Project MEAL Coordinator (National Office) Full Time NEW

Who we are

SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. We started our humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of our first Village in Mekelle, the Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, we have expanded our programs to different regions where there are significant needs for intervention and where we believe we can work in partnership with all relevant actors to bring sustainable positive outcomes for children’s and young people.

Today, we have grown significantly to meet the persistent challenges that confront Ethiopian children who have lost parental care and those who are at risk of losing their parental care. Working in close collaboration with international donors, local government and community-based organizations across seven program locations; we aspire that every child grows up with love, respect and security.

Why we need you?

We are looking for a Project MEAL Coordinator who will support the monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning components of the project(s). This role ensures that projects are effectively monitored, tracked, reports are prepared timely, data are accurately and timely collected and analyzed, and lessons learned are captured and documented, complaint responding, and feedback mechanisms are established and integrated into the program cycle. The project MEAL Coordinator will collaborate closely with program teams to ensure timely feedback and adaptive management to improve program quality, accountability, and impact. He/she also will collaborate with the location MEAL coordinator and will submit timely required MEAL data and reports to the project coordinator

What we provide?

An amazing work environment that promotes personal growth through providing professional space to grow and advance your career!

Your role?

While working with us as a Project MEAL Coordinator you will be in charge of the following,=

Planning, Monitoring and Reporting

• Develop and implement a comprehensive MEAL framework including monitoring plans for projects, aligning with project goals, log frame, Activity target trackers, quality benchmarks, indicators, etc.
• Lead and participate in needs assessment exercises of the project, programme participants/beneficiary targeting, including the development of assessment protocols, data collection tools, and data analysis methods
• Prepare regular MEAL reports and dashboards for project teams and stakeholders, summarizing progress, key findings, and challenges.
• Support partner organizations (as the need arises) in developing an M&E framework and M&E plan and monitor, track, and evaluate the progress and impact of their planned programs
• Regularly assess project activities to ensure they are aligned with project objectives and intended outcomes.
• Consolidate the projects’ monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual M&E reports and submit to internal and external stakeholders on time.
• Analyses quantitative and qualitative data to track project performance and inform decision-making.
• Produce and share concise field back reports with the agreed monitoring report template.
• Complete and compile indicator matrix, data flow, and indicator tracking table for the project every quarter
• Complete and compile project information and performance (including budget utilization) tracking table for projects on a quarterly basis.
• Oversee the regular maintenance of project MEAL information using the appropriate database management system and making it accessible to staff and other stakeholders at the field level.
• Ensure the project holds periodic review meetings with key partners and key stakeholders

Evaluation

• Draft ToRs and coordinate baseline, mid-term, and end-line evaluation of the project in collaboration with the Location MEAL coordinator and external evaluators and ensure evaluation findings and recommendations are incorporated into project implementations.
• Assist in the preparation of internal evaluation, need assessments, and research reports and present to internal and external stakeholders.

Accountability

• Establish context-based compliant responding and feedback mechanism for the project in collaboration with relevant staff and stakeholders.
• Implement and maintain accountability mechanisms, including feedback and complaint mechanisms, for program participants and stakeholders.
• Provide guidance and input in the compilation and analysis of aggregated feedback and complaints data from SOS service users and various stakeholders
• Properly record and document complaints, and feedback and produce regular internal (and external) reports on information sharing, feedback, and complaints. If it is beyond your capacity report to your supervisor promptly.
• Ensure that beneficiaries understand their rights and are informed of feedback processes.
• Work with program staff to address audit findings, complaints, and feedback, fostering a culture of transparency and accountability.
• Ensure compliance with organizational and donor accountability standards.
• Develop and Implement SOS CVE accountability to affected people system (like information sharing, community participation, feedback and complaints response mechanisms etc.)
• Provide induction/orientation, training, and capacity building to internal staff and external stakeholders/partners and involved in accountability and protection.

  Knowledge management

• Generate, capture, document, and share learnings from the project/program participants and stakeholders.
• Organize and/or facilitate learning sessions and workshops to capture lessons learned and best practices.
• Ensure lessons learned are documented, integrated into project implementation, and shared within the project team and with relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of learning products, including case studies, briefs, and success stories.
• Compile and consolidate learnings during organizational self-review and reflection sessions.
• Analyse, synthesize, document, and disseminate innovations and new research findings including maintaining a database of evaluation findings and responses
• Lead in reviews and lessons learned exercises among the partners and stakeholders including the targeted communities and beneficiaries of the project.
• Participate in quarterly based knowledge management platforms

Data Management

• Coordinate with project staff to ensure timely collection of data, support the implementation of robust data collection tools, report preparation and submission.
• Conduct field visits and data validation exercises to assess project progress and data accuracy.
• Utilize digital data collection tools, when possible, to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Support data management processes, through regular audits and reviews, including data cleaning, analysis, and storage.Support data quality assessments based on data quality dimensions (validity, reliability, precision, completeness, timeliness and confidentiality) and ensure that MEAL data is accurate, timely, and aligned with organizational standards.

Capacity Building

• Provide training to project staff on MEAL processes, tools, and data collection methods.
• Support the development of MEAL capacity among team members, ensuring they understand the importance of MEAL and how to implement it in their activities.

Safeguarding

• Protect the privacy and dignity of participants by following ethical and safeguarding principles in all data collection activities, especially for vulnerable populations such as children and at-risk adults.
• Obtain informed consent from all participants, ensuring they understand their rights and can choose to withdraw at any time.
• Maintain confidentiality by securely managing sensitive data, both physical and digital, in line with organizational data protection policies.
• Anonymize and store data to prevent exposure of participant identities, especially when working with sensitive information related to abuse, exploitation, or neglect.
• Design monitoring and evaluation tools that incorporate safeguarding, gender and inclusion checks to ensure projects do not unintentionally expose individuals to harm.
• Monitor and report safeguarding risks identified during project activities and evaluations, flagging any areas where participants may be vulnerable to harm.
• Educate project teams and community members on safeguarding principles during MEAL-related trainings and workshops.
• Act as a point of contact for reporting safeguarding issues identified during MEAL activities and adhere to the organization’s protocol for escalating these concerns promptly.
• Collaborate with safeguarding officers and program staff to investigate, document, and address safeguarding incidents effectively.
• Work with project teams to assess potential safeguarding risks related to monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities.
• Mitigate identified risks by adjusting data collection methods, revising field protocols, or implementing additional protective measures as necessary.
• Stay updated on best practices and ethical standards in safeguarding through regular training.
• Ensure that MEAL team members and data collectors understand and commit to the organization’s safeguarding policies, providing support and oversight where needed.

Up for the challenge…

Then check out our criteria’s:

Must Criteria

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, development studies, statistics, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience out of which 3 years in a similar position preferably within Social Development and youth livelihood projects. Experience working with the target group, vulnerable youth, families, and community and Fluency in written and spoken English language.

Competencies – Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Lead and core competencies

Lead competency

• Collaboration: Remove barriers to participation, share decision making and build partnerships
• Role model: Act as a role model for the organization, living our values and inspiring and learning from others
• Empowerment: Promote inclusion and equitable sharing of power
• Strategic Thinking: Live the values and mission, setting realistic goals and translating them into actionable plans

Core competency

• Kindness: Act with empathy towards everyone he/she works with.
• Continuous Learning: Make an effort to learn, understand and grow as a person, admitting your own mistakes
• Inclusiveness: In any actions show respect and care for others
• Initiative: speak up when things are not right, do not hesitate to act and adapt to change when necessary
• Results Orientation: prioritize safeguarding, look for solutions and focus on desired results