MEAL Officer

---

DEPARTMENT/ TEAM /PROGRAM: Program Operations

AREA OFFICE/ LOCATION: Addis Ababa

CONTRACT LENGTH: 4 months

Reports to: Program Manager – WFP Cash Assistance

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3: The responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people.

Risk and Compliance: The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Fraud, Bribery, and Corruption policy and Code of Conduct. The key responsibilities include understanding and complying with the SCI policies and procedures, not committing any act of fraud, bribery, or corruption, understanding risks in their area/role, and implementing mitigation measures, reporting any suspected fraud, bribery, or corruption immediately, declaring conflicts of interest in accordance with internal procedures and completing mandatory training related to ethics and anti-fraud measures.

Project Summary WFP, in collaboration with government stakeholders, identified beneficiaries for humanitarian cash assistance for IDPs across various locations in Oromia and Amhara regions. Save the Children International has secured funding from WFP to assist the implementation of the cash assistance program for IDPs (humanitarian beneficiaries) as part of a prioritized shock-responsive emergency response.

The overall objective of the project is to support the response to critical humanitarian needs through Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA). The project is part of the broader efforts to enhance social protection, and the program will exploit complementarities with other social support networks.

The initial humanitarian cash assistance program is expected to cover 13-15 woredas in East and West Wellega, North Shewa, Buno Badele, and North Shewa and Bale zones and Jimma Town in Oromia Region and Kobo town in North Wello zone in Amhara regions. The initial cash assistance program duration could be 3-4 months. The program could be expanded to more geographic locations subject to the humanitarian situations and availability of funds.

The cash assistance program pursues a coordinated response in collaboration with WFP, realizing actual design and implementation of digital beneficiary registration (biographic including photos) and budgeting, enumerator recruitment and training, management of enumerators, work with WFP contracted Financial Service Providers (FSPs), crowd management and control, ensuring delivery of cash to target beneficiaries, establishing and managing beneficiary complaints and feedback mechanisms, monitoring, and reporting.

ROLE PURPOSE: The MEAL Officer is responsible for supporting the implementation of a robust, quality, comprehensive, and integrated MEAL system for Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) that meets donor and SCI standards. S/he also supports the development/adoption of quality and standardization of MEAL tools and works closely with the Program Manager and technical staff to ensure that relevant data is collected, analyzed, and used to inform management and design decisions, and to provide project updates as required. S/he will ensure use of appropriate MEAL tools for beneficiary registration and population into the system to track project progress, learning, and actions to ensure effective implementation of the project. S/he will collect and compile regular monitoring/MEAL reports and ensure they are communicated effectively to the Program Manager. S/he provides data quality assurance for the project reports, data, and deliverables, including data quality assessments and continuous quality improvement to ensure efficient implementation and quality reporting for WFP. S/he ensures functional accountability mechanisms are in place across the four pillars of accountability (information sharing, participation, establishing and implementing Complaints and Feedback Mechanisms (CFM), and staff capacity building). S/he will lead and support preparing and reviewing donor and Save the Children reports to ensure their timeliness and quality meet donor and SCI standards. S/he is responsible for the documentation of results, impact, best practices, and significant changes.

SCOPE OF ROLE: Reports to: Program Manager – WFP Cash Assistance

Dimensions: 13-15 woredas in Oromia and Amhara regions

Staff directly reporting to this post: None; works closely with the Field Coordinator in each zone.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: Programme Design, Monitoring and Assessments * Follow up the project to periodically assess and update changes in children's needs (especially deprived children).

• Ensure evaluations are undertaken as per the threshold and Field Offices maintain up-to-date evaluation trackers to monitor delivery and action planning.
• Lead/participate in project/programme baseline, evaluations, research, and assessment activities.
• Review TORs and facilitate evaluations, studies, and assessments of the project.

MEAL System Development and Management * Co‑sign the monthly distribution reports alongside the FSP and relevant local authorities.

• Ensure timely submission to the WFP Country Office.
• Follow up all target locations to confirm cash disbursement matches FSP reporting.
• Ensure use of appropriate MEAL tools for beneficiary registration and population into the system.
• Collect and compile regular monitoring/MEAL reports and ensure they are communicated effectively to the Program Managers and MEAL technical focal point.
• Provide data quality assurance for the project reports, data, and deliverables.
• Follow up that the project is using Quality Benchmarks as part of day-to-day implementation and quality monitoring practices.
• Support/ensure functional accountability mechanisms are in place as part of the four pillars of accountability (Information sharing, participation, establishing and implementing CFM, and staff capacity building).

Technical Support and Capacity Building * Provide needs-based trainings and capacity building for staff as required by the donor and in line with SCI internal procedures.

Learning and Knowledge Management * Support the project in the identification of learning objectives and evidence gaps.

• In close collaboration with the program team, facilitate generating, storing, and sharing knowledge (most significant change stories, meta-analysis, research/evaluation summary reports, etc.).
• Ensure utilization of learning and knowledge generated in decision-making and programme improvement (maintain up-to-date Field Office action trackers and monitor utilization).

BEHAVIOURS (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.

• Ambition: Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team; takes responsibility for personal development; widely shares a personal vision for Save the Children.
• Collaboration: Builds and maintains effective relationships with their team, colleagues, members, and external partners; values diversity as a source of competitive strength.
• 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 BSc/BA/MSc/MA degree in an area of Statistics, Economics, Social Science, or equivalent. MA/MSc preferred.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS * Minimum of three years of NGO experience in a MEAL role in both emergency and development contexts, preferably with solid experience in more than one of the following priority sectors: education, protection, rights governance, HIV/AIDS, health and nutrition, and emergencies.

• Direct experience in rolling out and managing MEAL systems and working on all aspects of MEAL.
• Demonstrated commitment to building staff capacity, skills in training, and capacity building.
• Experience in solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward, and ensuring buy-in.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation, and coaching.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong results orientation with the ability to challenge existing mindsets.
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams in the event of emergencies.
• Fluency in English and other national/local languages (both verbal and written) is essential.
• Commitment to Save the Children values.

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. The Program Manager is expected to cover emerging assignments in the humanitarian program operations.

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.

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

How To Apply Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.

Use the below link to apply:

https://hcri.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1

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. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy. Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Skills (mandatory): Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, Team player with a positive attitude and willingness to learn, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning.

---