Head of Monitoring Evaluation Accountability & Learning (MEAL) at Save the Children Nigeria

Job Title: Head of Monitoring Evaluation Accountability & Learning (MEAL)

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: (select only one)

Level 3: The post holder will have access to personal data about children and/or young people as part of their work. 

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Head of MEAL is responsible for leading the Country MEAL team and drives MEAL systems from conceptualization to implementation. S/he will ensure robust, innovative and high-quality program monitoring, research, evaluation and studies. The position holder will also ensure accessible and closed-loop accountability mechanisms and systems as well as deliberate learning and knowledge management.  The person will be responsible for ensuring quality implementation of MEAL strategies, processes and standards, ensuring that they are institutionalized within the existing project cycle management framework.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Deputy Country Director/ Director, Programme Quality & Development

Staff reporting to this post: Snr MEAL Manager, Research & Assessment Manager, Knowledge Management & Learning Advisor, Accountability Advisor, MEAL Coordinator

Budget Responsibilities: While not directing managing budgets, the role is responsible for overseeing MEAL budgeting components during proposal development

Role Dimensions: Save the Children has been actively working in Nigeria since 2001. We currently operate from 14 States (Lagos, Adamawa, Cross River, Borno, Kogi, Oyo, Yobe, Ondo, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Abuja) Our localisation strategy aims to shift more of Save the Children’s resources and direct operations to our local partners in the years ahead.

Our programme is implemented in various sectors including Protection, Food Security & Livelihoods, Health & Nutrition, Education and WASH. We engage in both humanitarian and development work and are developing a Triple Nexus strategy in 2024. The Nigeria Country Office employs over 550 staff and has an annual operating budget of approximately $50 million in FY24. We work directly with families and communities, foster the participation of children and partner with local organizations, UN bodies, International NGOs and the Nigerian government to deliver results for children.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

A. Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership for MEAL for the Country Office as well as review and update CO MEAL systems and processes in with line SCI MEAL standards.
• Build capacity of country office staff and partners in key technical approaches related to MEAL
• Build strong relationships with other units and provide support as required to ensure MEAL standards are understood and supported at country & field office levels

B. Evidence & Learning 

• Strengthen efforts to create greater efficiency in MEAL systems by continued harmonization with SCI (and other relevant) standards and use of digital technologies 
• Ensure implementing projects meet required criteria for MEAL related Key Performance Indicators and Management Indicators
• Ensure that the organisation delivers on all internal and external MEAL requirements, including reporting in a timely manner and with high quality.
• Work with Technical Advisors to develop, monitor and utilize quality benchmarks for key project activities 
• Ensure that all projects are updated on SCI Project Reporting, Information management & Evidence System (PRIME) and reflect on the Project-on-track dashboard and that projects are using the relevant MEAL Project Management Methodology (PMM) tools
• Ensure that data collection methodologies used at field level are standardised, enabling the specific vulnerabilities of different target groups to be captured and analysed. 
• Guide field-based MEAL staff to address any gaps in data quality assurance and in MEAL frameworks implementation.
• 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 Country Office and/or project Learning agenda with a view of improving the impact of our work 
• Foster a culture of learning in the Country Office, including the systematic collection, storage and dissemination of evidence and learning that is used throughout the project cycle by all staff 
• Ensure the design and implementation of high-quality research, studies and assessments in coordination and cooperation with technical leads and programme staff.
• Support in Proposal development and that MEAL related staffing and activities are well budgeted.

C.   Accountability & Participation

• Ensure that project meet the minimum standards and are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter as well as Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability
• Ensure that staff & partners fully understand and promote accountability in general and to children in particular, through training and coaching. 
• Contribute to improvements in existing processes and procedures to enhance effective accountability systems and mechanisms.
• Ensure that learning from Accountability data especially from the Feedback & Response Mechanism (FRM) & participation activities are used in project adaptation and proposal development. 
• Ensure that communities and children participate in decision making in the various stages of the project cycle
• Promote information sharing with key stakeholders, including affected persons, ensuring that Save the Children promotes transparency throughout all stages of implementation. 
• Ensure that project activities are designed to promote FRM and include systems to effectively manage feedback and complaints. 

1. People Management & Development 

• Provide leadership to the MEAL team, including strategic vision and direction, team cohesion and team building and an enabling environment where staff can be supported to develop to their full potential
• Lead, in coordination with HR, the recruitment and professional development of MEAL staff as appropriate, including the identification of development opportunities, such as coaching/training/stretch assignments to build and maintain technical skills and competencies 
• Provide technical supportive supervision of the field-based MEAL staff through regular contact, field visits and meetings.

1. Safeguarding

• Lead on ensuring linkages between MEAL, Child safeguarding systems, and safe programming. 
• Ensure risk assessments are done before any data collection activity that involves children 
• Ensure MEAL related Core Operational Safeguarding Activities (COSA) are implemented, and requisite standards met.
• Ensure that Information sharing activities are carried out to raise awareness of prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and handling of serious complaints in line with child safeguarding policy.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds their team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in accordance with the context, 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 professional development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares Save the Children’s vision, and engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a national and global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, technical advisors and working groups, 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; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

The post holder must commit to work in an international agency that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion and fights racism, gender inequality and discrimination in all forms; and to model positive behaviours that demonstrate a commitment to equality and respect to all colleagues, partners and communities. 

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Advanced leadership, technical and people management skills. 
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in leading the developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation strategies, with in depth knowledge in the design, operationalization and use of monitoring and evaluation techniques and approaches in the development and/or humanitarian context.
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant degree required, Master’s degree or equivalent preferred.
• Experience working in at least one of the five SCI global thematic areas required (Child Protection, Child Poverty, Child Rights Governance, Education, Health & Nutrition).
• Extensive experience in research, monitoring and evaluation methodology and analysis (qualitative, quantitative, participatory) including design of systems and tools, data analysis and report writing 
• Able to generate and use data and evidence to innovate, deliver, learn and share what works and what doesn’t work for children
• Significant experience in leading teams and building MEAL team capacity (developing training tools, training, coaching and mentoring)
• Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively handle multiple tasks and meet strict deadlines. 
• Significant understanding of development of MIS and data and information management as well as experience in the use of data analysis software e.g. STATA.
• Familiarity with participative and inclusive accountability approaches
• Excellent interpersonal skills, flexibility, adaptability, and ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Highly developed influencing, communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate technical issues effectively and persuasively.

KEY COMPETENCIES 

Technical competencies:

• Works collaboratively to design adaptive, user-focused MEAL systems to inform programme decision-making and strategy
• Designs, adapts and implements effective and appropriate MEAL systems in humanitarian responses in alignment with the Core Humanitarian Standards:
• Ensures relevant and ethical design, delivery and analysis of qualitative & quantitative evaluation and research projects and activities:
• Ensures the systematic and appropriate design and use of accountability mechanisms to support decision-making:
• Translates and presents data to promote its use for programme, policy and advocacy decision-making

Generic Competencies

• Child Rights: Supports the protection and promotion of the rights of all children including in times of crisis, conflict and disaster.
• Be the Voice: Contributes to an improved social, policy and legislative environment that protects the rights of children
• Be the Innovator: Advances global evidence learning and practice
• Deliver Results at Scale: Drives a focus on impact and sustainable change within, and beyond, individual projects.
• Advances equality and inclusion: Contributes to closing inequality gaps, advancing gender equality and all forms of inclusion

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities 

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

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.

Safeguarding our Staff:

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Application Instructions:

The application deadline is on 10/Nov/2024. Therefore, qualified and interested candidates can “CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION” It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply successfully for this vacancy.

Website:

Official Job Website: https://www.savethechildren.net/