MEAL Officer 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 below:

Job Title: MEAL Officer

Location: Ondo
Employment Type: Full Time
Job Identification: 11398
Job Category: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
Grade: 4
Team: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
Post Type: National

Purpose of the Role

• Save the Children in 2024 started implementing Future for Every Child (FUFEC), a 3-year project in Akure, Ondo State, and Ikom, Cross River State, aimed at ensuring child protection and improved livelihoods to promote reduction in child labour and increased accountability in the cocoa-growing communities in Cross River and Ondo States in Nigeria.
• The MEAL Officer will be the MEAL lead for the project. S/he will be responsible for establishing and managing a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) system for the project in their location. Core duties for the position include designing and implementing a MEAL system following Save the Children International (SCI) standards. 
• The position holder will support evaluations/assessments, monitor program progress and quality, document lessons learnt, and contribute to periodic monitoring and reporting. Ensuring gender-sensitive, inclusive, and participatory MEAL processes, including children's involvement, is crucial.

Key Areas Of Accountablity
Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Develop robust MEAL plans, systems, processes, and tools for the project in line with SCI and donor requirements.
• Take the lead in data collection efforts for the project, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Conduct in-depth data analysis to derive actionable insights and recommendations from project data.
• Execute quarterly monitoring, and accountability activities to enhance project performance, including quality benchmarks, data quality assessments, and/or data quality assessments. 
• Document data collection and analysis findings, contributing to comprehensive and informative reports.
• Ensure monthly updates to the SCI’s Project reporting Information Management & Evidence (PRIME) system, accurately reflecting project progress and achievements.
• Monitor the implementation of programs, ensuring that activities are carried out according to standards and protocols.

Accountability:

• Support in ensuring the project is implementing the 3 pillars of Accountability - Information sharing, participation and feedback & reporting and providing relevant documentation.
• Assist in establishing robust accountability mechanisms, ensuring the voices of project participants are considered in project adaptation/design and implementation. 
• Conduct periodic community feedback and stakeholder meetings to gather input, feedback, and insights on the program, enhancing community engagement, and promoting transparency and accountability.

Knowledge Management & Learning:

• Actively engage in program learning initiatives, facilitating discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions among project teams.
• Ensure project MEAL documents are adequately stored in the SCI Resource Centre. 
• Support in the development of case studies and success stories for the project

Safeguarding:

• Ensure risk assessments are done before any data collection that involves children.
• Ensure Safeguarding and PSEA are part of every training agenda. 

Staff Management & Coaching:

• Coaching and mentoring of direct report to achieve project deliverables. 
• Support the implementation of the SCI performance management system, by supporting, supervising and reviewing performance of direct reports.

General:

• Comply with SCI policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Undertake any other tasks within the MEAL function as the line manager requires, adapting to project needs and challenges.

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in Information Technology, Economics, Statistics or demography, or any related courses

Skills & Experience:
Essential:

• At least 3 years of experience working in MEAL for developmental organizations.
• Experience in implementing, Child protection and Protection programs in development contexts program is an added advantage. 
• Experience in the use of analytical and visualization tools/software 
• Very good 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
30th January, 2025; 11: 24.