JOB ADVERTISEMENT – Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer

SCI employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3:  The responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

ROLE PURPOSE: 

Save the Children is seeking job applicants for a Senior MEAL Officer position to be based in Istanbul with frequent travels to the SCI Türkiye Operational areas. The Senior MEAL Officer will report to the Head of MEAL. The post holder will be responsible for maintaining the MEAL function within the SCI. Senior MEAL Officer plays vital role in ensuring that projects are effectively monitored, evaluated and learning is integrated into program design and implementation. S/he will promote all aspects of MEAL to support the creation of an organisational culture that prioritises quality programming, including but not limited to alignment with SCI’s Quality Framework. S/he will also provide cross-thematic support pertaining to MEAL activities to increase data quality and inform project adjustments where necessary through ensuring evidence-based decision making. Additionally, the post holder will be conducting frequent visits to the project sites and to the partners to support the MEAL and program team in capacity building, supervision, coaching and be responsible for internal and external reporting.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Head of MEAL

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

The Senior MEAL Officer will be responsible for the following:

Strengthening the MEAL System

• Undertake responsibility for the quality implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system in SCI’s programmes and projects, and closely monitoring and reporting progress against targets through the Indicator Performance Tracking Tool (IPTT), Output Trackers, field visits, evaluations, and Quality Benchmarks.
• Ensure that project staff understand the procedures and tools for the MEAL system by drafting policies, procedures and conducting trainings on MEAL across projects.
• Design and update the data collection tools, methodologies and the database in order to develop a high-quality reporting system to cover reporting needs by sector, project, location and total reach, in close collaboration with the Information Management Team.

Data collection capacity:

• Conduct regular monitoring visits to project activities, report back via relevant reporting templates, and oversee field teamwork, when required.
• Hold debriefing sessions with relevant staff on recommendations and/or action plans.
• Create, update, review MEAL tools where needed (e.g. Indicator Performance Tracking Tables, questionnaires, dashboards)
• Proactively engage programme teams to compile information on activities, and ensure the collected information is aligned and respond to the program and donor requirements.
• Review incoming data for cleanness, completeness and consistency, and improve data collection tools as necessary.  
• Ensure that all data collection processes are compliant with the local data protection law (KVKK) and GDPR.
• Design, plan, support/lead on various assessments (i.e. baseline/endline, project evaluations, outcome and impact assessments).
• Conduct Quality Benchmarks, and follow up with relevant staff on the action points.

Data analysis & use:

• Support planning, coordination, analysis and preparation of findings for various assessments.
• Ensure that all data is kept confidentially and securely, including hard and soft copies during internal and external assessments.
• Conduct regular data verification/data audits

Information management systems:

• Work with the MEAL unit and sector teams to support, roll-out SCI/partner databases, utilise information management platforms (i.e. Commcare).
• Contribute and support in developing, maintaining and continuously updating data collection tools
• Ensure that data confidentiality measures are in place for data management and filing systems for soft and hard copies.
• Ensure the implementation/roll-out of standardized information management policies
• Compilation of relevant reports plans and information/data documents and sharing with PDQ and program teams as needed.

Reporting:

• Coordinate with relevant OPS and MEAL staff following review of weekly/monthly/quarterly data submissions, as well as project achievements against targets.
• In collaboration with MEAL Manager, develop recommendations for the implementing team as part of the learning process.
• Develop analysis and top line reports to be communicated with internal and external stakeholders, and facilitate donor and SCI strategic (HART, CSP, KPI, SCHP, SitRep, etc) reporting.

Accountability and Child Safe Programming:

• Support on the roll-out of the Accountability mechanisms concerning all projects and the organization, in close collaboration with the Accountability Team.
• Ensure that all team is informed of the reporting lines concerning the FRM
• Support the program team in coordinating with local stakeholders to ensure effective information sharing
• Support partners to ensure the SCI Accountability standards are introduced and implemented in coordination with Partnership team
• Use child friendly methodologies to ensure child participation where relevant
• Support MEAL team in validation of and materials with beneficiaries, including children and hard to reach groups

General:

• Roll-out, strengthen, and oversee MEAL systems as per SCI guidelines and commitments
• Provide capacity building trainings, supervision, and coaching to partner teams as needed
• Maintain filing system for soft and hard copies.
• Actively contribute to making the project safe for children and gender sensitive (and to the extent gender transformative) in collaboration with SC’s Gender Focal Point at all times.
• Ensure that the MEAL system in place is in line with SCI standards, donor requirements and humanitarian programming standards.  
• Represent SCI in external platforms
• Perform other duties as required

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds him/herself accountable for managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Hold him/herself accountable for the confidentiality of the information, data and the knowledge.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages the team to do the same.
• The capacity and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Able to work with tight deadlines and under pressure

Collaboration:

• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to; builds and maintains effective relationships with colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity and different people’s perspectives, able to work cross-culturally.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Finds creative solutions to improve participation of beneficiaries, particularly children and hard-to-reach groups

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency, builds trust and confidence.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• BSc/BA in Computer Sciences, Information Technology, Statistics or related field.
• At least 3-year experience in MEAL, MEL, M&E, or IM roles
• Or holds an MSs/MA in above mentioned degrees and 2 years experience in MEAL, MEL or M&E.
• Proven experience in data collection, analysis, and information/database management.
• Proven experience in quantitative data collection, statistics, research design
• Advanced MS Office skills (especially MS Excel) and working knowledge of PowerBI
• Fluent in Turkish and English
• Fluency in Arabic or Farsi is highly desirable.
• Working knowledge of SPSS, R, or similar software package is highly desirable.
• Understanding of CommCare app development and working with Commcare form data is highly desirable.
• Experience in qualitative data collection through child friendly methodologies is highly desirable.
• Previous experience working in humanitarian programmes in SCI prioritized sectors is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability in community mobilisation and community-level dialogue, or experience in representing his/her organisation is highly desirable.

Position holder will be based in İstanbul, therefore legal right to work in Türkiye is necessary at the time of application.