ROLE PURPOSE:

The Consortium 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, partner & SCI 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 ECW funded projects and will support other SCI programs at the country office.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Management and Leadership

• Provide overall supervision and leadership on the MEAL functions and strategy delivery at Consortium level.
• Prove technical 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 evidence (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 ECW 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 that ECW projects are using Quality Benchmarks as part of their day- to- day implementation and quality monitoring practices.
• Lead the design and roll-out of standardized monitoring tools of ECW-MYRP Project in collaboration with Consortium Members and develop methodologies in line with SCI minimum standards.
• Ensure functional accountability mechanisms are in place as the four pillars 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 Consortium lead and each Consortium Program Managers.
• 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 feedback.

Learning and Knowledge Management

• Support programmes in the identification of learning objectives and evidence gaps.
• Fosters and develops a culture of learning within the ECW MYRP Consortium Members.
• In close collaboration with program team facilitate in generating success stories and sharing knowledge (most significant change story, meta-analysis, research/evaluation summary reports, etc).
• The project is expected to have several success stories and best practices. In close collaboration with Consortium MEAL staff, you are expected to assess the most significant best practices and success stories from each consortium implementation areas and facilitate the documentation, publication and dissemination of learnings and ensure that the lessons learnt are utilized to inform programming and advocacy.

• Support implementation of program MIS and integration of Geographical Information System (GIS) in program reporting. Support GIS mapping and dissemination of MIS/GIS reports. Provides MIS content/requirements and feedback to MEAL team and documents progress on indicators/achievement of targets.
• Establishes information sharing mechanisms for consortium members staff to document and share examples of good practice and learning.
• Where applicable, roll-out mobile data collection and monitoring systems and documents learning and suggestions for improvement.

Partnership

• Provides routine periodic monitoring & technical support for consortium members to ensure effective & quality implementation of project activities and donor requirements in collaboration with ECW-MYRP consortium members and program team.
• Coordinates periodic MEAL Working Group /joint meetings with MEAL representatives & consortium program managers from each partner, share minutes with key stakeholders and follow-up on implementation of recommended action points.
• Shares data and information from field monitoring with concerned consortium members, the MoE and the Steering Committee whenever required for program and reporting purposes.
• Coordinates with Consortium Members to use the MEAL data and learning information for advocacy & resource mobilization.

Technical Support and Capacity Building

• Undertake continuous staff capacity assessment and develop capacity building plans for consortium members.
• Provide trainings and capacity building for consortium staff as required.
• Ensure relevant consortium 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, log frames, MEAL plan and are in consistency to each other.
• Ensure evaluations are undertaken as per the threshold and maintain up-to-date evaluation trackers to monitor delivery and action planning.
• Conduct short assessments with consortium members on the specific outcomes, impacts of learning on children and quality of support provided to beneficiaries.
• Lead/participate in project/ programme baseline, evaluations, research and assessment activities in his/her areas of jurisdiction.
• Coordinate & conduct ECW annual risk assessment with consortium members.

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 consortium members 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)

1. Leading and inspiring others
2. Delivering Results
3. Developing Self and Others
4. Problem Solving and decision making
5. Innovating and adapting
6. Applying Technical & Professional Expertise
7. Working effectively with others
8. Communicating with Impact
9. Networking

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor degree in an area of Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics and other related fields.
• At least 7 years’ direct experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning programs. Among these, at least five years at MEAL Managerial level in NGO contexts.
• Experiences in the measurement of learning outcomes and impacts of education programs is preferred.
• Experience in educational research, data analysis and management.
• Experience in both emergency & education program is preferred.

• Proven skills and knowledge in result & impact measurement and management system, tools and approach including problem analysis, objectives and indicators setting, risk management a plus value.
• Very good understanding of educational system diagnoses and development a plus value.
• Strong analytical and operational knowledge on the analysis of EGRA and EGMA.
• Strong ability to communicate effectively in oral and in writing, work independently and as part of the team, and work effectively with co-workers & consortium members.
• Computer proficiency in MS word, excel, power point, statistical software’s & other data management tools.
• Commitment to Save the Children child protection policy.

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.