to utilize computer packages and applications in data collection, data analysis, storage and dissemination. 

  • Creativity, ability to adapt approaches, tools and methods to different programmes, project and activities; ability to involve innovations in order to get buy in of stakeholders and users of the M&E system. 

  • Availability, including ability to undertake regular field visits all over Moldova, if needed, few days in a row with overnight stays in different locations of Moldova. 

  • Experience in M&E activities is an advantage (designing and carrying out M&E studies, baseline, endline, PDM and evaluations). 

  • Experience in the NGO/INGO field with a focus on civil society development or emergency programs is an advantage. 

  • Excellent command of English and Romanian. Good command of Russian is an advantage. 

Background:  

People in Need (PIN) is a Czech non-governmental organization that provides relief aid and development assistance while working to defend human rights and democratic freedom. It is one of the largest relief and development organizations in post-communist Europe and has administered projects in 37 countries over the past 30 years. See here for more information about PIN: www.peopleinneed.net. 

From 2009 onwards, PIN has added development programmes to its work in Moldova, building a vision and practices that keep people and communities at the center of our work. Throughout its presence in the country, PIN has been contributing to the development of the following sectors: Sustainable Livelihood and Environment, Social Inclusion and Protection, Good Governance. 

Position Overview:   

Under overall supervision of the Head of MEAL and direct supervision of MEAL Coordinator or MEAL Officer, MEAL Assistant conducts monitoring activities such as structured field and phone interviews, field in-depth face-to-face interviews, field visits and observations and organises focus group discussions (FGDs) during MEAL related studies (e.g. Post intervention monitoring-PIM/post distribution monitoring-PDM/endline assessments, etc.) and drafts reports about these activities, supports other MEAL related activities and tasks and provides necessary support to Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM).  

Duties & Responsibilities: 

  • The MEAL assistant collaborates with program staff to ensure timely execution of assigned MEAL activities, including collaboration with the staff of implementing partner organization. 

  • Assists in the development and adaptation of data-collection tools and performs data collection as instructed by MEAL Coordinator/MEAL Officer or head of the department, such as: in-person and/or phone-based structured and/or semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, as well as conducts regular field visits and observations. Ensures the quality of data collected. 

  • Programs survey questionnaires in KOBO and provides KOBO training to data collectors.  

  • Captures data using digital data entry technology provided, (e.g. KoBo forms, Activity Info or other relevant platform); accurately enters the daily collected data, inclusive of submitting completed questionnaires via digital data gathering platforms on tablets/mobile phones. 

  • Checks the quality of data collected continuously as it comes in, and follows up on any errors or challenges arising in the process.  

  • Ensures anonymity of respondents, where applicable and follows confidentiality and security procedures to ensure the protected privacy of the respondent.  

  • Identifies and reports any challenges faced that could affect the quality of the data and documents them.  

  • Drafts reports of the assessments, analyses and documents all findings and prepares the initial recommendations as required for project planning, performance management, and reporting;  

  • Initiates independent monitoring visits of projects with the aim of receiving or validating data/information on specific projects and strengthening accountability (activity monitoring, distribution monitoring, post-distribution monitoring, Beneficiary Feedback Mechanisms, etc.);  

  • Provides sessions to beneficiaries in the field on PIN Community Feedback and Response Mechanism. 

  • Supports in the reception and documentation of feedback from beneficiaries and other stakeholders during field monitoring visits;  

  • In case of necessity, regularly alternates or temporarily replaces CFRM Hotline Operator in his/her duties and responds to complaint and feedback from beneficiaries and other stakeholders, inclusive of implementing partners and documents entire process of feedback reception, investigation and feedback loop closure; 

  • Ensures archiving of the MEAL documents in PIN internal archiving system;  

  • Participates in training sessions and team meetings as required by MEAL department. 

  • Promotes and strengthens understanding of the importance of MEAL among other PIN’s staff in Moldova. 

Interested applicants must submit the following: 

  • Cover letter (in English); 

  • Full CV (in English); 

  • Contacts of three references (one should include the supervisor in the most recent work assignment). 

The above shall be sent to the following address: https://apply.workable.com/people-in-need-2/j/9A9B4C44CB/apply/  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the interview. No phone calls or inquiries are allowed. 

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 records and terrorism finance checks. 

We are committed to ensuring diversity (people from different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.) within our organization and encourage interested candidates to apply. 

By sending their CV and other documents to the aforementioned link the candidate implicitly consents to their personal data appearing in the CV and such other documents being held and processed by PIN exclusively with the view to analyzing the candidate’s suitability for the position and keeping such data in our files for a reasonable period of time in accordance with the PIN's Data Protection Policy. The candidate can revoke such consent anytime by sending an according notice. Kindly refrain from including any special personal data, whose processing, as per applicable law, requires the express written consent of the subject of such data.