Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Accountability (MEAL) Officer Full Time NEW

Women Empowerment Action (WE-Action) is a feminist women’s rights organization that has been operating across various regions in Ethiopia, including Amhara, Oromia, Southern Ethiopia, Central Ethiopia, and Tigray, for the past 30 years. WE-Action has four strategic goals: combating gender inequality, promoting gender-equitable and sustainable livelihoods, ensuring protection and lifesaving support, and achieving organizational excellence.

WE-Action is currently seeking to hire a competent, qualified and interested candidate for the position of MEAL Officer who will be responsible for the implementation of “Women at the Center: Enhancing SGBV Response in Crisis-Affected Communities (South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Burkina Faso and Chad)” projects which is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) through Oxfam.

1. Description of the position

• Position: Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Accountability (MEAL) Officer
• Duty Station: North Wollo, Amhara
• Reports to: Field Office Coordinator and Program Quality Section
• Salary: As per the organization’s scale
• Number of positions: One (1)
• Duration: One year with possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funds
• Sex: Both male and female (Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply)

General Duties and responsibilities

The position holder will be responsible for designing a monitoring and evaluation system of projects, documenting learning, developing M&E reports, and feed program section for evidence-based program reporting. The M&E officer will coordinate program quality and accountability, knowledge management, and learning in collaboration with project coordinators.

Monitoring and Evaluation System Designing:

• Regularly review and update the M&E policy and guidelines of the organization.
• Design a monitoring and evaluation system for the project in collaboration with project coordinators.
• Operationalize M&E systems to facilitate program quality and accountability.
• Assist the project and field office coordinators in efficiently use M&E tools and templates during quarter project monitoring.
• Supervise the development of baseline, midterm, and end-term evaluation terms of references and provide technical guidance for assigned internal and external project evaluations.
• Document project participant list and profiles for each project in hard and soft copy in collaboration with project coordinators.

Program Development:

• In collaboration with the program designing team and MEAL coordinators, take the lead in the development of the project’s logical framework.
• Update project logical framework based on baseline studies if any.
• Participate in the strategic plan document development and lead target and indicators setting process during strategic plan development.

Indicator monitoring and evaluation:

• Invest one third of the time at field conducting periodical indicator monitoring, develop M&E reporting, providing technical support, monitoring the activities in the Mersa field office.
• Communicate periodical M&E report with program section.
• Provide technical capacity building for project coordinator and field office in indicator monitoring.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Develop and manage innovative approaches to strengthen learning and knowledge sharing
• In collaboration with project and field office coordinators set learning agenda for each project and monitor effectively
• In collaboration with project and field office coordinators and organizational development officer regularly share organizational development, learning and success stories.
• Obtain first hand field information on the success, relevance and appropriateness of developed program strategies for lessons and learning.

Compliance, accountability and Performance

• Strictly follow, monitor, and report WE- Action in compliances to internal M&E policies
• Review and update the organization accountability framework; communicate for employees for effective implementations.
• Regularly monitor WE- Action’s compliance to Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and develop capacity accordingly.
• Facilitate external verification process of WE- Action’s Core Humanitarian Standards.
• Develop a personal development plan and implement the plan for efficiency to the position.

Gender and Social Inclusion and Accountability

• Critically consider gender and social inclusion in M&E system development and checklist for monitoring.
• Ensure that project indicators are gender sensitive
• Ensure that M&E-related communications and products of WE-Action are gender sensitive.
• Participate and contribute to organization’s gender and social Inclusion Team

Accountability and transparency

• Adhere to the organization accountability framework
• Implement WE-Action compliances to Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and develop communities’ capacity accordingly.
• Participate in external verification process of WE- Action Core Humanitarian Standards.
• Conduct routine monitoring and reporting any issues related to Safeguarding
• Participate in organizational conversations to discuss on cross cutting issues such as gender, HIV, safeguarding, social inclusion etc…
• Gather feedback and complaints on any concerns of the project implementation and organization and formally document and report back to field offices with a confidential and secure manner
• Respond in a timely manner to safeguarding concerns to ensure participants are kept safe from harm

Safeguarding

• Able to seek appropriate advice and report concerns, and feel confident that they have been understood
• Understands local safeguarding structures and arrangements
• Practices in a manner that seeks to reduce the risk of abuse, harm or neglect
• Identifies and refers to appropriate services any other associated persons including careers, family members and children at risk
• Able to document safeguarding concerns, and maintain appropriate record-keeping, recording the wishes and views of the adult or child at risk, differentiating between fact and opinion

Job Requirement

• MA/BA in Development Studies, Project Management, Development Management, Monitoring, and Evaluation and other related fields
• Minimum 1-2 years for MA and 3-5 years for BA.
• At least 2 years of experience in M&E positions and project management in NGO.

Key skills and competency required

The MEAL Officer requires demonstration of the following competence:

• Program Management: Understand program quality, knowledge management, and M and E program design and implementation.
• Stakeholders Management: Establish system and matrices for effective stakeholders’ management at district level
• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and organizational practices, and ensure that own behavior is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization. Demonstrate strong personality and integrity.
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization particularly with current partners and sponsors; command a professional image.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner including by phone with several stakeholders; articulate the organizational’ mission, project objectives with relevant stakeholders.
• Creativity/Innovation: in respective areas of responsibility develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization and to create new opportunities.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Lead: in respective areas of responsibility positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.
• Plan: in respective areas of responsibility determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Organize: Collect and organize project data timely with approved templates of the organization or donor
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.
• Reporting Skills: Quality and timely report development, strong attention to detail, gender disaggregate, and ability to prepare simple informative format as per the need of respective project.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and project management skills: demonstrated ability to take responsibility for a diverse number of activities and to complete them in a timely manner; deadline driven, and able to manage multiple projects and engagements simultaneously.
• Self-Management: Is self-directed, eager to meet and exceed objectives, and excited to take on more responsibility.
• Gender Sensitive: Understands gender equality and demonstrate gender sensitive and responsive behaviors.