Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Manager

JOB TITLE: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Manager

 
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Program Development & Quality - MEAL

LOCATION: Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

GRADE: 

CONTRACT LENGTH: One () year (renewable)

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: 
Level : the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently ( once a week or more) or intensively ( four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE: The MEAL Manager leads the MEAL functions across Save the Children’s programs in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states. The role is responsible for designing and implementing robust MEAL systems, ensuring quality data collection processes, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making. A critical aspect of this role is leading knowledge management and learning processes in close collaboration with the knowledge management advisor, ensuring that lessons learned, and best practices are systematically captured, shared, and applied to enhance program effectiveness. She/He will mentor and build the capacity of MEAL staff, oversee evaluations and research, and ensure that feedback mechanisms inform ongoing and future programming. Additionally, the role involves engaging with stakeholders, supporting proposal development, and ensuring the inclusion of marginalized groups, particularly children, in all aspects of program evaluation, learning, and knowledge management.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Head of MEAL with matrix reporting to Deputy Director – Program Operations 
Staff reporting to this post: MEAL Coordinators
Dimensions: Works with the program team, sector leads, Technical Advisors, and MEAL staff.
Budget Responsibilities: None

Role Dimensions:
Complexity: Manage multifaceted MEAL systems across sectors, integrating diverse data sources and methodologies to ensure comprehensive program evaluation and continuous improvement.
Relationships: Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and alignment of MEAL practices with project goals.
Communication with Stakeholders: Communicate MEAL strategies, findings, and recommendations, ensuring transparency and securing stakeholder buy-in for program improvements.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 
Monitoring and Evaluation:
• Lead the integration of MEAL into program design, ensuring that MEAL frameworks, log frames, and indicators are embedded from the outset and aligned with donor and SCI requirements.
• Develop and implement standardized MEAL plans and quality benchmarks ensuring consistency across projects.
• Ensure ongoing data quality assurance through regular audits, spot checks, and validation processes to maintain the integrity and reliability of MEAL data.
• Lead the planning and execution of research, assessments, and evaluations (including baseline, midline, and end-line), using findings to inform program improvements and strategic decision-making.
• Ensure that 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 
• Coordinate and deliver targeted trainings for MEAL and program staff on data collection methodologies, ICT solutions, and both quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Support on planning and managing internal or external program evaluations.
• Support the development of donor reports, prepare monthly/quarterly progress reports and statistics as well as mid-/final reports to stakeholders.
• Advise and put in place a system for promoting transparency and accountability Plan for stakeholders.

Accountability:
• Lead the setup and utilization of accountability mechanisms in supported communities.
• Ensure the project is implementing the pillars of Accountability - Information sharing, participation and feedback & reporting and providing relevant documentation.
• Ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and SCI Code of Conduct, as well as Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability.
• Ensure that learning from Accountability data especially from the Feedback & Response Mechanism (FRM) & participation activities are used in project adaptation

Knowledge Management & Learning:
• Bring together data and findings from across projects to form a coherent basis for the analysis of impact which promotes learning and strategy development.
• Promote use of SCI Knowledge management platforms across the various projects
• Support the formulation of key project learning questions that will help to advance the evidence base. 
• Stay informed about MEAL sector trends and developments, adapting and promoting new methodologies, technologies, and best practices.
• Collaborate with programs and advocacy colleagues to feed learning and evidence into relevant advocacy objectives

Safeguarding:
• Demonstrate, promote, and raise awareness of SCI Safeguarding policy and the Code of Good Conduct (among children, employees, partners, beneficiaries, etc.)
• Ensure Safeguarding risk assessments are done for all MEAL activities that involve children
• Include questions about safeguarding and safe programming issues in monitoring and evaluation tools (such as Quality Benchmarks, Post Distribution Monitoring tools, Endlines, etc.).
• .
Staff Management & Coaching:
• Oversee the MEAL teams in the BAY states, providing high-quality technical leadership, support, and capacity building to ensure robust MEAL practices across all program areas. 
• Identify learning and training needs for MEAL staff and support in capacity building and mentoring initiatives. 
• Support the implementation of the SCI performance management system, by supporting, supervising, and reviewing the performance of direct reports.
• Support in building capacity of local partners on MEAL

General:
• Support in ensuring that Save the Children's work is coordinated with the efforts of other agencies and Government, and support Interagency Coordination forums, advocating for the specific needs of children.
• Participate in interagency coordinated joint MEAL activities (for instance, inter-agency working group).
• Comply with Save the Children policies and practices with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Any other duties emerge as CO priorities relevant to the position

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, and achieving and role modeling 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 their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
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; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
• Master’s degree or it’s equivalent in a relevant subject 
• Minimum of years' work experience in MEAL including in large-scale, complex emergencies generating high volumes of data where the technical capacity of MEAL staff is varied and coordination between MEAL/sector teams is a challenge. 
• Experience of working in the North-East Region of Nigeria on Humanitarian &/or Development Projects
• Experience working in at least one of the five SCI global thematic areas required (Child Protection, Child Poverty, Child Rights Governance, Education, Health & Nutrition). 
• Ability to manage team work plans virtually & in contexts where workload is high, and priorities shift frequently
• Highly organized, with the ability to juggle multiple tasks to meet tight deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills, flexibility, adaptability, and ability to work effectively as a member of a team. 
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff
• Significant understanding of development of MIS and data and information management as well as experience in the use of data analysis software
• Highly developed influencing, communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate technical issues effectively and persuasively.
•
Desirable:
• Ability to speak Hausa.

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.