Turkey: Accountability & Learning Officer – Turkey / Istanbul

National Post

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children's lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential.We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised $2 billion dollars last year to reach more children than ever before, ensuring that they are able to survive, learn and be protected whatever their circumstances, including in times of humanitarian crisis.

2016 is a time of change and growth at Save the Children. As part of our new strategic plan ‘Every Last Child’, we have made it a global priority to build humanitarian, advocacy and campaigning capability, to become truly global - driving stronger and more diversified funding, and to maximise the use of our knowledge, systems, capacity and culture. We are doing whatever it takes to reach the world’s most excluded children. With your help we can ensure the world puts children first, and that we can tackle the barriers that prevent them from surviving and thriving. We won’t stop until every last child survives and fulfils their potential.

Position reporting to: Deputy Director of Programme Development & Quality

Positions reporting to the POST: N/A

Contract type: Employment

Contract length: 1 year

Closing date: 21-Feb-17

Location: Istanbul

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Accountability & Learning Officer is a part of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team, supporting implementation of the overall programme MEAL system. He/she will coordinate the running of the Istanbul Accountability system at the national office level under the Deputy Director of Programme Development & Quality. He/she will assist the central MEAL team with activities, focusing on contact with beneficiaries in terms of information sharing, involving beneficiaries in monitoring and review, and collection of feedback through focus group discussions, interviews and feedback & complaints mechanisms. He/she will support accountability activities within surveys, assessments and evaluations. The Accountability & Learning Officer will support all efforts for promoting a high level of beneficiary accountability and will support programme teams to implement the feedback mechanisms at field level, ensuring that information from feedback is analysed and disseminated, managing referrals, and helping to produce informational materials for beneficiaries. He/she will also maintain the feedback system for SC staff in their location and facilitate regular consultation with children.

The Accountability & Learning Officer will be responsible for learning activities at the programme level. This includes capture of learning at monthly review meetings, synthesis of learning from donor reports, assessments, PDM surveys and other documents, follow up of evaluation learning points and actions, and organisation of learning reviews for specific projects (SC and Partner). The Accountability & Learning Officer will work closely with the MEAL Partnership Officer to support accountability to Partners and with the MEAL Coordinator to support M&E and learning as needed. They will generally support the MEAL team and programme team to ensure learning and accountability systems are working effectively across the programme.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

· Support DDPDQ in implementation of the Accountability system for the programme including the running of existing mechanisms and set up and implementation of new areas.

· Responsible for tracking and review of Accountability Implementation plan.

· Lead on the design and set up of the full programme complaints and response mechanism.

· Manage feedback received and ensure timely and appropriate referral and follow-up as per MEAL team feedback protocols including producing monthly feedback reports.

· Support Programme Managers with accountability data collection processes for the MEAL plans and other accountability focused activities.

· Work closely with the MEAL Partnership Officer to support partners to implement and maintain accountability activities and systems.

· Responsible for learning activities at the programme level including capture of learning at monthly review meetings, synthesis of learning from donor reports, assessments, PDM surveys and other documents.

· Responsible for follow up of evaluation learning points and actions and organisation of learning reviews for specific projects (SC and Partner).

· Support programming and field staff to ensure that projects are carried out with participation from all affected communities (including children) and that information is shared with affected communities.

· Conduct field monitoring visits as appropriate and conduct accountability related trainings and capacity development for SC staff and partners.

· Conduct community visits, focus group discussions with beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries to receive feedback on SC programmes and partner.

· Ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct.

· Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

· Any other task requested by line manager.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES:

Essential

• Previous experience of working in accountability, customer service, consultation related role.
• Demonstrated ability in community mobilisation and community-level dialogue.
• Staff and project management experience.
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills.
• Experience of working with children.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Fluent English, both spoken and written.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support

Desirable

• Previous experience working in humanitarian programmes.
• Strong skills in excel and other data management software.

· Previous Accountability training.

Benefits Package provided to National Staff:

· Salary commensurate with the pay-grade of the position.

· Annual leave

· Medical Scheme, Accidental and Life insurance.

· Transportation

· A motivating work environment

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Please apply in English by sending your up to date CV with a cover letter as a single document explaining your salary expectations to turkey.recruit@savethechildren.org and mention the position that you are applying for to the subject section. The advertisement will be closed on 21st February 2017 at 5:30 PM (Turkey local time). In order for an application to be considered valid, a copy of the residency/work permit card must be attached with the application.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.