Meal Officer (Baringo/Bungoma,Wajir) at Save the Children

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Lead in the development of tools and guidelines for data collection, collation and reporting, ensuring that the project has clear MEAL plans, Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) as well as regular tracking of total beneficiary reach.
• Maintain a program database and ensure that the databases are up-to-date. S/he will contribute to program design by ensuring accurate and up to date MEAL plans, – reviewing log-frames, results frameworks, project plans per project site including supporting teams to include an element of quality monitoring
• S/he will be responsible for ensuring that programme teams have the best project data collection and entry tools to maximise quality and effectiveness of data. Seek solutions for more complex data management requirements by working with IT colleagues.
• S/he will be responsible to ensure that timely and accurate data are collected and analysed including analysis against the performance indicators and targets on periodic basis to inform the programme management.
• Manage information generated through MEAL activities, such as feedback and response mechanism databases, Quality Action Tracker and Quality Benchmarks dashboards.g, implementation and follow-up of evaluations, including preparation of Terms of References, preparing literature review packs, planning evaluator itineraries, planning staff workshops, report review and participate in evaluations where required. 
• S/he will regularly update the mapping and dashboards of program locations, activities, available MEAL systems across the Watoto Rudi Shule Project.
• Organize field visits to monitor program activities / interventions against Quality Benchmarks/Quality Checklists and produce & share reports with program team as well as management team based on quality and accountability findings. 
• Support program staff to strengthen joint planning and monitoring with stakeholders. 
• Lead in conducting data quality assessment to ensure that data reported is validated, is accurate and consistent while providing feedback as necessary to program teams.
• To assist in planning and implementation of baseline surveys, monitoring and evaluation exercises and impact assessments when needed; 
• Support program teams in developing quality program reports
• Produce and share MEAL monthly and cumulative yearly annual reports with the MEAL Coordinator and project lead as well as program teams.

Accountability and Learning:

• Ensure that the agreed action plans are followed in timely manner by program team and that the feedback loop is closed. 
• S/he will support the implementing partners to ensure the appropriateness, quality and effectiveness of accountability systems across the Watotot Rudi Shule project in the two project sites.
• Regularly collect data on and analyse the Feedback and Response Mechanism (FRM) accountability data ensuring complete feedback loop and quality improvement. 
• Share all MEAL related information and reports (monitoring reports, CFM databases, preliminary verification reports, case studies etc.) with the support of MEAL Coordinator.
• Share MEAL best practices, FRM analyses in Monthly MEAL reports. 
• Conduct training and awareness raising activities for operations and programme technical staff at country-office level regarding MEAL priorities and quality standards.  
• Build capacity of staff through training to ensure adoption of new data monitoring tools and quality of data collected.
• With support from the Head of MEAL and MEAL coordinator and/or other senior programme staff, assist in advocacy activities that target decision-makers in country. 
• Supported by SCI Research and Learning Manager champion knowledge management (KM) through the development and use of platforms that store and display evidence and learning that is made accessible and actively used between projects, counties and countries.  
• Working with project team and partners, systematically identify, document, share and use learning from project implementation in order to continuously adapt and improve our programming. This includes learning agendas, learning workshops and after action review, action planning and tracking of learning uptake.

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 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

• Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Biostatistics, Social Sciences, Public Health, Development Studies, or Information Technology
• Certification in Monitoring and Evaluation will be an added advantage.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• A minimum of 3 years of similar work experience working in INGO’s and or UN Agencies in developmental or in humanitarian programmes
• Experience of, and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability
• Demonstrated strong monitoring and evaluation skills, including planning/participating in evaluations
• Experience of training and capacity building at different levels for staff and partners  institutional donors and experience of developing proposals
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports
• A high level of written and spoken English 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work in challenging environment
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with experience working in multicultural, multi -location, values driven teams.
• Strong analytical skills and technique
• Proven knowledge and high degree of computer literacy including excellent word processing and spreadsheet/Excel skills. 
• Demonstrated experience with of statistical packages and/ or data analysis software (STATA and/or SPSS, Excel, ATLAS.ti) are a must. 
• Demonstrated experience in using IT applications to support MEAL and information management an added advantage. 
• Basic knowledge of the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability.
• 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

• Good communication skills in Kiswahili and English
• Knowledge of the local languages in the assigned area will be an added advantage
• Experience in working on private and international donor funded projects and government partners in the Education sector
• Knowledge and experience in implementing of education programme is an added advantage.

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.