Job Details

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator

TEAM/PROGRAMME : Program Development and Quality

LOCATION: Mongu

GRADE: 3

Safeguarding:

Save the Children does not tolerate any form of exploitation, abuse, or harassment against any person. It is the responsibility of all employees and representatives to protect all people who come in contact with our organization. Save the Children commits to applying the same standards to all its employees and subject them to the same processes regardless of their position, influence, or reputation within or outside of the organization.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Save the Children International’s Diversity Policy, aims to promote equal opportunity in employment and to ban any kind of discrimination based on sex, age, social class, disability, HIV status, religion, race and ethnicity

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Save the Children (SCI) is the world’s leading independent non-profit organization for children. Our vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation. SCI’s Mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting changes in their lives. In Zambia, SCI has been implementing programs across Child Rights Governance, Health and Nutrition, Child Protection, Education, Child Poverty and Humanitarian thematic areas since 1983.

SCI, in partnership with MAP International and the Zambian Ministry of Health (MOH) with funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Charity (LDSC) is implementing the Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Nutrition (IMNCHN) Project. The goal of the project is to contribute to the reduction in maternal, newborn, and child mortality, stillbirths, and morbidity in Mongu district of the Western province. The project is currently supporting twelve health facilities in Mongu district, including two hospitals and 10 health centres to ensure:

I.Sustained improvements in equitable access to and quality of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition services (including people with disabilities)

II. Increased demand and enhanced social norms for preventative health behaviours and use of health services

III.Increased capacity of local institutions and organizations to sustainably deliver evidence-based, quality health and nutrition services

ROLE PURPOSE:

The MEAL Coordinator role will provide MEAL technical guidance in the implementation of the Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (IMNCHN) Project. S/he will provide leadership in the design and implementation of an effective monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning system for the project in collaboration with the programmes team and partners. The role will include capacity building programme/partner staff, strategic and annual planning, internal reporting and evidence generation

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Program Manager Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Nutrition (IMNCHN) Project.

Dimensions: The role is expected to foster relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including Ministry of Health staff at district and provincial level, country office SCI Programme Development & Quality team, Operations team, advocacy colleagues and technical counterparts in other organisations, donors etc. The role is also expected to engage with internal technical working groups and communities of practice.

Staff directly reporting to this post : None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Develop a comprehensive project MEAL plan (includes indicator and performance tracking tools, data collection tools, accountability plan, project quality benchmarks) in close collaboration with the project team, Programme Ops and PDQ Departments in line with SCI’s Quality Framework.
• Coordinate regular monitoring of project implementation and results, ensuring timely data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Lead use of the monitoring framework, tools and processes to measure performance and quality. This includes supporting operation staff and partner staff to develop and monitor Quality Benchmarks.
• Track core programme indicators using SCI information and management systems, undertake meta-analysis and communicate this monthly, quarterly to the programme team and implementing partners.
• Working together with the core programmes/operations teams, organise and conduct routine monitoring and evaluation of the programme/projects and work closely with community members, implementing partners and beneficiaries to improve attainment of program/project goals.
• Provide support for annual reviews and reflections with implementing staff and communities and analyse data trends towards objective achievement
• Support the project in designing and conducting baseline surveys, mid-term evaluations, specialized studies and final evaluations to include sampling methodologies, data collection instruments, analysis and report development.
• Conduct data quality audits and use findings to reinforce processes for improved data quality
• Lend technical assistance to strengthen the health information system with the project’s implementation areas

Accountability and Learning:

• Develop and support implementation of accountability feedback, complaints and response mechanisms (both digital and conventional) in the impact area.
• Lead routine collection, analysis and use of evidence, including disaggregation for gender, disability and the most marginalized and deprived, to document impact, innovate and learn what works for children, and inform management, policy and programme solutions. This includes needs and baseline assessments, feasibility studies, evaluations and research.
• Champion knowledge management through the development and use of platforms that store and display evidence and learning that is made accessible and actively used between Save the Children, its partners and donors.
• Explore innovative opportunities to pilot approaches that are new or could expand to further areas of programming.
• With guidance and support from the MEAL & Evidence and Learning Coordinators, support implementation of a comprehensive organizational MEAL and knowledge management system to enhance impact monitoring, quality control and evaluation in order to improve internal processes and results delivery.
• Support development of programs management information system (MIS), harnessing new information technology for the compilation, analysis, storage, and retrieval of data and knowledge for programs development; provide technical assistance on data quality and integrity
• The post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

SKILLS AND 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

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

A minimum of degree bachelor’s degree in public health, Economics, Demography, Development Studies or related field in social sciences.

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in MEAL role in INGO sector/ experience in Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) related projects is an added advantage
• Experience in social research, both qualitative and quantitative methods, analysis and report writing.
• Experience & knowledge of social research analysis software (both qualitative and quantitative, examples SPSS, Stata, NVIVO, ATLAS, MAXQDA, etc etc.). Knowledge of using DHIS2 is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated diplomacy in building relationships and working with diverse cultures and audiences and sensitive situations and subject matter
• Experience in supporting the roll out of online or digital data management system platforms and data quality assurance systems.
• Experience in strategic planning approaches – including, needs assessment and programs design, logical framework development, selecting indicators, implementing monitoring plans, supporting evaluations and data analysis.
• Strong report writing and presentation skills; fluency in English (A high level of written and spoken) is essential.  English is a must
• Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce child safeguarding policy.
• Experience of working with local/national governments and capacity strengthening of systems, partners and staff
• Understanding of [donor] policies and procedures (highly preferred)
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international and matrix management environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner
• Demonstrated problem solving skills, collaboration experience, creativity and willingness to innovate
• Willingness to travel within the country as needed
• Fluent oral and strong analytical, written English communication skills are required
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with others in a remote work environment
• Good computer skills (particularly Word, Excel, Power Point)
• Demonstrates Save the Children’s core values of accountability, collaboration, integrity, ambition, and creativity.

A PPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

QUALIFIED APPLICANTS SHOULD ONLY ATTACH A COVER LETTER AND AN UPDATED CV .

The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 28th May 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Save the Children reserves the right to re advertise if suitable applicants are not found.

Save the Children is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer that does not engage in any practices which discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, colour, religion, gender, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status and we will never ask that you pay for anything as part of the selection process or thereafter.