Overview

The MEAL Lead is responsible for developing and implementing the programme's MEAL strategy and ensuring data is collected, analysed, and used to inform management and design decisions.

Tasks Summary

• Develops and implements the programme's MEAL strategy.
• Develops and manages a monitoring and evaluation system.
• Ensures results from monitoring and lesson learning feed into programme implementation.
• Oversees quarterly reviews.
• Ensures rigorous documentation of evidence.
• Communicates information obtained through monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Ensures data collection processes function across all activity locations.
• Performs data quality assessments.
• Spearheads analysis of all datasets.
• Conducts site visits to provide technical assistance to downstream partners.
• Produces monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports.
• Ensures all data is disaggregated by gender and disability status.
• Provides strategic and technical leadership for Outcome 4.
• Leads the design and delivery of the national LOQA.
• Oversees the programme MIS and data governance.
• Translates LOQA and pilot evidence into clear recommendations and learning products.
• Strengthens evidence uptake with MoGEI and sector stakeholders.
• Trains and supervises a team of MEAL staff.
• Contributes to staff and partner capacity building on MEAL best practices.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning for education programming in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
• Experience with projects designed to improve education in South Sudan is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with adaptive management approaches and evidence-based programming.
• Significant previous experience carrying out monitoring and evaluation activities in hard-to-reach areas, preferably for FCDO-funded accountable grants or similar donor-funded programmes.
• Experience with learning assessments, education data systems, and national-level diagnostic studies.
• Experience ensuring data disaggregation by gender and disability status.
• Experience monitoring programmes that include cash transfer interventions, accelerated education, catch-up learning methodologies, or teacher training components is preferred.
• Understanding of conflict-sensitive and climate-adaptive programming approaches.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships with local counterparts, government ministries, donors, and sector coordination bodies.
• Experience training and supervising monitoring and evaluation staff and building capacity of partners on MEAL best practices.

Qualification Requirements

• Advanced degree (master's or doctorate) from an accredited university in social science, international development, evaluation research, statistics, education, or a related discipline.
• Equivalent experience may be substituted for graduate degree.

Other Details

Languages Required: • Fluency in English is required.

Languages Preferred: • Familiarity with foundational literacy and numeracy measurement is desirable.

Contract Duration: • four-year programme (April 2026 to March 2030)

Work Modality:

Remuneration: