ROLE PURPOSE:  

Save the Children is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning (MEAL) Advisor for a five-year USAID-funded multi-sectoral and integrated positive youth development program. The anticipated program will build the capacity of national and local institutions to improve the quality and availability of health services, increase youth leadership and civic participation and improve economic pathways for Ethiopian young men and women.

The MEAL Advisor is responsible for leading the establishment and implementation of the MEAL system of the project, including obtaining, analyzing, organizing, and interpreting project data and ensuring MEAL requirements of the donor and that of Save the Children are adequately met. S/he will work closely with the Country Office (CO) MEAL unit and Field Office MEAL staffs, to build evidence base, track project progress, facilitate learning and adaptive management, ensure a strong accountability mechanism, manage internal evaluations/ studies and facilitate external evaluations. This is a leadership role and will serve as a key member of the project team in Ethiopia.

This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Deputy Chief of Party, Technical

Dimensions: Save the Children works in Ethiopia with a current staff complement of approximately 1,740 staff and current expenditure of approximately $90+ million each year.

Job specific roles and responsibilities

Management and Leadership

• Serve as part of the project’s leadership team, contributing to the development and implementation of annual program work plans, performance milestones, and project monitoring.
• Provide overall leadership and supervision on the MEAL function, supporting successful delivery of the project.

• Ensure that the required budget allocates appropriately for the implementation of MEAL activities and provide oversight of the MEAL budget, ensuring its effective and timely utilization.
• Manage MEAL staff, including handling ongoing coaching, supervision and performance management and annual evaluation; develop the capacity of the team and facilitate their professional growth.
• Encourage a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

MEAL System Development and Implementation

• Lead the development of the MEAL plan, including the identification of key performance indicators, MEAL standard operating procedures and MEAL tool of the project.
• Lead the roll-out and implementation of the project's MEAL system, strategies, requirements and country-level activities; roll-out orientation/training sessions to MEAL and relevant program staff of Save the Children and its implementing partners.
• Maintain MEAL systems and tools used to track project implementation progress and analyze information on inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impact of the project.
• Ensure data quality through the implementation of effective data verification mechanism and undertaking routine data quality assessments at all levels.
• Lead and coordinate the development of required program reports, in accordance with Save the Children and donor requirements and standards.
• Undertake/coordinate periodic joint field supportive supervision to project implementation and implementing partners’ sites.
• Ensure a strong beneficiary accountability mechanism is implemented.

• Identify MEAL capacity gaps and facilitate training opportunities for project staff.

Learning and Knowledge Management

• Build a database system for managing project-related data and evidence.
• Lead the implementation of Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) mechanism to ensure intentional learning, collaboration, and adaptive management.
• Ensure that relevant project documentation is well organized and best practices, lessons, success stories, case studies, etc. are well captured, synthesized, packaged, produced and shared to relevant stakeholders using different technologies and methods.
• Ensure MEAL evidence is available to management for decision making and continuous performance improvement.
• Plan and manage any research-focused deliverables or other evaluations throughout the life of the program, and oversee any MEAL-related consultancies.
• Organize/facilitate regular project implementation and performance review sessions and learning events.
• Define MEAL-related inputs required from partners and oversee the quality of deliverables.

Representation, Advocacy & Coordination:

• Represent the project and participate in different MEAL related forums bringing together like governmental and non-governmental organizations working on the same or related themes.
• In collaboration with the CO MEAL team, organize Community of Practices and/or other learning platforms to enhance cross-project and organizational experience sharing and learning.
• Collaborate with the CO MEAL to implement organizational MEAL policies and requirements including the implementation of quality benchmarks.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our 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 others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

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:

REQUIRED QUALFICATION & EXPEREINCE

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, demographics, public policy, international development, economics, or related field.
• Minimum of twelve (12) years’ experience and demonstrated practical skills in monitoring and evaluation of multi-sectoral international development programs
• Excellent knowledge of monitoring and evaluation principles and practices
• Experience in strategic planning and performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting, database management, and developing monitoring and evaluation and/or performance monitoring plans
• Knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies
• Experience in planning and managing surveys
• Experience developing and refining data collection tools
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing monitoring systems and conducting evaluations
• Ability to analyze complex data and summarize it for a range of audiences;
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and innovate and to set priorities, manageable work plans and evaluate progress;
• Demonstrated ability and skills in analysis and report writing
• Able to work within a tight time-frame, manage M&E team members and meet deadlines and deliverable to partners and donors
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Familiarity with MEAL in the context of youth development programming, including positive youth development measurement

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree plus an advanced certificate in M&E, statistics, Management,  economics or related social science fields
• Previous experience on implementation of USAID programs
• Demonstrated experience in youth and livelihoods and/or education programming
• Knowledge of local language
• Proven MEAL skills using data analysis software
• Familiarity with the political, social, and cultural context of Ethiopia, including relevant policies and strategies.

What’s in it for You

• Meaningful work, with a knowledge that you are changing the lives of children all around  the world  
• A family-friendly work environment  
• Highly collaborative and innovative teams 
• Generous paid vacation days, holidays, family leave days, and sick time 
• Healthcare plans including medical, dental, and life insurance 
• Retirement savings account with matching company contributions

• Structured and formalized management development and coaching programs for mid  and senior level managers  
• Extensive e-learning opportunities on a variety of topics offered through our affiliation with several prestigious universities and with the American Management Association, as well as language learning opportunities