MONITORING EVALUATION ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEARNING (MEAL) MANAGER

Main Purpose of the Position

To oversee and lead ZOCS’ Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Department and its team and to ensure that collected data regularly informs planning and projections, by consistently integrating and implementing MEAL systems are throughout ZOCS’ programme activities. This involves creating, developing, and supporting programme teams to use Monitoring, Evaluation, accountability & Learning (MEAL) systems to collect, aggregate and analyse data including facility and project data as well as research and surveys data, and playing a key role in ensuring that the reporting needs of key stakeholders are met on time. In liaison with the beneficiary accountability focal point (field officers), the Manager shall champion beneficiary accountability within the organisation and work with programme staff to ensure that beneficiary feedback is taken into account at all stages of project design and implementation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Management and Strategic Function

1. Provide strategic leadership to the MEAL team to deliver on key objectives.

2. Supervise the MEAL staff, including recruitment, daily management, training, discipline and performance management.

3. Advises Head of Programme and management team on emerging trends, patterns in data, outliers and concerns, as well as evidence base for promising and effective practice in the entire programme.

4. Identify strategies to ensure quality control over the delivery of programmes.

5. Review and oversee MEAL budgets as part of annual planning and quarterly review, and proposal writing.

6. Support in the development and delivery of ZOCS strategic plans and annual implementation work plans.

7. Stay abreast of relevant contextual secondary data in order to support programme learning and adaptation.

8. Responsible for completeness, accuracy and timeliness of data in decision making.

Information Management System Development & Management

1. Work with Information and Technology Officer to develop and standardize survey tools and other data collection forms for monitoring programmes.

2. Support the establishment and management of ZOCS information management system to improve efficiency and enhance uptake of data utilization among Staff and by management.

3. Propose information management solutions for enhanced efficiency through streamlined processes, automation and digitization of M&E tools. Support capacity development of M&E and Programme staff on key IM tools.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System Design and Implementation

1. Define specific M&E processes, procedures, methodologies and tools in line with ZOCS requirements.

2. Lead the development and oversee the roll-out of an organisational monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning system that ensures quality programming and accountability to beneficiaries and donors.

3. Design M&E guidelines and innovative approaches that meet donor requirements.

4. Plan and effectively manage M&E team, activities and budget and ensure timely implementation of all M&E activities through the development of an integrated ZOCS M&E work plan and effective resource management.

5. Oversee the development and management of learning systems and ensure that learning is incorporated across projects and programme activities.

6. Provide technical M&E support to the management team and provide input in the design and evaluation of the ZOCS strategy. Responsible for all survey data collection and planning, analysis, and report writing.

7. Identify and address shortfalls in monitoring, evaluation and information management that could impact on quality program implementation. Train programmes staff on MEAL tools, data collection and basic surveying and sampling techniques.

8. Provide guidance to Head of Programme based on Learning outcomes derived from monitoring, evaluation and research of programme activities.

9. Identify trends and variances in the programme and advise relevant programme staff.

10. Oversee the documentation of programme success stories and good practices

Compliance and Quality Management

1. Participate in quarterly and strategy meetings, and provide input into the design and evaluation of the ZOCS strategy. Lead the development and implementation of a ZOCS quality assurance system.

2. Support the development of donor proposal and reports and guiding on donor compliance during implementation

3. Oversee quality assurance of all field data collection exercises, data management and analysis and develop effective and efficient methods and approaches for data collection and analysis.

4. Routinely undertake data quality control checks through regular field visits and provide feedback and recommendations to relevant parties to improve project implementation.

5. Strengthen data integrity by supporting M&E and Project staff to collect correct, complete and valid data and identify potential breaches in data integrity and application of corrective measures.

6. Support the design of logical frameworks and M&E plans for new proposals and ensure they are aligned to ZOCS and donor M&E guidelines. Advise on the inclusion of M&E resources and activities in new project proposals.

7. Ensure that lessons learned and recommendations related to monitoring, evaluation and accountability are documented, shared and factored in the design of new projects and discussed during periodic program reviews.

Donor Communications and Beneficiary Accountability

1. Work collaboratively and support the Head of Programme in Quality Assurance and Accountability.

2. Work collaboratively and support the role of Focal Point for Beneficiaries Data Annual Reporting.

3. Promote the principles and practices of beneficiary accountability to colleagues in support of the beneficiary accountability focal point, providing training and coaching in beneficiary feedback.

4. Provide support for project managers, with input from field and GSO sector advisors, to develop MEAL elements of donor proposals and reports, including provision of monitoring plans, project data, and reports on progress towards indicators.

Data Management, Analysis and Reporting

1. Lead the development, roll out and implementation of harmonized digital data collection and data management tools to accurately collect, monitor and verify project data and document program activities.

2. Maintain a centralized data management system that enhances accurate data capturing of all projects as well as easy retrieval, extraction and analysis for project teams and management.

3. Establish an inventory of reliable secondary data sources of key statistics to contribute to project design and M&E.

Evaluation

1. Lead annual progress reporting/beneficiary counting and support internal and external reporting.

2. Lead the design of grant specific evaluation approaches and requirements, in collaboration with Management and programme Teams.

3. Coordinate and guide the design of internal and external periodic surveys and evaluations (KPI, needs assessments, rapid assessments, baseline and endline survey, etc.).

4. Coordinate internal and external surveys and lead/support data review and analysis, with a strong emphasis on learning. Identify, elaborate plans for and lead opportunities for action research and impact evaluations.

Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience

Education

• Full Grade 12 Certificate or equivalent.
• University degree in Project Management, Social Science or other related field with a bias towards monitoring and evaluation, from a recognised and reputable higher learning institution.

Experience

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in a similar position at a reputable organisation.
• Experience in developing log frames.
• Experience in designing, planning, implementing, analysing and writing reports for research.
• Experience of training others an added advantage
• Experience and knowledge in using M&E, data collection and analysis tools and software like DHIS, SPSS, STATA, EPI-INFO and/or SMART –ENA.
• Experience in reviewing projects and programmes against set indicators and targets.
• Problem solving ability, excellent communicator, team player, good numerical and report writing skills.
• Able to develop and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Good management and coordination skills.

Core Values

1. Commitment to values, mission and vision of the organisation

2. Integrity in all actions

3. Diversity and Inclusion