Overview
Provides strategic leadership for programme quality, MEAL, learning, evidence generation, and accountability systems across the SAF Cluster. Ensures programme implementation is underpinned by robust evidence, consistent quality standards, and effective learning systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Provides strategic leadership to ensure consistent programme quality across the Cluster.
- Establish and maintain harmonised programme quality standards and frameworks.
- Ensure consistency in programme design, implementation, and reporting across countries.
- Guide Programme Managers and Coordinators on quality assurance approaches.
- Leads the development and integration of robust MEAL systems across the Cluster.
- Design and oversee cluster-wide MEAL frameworks and tools.
- Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and results tracking across programmes.
- Strengthen integration of MEAL into programme design and implementation.
- Strengthens the generation and use of credible evidence to inform programming and influencing.
- Lead development of evidence generation and research agendas.
- Ensure programme data is translated into insights, analysis, and knowledge products.
- Strengthen knowledge management systems and processes across the Cluster.
- Drives a culture of continuous learning and adaptive management.
- Establish structured learning loops across programmes and teams.
- Facilitate reflection, review, and adaptive planning processes.
- Ensure programme insights inform strategic decision-making.
- Ensures strong linkage between evidence, influencing, and policy engagement.
- Work closely with: Programme & Influencing Lead, Advocacy & Communications Manager, and SADC Civil Society Liaison Lead.
- Ensure evidence informs: Advocacy strategies, Policy engagement, and Regional positioning.
- Support development of evidence-based policy briefs and advocacy materials.
- Strengthens partner capacity in MEAL, accountability, and evidence generation.
- Support partners to develop and implement effective MEAL systems.
- Strengthen partner capacity in: Data collection and analysis, Learning and reflection, and Accountability to communities.
- Ensures high-quality results reporting and accountability to donors and stakeholders.
- Oversee development of programme reports and results frameworks.
- Ensure reporting is: Accurate, Evidence-based, and Aligned with donor requirements.
- Leads and manages the PQK team and function across the Cluster.
- Line manage MEAL and knowledge staff where applicable.
- Build team capacity in: Evidence generation, Data analysis, and Learning facilitation.
- Ensures PQK systems are integrated across all functions.
- Work closely with: Programme teams, Business Development, and Operations.
- Strengthen alignment between: Programme delivery, Evidence systems, and Funding and reporting requirements.
Required Experience
- 6 years senior leadership and management in programme quality, MEAL, research, or knowledge management within development and/or humanitarian contexts.
- Proven track record of leading and motivating multi-disciplinary, geographically remote teams and operations across a number of locations.
- Demonstrated experience in designing and leading MEAL systems across multi-country or complex programme portfolios.
- Strong technical expertise in research methods, data analysis, and evidence generation (qualitative and quantitative).
- Proven experience in integrating evidence and learning into programme design, adaptive management, and influencing.
- Experience working in partner-led programming models, including strengthening partner MEAL and accountability systems.
- Demonstrated experience in results reporting, donor compliance, and accountability frameworks.
- Experience operating in multi-country, matrixed organisational structures, with the ability to influence across teams without direct authority.
- Experience of managing complex change processes and relationships involving a wide range of both internal and external multi-cultural stakeholders across a variety of disciplines and geographical areas.
- Demonstrated experience in being a leader in promoting women’s rights and gender equity.
Qualifications
Master’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Economics, Public Policy, Statistics, or a related field.
