Save the Children International is looking for Head of Meal (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning) – (2000035R) – Niamey

Role purpose                        

The Head of MEAL will bring significant experience and fresh ideas to develop and implement realistic MEAL strategy and systems, ensuring that such systems are institutionalized within the existing project cycle management framework, and that staff have the capacity to implement the revised systems.  S/he will be self-assured in lobbying for resources and promoting MEAL throughout the organisation and will have outstanding interpersonal skills.

The Head of MEAL will work with the Field Managers to ensure that all development and emergency projects are continually monitored; lessons are documented and communicated to inform ongoing implementation and future programming. S/he will guide, advise, and support building of the capacities of field teams in these areas in order to achieve outcome/impact-focused projects and accountability to beneficiaries in line with SC and donor policies and practices. S/he will maintain a central and systematic information management system whereby relevant project information, data and lessons of programs are accessible for use as required.

The Head of MEAL will report to the Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) Director, keeping him/her updated with the performance of projects against objectives through regular monitoring and supervision by the MEAL team.

Key areas of accountability

Developing and Maintaining Enabling Environment for MEAL in the Field

  • Technical lead of the rapidly evolving MEAL team in the Niger country programme, training / promoting a solid team identity within the organisation and creating cohesion between team members working in different regions and on different projects;
  • Actively contribute to all aspects of the recruitment process for new MEAL staff in the field level to ensure that MEAL perspectives are considered;
  • Management of all MEAL staff in Niamey and in Field bases and provision of technical management and oversight for all MEAL staff and on all emergency and development projects;
  • Built capacity of FMs, Program managers and coordinators to ensure that the organisation delivers on all internal and external MEAL requirements in emergency and development programmes in a timely manner and with high quality information;
  • Develop a MEAL strategy for the organisation, gain buy-in from senior management and area offices, and put this into practice by designing and rolling out MEAL processes, systems and infrastructure (e.g. programme database); securing resources; and building up staffing and capacity;
  • Engage the organisation to consider and commit to issues of quality and accountability, and ensure that all of SCI’s emergency and development programmes are designed and implemented in accordance with international standards;
  • Provide capacity building, technical support and training to ensure MEAL is consistently and systematically integrated in all area offices and programmes;
  • Ensure that MEAL resources are included in proposal development and work creatively to secure funding from diverse sources, to ensure that MEAL is integrated in emergency and development programmes in a sustainable way;
  • Responsible for effectively managing the MEAL budget.

Monitoring & Evaluation

  • Develop strong MEAL systems in the programmes ensuring that similar approaches are used as in all sector programmes and meets the SCI reporting and monitoring needs;
  • Counsel programmes and MEAL staff in the development of monitoring and evaluation planning (including relevant monitoring indicators) in programme design, in line with SC global initiatives, donor requirements, and SC internal monitoring and evaluation framework;
  • Support programmes and Ensure quality through technical approval/guidance of design, implementation, and reporting for routine MEAL and research activities (such as baselines, rapid assessments, Research).
  • Create opportunities for learning from data in co-ordination with sector advisors/managers;
  • Identify MEAL gaps and quality gaps, and actively address their causes through training, field visits, and proposal of solutions to line manager;
  • Assist in data quality assurance and compliance with all grants related reporting requirements and their timely submission;
  • Any other MEAL duties as needed and required.
  • Assure that quality monthly IPTT reports are done per project and that these are shared with concerned staff for review and for recommendations.

Learning

  • Bring together data and findings from across projects and operational regions to form a coherent basis for analysis of impact which promotes learning and strategy development for the whole organisation;
  • Promote learning throughout the organisation, particularly on issues of programme quality, policy analysis and advocacy. Ensure new analysis and information is constantly available, including for the forthcoming communications strategy;
  • Produce high quality analysis reports to illustrate SCI’s impact and assessment findings;
  • Communicate program learning (through document sharing, presentations, etc) externally with key stakeholders (NGOs, government partners, working groups, etc) and internally to provide guidance and technical input on strategic direction and programme design;
  • To coordinate with program staff to create a feedback loop so lessons learned are incorporated into program implementation and development;
  • Support that learning is built into all programme activities including partnerships;
  • Ensure that findings and lessons learned from MEAL are shared with children and stakeholders in a meaningful and appropriate way;
  • Identify MEAL training needs amongst programme staff and partners in Niamey and sub offices and maintain MEAL training plan;
  • Make recommendations on changes in programme activities or management based on findings from MEAL and analysis of trends;
  • Share good MEAL practice within all the programme teams;
  • Train programme staff in use of the tools and provide technical support in MEAL in the field and in the office, and ensure that hard and soft copies of MEAL tools are readily available;
  • Support the development of outcome and learning indicators for partnerships in order to promote learning.

Accountability

  • Build on progress to date on integrating accountability to beneficiaries (and particularly children) within programmes through securing funds, hiring staff and establishing complaints response mechanisms (CRMs) and support the production of information materials which mainstream accountability across all programmes.
  • Provide technical support to design and implementation of appropriate feedback mechanisms that are contextual, effective, accessible and safe for beneficiaries, and that ensure that feedback is recorded, reviewed and acted upon
  • Develop regular trend analysis of complaints on the organisation and sharing for wider learning and improvement;
  • Ensure that accountability to beneficiaries becomes a core element and success indicator for all program activities;
  • Regularly review current MEAL practice, and assess how beneficiaries can best be involved at every stage of the programme cycle;
  • Increase awareness and capacity all staff on accountability through induction, training, coaching, informal support and in other ways as identified.

Qualifications and experience

Required

  • Masters degree in social sciences or development or very substantial relevant professional experience;
  • Excellent spoken and written English. Strong spoken and written French;
  • Computer literate and very confident in using Word and Excel;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact well with people of all backgrounds, excellent relationship building skills;
  • At least 6 years of experience of working in MEAL roles;
  • Experience of working in all aspects of planning, monitoring and evaluation, including: system design, programmatic audits, systematic tracking and analysis, evaluations, surveys, assessment systems, capacity building and training;
  • Experience of integrating quality standards in programmes and of implementing accountability initiatives, such as child participation, information sharing and complaints response mechanisms;
  • Management experience;
  • Previous experience of successfully securing MEAL resources and managing a budget;
  • Good organisational skills, the ability to pay close attention to detail and capable of reporting in a timely manner;
  • A confident, flexible and initiative-taking attitude with the ability to work independently, to be proactive in working with others, a willingness and commitment to work long hours and/or over weekends and to visit field sites;
  • Commitment to and understanding of SCI’s aims, values and principles.

Desirable

  • Technical expertise in one of main sectors (health, WASH, livelihoods, nutrition, education, child protection);
  • Previous experience of working on MEAL in both development and emergency contexts;
  • Strong financial management skills and experience of feeding into proposal development;
  • Experience of working in West Africa;
  • International experience with an NGO.

CONTRACT DURATION: 12 MOIS RENOUVELABLE  / CONTRAT NATIONAL.

Introducing the Organization

We employ approximately 25,000 people worldwide and work on the ground in more than 100 countries to help children affected by crises or those in need of better health care, education and child protection. We also campaign and defend at the highest level, to realize the rights of children and to make their voices heard.
We are working on three advances in the way the world treats children by 2030 :

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

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

In Niger, Save the Children International works with state services, NGOs and national and international institutions, local structures and communities in the regions of Niger. Maradi, Zinder, Diffa and Niamey. Our programs are focused on the areas of Health, Nutrition, Food Security and Means of Existence, Child Protection and Education.

Final dispositions

We must ensure the safety of children through our selection processes, which reflect our commitment to the protection of children and include rigorous reference surveys.

Interested applicants must exclusively send their files (CV and cover letter).

No physical applications will be accepted.

NB: //Save the Children International has a child-defence policy, which every candidate must respect and defend. We are //Zero// tolerant of any case of child abuse.// Save the Children encourages female and disability candidates.

EN: It is made known to applicants that Save the Children International does not request any payment or fees throughout the recruitment process. Any request to this effect must be immediately reported as contrary to the values and practices of our organization. EN: Applicants are advised that Save the Children International does not require any payment or expense during the entire recruitment process. Any request in this direction should be immediately reported as contrary to the values and practices of our organization.

 

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