Head of MEAL (MEA)

Monitoring & Evaluation

Overview

Lead and manage MEAL systems and team, ensuring accountability and learning.

You have:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a MEAL related role, minimum of 7 years’ experience overall in a humanitarian or development context
• Education to MSc/MA/MEng level in a relevant subject or equivalent field experience
• Experience in research methods, data collection, and analysis software
• Proven success in building and managing a team and dedication to developing staff capacity through training, supervising, coaching and mentoring
• Experience and knowledge of monitoring systems, including robust and responsible data collection and use
• Demonstrated strong evaluation skills, including planning and delivering evaluations either directly or with consultants
• Ability to work both in an advisory and a direct implementation capacity
• Experience working with local partners to implement projects, including experience of capacity building for partner staff
• Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children
• Excellent communication and influencing skills

The Organization We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

· No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday · All children learn from a quality basic education and that, · Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information: Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/jobs We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

TITLE: Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Programme Development, Delivery, and Impact

LOCATION: Freetown, Sierra Leone with travel to Kailahun, Pujehun, Port Loko and Western Rural

GRADE: 2

CONTRACT LENGTH:12 months, renewable

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3: The role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE: The Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) will provide technical support in Sierra Leone as well as line manage 2 Senior MEAL Managers, 1 MEAL Manager and 1 MEAL Coordinator in field offices and in projects. The Head of MEAL is a key position in the Country Office and is expected to lead on quality MEAL system design and implementation, evaluations, research, MEAL resource allocation, staff management, annual planning, as well as program development. The post holder will be expected to mentor and/or build capacity of staff in the MEAL structure, as well as oversee the MEAL team’s capacity building of partner staff.

The Head of MEAL is a member of the Program Development, Delivery, and Impact team, and requires engagement with multiple function to ensure that MEAL is fully integrated into multi-functional organisational procedures.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Director of Program Development, Delivery, and Impact

Number of direct reports: Four (4)

Role Dimensions: The role is expected to foster relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including Save the Children members, the Country Office operational team, advocacy colleagues, Regional Advisors, technical counterparts in other organisation, donors etc. The role is also expected to engage with internal technical working groups and communities of practice.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Implementation of a Comprehensive MEAL System

1. Lead and oversee an integrated CO MEAL system for development and humanitarian programs; including measurable standard thematic indicators, standard procedures and processes, corresponding data collection and reporting tools and guides
2. Lead routine collection, analysis and use of evidence, including disaggregation for gender, disability and the most marginalised and deprived, to document impact, innovate and learn what work for children, and inform management, policy and programme solutions. This includes needs and baseline assessments, feasibility studies, evaluations and research.
3. Consolidate and support the implementation of community feedback and response mechanisms for both development and humanitarian programs in Save the Children Sierra Leone’s operational areas to ensure confidentiality, real time quality response and proper oversight of the response.
4. Assume leadership for the coordination and harmonization of programme and project MEAL efforts through facilitating cross-learning and sharing of technical resources
5. Support the roll out and utilization of standard MEAL procedures, processes, standard thematic indicators, corresponding data collection and reporting tools (such as MEAL plans, MEAL master budget, output trackers, IPTTs, quality benchmarks, database systems)
6. Systematically identify, document, share and use learning from Save the Children and others’ work, in order to continuously adapt and improve our programming. This includes learning agendas, learning workshops and after action review, action planning and tracking of learning uptake.
7. Ensure that KPIs related to MEAL activities are regularly met through institutionalisation of robust systems for tracking, reporting and following up improvement actions.
8. Foster innovation by identifying opportunities to pilot new approaches and to upgrade tools, systems and process based on advances in the aid sector.
9. Champion knowledge management through the development and use of platforms that store and display evidence and learning that is made accessible and actively used between countries, regions and the Centre.
10. Provide quality assurance for MEAL related events, including review of ToRs for major MEAL related consultancies, baseline and research and evaluation designs and reports; where possible, to be present at the validation/dissemination meetings for baselines, research pieces, and evaluations

MEAL Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development

1. Lead the country’s MEAL team by structuring it appropriately and then hiring and retaining highly-qualified and motivated MEAL staff. This includes direct supervision of all CO MEAL staff.
2. Manage the performance of MEAL staff by clearly setting objectives, assessing performance, and providing coaching, mentoring, and training that aligns with SCI’s Global MEAL Capacity Building Strategic Workplan.
3. Ensure MEAL staff have and understand clearly defined roles and responsibilities that are also understood by Program Delivery and Impact teams. Support responsible MEAL to develop and implement related processes across functions.
4. Promote all aspects of MEAL through training and capacity building for multiple stakeholders including MEAL staff and PDQ Leadership to support the creation of an organizational culture which prioritizes MEAL leading to quality programming.
5. Build the technical expertise and coherency of the team through regular team learning actions such as internal workshops, the MEAL Community of Practice, MEAL training opportunities and networks in country, region and globally, others.

Programme Development and MEAL Resources

1. Work closely with the Programme Ops team to ensure MEAL plays an integral role at every stage of the project lifecycle, leading to enhanced quality, accountability, management and impact.
2. As a contributor to proposal development, review and improve MEAL technical narrative and budgets within proposals, support development of SMART indicators with technical teams, ensure quality mechanisms are in place, and ensure consistency with the CO and SCI MEAL strategies.
3. Ensure that adequate MEAL resources are included in proposals and work creatively to secure sufficient funding from diverse sources to ensure capacity to deliver MEAL according to SCI quality standards.
4. Effectively manage the MEAL budget by understanding sources of funding and possible gaps, and optimizing available resources.

Strategic and Annual Planning

1. Ensure that evidence and learning is brought together across thematic and operational regions to develop a Country Strategic Plan (including participating in a Child Needs Situational Assessment).
2. Support the development of the Country Annual Plan (CAP) including identifying future evaluations and ensure that data is accurate.
3. Support PDQ staff to analyse progress against organisational objectives and strategies.

Internal Reporting

1. Ensure accurate data collection and processing for all regular reporting including internal reports such as the Country Annual Report, the Programme Quality KPIs, categorised emergency sit reps, and “Total Reach”.
2. Support MEAL aspects of donor reporting, including review of baseline, mid-term, endline or any other donor/project specific studies.
3. Respond to any internal or SC member request for specific information including production of geographic, thematic or programme-specific data.
4. Ensure that regularly updated MEAL mechanisms are in place for each project including technical reports and MEAL tracking tools that identify necessary future actions.
5. Ensure data quality and accuracy (including for external reporting as needed).

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

The post holder must commit to work in an international agency that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion and fights racism, gender inequality and discrimination in all forms; and to model positive behaviours that demonstrate a commitment to equality and respect to all colleagues, partners and communities.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a MEAL related role, minimum of 7 years’ experience overall in a humanitarian or development context
• Education to MSc/MA/MEng level in a relevant subject or equivalent field experience
• Experience of, and commitment to, working through systems of community/child participation and accountability
• Experience in research methods, data collection, and analysis software
• Proven success in building and managing a team and dedication to developing staff capacity through training, supervising, coaching and mentoring.
• Experience and knowledge of monitoring systems, including robust and responsible data collection and use.
• Demonstrated strong evaluation skills, including planning and delivering evaluations either directly or with consultants
• Ability to work both in an advisory and a direct implementation capacity
• Experience of working with local partners to implement projects, including experience of capacity building for partner staff
• Demonstrable analytical and problem solving skills.
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, defining and planning a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in.
• Experience of representation and ability to represent SC effectively in external forums.
• Experience of supporting the preparation of successful funding proposals for donors
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• A high level of written and spoken English
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of the Save the Children mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support

Desirable

• Experience working in emergency responses
• Experience of working and living in other West African countries
• Specific experience of designing and managing MEAL for DFID, EU, USAID projects
• Specific experience of working in consortia projects.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 5 months ago - Updated 4 months ago - Source: savethechildren.net