Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Ukraine Country Office

LOCATION: Sloviansk, Donetska oblast, with possible travels around Ukraine (GCA, NGCA) and abroad. We will consider the possibility of distant work from other locations in Ukraine based on the results of the interview. 

GRADE: 3

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3:  the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people frequently or intensively 

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Program Development and Quality Manager

Staff reporting to this post: 3 MEAL Assistants.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :  

MEAL System

• Take on responsibility for the implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system in SCI's programmes: monitoring progress against targets through logframes, Indicator Performance Tracking Tool (IPTT), Output Trackers, Quality Benchmarks and working alongside PDQ for monitoring MEAL action plans
• Ensure that operations and project staff understand the various steps and tools for the MEAL system and that this is used consistently across projects / areas
• Manage and build capacity of field level MEAL teams to conduct quality monitoring of programme activities, measured against international standards and using participatory, inlcusive and gender-sensitive methodologies (including child-friendly methodologies).
• Provide technical support and lead as required in all other aspects of MEAL at field level, for example surveys, assessments, baselines, evaluations, joint projects reviews / lessons learning workshops/events.
• Manage the MEAL budgets and ensure compliance with donor and SCI requirements

Accountability

• Lead the development and maintenance of a solid feedback, complaints and participation mechanisms at community level ensuring transparent, accountable and safe programming
• Liaise with programme teams to develop information sharing and community engagement strategies, to ensure stronger accountability to beneficiary communities
• Ensure child safeguarding mainstreaming are integrated into all M&E frameworks through measurable output and outcome indicators; and lead the process of piloting and scaling up local level beneficiary complaints' mechanisms in relation to staff conduct

Technical MEAL Support and Capacity Building

• Contribute at the field level towards the creation of an organisational culture that promotes MEAL and understands its link to quality and accountable programming
• Provide trainings and capacity building for field-level staff and partners as required on MEAL
• With support from the PDQ Manager, ensure all areas are progressing against the quality benchmarks including mainstreaming information sharing in all projects.

• Program Development:

• Support the PDQ Manager in ensuring that the Ukraine office has a quality, multi-sectoral and dual mandate program reflecting all priority technical and sector aspects of the Save the Children global strategy
• Support the PDQ Manager in ensuring the design and development of child focused emergency and development evidence-based programs of a high quality that contribute to the response's strategies and plans, informed by child right and child participation principles.

• Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Ensure that Save the Children's work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and Government, and support Interagency Coordination forums, advocating for the specific needs of children. This may involve supporting coordination working groups.  Participate in Interagency coordinated joint MEAL activities (for instance, inter-agency RTEs).
• With support from the PDQ Manager  and/or other senior programme staff, assist in advocacy activities that target decision-makers in-country.
• Support technical advisors with learning activities. 

• Staff management

• Manage staff performance in compliance with SCI Policies;
• Support adherence to child safeguarding policy.

• Reporting

• Support reporting to donors by providing management information to programme managers on a timely basis and ensuring quality of indicator reporting
• Ensure that regular monitoring and accountability (i.e. CRM database) reports are received and communicated effectively to PDQ Manager
• Ensure that Monthly, Quarterly and Annual field level reports include accurate key data summaries and brief narrative descriptors of previous period's achievements/challenges and future period's planned activities in relevant areas;
• Support other reporting processes as required.
• Programme Support (across areas)
• Support coordination of needs assessments in coordination with other external sector agencies, ensuring assessment findings are documented and include an analysis of children's needs. Lead development of SC programme baseline surveys where required.
• Working with technical colleagues, support technical advisors in their development of sector log frames, plans, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks and plans.  Contribute to development of programme plan/strategy and master budget.
• Support planning, implementation and follow-up of evaluations, for instance writing TORs, preparing literature review packs, recruiting evaluators, planning evaluator itineraries, planning staff workshops, leading report review. Participate in evaluations where required.
• Support the development and writing of concept notes and funding proposals (including log frames and budgets)

BEHAVIOURS: Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity, Integrity

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience
• Minimum 3 years of progressive professional experience in M&E
• Experience of working in humanitarian and development programmes
• A year of management experience, leading a team to deliver quality projects and programmes.
• Experience developing project proposals and logframes
• Experience of, and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability
• Demonstrated strong monitoring and evaluation skills
• Experience of training and capacity building; strong presentation skills
• Experience developing and improving monitoring and data collection systems
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills 
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind sets, attention to details
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in
• Experience of representation and ability to represent SC effectively in external forums.
• Experience of developing proposal logframes
• A high level of written and spoken English and fluency in Ukrainian and Russian
• Excellent Computer skills
• Experience or knowledge in community participation, especially with children
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. 
• Desirable
• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts
• Experience with statistical data analysis programmes such as SPSS, STATA, EpiInfo or other systems
• Experience in database management
• Experience using tablet software for data collection