Job Summary

The Senior MEAL officer is a senior technical role responsible for providing expert guidance, quality assurance, and strategic oversight of all MEAL activities for the ECHO project in Mantapala Refugee Settlement. Unlike an officer role focused on day-to-day implementation, the officer leads system design, advanced data analysis, capacity building of MEAL and program staff, and strategic learning. The officer ensures that MEAL systems meet ECHO compliance standards, generate high-quality evidence, and drive adaptive management. This role also provides technical support to the Crisis Modifier mechanism and leads high-level reporting, evaluations, and learning agendas.

Role Purpose

To provide technical leadership in MEAL for the ECHO project, ensuring that data is not only collected and reported but actively used to improve program quality, demonstrate impact, and uphold accountability. The Senior MEAL officer will bridge the gap between data and decision-making, mentor MEAL and program staff, lead complex evaluations, and ensure that learning is systematically integrated into project adaptation. This role exists to make sure that every indicator, every feedback form, and every lesson learned translates into better outcomes for refugees and host communities.

ENGAGEMENT & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Career Guides Zambia

Internal:

• Reports to MEAL Manager
• Supervises and mentors MEAL Officers and Enumerators
• Works closely with Project Manager, Health & Nutrition Coordinator, WASH Coordinator, Cash & Livelihoods Coordinator
• Collaborates with the Accountability and Safeguarding leads
• Advises senior management on MEAL strategy and findings

External:

• Engages with ECHO technical monitors (as required)
• Coordinates with partner INGOs and UN agencies (UNHCR, WFP) on MEAL harmonization
• Represents Action Against Hunger in sector MEAL working groups
• Liaises with Mantapala camp management,  health facility staff, and community leaders
• Manages external evaluators or consultants when applicable

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. MEAL System Strategy & Design

• Lead the design and continuous refinement of the project MEAL system, including the MEAL Plan, Indicator Tracking Table (ITT), and data flow architecture
• Ensure alignment with ECHO compliance requirements, Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), and organizational MEAL guidelines
• Design context-appropriate, inclusive, and gender-sensitive data collection tools and methodologies
• Lead the selection and implementation of digital data systems (Kobo Toolbox, ODK, CommCare, Power BI)

2. Advanced Data Management & Analysis

• Oversee the maintenance of project databases and ensure data integrity, security, and ethical management
• Lead quantitative and qualitative data analysis, including statistical analysis (SPSS/STATA/R) and thematic analysis
• Develop advanced dashboards and visualizations for internal and external stakeholders
• Conduct trend analysis, correlation analysis, and predictive modeling where relevant
• Lead Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) and ensure rigorous quality assurance across all MEAL activities

3. Monitoring & Evaluation Leadership

• Oversee all project monitoring activities: baseline, midline, endline, post-distribution monitoring (PDM), and rapid assessments
• Lead complex evaluations, including outcome and impact evaluations
• Design and implement the project’s Learning Agenda in collaboration with program teams
• Lead the Crisis Modifier monitoring system, including early warning indicators and trigger tracking

4. Reporting & Strategic Learning

• Lead the MEAL input into high-quality donor reports, SitReps, and internal strategic reports
• Produce learning products: learning briefs, case studies, success stories, and research summaries
• Facilitate After-Action Reviews (AARs), real-time reviews, and strategic reflection sessions
• Ensure that learning is systematically documented and actively used to adapt programming

5. Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) – Strategic Oversight

• Provide technical guidance to strengthen community feedback and complaints response mechanisms (CRM)
• Ensure CRM data is analyzed and used for program adaptation at the strategic level
• Lead the integration of AAP across all project sectors
• Promote safe, inclusive, and accessible feedback channels, with special attention to vulnerable groups

6. Capacity Building & Mentorship

• Train and mentor MEAL Officers, program staff, and partners on:
  • Advanced MEAL concepts (impact evaluation, sampling, statistical analysis)
  • Digital data collection and management
  • Ethical data management, safeguarding, and PSEA
  • Data use for decision-making and adaptive management
• Build a culture of evidence-based, accountable programming across the project team

7. Emergency Preparedness & Crisis Modifier Technical Support

• Lead the technical design of early warning monitoring systems and trigger indicators
• Ensure MEAL systems are ready for rapid emergency scale-up within 3–14 days of a shock
• Contribute to rapid needs assessments during emergencies

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

 Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Public Health, Statistics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or related field
• Master’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Public Health, Statistics, Demography, Development Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field will be an added advantage
• Specialized training in M&E, impact evaluation, or data science = strong advantage

Experience

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive MEAL experience in humanitarian or development settings
• Proven experience with ECHO-funded projects and understanding of ECHO compliance and reporting requirements
• Demonstrated experience in health, nutrition (CMAM), WASH, or cash-based interventions
• Experience working in refugee or displacement contexts is highly desirable
• Proven experience leading baseline/endline evaluations, impact evaluations, and complex data analysis
• Experience with digital MEAL systems at a technical design level

Technical Skills

• Expert knowledge of MEAL frameworks, CHS, and humanitarian accountability standards
• Advanced statistical analysis skills (SPSS, STATA, R, or equivalent)
• Proficiency in data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, or similar)
• Strong experience with digital data collection platforms (Kobo Toolbox, ODK, CommCare)
• Experience with geographic information systems (GIS) for MEAL is an asset

Competencies

• Strategic thinking and ability to translate data into program recommendations
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills (donor-ready quality)
• Strong mentoring and capacity-building skills
• Ability to work independently in remote, resource-constrained, high-pressure environments
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills
• Fluency in English (excellent written and spoken)
• Working knowledge of other local languages is an asset

Desirable Attributes

• Prior experience with Action Against Hunger or similar INGO
• Experience with Crisis Modifier or shock-responsive programming

• Active membership with ZAMEA (Zambia Monitoring and Evaluation Association) 

• Demonstrated commitment to:
  • Gender equality
  • Protection mainstreaming
  • Ethical data management and safeguarding
  • Localization and participatory methods

• Lead the design and continuous refinement of the project MEAL system, including the MEAL Plan, Indicator Tracking Table (ITT), and data flow architecture
• Ensure alignment with ECHO compliance requirements, Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), and organizational MEAL guidelines
• Design context-appropriate, inclusive, and gender-sensitive data collection tools and methodologies
• Lead the selection and implementation of digital data systems (Kobo Toolbox, ODK, CommCare, Power BI)
• Oversee the maintenance of project databases and ensure data integrity, security, and ethical management
• Lead quantitative and qualitative data analysis, including statistical analysis (SPSS/STATA/R) and thematic analysis
• Develop advanced dashboards and visualizations for internal and external stakeholders
• Conduct trend analysis, correlation analysis, and predictive modeling where relevant
• Lead Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) and ensure rigorous quality assurance across all MEAL activities
• Oversee all project monitoring activities: baseline, midline, endline, post-distribution monitoring (PDM), and rapid assessments
• Lead complex evaluations, including outcome and impact evaluations
• Design and implement the project’s Learning Agenda in collaboration with program teams
• Lead the Crisis Modifier monitoring system, including early warning indicators and trigger tracking
• Lead the MEAL input into high-quality donor reports, SitReps, and internal strategic reports
• Produce learning products: learning briefs, case studies, success stories, and research summaries
• Facilitate After-Action Reviews (AARs), real-time reviews, and strategic reflection sessions
• Ensure that learning is systematically documented and actively used to adapt programming
• Provide technical guidance to strengthen community feedback and complaints response mechanisms (CRM)
• Ensure CRM data is analyzed and used for program adaptation at the strategic level
• Lead the integration of AAP across all project sectors
• Promote safe, inclusive, and accessible feedback channels, with special attention to vulnerable groups
• Train and mentor MEAL Officers, program staff, and partners on: Advanced MEAL concepts (impact evaluation, sampling, statistical analysis), Digital data collection and management, Ethical data management, safeguarding, and PSEA, Data use for decision-making and adaptive management
• Build a culture of evidence-based, accountable programming across the project team
• Lead the technical design of early warning monitoring systems and trigger indicators
• Ensure MEAL systems are ready for rapid emergency scale-up within 3–14 days of a shock
• Contribute to rapid needs assessments during emergencies

• Expert knowledge of MEAL frameworks, CHS, and humanitarian accountability standards
• Advanced statistical analysis skills (SPSS, STATA, R, or equivalent)
• Proficiency in data visualization

• Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Public Health, Statistics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or related field
• Master’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Public Health, Statistics, Demography, Development Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field will be an added advantage
• Specialized training in M&E, impact evaluation, or data science = strong advantage
• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive MEAL experience in humanitarian or development settings
• Proven experience with ECHO-funded projects and understanding of ECHO compliance and reporting requirements
• Demonstrated experience in health, nutrition (CMAM), WASH, or cash-based interventions
• Experience working in refugee or displacement contexts is highly desirable
• Proven experience leading baseline/endline evaluations, impact evaluations, and complex data analysis
• Experience with digital MEAL systems at a technical design level