The MEAL Manager will bring significant experience and fresh ideas to develop and implement realistic MEAL strategy and systems, ensuring that the systems are institutionalized within the existing project cycle management framework, and that staff have the capacity to implement the systems. S/he will have outstanding interpersonal skills.
The MEAL Manager will work with the Project team and partner organization to ensure that all project activities are continually monitored, and lessons are documented and communicated to inform ongoing implementation and future programming. S/he will guide, advise, and support building the capacities of project team and the Senior MEAL Officer and partner staff in order to achieve outcome/impact focused project and accountability to beneficiaries in line with SC and donor policies and practices. S/he will maintain the information management system where relevant project information, data and lessons of programs are accessible.
The MEAL Manager will report to the Chief of Party keeping him/her updated with progress towards objectives through regular monitoring and evaluation of the project activities.
Areas of Responsibility:
Monitoring & Evaluation
- Develop a strong MEAL system and tools for the program in consultation with Save US and Save Niger MEAL Coordination
- Provide appropriate advice to program staff to develop monitoring and evaluation planning (including relevant monitoring indicators) in program design, in line with donor requirements and SC internal monitoring and evaluation framework
- Support the program and ensure quality through technical approval/guidance of design, implementation, and reporting for routine M&E and research activities (such as baselines, rapid assessments and project surveys).assessments, and project surveys).
- Ensure that all evaluations and studies planned are conducted and reports of such studies are shared timely
- Train program staff in use of the tools and provide technical support in M&E
- Create opportunities for learning from data in co-ordination with department managers
- Identify M&E and quality gaps and actively address their causes through training, field visits, and proposal of solutions to line manager;
- Ensure that quality monthly reports are prepared and shared with staff for review, recommendations and action.
Learning
- Bring together data and findings from across program to form a coherent basis for analysis of impact which promotes learning and strategy development
- Promote learning throughout the program and with the partner organization, particularly on issues of program quality, policy analysis and advocacy. Ensure new analysis and information is constantly available
- Produce high quality analysis reports to illustrate Save the Children's impact and assessment findings
- Communicate program learning (through document sharing, presentations, etc.) to provide guidance and technical input on strategic direction and program design;
- Coordinate with program staff to create a feedback loop so lessons learned are incorporated into program implementation and development;
- Support building learning into the program activities including partnerships
- Ensure that findings and lessons learned from M&E are shared with children and stakeholders in a meaningful and appropriate way
- Identify MEAL training needs among program staff and partners and make appropriate recommendations
Accountability
- Integrate accountability to beneficiaries (and particularly children and women) within the program and establish complaints response mechanisms (CRMs); Support the production of information materials which mainstream accountability across the program in collaboration with SC Niger National Accountability Coordinator.
- Provide technical support to design and implement 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 organization and sharing for wider learning and improvement
- Ensure that accountability to beneficiaries becomes a core element and success indicator for program activities
- Regularly review current M&E practice, and assess how beneficiaries can best be involved at every stage of the program cycle;
- Increase awareness and capacity of program and partner staff on accountability through induction, training, coaching, and informal support
Educational Background:
A Master’s Degree in a quantitative field (economics, agricultural/development economics, statistics, bio-statistics; nutrition, applied sociology, anthropology, or other relevant subject)
Skills/Experience:
- Significant training in quantitative methods plus eight years relevant experience, or a PhD in any of the stated field of study above, with at least six years relevant work experience
- Demonstrated experience in building or strengthening monitoring systems, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and effectively promoting evidence-based program management
- Demonstrated experience in leading the M&E of a large award.
- Strong conceptual knowledge about Theory of Changes, logic model, food and nutrition security indicators, M&E plans, data quality assurance, data utilization, and gender integration into M&E.
- Demonstrated experience and expertise in developing and operationalizing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan
- Demonstrated expertise and experience in developing and operationalizing routine monitoring systems designed to track both output and outcome indicators.
- Demonstrated expertise in designing annual monitoring surveys including probabilistic sampling strategy and estimating sample size, developing appropriate weights, and analyze quantitative data.
- Demonstrated expertise in designing qualitative studies, in-depth knowledge about qualitative sampling, and experience in using interview and interactive tools to generate qualitative information and analysis.
- Demonstrated experience in developing data quality assurance strategies, data management, and data visualization.
- Demonstrated expertise and experience in data utilization strategies and ability to think creatively about active data sharing techniques.
- Excellent spoken and written French and English
- Computer literate and very confident in using Microsoft package
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact well with people of all backgrounds, excellent relationship building skills
- Management experience
- Good organizational 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 Save the Children's aims, values and principles.
Desirable:
- Strong experience monitoring and evaluation USAID projects and efficiency using USAID Monitoring and evaluation tools
- Technical expertise in one of main sectors (health, WASH, livelihoods, nutrition, education, child protection);
- Previous experience working on MEAL in both development and emergency contexts;
- Strong analytical and reporting writing skills and experience
- Experience working in West Africa; and in Niger is preferred.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Dec 23 2017
Active Until:
Jan 23 2018
Hiring Organization:
Save the Children US
industry:
Nonprofit