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

Job Identification: 16965
Location: Katsina
Reports to: MEAL Manager

Role Purpose

• The MEAL Officer will be responsible for establishing and managing a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) system for the project, in line with Save the Children International (SCI) standards and donor requirements.
• The post holder will lead or support key assessments, including ASER and TaRL assessments for learners, as well as baseline, midline, and endline evaluations.
• S/he will monitor project progress and quality, conduct routine data verification and data quality assurance processes with partners, document lessons learned, and contribute to regular monitoring, reporting, and learning processes.
• The MEAL Officer will also support the establishment of a functional accountability system for the project, ensuring that feedback and complaints mechanisms are accessible, responsive, and child sensitive.
• The role requires promoting gender-sensitive, inclusive, and participatory MEAL processes, including meaningful participation of children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities where appropriate. 

Key Areas Of Accountability
Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Develop, adapt, and implement robust project MEAL plans, systems, and data management processes in line with Save the Children International (SCI) and donor requirements. 
• Coordinate with project partners and technical programme staff to conduct routine monitoring visits to project sites and carry out weekly, monthly, and quarterly data collection, validation, and verification exercises, ensuring that all dimensions of data quality are met in a timely manner. 
• In collaboration with partners and programme teams, analyse project data and performance indicators to generate actionable insights, support timely decision-making, and inform programme improvement. 
• Support the implementation of periodic monitoring, evaluation, and accountability activities, including quality benchmarks, data quality assessments, and project performance reviews, to enhance overall project effectiveness. 
• Document data collection and analysis findings and contribute to the preparation of accurate, comprehensive, and high-quality project reports. 
• Ensure timely and accurate weekly, monthly, and quarterly updates of the project’s Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT), Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP), and SCI’s Project Reporting, Information Management and Evidence (PRIME) system, and support performance tracking through available dashboards. 
• Contribute to the tracking and reporting of relevant country and global strategic plan indicators, as applicable to the project. 
• With support from the Country Research and Assessment Focal Point, lead or support the implementation of learner assessments, including ASER and TaRL, as well as baseline, midline, and endline assessments, and out-of-school children mapping in selected communities. 
• Support the registration and verification of project participants prior to any distribution and conduct post-distribution monitoring for cash and voucher assistance (CVA), learning kits, and WASH non-food items (NFIs), as applicable. 
• Deliver training and capacity strengthening support to project staff, partners, and enumerators/data collectors on MEAL processes, tools, standards, and reporting requirements. 

Accountability:

• Support the effective implementation of the three pillars of accountability, information sharing, participation, and feedback and reporting, and ensure relevant documentation is maintained. 
• Assist in establishing and strengthening accountability mechanisms that ensure project participants, including children and other vulnerable groups, can safely express their views and have those views considered in project design, adaptation, and implementation. 
• Collaborate with partners to conduct accountability needs assessments, facilitate child participation activities, and contribute to country-level accountability key performance indicator reporting, and sharing documented Feedback and Responses monthly. 

Knowledge Management & Learning:

• Support and facilitate periodic Pause and Reflect sessions in collaboration with the MEAL Manager and Knowledge Management and Learning Advisor to review progress, identify lessons learned, and adapt strategies for improved project outcomes. 
• Ensure the generation, documentation, and dissemination of evidence and learning by collecting, analysing, and documenting lessons learned, best practices, case studies, and success stories to inform future programming and advocacy. 
• Actively participate in programme learning initiatives and facilitate knowledge-sharing and reflection sessions with project teams and partners. 
• Provide evidence-based insights and recommendations to support continuous improvement in project design and implementation. 
• Ensure all project MEAL documents and evidence are properly organized and stored in the SCI Resource Centre and other designated information management platforms

Staff Management & Coaching:

• Coaching and mentoring of data collectors and feedback and response mechanism field assistants to achieve project deliverables.  
• Support the implementation of the SCI performance management system, by supporting, supervising and reviewing performance of direct reports. 

Safeguarding:

• Ensure risk assessments are done before any data collection that involves children.

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

• Minimum of a BSc Degree or equivalent qualification in, Economics, Statistics, Development Planning, Social Work or Demography, Computer Science, or any related courses.

Experience and Skills:

• At least 3 years of experience working in MEAL for Humanitarian/developmental organizations. 
• Experience in implementing Education and protection programs in humanitarian 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. 
• Good Knowledge of local area and local language
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches and children’s participation.

Application Closing Date
17th July, 2026, 12:59 AM.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online