Senior MEAL Officer

The Opportunity - Senior MEAL Officer

The Senior MEAL Officer is accountable for all tasks related to the Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability and Learning of the southern program. S/he is primarily responsible for the MEAL of the WNCB project, besides S/he will provide support to MEAL works of other teams in the south office. The Senior MEAL Officer will be responsible to ensure the timely and accurate data collection and analysis to inform the joint reports to be submitted to WNCB’s donor and Country Office MEAL reports as well as to ensure the quality of all research/assessment/evaluation reports of the Southern Program.

In addition, Senior MEAL Officer will represent in the MEAL focal point group and contribute to Country Office MEAL initiatives in that capacity.

Key Responsibilities

Monitoring & Evaluation:

Southern Program related tasks:

• Coordinate the development of MEAL plans and tools of projects in line with SCI Quality Framework, under the direction of Southern Program Manager and technical support from CO MEAL Manager and inputs from project teams.
• Support Southern Program Manager and respective Project Managers by overseeing the MEAL work, including PMM Prime system of the Southern Program
• Support to roll out of MEAL Standardized Procedure, MEAL system to increase data quality through supervision, verification and feedback
• Provide technical support by training, mentoring to MEAL staff in the program and CO, and implementing partner staff where necessary.
• Undertake field visits to monitor progress and support monitoring and evaluation activities

WNCB related tasks:

• Utilize the Monitoring and Evaluation tools/approaches for WNCB project monitoring (Sense maker, beneficiary tracking, data collection, analysis, reporting, etc.) in line with SCI Quality Framework.
• Provide support to WNCB project implementing partners to ensure high quality of monitoring, assessment and data collection for indicator tracking and verification
• Ensure that monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken as planned and with the use of Quality Benchmarks, MEAL Dashboard, Evaluation standards.
• Be responsible to liaise with relevant stakeholders (including members and UNICEF and Centre) to ensure timely and accurate data collection and verification for WNCB submission. 
• Lead and coordinate (when relevant) the third party to conduct independent monitoring and external evaluation processes

Accountability

Southern Program tasks:

• Work closely with the Southern program team to ensure all project staff, including partner staff, fully understand and promote accountability through training, workshops, and campaigns.
• Work closely with the Southern program team to ensure that project information is appropriately shared with children and communities and that they can participate meaningfully in projects
• Promote responsiveness through establishing channels, accountability database and the effective use of feedback and response mechanism among projects and give feedback to CO MEAL staff on this system.
• Support Accountability Focal Point in reporting and investigation of complaints and feedback as and when needed and make appropriate recommendations to line management.

WNCB related tasks:

• Support the implementing partners to ensure the appropriateness, quality and effectiveness of accountability systems across WNCB project

Learning

• Effectively use MEAL data for decision making and learning to improve implementation quality.

Southern Program related tasks:

• Promote learning and sharing throughout the Southern program, particularly on issues of program quality, policy analysis, and advocacy.
• Lead the documentation of lessons learned and best practices, promote sharing, and ensure those incorporated in program implementation and design.
• Maintain smooth communication and coordination between Southern Program and the country’s MEAL team.
• Participate in designing and implementation of studies, assessments, research, and learning in coordination and cooperation with project staff and partners.
• Provide inputs into research/assessment/evaluation reports of the projects, Quarterly KPI reports, Country Annual Reports, and Country Annual Planning.  

WNCB related tasks:

• Coordinate with implementing partners to ensure timely and effective learning across the WNCB project, members, UNICEF

Coordination, representation, advocacy and networking

• Support engagement and communication with Save the Children Member and donor on project progress with thematic lead and Project Manager;
• Support national level project activities, including advocacy and coordination;
• Serve as the main contact to represent the project in operation locations and maintain effective links with local partners at all levels to facilitate implementation, sustainability and scalability of the project;

Other tasks required by supervisor

• Support country MEAL team in relevant MEAL tasks when required (10% LOE)

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor degree or equivalent in M&E, Statistics, International Development or related field

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Minimum 7 years of experience working in project/program MEAL in development organizations (experience in accountability and learning can be less than 3 years). Experiences includes but not limits to logical frameworks, result statements and indicators, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, using common data analysis packages (example quantitative packages: STATA, SPSS, E-view, R, Python; example qualitative packages: MAXQDA, NVIVO, qualitative data package
• Proven experience in database management, using common packages (examples include Access, Excel)
• Good skills in communicating in English and Vietnamese.
• Experience in developing, leading/coordinating research and assessments
• Willing to travel
• Ability to provide technical support/inputs in developing and implementing a sound MEAL system for children
• Proven experience in report writing, including the creation of dashboards
• Proved experience of verbal presentation of data relating to project work
• Experience in training interventions and beneficiary follow-up is an advantage
• Quick learner with the abilities to think strategically and creatively
• Commitment to humanitarian principles/accountability frameworks, especially for work with vulnerable populations.
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to and understanding of SCI aims, values, and principles including rights-based approaches and program requirements

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education, and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize children’s rights and ensure their voices are heard.  

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information

Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document and use format. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at:

Job Description - Ho Chi Minh - Senior MEAL Officer - National Only (220007YC) (taleo.net)

If you have any issues with applying via our system, please send an email explaining your troubles to [email protected]

Closing Date for Application: 31st October, 2022

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.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties by our global anti-harassment policy.