TEAM/PROGRAMME: Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) Capacity & System Strengthening Project                                                                                  LOCATION:  Addis Ababa 

GRADE: 1C                                                                               

 POST TYPE: National

Child Safeguarding: Level 1: 

The role holder will not have contact with beneficiary children or access children’s personal data as part of their work and have limit field travel

Project Background: 

Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture Capacity and System Strengthening Project is a five-year (2019-2024) project funded by the Gates Foundation. The project will be implemented in three regions of Ethiopia in selected zones and Woredas. The overall objective of the project is to enable Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to effectively implement the National Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture Strategy and contribute to the achievement of the National Nutrition Program and ‘Seqota’ Declaration goals. To achieve the proposed objective, the project will provide direct technical (personnel) and financial support through the grant-under-grant approach.  The project will be implemented in close collaboration of Save the Children USA (SC-USA), Save the Children International (SCI) Ethiopia, and Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). The project will also work closely with other organizations working on NSA with MOA. Strengthening the data use capacity of MOA to ensure nutrition and gender sensitivity of its agriculture programs is one of the four primary objectives of the project.  SCI therefore, is looking for a Senior Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist who will be responsible to lead and manage the achievement of this project objective. 

Role Purpose:

The post holder will be responsible to lead the MEAL component of the project.  This post requires knowledge and skills of MEAL system design, capacity building, and system strengthening in the context of Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture including generating evidence for decision-making, creating an excellent learning strategy, capture and properly document learnings as per MEAL Audiences.   On top of this, the MEAL system designed by the post holder will also give due attention to the data management system, setting clear data management flow mapping, designing and testing data collection procedures and tools.  In close collaboration with SCI project staffs, SCI PDQ, and MOA, the post holder will play leading role in designing the project MEAL system; strengthening and upgrading MEAL system of MOA; coordinating the implementation of strategies to ensure proper planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, accountability mechanisms of the project; and the timely dissemination of best practices & lessons learnt.  She/he will be responsible to ensure that the delivery and quality of the project is in line with appropriate quality standards.

Scope of Role: 

Reports to: the post holder will directly report to the Project Director 

Staff directly reporting to this post: None 

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

Management and Leadership

• Provide technical leadership and management on the MEAL functions delivery of the project.

• Serve as focal point in defining the resources (financial, technical) that are needed to ensure high quality project MEAL deliverables 

• Lead & manage the whole process of assessments, monitoring and evaluation of the project including sharing of findings and learnings.

• Provide supervision and mentorship to project team (SCI and MOA), engage in NSA capacity and system strengthening to enable the team to have the required understanding of the project MEAL system and enthusiasm to undertake their responsibilities.

• Lead project planning, oversight effective and timely utilization of MEAL budget for the appropriate MEAL activities

• Ensure MEAL evidences are used for management decision making and continuous performance improvement and be part of the program level management team members.

MEAL System Development and implementation 

• Map the existing MEAL system in the MOA (Federal, Regional, Zonal, and Woreda)

• Map the nutrition indicators for which the MOA is responsible: Nutrition indicators of AGP-II, PSNP-IV, and NSAS; form National Food and Nutrition Policy (FNP), National Nutrition Program (NNP-II) and Seqota Declaration; and assess the current data collection methods, procedure, and formats on these indicators

• Develop, pilot, revise, and integrate appropriate Nutrition Indicators in to the key strategies and programs 

• Design/revise a MEAL system of the MOA to integrate nutrition indicators including adaptation/adoption of an automated data management system with clear data management.

• Develop or upgrade routine data collection methods, procedure, reporting and aggregation forms (if needed) to collect nutrition and gender related data; assist federal and regional bureaus to roll out routine reporting systems to other selected regions, Woredas and kebeles.

• Integrate nutrition and gender related indicators in the existing database (Agricultural Management Information system) 

• Develop and test survey module(s) that contains all survey-based NSAS indicators, using validated instruments, as appropriate (e.g., Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index, Household Food Insecurity and Access Scale, Dietary Diversity Scale etc.).

• Support establishment of a platform to coordinate nutrition sensitive agriculture surveys and data base for survey results 

• Mentor the regional and zonal team to ensure effective M&E Support to MOA for data use, and to conduct regular review meetings 

• Design automated budget and indicator performance tracking system to track whether resources available for nutrition-sensitive agriculture activities are increasing and indicators implementation is properly progressing.

• Work to develop customized quality monitoring tool for the project to ensure project activities are implemented as per the required Quality. 

• Track progress towards the results based on the Project Results Framework by creating platform (like review meetings, learning forum etc)  

• Closely monitor the status of the project hard & soft milestones to support informed decision-making.    

Learning and Knowledge Management 

• Develop project specific learning and knowledge management strategy and lead the implementation of Learning framework for the project 

• Work to ensure the project identified the learning objectives and evidence gaps. 

• Design, develop/compile project lessons learnt/Best Practices

• Ensure utilization of learning and knowledge generated in decision-making and program improvement.

Capacity Building and System Strengthening:

• Identify SCI and MOA staff learning and training needs regarding MEAL priorities, data management and quality standards

•  Identify capacity building and system strengthening opportunities and implement through training, short-term e-course, experience sharing etc. 

Representation, Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Ensure effective coordination and advocacy mechanism is in place for NSA MEAL activities, through coordination with relevant project stakeholders and organization working in similar areas (A&T, GIZ, and FAO/EU). This may involve supporting coordination working group through delivering evidences, participating in intra and inter-sectoral MEAL related coordination platforms 

• Promote learning throughout the project, particularly on issues of programme quality. Regularly produce and report on best practices and case studies.

General:

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

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:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

Job Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• BSc/BA/ MSc/MA degree in an area of Statistics, Economics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Agricultural Economics, Social Science or equivalent. MA/MSc preferred.

• Statistics education background complemented by nutrition will be an added advantage 

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in management and leadership of projects MEAL system in nutrition.  

• Direct experience of rolling out and managing MEAL systems in NGO context and of working on all aspects of MEAL

• Strong working knowledge of the Ethiopian agriculture and/or health system; experience in strengthening the capacity of system partners in collection, analysis, reporting and use of data required.

• Demonstrated ability and skills in analysis and report writing is essential 

• 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 

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with major evaluation methodologies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies; experience developing and refining data collection tools 

• Knowledge and significant experience in the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks and performance monitoring plans and systems.

• Experience supporting operations and implementation research agendas/questions to improve and inform the evidence base and best practices.

• Able to work within a tight timeframe, managing M&E team members and meeting deadlines and deliverables to partners and donors with flexibility to travel as needed.

• Demonstrable statistical data analysis experience using MS Excel, SPSS or STATA

• Extensive experience using electronic data collection such as Tangerine, ODK or KoBo platforms

• Experience working through systems of community participation and accountability

• Ability and willingness to travel to field sites and work in remote locations, often for prolonged periods of time

• Experience in and proven ability to support, train and mentor staff and partners in monitoring and evaluation methodology

• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching

• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind-sets

• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner

• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods.

• Fluency in English, both verbal and written

• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children strategy, vision, mission, values and principles, good understanding and commitment to principles of child rights and child protection.

How to Apply

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. 

Use the below link to apply :   CLICK HERE

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.