Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Assistant 

If you share our values and believe that children’s lives should not be torn apart by war, we want to hear from you.

Department:  Programmes    

Contract Type:    

Place of Work:    

• Al-Mukalla – Hadhrmout
• Taiz governorate    

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)

Reports to: Programme Quality and Development Manager    

Salary Range:  depending upon experience

About us

War Child, the charity for children affected by war. We are a specialist charity for children in conflict, delivering high-impact programmes that are rebuilding lives across Afghanistan, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic and Yemen. We understand children’s needs, respect their rights, and put them at the centre of the solution - from reintegrating children formerly associated with armed groups and armed forces (CAAFAG) in the Central African Republic to reuniting children with their families in Afghanistan. We look forward to a world in which the lives of children are no longer torn apart by war. This is a vision that can only be realised through the collective actions of children themselves, communities and their leaders, organisations like War Child, governments and key decision makers.

Our values

Bold

• We use our passion and creativity to deliver high quality evidence-based work designed to maximise our beneficial impact for children in conflict.

Accountable to children

• Children can rely on us to respond to their voices and to treat them with respect and dignity.

Transparent

• We expect to be held to account by our supporters and beneficiaries and we respond with openness and honesty

Committed to each other

• We support each other and our partners to achieve ambitious goals and to be the best we can be.  We are honest and open with each other, sharing our successes and confronting our challenges.

MEAL Assistant Role

War Child is recruiting two qualified MEAL Assistants to support our programs in Al-Mukalla and Taiz. We are seeking experienced individuals with a solid background in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) within humanitarian and emergency contexts, particularly in Yemen and in response to child protection, PSS, education, FSL and economic empowerment of youth and young women programs.

The MEAL Assistants will be key members of the MEAL team, contributing to the implementation of War Child’s Yemen MEAL Framework.

They will be responsible for executing MEAL activities aimed at enhancing program quality, measuring impact, and ensuring accountability to affected populations.

The MEAL Assistants will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Development and Quality Advisor and will have non-sector-specific, area-level responsibilities.

Generic responsibilities:

Details in generic responsibilities belong in the Work and Development plan.

1.    Support and contribute to the development and implementation of MEAL systems, including MEAL SOP, and tools. 
2.    Provide regular and monthly progress reports to MEAL PDQA.
3.    Prepare periodic progress reports, reporting trackers, indicator tracking tables, MEAL matrixes, and other documents as required. 
4.    Support in developing data collection methodology and tools as needed.
5.    Facilitate the introduction of new technology, methods, and approaches to improve the quality of the activities.
6.    Adherence to War Child policies and specific responsibility for the MEAL functions policies and procedures.
7.    Support in ensuring an effective data management system through data quality check, analysis and learning sessions
8.    Coordinate with relevant departments to ensure timely and effective integration of learning and data into program improvement processes
9.    Support implementing partner in strengthening their MEAL capacity to ensure continuous improvement across the project.

Specific responsibilities 

These responsibilities shall be adapted to the particularities of the job location and context, phase of operation, strategic focus and type of programme intervention.

Monitoring and Evaluation

10.    Develop progress and indicators tracker tables to actualize the project Logical framework, incorporating all indicators, and location-specific targets.

• Ensure that output and outcome data are collected and documented for timely reporting and IPTTs to make sure monthly progress data/ documents are uploaded.
• Ensure that project MEAL tools and SoPs are applied and properly used by partners.
• Support to develop and implement MEAL matrixes for the project to include supporting tools development, data collection, data management, and data analysis according to the MEAL framework.
• Maintain and regularly against LF and update, ensuring progress and achievements for each indicator are accurately documented and work with program teams to collect justifications for any over- or under-achievements and integrate them into the ALF.
• Conduct routine checks on the accuracy of figures reported by partner, cross-verifying them with data in LG and other reporting forms and documents. Identify discrepancies and address them promptly to maintain consistency and accuracy across reporting platforms.
• Ensure all Means of Verification MoVs for progress and achievements are uploaded, properly named, and systematically archived for easy access. 
• Support the project team in conducting beneficiary profiling, assessments and data collection activities, such as baseline, endline, PDM, and market assessment. Assist in designing tools, performing data analysis, and drafting comprehensive reports to ensure high-quality outputs.
• Participate in secondary analysis of existing data, routinely collected data, and data collected from key informant interviews with community members and beneficiaries, representatives within the civil society and the government sector, and focus group discussions. 
• Responsible for data analysis and compilation of quarterly, annual and ad hoc project data and reports.
• Ensure the data is save, protected and transferred or shared securely in line with War Child data protection policy.

Accountability 

• Ensure that accountability mechanisms are safe, accessible, and appropriate for all segments of the population.
• Safeguarding focal point on the targeted areas who contribute to creating a culture committed to the safeguarding of children and adults and compliant to WCA Safeguarding and integrity framework.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of multiple channels for feedback (e.g., help desks, suggestion boxes, hotlines, surveys).
• Act as Complaints Response Mechanism Area Focal Point, record, categorize, and refer feedback/complaints in a timely manner. Maintain confidentiality and neutrality when handling complaints. Flag urgent or sensitive complaints
• Regularly update the CFM database or logbook. Support in compiling reports on accountability indicators (e.g., number of complaints received and resolved).
• Support the development and dissemination of communication materials on the project information, Safeguarding communication channels and BCRM channels in appropriate languages and formats.

Learning

• Support in developing, archiving, and disseminating lessons learned and best practices and ensure lessons learned are tracked, documented, and shared regularly with relevant teams.
• Ensure the learning from internal and external evaluations is disseminated and incorporated into the development of future projects 
• Support in facilitating reflection and learning sessions with program staff to ensure insights from MEAL data are effectively utilized to enhance project design and implementation.

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the post.

You are

Education

• Bachelor degree in relevant field of study (e.g. development, social science, information management, statistics or related field) 
• Specific qualification in M&E is preferred

Work Experience and Knowledge

• At least 2 years’ experience in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning field in a humanitarian/recovery context, demonstrating a thorough understanding of MEAL principles and practices in.
• Relevant work experience in monitoring and evaluation on education, child protection and livelihood projects or relevant field is essential. 
• Significant experience working in monitoring and evaluation, including design of systems and tools, data analysis and report writing.
• Experience in designing and setting up databases and of supporting M&E systems through data entry, data analysis and report generation; 
• Demonstrated ability to create practical simple data collection and evaluation tools, including questionnaires
• Experience of designing, conducting and analysing quantitative and qualitative research 
• Experience in facilitating training and building up capacity of human resources in M&E development and implementation
• Sound knowledge of participatory approaches and experience with systematising such approaches
• Excellent computer skills: MS word, excel, power point, databases, including relevant M&E packages and ability to support others in working with databases and statistical software 
• Experience working with national/international NGOs on child protection/education/livelihood projects.
• Fluent in English and Arabic (spoken and written) 

Qualities

• Good interpersonal and communications skills
• Team player
• Excellent analytical skills 
• A commitment to participatory approaches 
• Ability to be administratively self-sufficient.
• Flexible and willing to support others at times when particular organisational priorities take precedence
• Patient and appreciative of the circumstances faced by Field staff
• Commitment to War Child’s aims, values and mission

Your team

• Programme Quality & Development Advisor
• You

Safeguarding and integrity

War Child works to uphold the fundamental rights of children and youth worldwide who live with the effects of violence and armed conflict. Our programs support children and youth to fully claim these rights and ensure that the important adults in their lives meet their obligations in full.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and their protection from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment in all areas of our work. We have zero tolerance for any behaviors and practices that put children, youth, adults, and vulnerable community members at risk of abuse and/or harm.  

The successful applicant will have direct contact with children, youth, adults, and members of the community and is expected to be compliant and sign up to the WC Safeguarding Policy for Children, Youth, and Adults; the WC PSEAH Policy; and the Code of Conduct. You can find the Safeguarding and PSEAH Policies in the following link: https://www.warchild.net/integrity-safeguarding/ 

Pre-employment checks

Employment with War Child will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:

• a satisfactory police record check to include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and/or an International/National Criminal Record Check, and a clear vetting and Due Diligence check
• receipt of three satisfactory references