MEAL Manager at Save the Children Nigeria

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 of:

Job Title: MEAL Manager (Kano)

Ref No: 220000LQ
 Location: Kano
Employee Status: Fixed Term
Team: Nigeria State Office
Grade: 3
Post Type: National

Child Safeguarding

• Level 3. The responsibilities of this post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children and young people
• As part of these responsibilities the post holder will support the establishment of child safeguarding systems, promote a culture of keeping children safe, and ensure that potential harm to children (by our own staff and/or as a result of how we do our work) is identified and addressed on an ongoing basis. 
• The post holder should report and respond to interventions as determined by position-related responsibilities identified in the Child Safeguarding Policy.

Role Purpose and Description

• Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) Windows 3 is an FCDO funded program with a key outcome to promote learning and inclusion of girls in Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa states and policy at federal/national level as appropriate. The MEAL Manager will lead in all MEAL activities for the project consortium.
• This includes, leading in the development and implementation of the project MEAL plan and research framework that will generate evidence, maintain accountability standards and ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning of the education project.
• S/he will be responsible for ensuring that the quality of monitoring, evaluation and research for the project system is in place to generate evidences on the impacts and learning of the programme.

Scope of Role

• Reports to: Head of MEAL
• Staff directly reporting to this post: Project MEAL Officers in Kano, Jigawa & Kaduna, Accountability Officer

Key Areas of Accountability
Programme Quality- FCDO PLANE:

• Provide high quality MEAL technical leadership, support and capacity building to implementation team and coordinate data collection from all organisations in the consortium
• In collaboration with the programme team, develop a MEAL plan, as well as support 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 utilisation of accountability approaches, such as participation, complaints and response mechanisms
• 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 & Organisational Learning:

• Represent the project and country programme on all MEAL, education and research technical working groups, partners and stakeholders’ forums in the project state.
• In collaboration with the SC education 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.

Core Behaviours
 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

Qualifications and Experience

• Master's Degree in Education, Statistics, Economics, Anthropology, Development Planning or Social Work or related subjects of similar scope;
• At least 5 years of progressive experience of monitoring and evaluation (Minimum of 8 years' experience in the development sector) in education or any large social sector programs
• In-depth knowledge of MEAL 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 MEAL 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.

Application Closing Date
9th February, 2022.