Regional MEAL and Learning Specialist

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Development Studies, Social Research Methods, Statistics, Public Policy, Humanitarian Action, or a closely related field.
  
• Additional professional certification in program evaluation, results-based management, research methods, or a related discipline is a strong advantage.
  
• Minimum seven years of progressively responsible MEAL experience within the humanitarian or international development sector.
  
• At least three years of experience in a senior regional or multi-country MEAL coordination position.
  
• Demonstrated experience designing and managing comprehensive MEAL systems for complex, multi-year, multi-country programs.
  
• Strong experience managing Results Frameworks, formal evaluations, data-quality assurance systems, accountability mechanisms, and institutional donor reporting.
  
• Experience working with DG ECHO or a comparable institutional donor is strongly preferred, including knowledge of donor logframes, evidence requirements, and reporting conventions.
  
• Technical experience in anticipatory action, disaster preparedness, early-warning systems, climate-risk management, or climate-informed humanitarian programming is required.
  
• Proven experience leading baseline, mid-term, and endline evaluations using quantitative and qualitative research methods.
  
• Advanced skills in survey design, sampling, statistical analysis, qualitative research, data interpretation, and evidence-based reporting.
  
• Proficiency with KoboToolbox, ODK, or comparable digital data-collection platforms.
  
• Experience designing MEAL approaches for trigger-based programs, simulation exercises, After-Action Reviews, pilot activations, or Crisis Modifier responses.
  
• Experience working in at least two of the target countries—Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti—or in comparable Greater Horn of Africa contexts is preferred.
  
• Strong knowledge of accountability to affected populations, inclusive feedback mechanisms, PSEA, data protection, safeguarding, and responsible humanitarian data practices.
  
• Demonstrated ability to translate field-level evidence into clear program insights, donor reports, learning products, and strategic recommendations.
  
• Strong leadership, team management, facilitation, communication, and stakeholder-engagement skills.
  
• Full professional fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of French, Somali, or Amharic is a strong advantage.
  
• Ability and willingness to travel across Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and other regional locations, including travel to challenging or high-risk operating environments.
  

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the consortium-wide MEAL system across Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti.
  
• Develop and maintain the program’s Results Framework, Theory of Change, indicator matrix, targets, data sources, disaggregation requirements, and responsibility assignments.
  
• Design and manage the program MEAL Plan, including data-collection schedules, quality-assurance protocols, accountability mechanisms, reporting responsibilities, and the regional learning cycle.
  
• Establish consistent MEAL governance and standards across country teams, implementing partners, program staff, and regional technical teams.
  
• Lead quarterly and annual program reviews and ensure monitoring findings inform adaptive management, program planning, and decision-making.
  
• Provide technical leadership for baseline, mid-term, and endline evaluations using rigorous mixed-methods approaches across all three program countries.
  
• Develop evaluation methodologies, research questions, sampling strategies, data-collection tools, analytical frameworks, and reporting structures.
  
• Manage external evaluation consultants when independent evaluations are required, including developing terms of reference and reviewing technical proposals and deliverables.
  
• Directly oversee the Somalia evaluation and MEAL component, working with country teams and local partners to ensure consistent data quality and conflict-sensitive data collection.
  
• Establish consortium-wide data-quality standards, verification procedures, source-data archives, and auditable evidence trails for donor-reported results.
  
• Ensure ethical and responsible data management, including informed consent, confidentiality, anonymization, secure data storage, access controls, and compliance with relevant data-protection standards.
  
• Oversee digital data-collection and management systems, including KoboToolbox, ODK, dashboards, validation controls, and real-time data monitoring.
  
• Design and oversee accessible Complaints and Feedback Mechanisms that enable affected communities to provide feedback safely and confidentially.
  
• Ensure accountability systems are inclusive and accessible to women, persons with disabilities, older people, displaced populations, refugees, people with low literacy, and other marginalized groups.
  
• Lead After-Action Reviews following simulations, pilot activations, and Crisis Modifier responses, ensuring operational lessons are documented and incorporated into program improvements.
  
• Work with the Regional Climate and Anticipatory Action Modeling Specialist to assess trigger accuracy, lead times, false-alarm rates, and activation decision quality.
  
• Produce regional learning briefs, evidence papers, case studies, evaluation reports, and knowledge products on anticipatory action, trigger systems, urban preparedness, and cross-border coordination.
  
• Serve as the quality-assurance authority for quantitative data, indicator results, disaggregation tables, progress narratives, and evidence included in DG ECHO reports.
  
• Lead MEAL capacity strengthening for country teams, government counterparts, and implementing partners across the program.
  
• Directly manage and mentor the Data Analyst and provide technical guidance to MEAL focal points in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti.
  
• Develop and manage the program’s MEAL budget and approve MEAL-related expenses within authorized thresholds.