MEAL Manager (GAVI Consortium) (Khartoum) – SAVE THE CHILDREN

Job Description

Job Identification	10723
Job Category	Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
Posting Date	12/08/2024, 11:34 AM
Apply Before	12/14/2024, 01:59 PM
Locations	Khartoum

ROLE PURPOSE

The MEAL Manager is responsible for improving and implementing SCI’s MEAL systems in Sudan, ensuring accurate and timely monitoring, data management, and accountability mechanisms. This includes managing performance tracking, developing SMART indicators, and contributing to reports that support program goals. The role involves working with thematic leads to ensure logical frameworks align with program objectives and maintaining accountability systems that build trust with communities. The MEAL Manager also analyzes data to inform strategic decisions.

SCI operates across Sudan, addressing child rights governance, protection, education, health, nutrition, WASH, livelihoods, and emergencies, with funding from diverse international donors such as SIDA, OFDA, and UN agencies.

SCOPE OF ROLE

Reports to:  Direct GAVI Consortium lead / Technically the MEAL Specialist 

Staff reporting to this post: NA

Budget Responsibilities: Ensures inclusion MEAL budgeting components during proposal development as well as monitoring budget expenditure on these components. Ensures that the % of budget allocated to MEAL activities for new proposals submitted including MEAL Staff or project staff with specific MEAL responsibilities; MEAL training for staff / partners or for MEAL team; Needs assessment or equivalent; Monitoring visits specific to MEAL system requirements; Baselines, mid-terms (if applicable) and endlines; Evaluations and/or audits; Publications / disseminations; Sharing information; Participation; Feedback / Complaint systems; Learning and Review sessions; Research; Equipment & usage and Software among other components.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Strategic Leadership

• Support the development and roll-out of the Sudan CO MEAL Framework
• Promote all aspects of MEAL to support the creation of an organizational culture which prioritizes quality programming, including alignment with SCI’s Quality Framework
• Build strong relationships with colleagues and provide support as required to ensure MEAL system is understood and supported at country office level
• Promote linkages between MEAL, Child safeguarding systems, and safe programming. 
• Contribute with technical staff in proposal development particularly the MEAL section including the log frame, MEAL budget 

Monitoring 

• Ensure effectiveness of the monitoring systems in maintaining and improving quality of services delivered by the country office.
• Strengthen efforts to create greater efficiency in MEAL systems by continued harmonization with SCI (and other relevant) standards and use of digital technologies 
• Ensure that the organization delivers on all internal and external MEAL requirements in a timely manner and with high quality information.
• Strengthen the MEAL systems and processes to assure systematic tracking of achievements and progress towards project objectives and outcomes.
• Work with Technical Specialist (TS) to utilize and develop sector/thematic quality benchmarks for all activities implemented within a given sector/theme including any new activities that may be introduced in the program on an ongoing basis and ensure their implementation
• Review and advise on consistency, expected results/indicators, and other elements of log-frames/results frameworks to ensure quality 
• Ensure that data collection methodologies used at field level are standardized, enabling the specific vulnerabilities of different target groups to be captured and analyzed. 
• Develop a comprehensive MEAL plan (includes indicator and performance tracking table-IPTT, data collection tools, accountability plan, project quality benchmarks) in collaboration with program teams at the inception phase for all programmes
• Lead on development of IPTT, review and oversee consolidation of Output Trackers and other humanitarian MEAL requirements. 
• Guide field-based MEAL staff to address any gaps in programme quality assurance and in MEAL frameworks implementation.
• Develop a tracking mechanism/system for tracking Country Office achievements against CSP milestones and targets.
• Triangulate and analyze monitoring data to generate a high level summary of MEAL systems related to programming for senior leadership. 

Research, Evidence & Learning

• Maintain regular and proactive dialogue with technical/thematic leads and field teams to identify critical programmatic knowledge gaps, as well as to initiate, adapt or test new practices, approaches or methodologies, that will inform our Country Office Evidence & Learning agenda with a view of improving the impact of our work in Sudan
• Foster a culture of learning in the Sudan Country Office, including the systematic collection, storage and dissemination of evidence and learning that is used throughout the project cycle by all staff 
• Support the Field MEAL staff in developing and implementing evidence and learning dissemination and uptake strategies.

 Accountability & Participation

• Ensure that all staff at all levels, including senior managers and directors, fully understand and promote accountability in general and to children in particular, through training and coaching. 
• Work with Head of MEAL and Accountability Officer to contribute to improvements in existing policies and procedures to enhance effective accountability mechanisms.
• Facilitate training of field MEAL staff, partners and stakeholders on Accountability, core humanitarian standard (CHS), Sphere standards.
• Ensure that participation activities are well documented, and learning is shared with Save the Children Sudan, and Save the Children members. 
• Ensure that child participation activities are appropriately planned and budgeted for in programme design and funding applications. 
• Ensure that project activities are designed to promote feedback and response mechanisms and include systems to effectively manage complaints. 
• Ensure that activities are carried out to raise awareness of prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and handling of serious complaints in line with child safeguarding policy.

People Management & Development 

• Provide guidance and support to the field MEAL staff through creating an enabling environment where staff can develop to their full potential
• Lead, in coordination with HR, the recruitment, professional development and promotion of direct line reports as appropriate, including the identification of development opportunities, such as coaching/training/stretch assignments to build and maintain technical skills and competencies required for leading first-class programmes
• Provide day-to-day direct line management, including manage and define expectations; provide technical guidance and support to the team as needed. 
• Provide technical supportive supervision of the field-based MEAL staff through regular contact, field visits and meetings.
• Undertake performance management, including setting of annual goals and quarterly deliverables, undertaking quarterly reviews, and provision of feedback to ensure delivery of results
• Support the development of an organizational culture that reflects our dual mandate values (humanitarian and development), promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our members and donors. 

BEHAVIOURS (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 their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

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; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential:

• At least 6 years’ experience in MEAL design experience in both development and emergency response contexts with MSc. in any related field, or 8 years of MEAL design experience with BSc.
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written
• Experience in support and supervision of project level quality assurance and safe programming
• Experience of, and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability
• Previous experience of managing a team and managing projects
• Demonstrated strong monitoring and evaluation skills, including planning/participating in evaluations
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff
• Ability to facilitate/conduct large technical trainings for staff
• Experience of representation and ability to represent Save the Children effectively in external forums
• Experience of contributing to successful funding proposals for donors
• Ability to write clear and effective reports
• Excellent communication and influencing skills 
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances
• Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of the Save the Children mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support

Desirable:

• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts.

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities 

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

Save the Children is committed to ensuring that all children who have contact with the organization are safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from child abuse and sexual exploitation. This commitment is implemented through the organization’s Child Safeguarding Policy, which includes mandatory requirements that apply to everyone in all aspects of Save the Children’s work. It applies equally to all children irrespective of their gender, disability, ethnicity, sexuality, marital status or religion.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.