Meal Coordinator at Save the Children

Save the Children is a leading international organization helping children in need around the world. First established in the UK in 1919, separate national organizations have been set up in more than twenty-eight countries, sharing the aim of improving the lives of children through education, health care and economic opportunities, as well as emergency aid in cases of natural disasters, war and conflict.

In Nigeria, Save the Children has been working since 2001. The early focus was on getting children actively involved in shaping the decisions that affect their lives. Today, Save the Children is working in seven federal states - Zamfara, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi and Kaduna - focusing on providing basic healthcare and protecting children.

Reports to: MEAL Adviser.

Role Purpose

• Support the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Accountability (MEAL) element of the Stop Diarrhoea (SDI) Project in particular, Health and Child Survival programmmes in general.
• The MEAL Coordinator will work with the MEAL team to ensure that the Save the Children Health Signature programme (SDI) has a well-established, robust MEAL system. He/she will support the implementation of SDI M&E plan, monitoring progress against planned activities, critical milestones and designated periodic internal and external reporting.
• He/she will need to have skills and competence to assess project progress, realization of outcomes/results as well as facilitate the sharing and documentation of best practises and lessons learnt and will also need to ensure that quality work is maintained throughout implementation.
• He/she will also provide technical and field support for the implementation of researches including monitoring, programme evaluation, data analysis, and application of findings in coordination with other technical teams. In addition, the MEAL Coordinator will support the result based and outcome oriented monitoring of the SDI projects as well as preparations for the final project evaluation and close out.

Key Areas of Accountability
Impact Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Support implementation of monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning plan, including longitudinal studies and impact monitoring methodologies, in consultation with SDI project and health programme teams.
• Ensure that quantitative and qualitative monitoring and evaluation tools are systematically implemented and used by the teams, in cooperation with health programme technical and programme leads.
• Conduct regular field visits to track progress against indicators and put in place systems for routine data quality checks and validations
• Support the coordination of field data collection and the flow of reports from the field to the management team and provide regular feedbacks to field workers and key stakeholders of progress in program implementations.
• Support program evaluation activities and ensure the dissemination and use of the information products.
• Collate case studies and/or help partners to collect case studies for tracking program results.
• Actively participate in M&E meetings with key stakeholders
• Prepare monthly/quarterly progress reports and statistics as well as mid-/final reports to stakeholders
• Work with the MEAL team to ensure standardisation of health programme monitoring tools, dissemination of lessons learnt and maximise opportunities for capacity building.
• Contribute to child-focused and child-led programme implementation, by promoting child-friendly MEAL methodologies.
• Perform other tasks as required by the MEAL Adviser

Support the Development and Implementation of Knowledge Management Systems:

• Participate in the development of an organization KM strategy
• Support in developing case studies; applying the theory of change, sharing good practices internally and externally
• Provide guidance to field staff to strengthen information sharing and identification of success stories

Support the Implementation and Maintenance of Beneficiary Complaints and Response Mechanism:

• Support the implementation of beneficiary complaints mechanisms for Health and Child Survival projects
• Support the management of the CRM(Complaints and Response Mechanism) information system
• Ensure there is a feedback mechanism for the CRM

Accountability and Participation:

• Support in the assessment, design and monitoring methods to ensure participation at all stages of the project cycle; with a specific focus on promoting the participation of children.
• Support in the documentation of all activities and information sharing with the wider programme, and Save the Children members.
• Ensure that participation activities are appropriately planned and budgeted for in programme design and funding applications.
• By facilitating information sharing with key stakeholders, including beneficiaries, ensure that the SDI signature programme promotes transparency throughout all stages of implementation.
• Work with the MEAL Adviser to 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.
• Support the regular review of programme activities using SCI Do No Harm Framework, identifying key areas for revision/improvements.

Advocacy:

• In coordination with the Advocacy and BCC/Community Mobilization team, ensure that MEAL methodologies support advocacy and campaigning actions.
• Work with technical and field teams to identify key methodologies to enable advocacy and BCC impact measurement, take steps to document lessons learnt and disseminate findings.
• Support learning workshops, in collaboration with wider SCI MEAL team, to promote the share key lessons and to reinforce collaboration with external stakeholders.

Capacity Building:

• Provide on-the-job supervision to field teams including training on M&E Techniques, data collection and analysis, project and programme grant cycle management and Information System Management.
• Ensure that local stakeholders and local partners are provided and included in training opportunities when appropriate.
• Provide mentoring to field teams on MEAL processes

General:

• Comply with 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.

Skills & Behaviours(our Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• Take personal responsibility for using SCI resources efficiently, achieving measurable results and being accountable to supporters, partners and, most of all, children.

Ambition:

• Set high goals and demonstrate commitment to improving the quality of everything that is done for children as an employee of Save the Children.

Collaboration:

• Respect and value others; take proactive advantage of our diversity and work with partners to leverage Save the Children’s strength in making a difference for children; approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Demonstrate openness to new ideas, embrace change and take disciplined risks to develop sustainable solutions for and with children

Integrity:

• Demonstrate commitment to living to the highest standards of personal honesty and behaviour; he/she will never compromise Save the Children’s reputation and always act in the best interests of children

Qualifications
Essential (all mandatory):

• At least a Master’s Degree in Public Health, Demography, Sociology or other related field with at least 5 years professional experience in similar role within national/international development/NGO sector. Experience with INGO is preferred.
• Ability to produce analysis and graphic representation of results;
• Experience with coordinating research dissemination, including writing evaluation reports and briefs, organizing dissemination events, and presenting findings;
• Proven ability to work with diverse and large teams and to foster a positive working environment with local and international stakeholders;
• Experience working with researchers or academic institutions;
• Ability to manage a complex and varied work load, work under pressure, and manage significant travel to insecure environments;
• Strong English and Yoruba communication skills, both oral and written;
• Advanced computer literacy (MS Office applications, web-based applications and advanced statistical package utilization e.g SPSS,STATA-12,DHIS etc)
• Fluency in English and Yoruba, spoken and written
• Ability to work in partnership with government and other NGO’s staff
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to work within a team setting
• Independence, adaptability and flexibility
• Excellent communication skills
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC   mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support

Desirable:

• Previous experience working in INGOs.
• Specific experience of designing and managing privately funded projects.

How to apply

Use this link to apply 

• MEAL Coordinator
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