MEAL Officer at Save the Children

Level 3: √ the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Save the Children in Tanzania MEAL Officer takes a coordination responsibility of operationalizing the SCI MEAL system and approach for SCI programmes. The post-holder will be expected to coordinate MEAL system implementation including monitoring of program quality; rolling out accountability initiatives, supporting program evaluations and on MEAL budgeting. The MEAL Officer will support project research works for innovative programming to achieve the project-desired change. The post-holder will support MEAL teams based in Mainland and Zanzibar Offices, partner’s staffs in data consolidation and management and quality management of project implementation; The MEAL Officer will be expected to coordinate MEAL capacity building of SCI project staff and partners for successful delivery and attainment of project objectives.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Save the Children has been operational in Tanzania since 1986 providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered in support of Government of Tanzania priorities and policies both directly and through local partners. Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, nutrition, HIV/TB and emergency response. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined programmes of SCUK, SCUS, SC Sweden to create a single operation in Tanzania. We currently have an operational presence in Dodoma, Singida, Iringa, Rukwa, Morogoro, Shinyanga, Zanzibar, Songwe and Kigoma as well as Dar es Salaam and we work through partners in other parts of the country. We employ nearly 100 staff and have an annual operating budget of approximately $10 million.

Reports to: MEAL Specialist

Dimensions: Maintains strong linkages with the Technical Specialists for Education, Child Protection, Child Rights Governance and Proposal Development Officer

Staff directly reporting to this post: None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Together with the MEAL team and in collaboration with Program Development and Quality team and partners, the MEAL Officer will be responsible for establishing and promoting the use of MEAL systems to ensure that the SCI team and partners:

Receive regular, timely and context specific, meaningful feedback from program beneficiaries, partners and project staff. The feedback should effectively inform and signal areas where SCI strategic attention and improvement is required.
Generate evidence-based knowledge on the positive and negative impacts SCI programme interventions are realized over the communities during SCI’s work.
Collate information that demonstrates the significant value of innovative programming to achieve the programme intended results and influence policy change.

Program Monitoring, Assessments, Evaluations and Reporting

In collaboration with the PDQ Team under the guidance of MEAL Specialist establish and ensure implementation of a strong MEAL system for the SCI programmes (MEAL plans, Indicators, Terformance Tracking Tables, monitoring tools and Quality Benchmarks)
Coordinate programme Baseline studies, Formative/Summative Assessments, Evaluations, final and other research studies as well as learning events as part of annual SCI Tanzania program DIPs.
Under the supervision of MEAL Specialist and in Collaboration with program MEAL units, develop process, output and outcome level Quality Benchmarks and regularly review progress on indicators/achievement of targets
Review MEAL reports to highlight key project strengths and areas of improvement, and use learning from monitoring reports for project planning and implementation.
Review accountability to program beneficiaries’ data and reports and provide technical support to implementation team using key learning from accountability system for program development, planning, improvement and implementation.
I collaboration with MEAL Specialist, identify programme staff MEAL capacity needs, inform Program Managers and MEAL unit, and set aside MEAL capacity building plan for programme staff and partners.
Provide technical support to the MEAL Teams in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar offices in measuring achievement and progress toward program objectives and results as well as development of MEAL systems for SCI Tanzania programmes
Support the development and maintenances of Indicator Performance Tracking Tools for SCI Tanzania programmes that guide preparation of programme progress updates on a monthly basis.
Lead roll out programme MEAL systems and processes to measure achievement and progress towards achieving project objectives/outcomes and results/outputs against indicators (indicator performance tracking tables and quality checklists).
Lead monitoring of program quality using quality benchmarks and ensure that findings are shared with relevant stakeholders and explicitly fed back into programme decision-making, incorporating accountability and learning.
Contribute to child-focused and child-led programme implementation, by ensuring children’s participation, reporting to children, and child-led M&E for programmes.
Lead compilation of data and reporting on SCI program in relation to SCI global indicators and total beneficiaries reach reports.

Partner Management

Contribute to identify the capacity of present and potential partners in quality programming and ensure that MEAL support is provided;
Ensure that MEAL aspects of SCI programme implemented by existing partners are enforced by MEAL and Project Officers, as noted in MOUs with implementing partners.
Ensure partner SCI programme and MEAL staff capacity building plan is implemented.
Provide appropriate information of SCI programme to facilitate the effective engagement with donor and Tanzania government officials at all required levels as required to ensure Save the Children is considered a preferred and active partner in Tanzania and in Zanzibar and the Songwe Region specifically.

Accountability and Organisational Learning

In collaboration with SCI Programme Manager facilitate with learning activities like planning for SCI program review workshops, prepare lessons learnt reports, etc.
Ensure participation of beneficiaries and children in monitoring and evaluating Save the Children development programmes.
Ensure accountability systems are established engaging beneficiaries and stakeholders in evaluations, impact assessments and research.

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development

Ensure that SCI programme and partners’ staff understand and are able to perform their role in MEAL.
Building capacity and knowledge of SCI programme staff and partners on MEAL systems, strengthening organizational knowledge and understanding of effective programming through networking, experience sharing and searching for innovative ideas
Identify training needs of staff in respect to applying monitoring plans/tools; collect, analysis and report on findings periodically and conduct trainings to address the capacity gaps
Demonstrate and practice behaviour that develop a sense of an organisational culture that reflects our dual mandate values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and emancipates SCI programme team to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our members and donors.

Child Safeguarding

All staff have an obligation to ensure they fully understand the provisions of the Child Safeguarding Policy, the Code of Conduct and related policies. They must conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of the Child Safeguarding Policy, in their personal and professional lives – which includes reporting suspicions of child abuse.

All staff must ensure the way they are carrying out their work is not putting children at risk (or further risk).

COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Applying Technical and Professional Expertise:

Makes decisions based on professional expertise and experience without deferring unnecessarily to others
Shares knowledge and best practice on technical solutions so that others can make best use of that expertise
Actively seeks new ways to develop the application of technical and professional standards within the team

Developing self and others:

Gives regular positive and constructive feedback to others
Identifies clear development needs and development
plans through regular constructive reviews of their own performance (and their team’s where appropriate)
Creates space for others to learn and provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments when people are ready for them
Coaches others to learn from their experiences on the job and to use the resources available to them

Problem Solving and Decision Making:

Gathers the right information and uses critical thinking to make effective and timely decisions
Knows when to involve others in a decision
Demonstrates awareness of the wider external influences that impact on decision making
Analyses and exercises judgment in challenging situations in the absence of specific guidance or knowledge of the full facts
Evaluates the opportunities and risks of each idea and solution to make informed strategic decisions
Working effectively with others

Actively listens to new and different perspectives and experiences of those they work with
Proactively supports team members and trusts their capabilities
Demonstrates understanding of their skills and how they complement those of others within diverse teams and groups
Clarifies their role and responsibilities within the team to maximise impact

Delivering Results

Delivers timely and appropriate results using available resources
Takes responsibility for their work and its impact on others
Plans, prioritises and performs tasks well without needing direct supervision
Understands the link between their work and the organisation’s objectives

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;

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

A degree in an area of Computer science/ Information Technology, Statistics or equivalent., Master’s degree is an added advantage
Possess the ability to understand structured query language (SQL), Knowledge of ‘relational database management systems’ (RDBMS), ‘object-oriented database management systems’ (OODBMS) and XML database management systems
Experience with their database software/web applications including having an up-to-date knowledge of technology
Minimum 3 years practical experience in M&E systems Development, coordination and implementation in a large international non-governmental organisation or other international development body;
Developed research, analytical (qualitative and quantitative), documentation and report-writing and skills, with particular competency in participatory research methods;
Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports. A high level of written and spoken English
Excellent planning, coordination, and reporting skills, with the ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities;
Strong communication and interpersonal skills in English, with experience working in multicultural, multi location, values driven teams;
Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours and work with diverse community beneficiaries
Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children International’s aims, values and principles
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:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff:

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy

Health and Safety

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

Closing date: 27 Aug 2020 – 23:59 EAT

Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of

Department: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

Type: Fixed-term contract

Schedule: Full-time

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