MEAL Assistant at Save The Children

Save the Children invests in childhood – every day, in times of crisis and for our future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. By transforming children’s lives now, we change the course of their future and ours. Please give monthly and support our mission.

Save the Children is working to strengthen health systems and support maternal and child health in four northern states. Much work needs to be done for Nigeria to deliver its promises on Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 (which aim to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health) before 2015.

Facts About Nigeria
More than 173 Million people live there
The average girl stays in school only until she’s 9
123 out of 1000 children die before their 5th birthday
A parent earns an average of just $4 a day

Our Work

Save the Children has been working in Nigeria since 2001. We’re helping to improve health systems in northern Nigeria to delivery maternal, newborn, and child health services, including the revival of routine immunization.The MEAL Assistant in Kaduna will support the establishing and managing a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) system for the project in their location. Core duties for the position include designing and implementing a MEAL system in accordance with Save the Children International (SCI) standards. 

The position holder will support evaluations/assessments, monitor program progress and quality, document lessons learnt, and contribute to periodic monitoring and reporting. Ensuring gender-sensitive, inclusive, and participatory MEAL processes, including children's involvement, is crucial.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Monitoring and Evaluation

Develop robust MEAL plans, systems, processes, and tools for the project in line with SCI and donor requirements.
Provide MEAL technical support to partners. 
Take the lead in data collection efforts for the project, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
Conduct in-depth data analysis to derive actionable insights and recommendations from project data.
Execute quarterly monitoring, and accountability activities to enhance project performance, including quality benchmarks, data quality assessments, and/or data quality assessments. 
Document data collection and analysis findings, contributing to comprehensive and informative reports.
Ensure monthly updates to the SCI’s Project reporting Information Management & Evidence (PRIME) system logframe, accurately reflecting project progress and achievements.
Monitor the implementation of programs, ensuring that activities are carried out according to standards and protocols.

Accountability

Ensure the project is implementing the 3 pillars of Accountability – Information sharing, participation and feedback & reporting and providing relevant documentation.
Assist in establishing robust accountability mechanisms, ensuring the voices of project participants are considered in project adaptation/design and implementation.
Conduct periodic community feedback and stakeholder meetings to gather input, feedback, and insights on the program, enhancing community engagement, and promoting transparency and accountability.

Knowledge Management & Learning

Actively engage in program learning initiatives, facilitating discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions among project teams.
Support in the archiving of Project Documents in the Resource Centre
Support in the development of case studies and success stories for the project.
Ensure project lessons learnt are documented and reflected in programme decisions

Safeguarding

Ensure risk assessments are done before any data collection that involves children.
Ensure enumerators are trained on before any data collection.

General

Comply with SCI policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
Undertake any other tasks within the MEAL function as the line manager requires, adapting to project needs and challenges

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, and 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

Set ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, take responsibility for their own personal development, and encourage their team to do the same.
Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children and engages and motivates others.
Future-orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members external partners, and supporters.
Values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength.
Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

Designing more effective admin and data management systems
willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

Honest, encourages openness and transparency, demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

QUALIFICATIONS 

Minimum of BSc or equivalent qualification in Education, Demography, Statistics, Information Technology, Computer Science, or any related courses.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Essential

At least 2 years of experience working in MEAL for Humanitarian/developmental organizations.
Experience in implementing education or child protection programs is an added advantage. 
Very good communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate technical issues effectively and persuasively.
Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal.
Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values, and principles including rights-based approaches and children’s participation.