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.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Sida CP/CRG MEAL Coordinator takes the overall responsibility of operationalizing the MEAL system and SCI MEAL approach for CP/CRG programme. The post-holder will be expected to lead on MEAL system implementation including monitoring of program quality, rolling out accountability initiatives, supporting program evaluations and leading on MEAL budgeting. The Program MEAL Coordinator will lead project research works for innovative programming to achieve the project-desired change. The post-holder will support Project MEAL Officers based in SCI Songwe and Zanzibar Offices, partner’s staffs in data consolidation and management and quality management of project implementation; The MEAL Coordinator will be expected to lead MEAL capacity building of CP/CRG project staff and partners for successful delivery and attainment of project objectives.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Save the Children has been operational in Tanzania since 1986 providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered in support of the Government of Tanzania priorities and policies both directly and through local partners.  Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, nutrition, HIV/TB and emergency response. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined programmes of SCUK, SCUS, SC Sweden to create a single operation in Tanzania.  We currently have an operational presence in Dodoma, Singida, Iringa, Rukwa, Morogoro, Shinyanga, Zanzibar, Songwe and Kigoma as well as Dar es Salaam and we work through partners in other parts of the country. We employ nearly 100 staff and have an annual operating budget of approximately $10 million.

Reports to: CP/CRG Programme Manager with dotted line reporting to MEAL Specialist

Dimensions: Maintains strong linkages with the Technical Specialists for MEAL, Education, Child Protection, Child Rights Governance and Area Programme Manager – Zanzibar and Songwe regions.

Staff directly reporting to this post: Project MEAL Officer Songwe and Zanzibar

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Together with the MEAL team and in collaboration with the CP/CRG Programme Manager and partners, the MEAL  Coordinator will be responsible for establishing and promoting the use of MEAL systems to ensure that the  CP/CRG project team  and partners:

• Are informed on the extent to which the CP/CRG development interventions are affecting the lives of the targeted beneficiaries.
• Receive regular, timely and context specific, meaningful feedback from CP/CRG program beneficiaries, partners and project staff. The feedback should effectively inform and signal areas where strategic attention and improvement is required.
• Generate evidence-based knowledge on the positive and negative impacts the CP/CRG programme interventions are realized over the communities during SCI’s work.
• Collect information that demonstrates the significant value of innovative programming to achieve the programme intended results and influence policy change.

Program Monitoring, Assessments, Evaluations and Reporting

• In collaboration with the CP/CRG Programme Manager and MEAL Specialist establish and ensure implementation of a strong MEAL system for the CP/CRG programme (MEAL plans, indicators, performance tracking tables, monitoring tools, benchmarks etc.)
• Lead CP/CRG programme baseline studies, formative assessments, mid-term evaluations, final evaluations and other research studies as well as learning events as part of annual DIPs.
• In collaboration with CP/CRG Programme Manager and MEAL unit, develop process, output and outcome level Quality Benchmarks and regularly review progress on indicators/achievement of targets (LFA).
• Review CP/CRG MEAL reports to highlight key project strengths and areas of improvement, and use learning from monitoring reports for project planning and implementation.
• Review accountability to CP/CRG program beneficiaries’ data and reports and provide technical support to implementation team using key learning from accountability system for program development, planning, improvement, and implementation.
• Identify CP/CRG programme staff MEAL capacity needs, inform CP/CRG Program Manager and MEAL unit, and set aside MEAL capacity building plan for programme staff and partners.

• Provide technical support to the CP/CRG MEAL Officers in Songwe and Zanzibar offices in measuring achievement and progress toward program objectives and results as well as the development of MEAL systems for CP/CRG programme.
• Lead roll out of CP/CRG programme MEAL systems and processes to measure achievement and progress towards achieving project objectives/outcomes and results/outputs against indicators (indicator performance tracking tables, quality checklists, etc.).
• Lead compilation of data and reporting on CP/CRG program in relation to SCI global indicators and total beneficiaries reach reports.

• Develop and maintain the Indicator Performance Tracking Tool for CP/CRG programme that will guide the preparation of programme progress updates on a monthly basis.

• Lead monitoring of program quality using quality benchmarks and ensure that findings are shared with relevant stakeholders and explicitly fed back into programme decision-making, incorporating accountability and learning. 
• Contribute to child-focused and child-led programme implementation, by ensuring children’s participation, reporting to children, and child-led M&E for CP/CRG programme.

Partner Management

• Contribute to identify the capacity of present and potential partners in quality programming and ensure that MEAL support is provided;
• Ensure that MEAL aspects of CP/CRG programme implemented by existing partners are enforced by MEAL and Project Officers, as noted in MOUs with implementing partners.

• Ensure partner CP/CRG programme and MEAL staff capacity building plan is implemented.
• Provide appropriate information of CP/CRG programme to facilitate the effective engagement with donor and Tanzania government officials at all required levels as required to ensure Save the Children is considered a preferred and active partner in Tanzania and in Zanzibar and the Songwe Region specifically.

Accountability and Organisational Learning

• In collaboration with CP/CRG Programme Manager facilitate with learning activities like planning for CP/CRG program review workshops, prepare lessons learnt reports, etc.  
• Ensure participation of beneficiaries and children in monitoring and evaluating Save the Children development programmes, specifically, CP/CRG programme.
• Ensure accountability systems are established engaging beneficiaries and stakeholders in evaluations, impact assessments and research.

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development

• Ensure that CP/CRG programme and partners’ staff understand and are able to perform their role in MEAL.
• Building capacity and knowledge of CP/CRG programme staff and partners on MEAL systems, strengthening organizational knowledge and understanding of effective programming through networking, experience sharing and searching for innovative ideas
• Identify training needs of staff in respect to applying monitoring plans/tools; collect, analysis and report on findings periodically and conduct trainings to address the capacity gaps
• Demonstrate and practice behaviour that develop a sense of an organisational culture that reflects our dual mandate values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and emancipates CP/CRG  programme team to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our members and donors.  

Child Safeguarding

All staff have an obligation to ensure they fully understand the provisions of the Child Safeguarding Policy, the Code of Conduct and related policies. They must conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of the Child Safeguarding Policy, in their personal and professional lives – which includes reporting suspicions of child abuse.

All staff must ensure the way they are carrying out their work is not putting children at risk (or further risk).

COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Applying Technical and Professional Expertise:

• Makes decisions based on professional expertise and experience without deferring unnecessarily to others
• Shares knowledge and best practice on technical solutions so that others can make best use of that expertise
• ·         Actively seeks new ways to develop the application of technical and professional standards within the team

Developing self and others:

• Gives regular positive and constructive feedback to others
• Identifies clear development needs and development
• plans through regular constructive reviews of their own performance (and their team’s where appropriate)
• Creates space for others to learn and provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments when people are ready for them
• Coaches others to learn from their experiences on the job and to use the resources available to them

Problem Solving and Decision Making:

• Gathers the right information and uses critical thinking to make effective and timely decisions
• Knows when to involve others in a decision
• Demonstrates awareness of the wider external influences that impact on decision making
• Analyses and exercises judgment in challenging situations in the absence of specific guidance or knowledge of the full facts
• ·         Evaluates the opportunities and risks of each idea and solution to make informed strategic decisions

Working effectively with others

• Actively listens to new and different perspectives and experiences of those they work with
• Proactively supports team members and trusts their capabilities
• Demonstrates understanding of their skills and how they complement those of others within diverse teams and groups

• Clarifies their role and responsibilities within the team to maximise impact

Delivering Results

• Delivers timely and appropriate results using available resources
• Takes responsibility for their work and its impact on others
• Plans, prioritises and performs tasks well without needing direct supervision
• Understands the link between their work and the organisation’s objectives

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A degree in an area of social work, statistics, economics or equivalent. Master’s degree is an added advantage
• Minimum 4 years of practical experience in M&E system coordination/implementation in a large international non-governmental organisation or other international development body;
• Demonstrable track-record in data tracking and evaluation, with the ability to support staff and partners on M&E methodology and analyse and disseminate complex information to a range of stakeholder audiences;
• Well-developed research, analytical (qualitative and quantitative), documentation and  report-writing and skills, with particular competency in participatory research methods;
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports. A high level of written and spoken English
• Computer literacy, particularly in Word, Excel, Statistical Packages and PowerPoint;
• Excellent planning, coordination, and reporting skills, with the ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills in English, with experience working in multicultural, multi location, values driven teams;
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours and work with diverse community beneficiaries
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children International’s aims, values and principles
• Information Communication Technology literate.