Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children is working in Nigeria because one in five children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday. About 40% of children miss out on school and have to work to survive while nearly 2 million children have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related disease.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Manager

Ref No: 220008RR
Location: Oyo
Team / Programme: MEAL Team
Grade: 3
Employee Status: Fixed Term
Contract Length: 1 Year

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.

Role Purpose

• The MEAL Manager leads the development and implementation of the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project MEAL and research framework that will generate evidence, maintain accountability standards and ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning of the health theme.
• S/he will be responsible for ensuring that the quality of monitoring, evaluation and research for the project system is in place to generate evidence on the impacts and learning of the programme.

Scope of Role

• Reports to:  Senior MEAL Manager
• Staff directly reporting to this post:  MEAL Assistant

Key Areas of Accountability
Programme Quality- ANRiN:

• Provide high quality MEAL technical leadership, support, and capacity building to implementation team.
• In collaboration with the programme team, develop a MEAL plan, as well as an ongoing research programme to support an evidence and learning agenda and a process for knowledge sharing between SCI, stakeholders and partners
• Lead project, national/global reporting processes and contribute to high quality project reporting, leading in data quality assurance and compliance with reporting requirements.
• Develop, review, adapt, catalogue and ensure utilisation of standardised project assessment and monitoring tools, manuals, guidelines, trainings and protocols.
• Develop and increase utilization of accountability approaches, such as participation, complaints and response mechanisms.
• Ensure the integration of project information management with the national Management Information System (MIS) as required.
• Keep abreast of MEAL sector trends and developments, for example in remote monitoring, and adapt and promote introduction of new methodologies, technologies, innovations and best practices.
• Formulate key program questions that will help to advance the evidence base, and lead design of targeted evaluations (including but not restricted to baseline, midline, and end line evaluations) and pieces of operations research.
• Actively contribute to the process of learning, evaluation, capturing and disseminating lessons from the programme for continuous improvement of programme performance and overall outcome

Capacity Building:

• Identify learning and training opportunities for stakeholders’ and partners staff.
• Positively influence and capacity build project staff and partners at various levels
• Representation, Advocacy & Organizational Learning:
• Represent the project and country programme on all MEAL, HMIS and research technical working groups, partners and stakeholders’ forums in the project state.
• In collaboration with the SC Health and Nutrition colleagues and thematic leads, feed into learning, experiences and evidence to relevant global advocacy objectives.
• In collaboration with SCI staff, contribute with analysis towards organizational learning around technical areas as well as processes and outputs.

Representation, Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Represent the project and country programme on all MEAL, HMIS and research technical working groups, partners and stakeholders’ forums in the project state.
• In collaboration with the SC Health and Nutrition colleagues and thematic leads, feed into learning, experiences and evidence to relevant global advocacy objectives.
• In collaboration with SCI staff, contribute with analysis towards organizational learning around technical areas as well as processes and outputs.

General:

• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

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.

Skills & Experience
Qualifications and Experience:

• Degree in Public Health, Statistics, Economics, Demography, Anthropology, Development Planning, Social Work, Epidemiology or related subjects of similar scope.
• 3-5 years of progressive experience of monitoring and evaluation (Minimum of 3 years’ experience in the development sector) in public health/nutrition or any large social sector programs.
• In-depth knowledge of M & E techniques and methodologies including knowledge of conducting operations research, household surveys and qualitative assessments; data analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Proficient with analytical tools and softwares such as Stata, SPSS, MS Excel, etc.
• Significant experience in leading teams and building M&E team capacity (developing training tools, training, coaching and mentoring)
• Experience working in large and complex projects, split into multiple sites
• Significant understanding of development of MIS and data and information management
• Familiarity with knowledge management systems and approaches that foster a learning culture.
• Familiarity with participative and inclusive accountability approaches
• Highly developed influencing, communication, and interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate technical issues effectively and persuasively.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches and children’s participation.

Skills & 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 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
• Demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

Achieving Results Effectively:

• Ensures beneficiary and partner feedback is incorporated into programme design, planning and learning
• Makes changes to improve performance as a result of information received
• Documents lessons learned and applies them to future projects
• Maintaining and Developing Collaborative Relationships:
• Establishes clear objectives with teams and individuals and monitors progress and performance
• Fosters collaborative, transparent and accountable relationships through partners
• Uses negotiation and conflict resolution skills to support positive outcomes.

Leadership: (Action; Thinking; Self; Inspiring; Developing Others):

• Builds own awareness of the bigger global picture by using a broad range of sources to gather data
• Demonstrates approachability and trust by listening carefully to others and valuing their contribution, and making others feel comfortable by being open and honest about their thoughts and feelings
• Demonstrates self-development and management by taking responsibility for own development, and actively seeking out feedback to better understand their own strengths and weaknesses
• Openly talks about doing things differently, pushing the boundaries and ways of working
• Gives constructive feedback to enhance capabilities and responsibilities to another for the purpose of his / her development

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 Closing Date
14th December, 2022.