Job Description
The MEAL Officer is responsible for supporting the effective implementation of the
project’s MEAL system by ensuring high-quality data collection, verification,
management, and reporting. The MEAL Officer works closely with program staff,
implementing partners, and beneficiaries to ensure that project activities,
outputs, and outcomes are accurately tracked and documented in line with donor
requirements and organizational standards. The MEAL Officer supports
evidence-based decision-making, learning, and adaptive management to improve
project performance and results.
Scope and
purpose:
The MEAL
Officer is responsible for supporting the effective implementation of the
project’s MEAL system by ensuring high-quality data collection, verification,
management, and reporting. The MEAL Officer works closely with program staff,
implementing partners, and beneficiaries to ensure that project activities,
outputs, and outcomes are accurately tracked and documented in line with donor
requirements and organizational standards. The MEAL Officer supports
evidence-based decision-making, learning, and adaptive management to improve
project performance and results.
Essential
areas of responsibility
Monitoring
and Data Collection
- Implement
routine monitoring activities in line with the approved MEAL Plan and
indicator definitions.
- Collect
quantitative and qualitative data from field staff, partners, and
beneficiaries using approved data collection tools (paper-based and/or
digital).
- Support
monitoring of trainings, meetings, mentorship sessions, service delivery
activities, and other project interventions.
- Ensure
accurate completion of attendance registers, activity reports, and
beneficiary records.
- Conduct
regular field visits to verify reported data and observe activity
implementation.
Data
Quality Assurance and Data Management
- Verify,
clean, and validate collected data to ensure accuracy, completeness,
consistency, and timeliness.
- Enter
data into project databases or MEAL information systems in a timely
manner.
- Maintain
secure and organized filing systems for all original data collection tools
and support documentation.
- Support
routine data quality assessments (DQAs) and spot checks in collaboration
with the MEAL Manager or Specialist.
- Ensure
confidentiality and ethical handling of all beneficiary and project data.
Reporting
and Analysis Support
- Prepare
routine monitoring summaries and basic data analyses to support internal
management and reporting.
- Provide
accurate data and narrative inputs to monthly, quarterly, and annual donor
and internal reports.
- Support
the preparation of dashboards, presentations, and feedback materials for
program staff and partners.
- Track
progress against targets and flag data gaps, risks, or implementation
challenges.
Learning
and Adaptive Management
- Support
learning and reflection activities, including data review meetings and
after-action reviews.
- Document
lessons learned, best practices, and success stories from project
implementation.
- Support
the use of MEAL data for adaptive management and continuous program
improvement.
Surveys,
Assessments, and Evaluations
- Support
the implementation of baseline, midline, endline, and special studies or
assessments.
- Assist
with enumerator training, supervision, and field logistics during surveys.
- Support
data collection, cleaning, and preliminary analysis for evaluations and
assessments.
Capacity
Building and Coordination
- Train
and mentor field staff, partners, and community structures on data
collection tools, reporting requirements, and data quality standards.
- Perform
any other MEAL-related duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully,
the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The
requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or
abilities required.
Education
and experience
- Bachelor’s
degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Economics, Social
Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field.
- Minimum
of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in monitoring,
evaluation, data collection, data management, or data analysis for
development or donor-funded projects.
- Demonstrated
experience supporting routine monitoring systems, including indicator
tracking, data verification, data cleaning, and reporting.
- Experience
with field-based data collection and working with community groups,
implementing partners, and project beneficiaries.
- Experience
using digital data collection platforms (such as Kobo, ODK, CommCare,
SurveyCTO, or similar) and proficiency in Microsoft Excel or other data
analysis tools.
- Prior
experience working on donor-funded projects (e.g., USAID, Mastercard
Foundation, EU, FCDO, DFAT) is preferred.
- Experience
supporting project surveys, assessments, or evaluations (baseline,
midline, endline) is an advantage.
- Experience
in writing internal and donor reports
Skills
and abilities
- High
attention to detail with a demonstrated commitment to data accuracy,
integrity, and confidentiality.
- Ability
to collect, verify, clean, and manage quantitative and qualitative data in
a timely manner.
- Experience
using digital data collection tools and databases, and strong proficiency
in Microsoft Excel and other standard data management software.
- Ability
to analyze routine monitoring data and present findings clearly for
non-technical audiences.
- Strong
organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks,
prioritize workloads, and meet deadlines.
- Excellent
written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare
clear reports and communicate effectively with field teams and partners.
- Ability
to work independently with minimal supervision as well as collaboratively
within multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong
interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, with the ability to work
effectively with community members, partners, and stakeholders.
- Willingness
and ability to travel frequently to field locations, including rural or
remote areas.
Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this
job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to write or type, use
arms to reach for items and turn head to speak and/or hear others. The employee will frequently walk, reach,
stoop, push and pull up to 20 lbs and lift up to 10 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this
job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and should remain low to moderate during normal
business hours. The work environment characteristics described herein are
representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential
functions of this job within an office setting. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with
disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
This job description should not beinterpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify the major
responsibilities of this job. The
incumbent may be required to perform job-related responsibilities and
About the Organization
The National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) has worked
for more than 100 years to build a stronger, safer and more
prosperous world. We engage, partner with and empower people to have a greater
say in their futures and broader access to economic opportunities. We
achieve this vision through collaborative partnerships in
development, advocacy, public awareness and thought leadership.
NCBA CLUSA is an implementing partner for the Financial
Inclusion for Youths and MSMEs in Agriculture (FIYMA) program in Kenya and seeks to recruit a MEAL Officer for
the FIYMA program.
