Save the Children International Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Manager Vacancy

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Manager
 

Position Code: SCI-MEAL
 

Status: New
 

Team / Programme: Programme Development and Quality (PDQ).

 Location: Nairobi, Kenya with frequent field visits
 

Grade: 2

Contract Length: 1 Year ( with possibility of extension)
 

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 International is a 'full spectrum’ organisation that seeks to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and create lasting change in children’s lives. 

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) is a core function in all Save the Children International programmes globally, representing our commitment to accountability and transparency, and is crucial aspect of programme quality management within Save the Children.

The MEAL Manager will provide leadership in ensuring high quality programme management information systems and accountability standards are integrated into all aspects of Save the Children’s programming in Kenya. 

S/he will accomplish this through leading the development and implementation of an integrated MEAL framework for Save the Children in Kenya, managing and building the capacity of relevant MEAL staff, developing ways of working for MEAL staff as well as between MEAL staff and programme management, contributing to proposal development and strategy planning, and promoting and fostering a culture of shared learning and accountability to children and their families.

S/he rolls out a system for monitoring organisational progress against the Minimum Operating Standards and programme quality indicators, ensuring that such systems are institutionalised within the existing thematic programme cycle management framework, and that staff have the capacity to implement the systems.

Scope of Role:

Reports to: Director of Program Development and Quality (DPDQ)

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. 

Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH.

In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya. 

In February 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own. 

Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Nairobi, Turkana and Wajir. We work through partners in many other parts of the country. 

We have a staff complement of around 300 staff and an operating annual budget of approximately US$25 million in 2014.

Staff directly reporting to this post:  Five field-based MEAL focal points; Nairobi based Data and Knowledge Management Officer

Key Areas of Accountability:

General management

• As a senior member of the Kenya Country Programme, demonstrate behaviours that are consistent with Save the Children’s Mission, Vision and Values and ensure their broader application by staff across the programme.
• Contribute to a conducive and productive work environment and to the wider country programme agenda.
• Participate actively in PDQ meetings, planning and review activities, providing enhanced insight into programme quality and accountability systems.
• Carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects Save the Children’s commitment to safeguarding children, in accordance with our Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding Policy.
• Comply with and promote Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

Under the direct supervision of the Director of PDQ and in close coordination with the Technical Advisors and Director of Programme Operations (DPO), the MEAL Manager is responsible for:

System Design and Promoting MEAL

• Promote all aspects of MEAL to support the creation of an organisational culture which prioritises quality programming, including alignment with SCI Programme Quality Framework.
• Build strong relationships with colleagues and provide support as required to ensure MEAL system is understood and supported at country office level.
• Lead planning of needs assessments in coordination with sector leads and other agencies, where necessary, ensuring assessment findings are documented and include an analysis of children’s needs. Lead development of Save the Children programme baseline surveys where required.
• Lead on the development and oversee the roll-out of an organisational MEAL framework (emergency & development) in line with SCI Minimum Operating Standards and ensuring accountability to donors and beneficiaries.  The MEAL Framework should include robust project management information systems, rigorous complaints and response mechanisms, and effective learning methods.
• Support sector technical staff to design tools for monitoring and evaluation of project activities as agreed in MEAL framework.
• Ensure establishment of key indicators for each sector and tracking of data across projects to establish the broader impact on children from all interventions.
• Work closely with the Programme Operations team to ensure that MEAL becomes an integral element of project implementation leading to enhanced quality, accountability, management and impact, including feeding into new proposal development and sharing lessons learned.
• Set up systems to manage complex information generated by MEAL activities, such as complaints databases and qualitative outcome monitoring data systems. Conduct statistical and qualitative data analysis and present and disseminate information to inform programme management at all levels of management within a response. Act as technical backstop to the Data and Knowledge Management Officer and IT colleagues in the roll out, use and maintenance of the online Programme Management Information System (PMIS)
• Lead planning, implementation and follow-up of evaluations (real times, evaluations of humanitarian action etc.) Participate in evaluations where required.
• Oversee the design and implementation of accountability mechanisms at field level, such as complaints response mechanisms – working on community assessment, design, implementation, review etc.
• Advise technical specialists, Area Managers and Programme Managers to ensure that projects are carried out with participation from all targeted communities (including children), that information is shared with affected communities (through traditional and high-tech solutions) and that they solicit and respond to community feedback.

Programme Design and MEAL Resources

• Work with the Director of PDQ to support senior technical colleagues in their development of sector frameworks. Contribute to development of programme plan/strategy.
• Ensure that MEAL is an integral part of the programme design stage and features in all proposal development.
• Support fundraising efforts, including log frame development, drafting narrative MEAL sections, and review to ensure MEAL activities and costs are adequately covered. Develop standard guidance for incorporation of MEAL costs into proposals in specific responses
• Ensure that MEAL resources are included in proposal development and work creatively to secure funding from diverse sources, to ensure that MEAL is integrated in emergency and development programmes in a sustainable way.
• Responsible for effectively managing the MEAL budget.

Promoting Learning for Strategy Development and Decision Making

• Develop a clear agenda and inclusive process for learning and reflection, which informs planning.
• Ensure that information and findings from across thematic and operational regions are consolidated into the Lessons Learned database, which allows analysis of impact and promotion of learning and strategy development for the whole organisation.
• Lead on technical support, including formation of TOR and selection of consultants, for evaluations and provide technical review of progress and final reports.  Synthesise this information to improve organisational performance and impact for children.
• Communicate top level learning / analysis reports and monitoring data to ensure that management is able to make informed decisions on a timely basis to scale up and face operational challenges.
• Promote participatory learning processes with communities, parents and children. 
• Support the Director of PDQ to analyse progress against organisational objectives and strategies.

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development

• Line manage staff as required, consistent with SCI HR policy.
• Provide leadership to the MEAL team in the country programme, creating a shared understanding of MEAL framework and systems in Kenya; this requires creating cohesion with the field MEAL staff working in different geographic areas with direct collaboration with the Program Operations team.
• Identify learning and training opportunities for MEAL and other staff and act as a mentor and role model for less experienced staff.
• Conduct training and awareness raising activities for operations and programme technical staff at field and country-office level regarding MEAL priorities and quality standards.
• Support the field-based MEAL staff on work planning and problem-solving.
• At the organisational level, support MEAL capacity building across the key departments of PDQ and Program Operations.

Internal Reporting

• Responsible to ensure that the organisation delivers on all internal SC M&E requirements in a timely manner and with high quality information, including reporting on SCI global indicators, total direct and indirect reach data, and Global Initiatives.
• Develop systems to ensure monitoring of child participation, gender equity, integration, and other programme quality indicators, as relevant and required.
• Ensure that the Accountability Manager oversees a clear system of feedback and response from key stakeholders, particularly children, and presents the information to SMT for decision making purposes.

Other

• Support the use of the Theory of Change in programme design, delivery and evaluation.
• Ensure that child participation and child safeguarding is integrated into solid design and delivery.

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
 

Required

• Master’s degree in a relevant subject or equivalent field experience
• Extensive experience of undertaking a MEAL related role in an humanitarian or fragile states context
• Demonstrated skills setting up and rolling out MEAL systems
• Strong experience in information management systems
• 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
• Ability to work both in an advisory and a hands on implementation capacity
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• Excellent communication skills; Excellent written and spoken English
• The capacity and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and commitment to child participation.

Desirable

• Prior experience with Save the Children International highly desired
• Experience in both implementation and design desirable
• Experience with beneficiary communications desirable

How to Apply

Interested candidates are required to submit a CV and mandatory Cover letter to kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org indicating the Position Code & Title on the subject line by 21st October 2014 COB. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.