ROLE PURPOSE:

The MEAL Manager role will provide essential support to Save the Children’s programmes by supporting leadership and management, roll-out of the MEAL system and building capacity for SCI and partners against SCI’s Minimum Operating Standards. He/She will build systems and staff capacity to ensure that SCI programmes are of high quality to beneficiaries and donors and learning is institutionalized for program improvements. This position will be responsible for ECHO funded projects and will support other SCI programs at the country office.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Consortium Director and Director of MEAL (in dotted line management) 

Dimensions: Save the Children works in 9 regions in Ethiopia with a current staff complement of approximately 1,800 staff and current expenditure of approximately $90+ million each year.

Staff directly reporting to this post: None

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Management and Leadership

• Provide overall supervision and leadership on the MEAL functions and strategy delivery at Consortium level

• Prove supervision, and support to MEAL staffs for consortium members.

• Provide oversight of MEAL budget and ensure effective and timely utilization for the appropriate MEAL activities

• Lead the MEAL technical working group meetings and activities including developing SOPs, 

• Ensure MEAL evidences (IPTT, project performance/action trackers, etc) are used for management decision making and continuous performance improvement and be part of the Hub level management team members/

MEAL System Development and Management 

• Undertake responsibilities for the roll-out of the MEAL system for the ECHO funded consortia.

• Ensure that MEAL Team, and partner staff understand the various steps and tools for the MEAL system and that this is used consistently across projects / areas

• Ensure programmes/projects are using Quality Benchmarks as part of their day to day implementation and quality monitoring practices

• Support on the design and roll-out of standardised monitoring tools and methodologies as required by the consortium and in line with SCI minimum standards.

• Ensure functional accountability mechanisms are in place as the four pillar of accountability (Information sharing, participation, establishing and implementing Compliant and Feedback Mechanisms (CFM), and staff capacity building.

• Ensure that regular monitoring/MEAL reports are received and communicated effectively to MEAL Head, Consortium leads and partner staff.

• Ensure periodic report are as per the standard quality, standard template, time frame and communicated accordingly

• Ensure communities and children know their rights and entitlements, have access to project information and participate in decisions that affect them

• Ensure communities and children have access to safe and responsive mechanisms to handle their complaints and feedbacks

Learning and Knowledge Management 

• Support programmes in the identification of learning objectives and evidence gaps.

• In close collaboration with program team facilitate in generating, storing and sharing knowledge (most significant change story, meta-analysis, research/evaluation summary reports, etc).

• Ensure utilization of learning and knowledge generated in decision making and programme improvement

Technical Support and Capacity Building

• Undertake continuous staff capacity assessment and develop capacity building plans 

• Provide trainings and capacity building for partner staff as required

• Ensure relevant staffs received proper orientations, inductions, training to help them deliver their MEAL responsibilities

Programme design, research, evaluations, assessments and other studies

• Participate in programme designing process and ensure MEAL components (monitoring, evaluation, assessment/baseline, accountability and learning) are appropriately planned for and adequately budgeted in the programme design. 

• Ensure projects/programmes have SMART objectives & indicators, MEAL plan and are in consistency to each other 

• Ensure evaluations are undertaken as per the threshold and ECC maintain up-to-date evaluation trackers to monitor delivery and action planning

• Lead/participate in project/ programme baseline, evaluations, researches and assessment activities in his/her areas of jurisdiction 

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

KEY COMPETENCIES (Save the Children competency framework – to Skilled level)

• Leading and inspiring others

• Delivering Results

• Developing Self and Others

• Problem Solving and decision making 

• Innovating and adapting 

• Applying Technical & Professional Expertise 

• Working effectively with others

• Communicating with Impact

• Networking 

Job Requirements

• BSc/BA/ MSc/MA degree in an area of social development or equivalent. 

• Recommended a minimum of 10 years, three NGO management experience in a M&E role in both emergency and development contexts, preferably with solid experience in MPCA.

• Direct experience of rolling out and managing M&E systems and of working on all aspects of MEAL for a consortium.

• Demonstrated commitment to building staff capacity, skills in training and capacity building 

• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in

SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

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

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

• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures

• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets

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

• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies

• Fluency in English, and other national/local languages both verbal and written essential 

• Commitment to Save the Children values

How to Apply

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

Use this LINK to apply

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.