JOB DESCRIPTION

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

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Programme and Operations

LOCATION:  Lumezi

GRADE: NAT 4

POST TYPE: National

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

BACKGROUND: 

Save the Children International (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 programmes across Child Rights Governance, Health and Nutrition, Child Protection, Education, Child Poverty and Humanitarian thematic areas since 1983.

With funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, SCI and The Hunger Project (THP) in partnership with the Zambian Ministry of Health (MoH) will implement the Optimizing Health and Nutrition in Eastern Zambia (OHNEZ) in Lumezi district. The project will work with the Ministry of Health to strengthen health and food systems and achieve four critical results through the implementation of a package of interventions as follows: 

• Sustained improvements in equitable access to and quality of maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, and nutrition (MNCHN) services
• Increased demand and enhanced social norms for preventative health and nutrition behaviours and use of health services.
• Increased capacity of local institutions and organizations to sustainably deliver evidence-based, quality health and nutrition services; and
• Increased access to and consumption of diverse foods among vulnerable communities to improve maternal and child dietary diversity.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The MEAL Officer role will provide MEAL technical oversight and operational support to data management, use and reporting for the Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (IMNCHN) Project in Lumezi. S/he will provide be responsible for implementation of an effective monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning system for the project, in collaboration with the programmes team and partners. The person will be responsible for overseeing data collection, cleaning/ verifying data, compiling reports for internal and external consumption, coordinating closely with the technical staff to ensure that high quality systems support adaptive management and data-driven programming. Additionally, the person will be responsible for packaging and presenting data in a meaningful way to comply with reporting requirements and expand stakeholder learning. The role will include capacity building programme/partner staff, strategic and annual planning, internal reporting and evidence generation

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to:  MNCHN Technical Coordinator, with a dotted line to the MEAL Coordinator

Dimensions:  The role is expected to deliver strong, consistent, verified program findings which fit program needs and requirements. In addition, the person is expected to liaise with Ministry of Health staff at health facility, district and provincial level, work with country office SCI Programme Development & Quality team, Operations team, advocacy colleagues and technical counterparts in other organisations. The role will engage with internal technical working groups and communities of practice as needed.

Staff directly reporting to this post:  None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Monitoring & Evaluation: 

• Finalize and establish operations for the project defined MEAL plan (includes indicator and performance tracking tools, data collection tools, accountability plan, project quality benchmarks) in close collaboration with the project team, Programme Operations 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 in collaboration with the DHIO.
• Collaborate with project partners to organise and conduct joint monitoring and evaluation of the programme activities, to improve attainment of programme/project goals.
• Be responsible for electronic data management systems/ databases, from data collection / gathering, verifying, data entry or migration, data visualization and measures to promote data use.
• Lead quarterly data review of key MNCHN indicators and monthly performance review to inform project programming, other reviews as needed.
• Lead use of the monitoring framework, tools, and processes to measure performance and quality. This includes supporting the operation of staff and partner staff to finalize monitor Quality Benchmarks adapted to project activities.
• Track core programme indicators using SCI and MOH information and management systems, undertake meta-analysis and communicate this monthly, quarterly or as needed to programme team and implementing partners.
• Provide support for annual reviews and periodic reflections with implementing staff and communities and analyse data trends towards objective achievement
• Support the project in conducting surveys, evaluations, and specialized studies  as needed. This will include support to conducting service quality assessments (SQA) across supported healthcare facilities.
• Conduct data quality audits (DQA) and use findings to reinforce processes for improved data quality
• Capacity building and mentorship of healthcare providers on data management to improve data quality, accuracy, consistency and timelines.
• Lead the preparation of reports (monthly, quarterly and annually) due to SCI and the donor.

Accountability and Learning: 

• Lead routine collection, analysis and use of data using and improving upon existing database and dashboards, innovate and learn what works for children, and inform management, policy and programme solutions.
• Lead the consolidation of narrative and indicator reports due to SCI and the donor.Champion knowledge management through the 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.
• With guidance and support from the MEAL Coordinator, implement a comprehensive programme MEAL and knowledge management system to enhance impact monitoring, quality control and evaluation to improve programme processes and results delivery.

Lead the documentation of best practices and human-interest stories during the implementation of MNCH interventions to inform scale up

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 community structures 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 Statistics, Demography, Economics, or related field in social sciences

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in MEAL role in NGO sector. Experience in managing M&E for MNH & Nutrition related projects is an added advantage
• Hands on experience managing MEAL frameworks (results framework; log-frame etc.) and operationalization of MEAL efforts
• Knowledge and hands on experience of using HMIS/DHIS2 is highly desirable.
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods, analysis and report writing.
• Experience in managing databases and computer skills (Excel, Word)
• Experience in supporting the roll out of online or digital data management system platforms and data quality assurance systems (Kobo collect, Survey CTO etc).
• Experience & knowledge of social research analysis software (both qualitative and quantitative, examples SPSS, Stata, NVIVO, ATLAS, MAXQDA, etc.).
• Demonstrated diplomacy in building relationships and working with diverse cultures and audiences and sensitive situations and subject matter
• Experience in strategic planning approaches – including, needs assessment and programmes design, logical framework development, selecting indicators, implementing monitoring plans, supporting evaluations and data analysis.
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills for external audiences.
• Experience with donor reporting requirements (highly preferred)
• Hands on experience in leading assessments e.g. baseline assessments, endline assessment and health facility assessments etc
• Experience of working with local/national governments and capacity strengthening of systems, partners and staff
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets
• Demonstrated problem solving skills, collaboration, creativity and willingness to innovate
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with others in a remote work environment

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

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

The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 2^nd December 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