Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

• Promote all aspects of MEAL at the field level  to support the creation of an organisational culture which prioritises quality programming, 
• Provide support as required to ensure MEAL system is understood and supported at the country office level
• Promote linkages between MEAL, Child safeguarding systems, and safe programming. 
• Contribute with technical staff in proposal development particularly the MEAL section including the log frame, MEAL budget 
• Work closely with the field office teams to ensure that MEAL becomes an integral element of project implementation leading to enhanced quality, accountability, management and impact, including feeding into new proposal development .
• Ensure effectiveness of the monitoring systems in maintaining and improving quality of services delivered by the country office.
• Strengthen efforts to create greater efficiency in MEAL systems by continued harmonization with SCI (and other relevant) standards and use of digital technologies 
• Ensure that the organisation delivers on all internal and external MEAL requirements in a timely manner and with high quality information.
• Strengthen the MEAL systems and processes to assure systematic tracking of achievements and progress towards project objectives and outcomes.
• Work with Technical Specialist (TS) to utilize and develop sector/thematic quality benchmarks for all activities implemented within a given sector/theme including any new activities that may be introduced in the program on an ongoing basis and ensure their implemantation
• Review and advise on consistency, expected results/indicators, and other elements of log-frames/results frameworks to ensure quality 
• Ensure that data collection methodologies used at field level are standardised, enabling the specific vulnerabilities of different target groups to be captured and analysed. 
• Develop a comprehensive MEAL plan (includes indicator refrance sheet  and performance tracking table-IPTT, data collection tools, accountability plan, project quality bench marks) in collaboration with program teams at the inception phase for all programmes
• Lead on development of IPTT, review and oversee consolidation of Output Trackers and other humanitarian MEAL requirements. 
• Guide field-based MEAL staff to address any gaps in programme quality assurance and in MEAL frameworks implementation.
• Develop a tracking mechanism/system for tracking Country Office achievements against CSP milestones and targets.
• Triangulate and analyse monitoring data to generate a high level summary of MEAL systems related to programming for senior leadership.
• Technical support to Field MEAL Staff to ensure quality of Terms of Reference, tools, analysis and reports, to inform decision-making. 
• Conduct Quality and performance) monitoring to project locations
• Support MEAL Staff to conduct regular data assessment and validation for project locations.
• Circulate an IPTT report for each month, to ensure all involved staff are aware of the status of implementation and create a level of accountability. 
• Ensure all PDMs have a Terms of Reference in place in which the objective and methodology of the PDM are clearly identified (including sampling methodology), in line with the MEAL Plan and IRS., and  PDM tools are reviewed and adapted for each distribution activity. 

• Ensure all PDM reports include key findings and recommendations, which are discussed during debriefs. Key actions should be identified and included in the action tracker, and learning should be documented.

  Monitoring 

• Ensure all monitoring tools (PDM, QBs, Field Monitoring Reports) support the monitoring of safeguarding, safe programming
• Internal and External Reporting
• FMR review field monitoring and accountability reports from  field MEAL staff and circulate to the field and country office teams, ensuring that action plans for improvement  are included and followed up
• Produce and share Quarterly MEAL analytical reports (IPTT analysis, QBs analysis, CRM analysis, etc)
• Develop Program KPIs reporting, , and Sudan Strategic Results Reporting Indicator quarterly 
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• Prepare total Reach Report 

• Prepare  MEAL section in project progress report ( Annual reports  and six-month reports )

  Research, Evidence & Learning

• Maintain regular and proactive dialogue with technical/thematic leads and field teams to identify critical programmatic knowledge gaps, as well as to initiate, adapt or test new practices, approaches or methodologies, that will inform our Country Office Evidence & Learning agenda with a view of improving the impact of our work in Sudan
• Foster a culture of learning in the Sudan Country Office, including the systematic collection, storage and dissemination of evidence and learning that is used throughout the project cycle by all staff 
• Support the Field MEAL staff in developing and implementing evidence and learning dissemination and uptake strategies.
• Come up with key highlights of field monitoring reports and IPTTs and share the findings during monthly awards meetings
• Strengthen information sharing and learning through  Sudan MEAL SharePoint
• Documented  lessons learnt, recommendations from conducted evaluations, success stories, and feedback on action trackers, analyzed, shared with project staff, partners, management for improvement of design and implementation of programs, and  with TAs for development of future proposals
• Map out evaluations and other studies for each Thematic Area project using Baselines and Evaluations Tracker.
• Coordinate  all project evaluations with the field team 
• Ensure that all staff at all levels, including senior managers and directors, fully understand and promote accountability in general and to children in particular, through training and coaching. 
• Work with Head of MEAL and Accountability Officer to contribute to improvements in existing policies and procedures to enhance effective accountability mechanisms.
• Facilitate training of field MEAL staff, partners and stakeholders on Accountability, core humanitarian standard (CHS), Sphere standards.
• Ensure that participation activities are well documented and learning is shared with Save the Children Sudan, and Save the Children members. 
• Ensure that child participation activities are appropriately planned and budgeted for in programme design and funding applications. 
• Ensure that project activities are designed to promote feedback and response mechanisms and include systems to effectively manage complaints. 
• Ensure that activities are carried out to raise awareness of the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and handling of serious complaints in line with child safeguarding policy.

• Ensures information is shared in an appropriate and timely manner, including in child-friendly ways.

   Accountability & Participation

• Ensure  community  and child participation in MEAL system 
• Establish an effective system for complaints/feedback at  the field levels 
• Assess the relevance, effectiveness and functionality of established accountability systems  through routine surveys/PDMs
• People Management & Development 
• Provide guidance and support to the field MEAL Managers through crearting an enabling environment where staff can develop to their full potential
• Lead, in coordination with HR, the recruitment, professional development and promotion of direct line reports as appropriate, including the identification of development opportunities, such as coaching/training/stretch assignments to build and maintain technical skills and competencies required for leading first class programmes
• Provide day-to-day direct line management, including: manage and define expectations; provide technical guidance and support to the team as needed. 
• Provide technical supportive supervision of the field-based MEAL staff through regular contact, field visits and meetings.
• Undertake performance management, including setting of annual goals and quarterly deliverables, undertaking quarterly reviews, and provision of feedback to ensure delivery of results
• Support the development of an organisational culture that reflects our dual mandate values (humanitarian and development), promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity, and innovation, and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our members and donors.
• Provide management and leadership to the  MEAL team in the field office , forming a solid team with clear objectives around data quality, evaluation standards, accountability and learning.  This requires creating cohesion with the field MEAL staff working in different geographic areas who have dotted line management by Area Managers on a day-to-day basis.
• Oversee the recruitment of appropriate MEAL staff in the field offices .

• Ensure that the MEAL system operates effectively with the support and resources required and that there are clear links and reporting lines between field and CO

  EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Essential:
• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Economics, Monitoring & Evaluation, or a relevant field is preferred.
• At least 7 years’ experience in MEAL design,  in both development and emergency response contexts
• Fluency in English and Arabic, both verbal and written
• Experience in support and supervision of project-level quality assurance and safe programming
• Experience of, and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability
• Previous experience of managing a team and managing projects
• Demonstrated strong monitoring and evaluation skills, including planning/participating in evaluations
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff
• Ability to facilitate/conduct large technical trainings for staff
• Experience of representation and ability to represent Save the Children effectively in external forums
• Experience of contributing to successful funding proposals for donors
• Ability to write clear and effective reports
• Excellent communication and influencing skills 
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances

• Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of the Save the Children mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support

  Desirable:

• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts.