Closing date: Friday, 6 February 2015
JOB TITLE: Senior Advisor - Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL)
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Program Quality & Development
LOCATION: Lilongwe, Malawi
Type of Contract: Fixed Term
CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3- The responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children or young people and, in the overseas context all posts are considered to be level 3 posts in view of potential situations which may allow staff unsupervised access to vulnerable children and young people.
COMPANY PROFILE
Save the Children is the world's leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children's lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfill their potential.
We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.
ROLE PURPOSE
Save the Children is looking for a creative and highly motivated individual with the required level of experience and competencies to join its program quality and development team in the role of Senior MEAL Advisor responsible for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL). The main purpose of this role is to develop and run systems that enhance programme quality, accountability and learning. Save the Children, Malawi Country Office, is committed to implementing quality programs through a process that uses monitoring and evaluation as an instrument for accountability as well as continuous improvement. The focus on accountability includes the desire to keep internal as well as external stakeholders informed about efficiency, effectiveness and quality of programs. The focus on learning includes the desire to use such information to improve our methods and content of our programs.
Reporting to the Program Quality & Development, the Senior MEAL Advisor will bring significant experience and fresh ideas to develop and implement a realistic MEAL strategy and systems, ensuring that they are institutionalized within the Country Office's thematic sectors, and that staff have the capacity to implement them. S/he will ensure that there is a harmonized approach in data storage, complaints management and documentation of lessons learned.
The Senior MEAL Advisor will develop and manage a country office online database that not only captures and compiles project indicators, but one which also acts as a centralized indexed repository for key project documents.
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal job description and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
Reports to: Director: Programme Quality & Development
Dimensions: Supports thematic teams in achieving Country Office MEAL Objectives
Staff directly reporting to this post: TBD
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: Monitoring and Evaluation
- Ensure that the organisation delivers on all internal and external MEAL requirements in a timely manner and with high quality information across all sectors.
- Develop robust MEAL systems and processes to measure achievement and progress towards project objectives and outcomes across sectors.
- Provide capacity building, technical support and training to ensure MEAL is consistently and systematically integrated in all projects/programmes, across sectors.
- Develop monitoring tools during programme design, in line with Save the Children global initiatives, donor requirements, and other internal monitoring and evaluation framework.
- Bring together data and findings from across projects and operational regions to form a coherent basis for analysis of impact which promotes learning and strategy development.
- Produce high quality analysis reports to illustrate Save the Children's impact and assessment findings.
- Make recommendations on changes in programme activities or management based on findings from M&E and analysis of trends.
- Assist in data quality assurance and compliance with all grants related reporting requirements and their timely submission.
- Ensure that children, women and other vulnerable community members are included in all MEAL activities.
- Keep track of all project evaluations and, in coordination with sectors' technical coordinators, design evaluation TORs, provide briefings to consultants and provide logistical support to ensure evaluations are in line with Save the Children's and donors' standards.
Accountability
- 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.
- Ensure that accountability to beneficiaries becomes a core element and success indicator for all program activities.
- Build on progress to date on integrating accountability to beneficiaries (and particularly children) within programmes through securing funds, hiring staff and establishing feedback mechanisms and producing information materials in a way which mainstreams accountability across all programmes.
- Develop a robust system for capturing and reporting against accountability-related indicators.
- Design and implement appropriate feedback mechanisms that are contextual, effective, accessible and safe for beneficiaries, and that ensure that feedback is recorded, reviewed and acted upon.
- Conduct regular trend analysis of complaints on the organisation and sharing for wider learning and improvement.
Learning
- Promote learning throughout the organisation, particularly on issues of programme quality, policy analysis and advocacy. Ensure new analysis and information is constantly available.
- Develop a countrywide knowledge management system that facilitates the capturing, storage, dissemination and use of key learning emanating from various internal and external sources.
- Communicate program learning (through document sharing, presentations, etc) internally to provide guidance and technical input on strategic direction and programme design, and externally with key stakeholders (NGOs, government partners, working groups, etc).
- Coordinate with sectors' technical coordinators and programme staff to ensure that lessons learned are properly documented and are incorporated into programme implementation and design.
- Regularly produce and report on best practices and case studies.
Technical supervision, performance management and capacity building of staff
- Lead the internal MEAL working group
- Provide leadership, motivation, guidance and technical support to the MEAL team.
- Provide technical supervision of the field-based MEAL staff through regular contact, field visits and meetings.
- Identify training needs of staff and conduct trainings to address the capacity gaps, in collaboration with their line-manager (the field manager of their duty station) and the human resources department.
- Contribute to creating and maintaining a cooperative and positive working environment where staff have clear roles and responsibilities, participate in decision making and are supported in progressing towards their objectives.
- Contribute to supervision and capacity building of local partners, in line with partnership guidelines
Fundraising
- Ensure that MEAL resources are included in proposal development and work creatively to secure funding from diverse sources.
- Maintain a strategic overview of grants in all locations, identifying programmatic gaps and supporting fundraising.
- Identify funding opportunities through actively engaging with donors in country and abroad, in cooperation with the director of grants and members services.
Coordination
- Represent Save the Children in relevant coordination meetings if and when delegated. Facilitate coordination with other actors such as relevant Government departments, UN system and other NGOs if and when needed.
SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (SCI 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
QUALIFICATIONS
Relevant educational background; post graduate level preferred.
EXPERIENCE & SKILLS.
Essential:
- At least 5 previous years' experience of working in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning roles.
- High level ICT skills and experience in developing online database
- Experience in developing management dashboards
- Fluency in English, for effective oral and written communication.
- Knowledge and/or experience of working on accountability initiatives, such as child participation, information sharing and complaints response mechanisms.
- Experience of conducting and/or commissioning evaluations.
- Experience of designing and managing knowledge management systems, an awareness of learning methodologies and experience of leading learning events.
- Good organisational skills, the ability to pay close attention to detail and capable of reporting in a timely manner.
- Ability to analyse information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically.
- Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner, and to use innovative forms of communication.
- Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff.
- Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy; capacity and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult working circumstances.
- Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children's aims, values and principles.
Desirable
- Technical expertise in various data management software and use of mobile technology for data collection
- Experience of working on child focused programmes, with reputable international NGOs.
- Grassroots experience, with good community engagement and facilitation skills.
Additional job responsibilities
The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience
Equal Opportunities
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Health and Safety
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
