MEAL Officer | Dessie

Empathy for Life Integrated Development Association (ELiDA) is a women-led, non-governmental civil society organization established in 2008 and licensed by the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO), Certificate No. 1143.ELiDA envisions a society where socially responsible, conscious, and productive women and girls are meaningfully empowered to participate in leadership and decision-making processes across all aspects of life.

The organization implements programs in peacebuilding, prevention and response to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), livelihoods, and humanitarian assistance, addressing the urgent needs of conflict- and disaster-affected populations while advancing gender equality, women’s leadership, and community resilience across Ethiopia.

As part of strengthening its impact and evidence-based programming, ELiDA is seeking a qualified and motivated MEAL Officer to support the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) functions for its projects in Dessie and Woldiya, Amhara Region (South & North Wolo).

Key Information

Position	Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL Officer)
Reports to	Senior MEAL Officer (Addis Ababa Head Office)
Duty Station	South and North Wollo – Dessie Project Office, with support responsibilities for project implementation areas under the Area Coordination Office.
Employment Type	Full-time, fixed-term (1 year) with possibility of extension
Salary	As per organizational scale with certain possibility for negotiation
Gender	Open to all (Women strongly encouraged to apply)

Key Objective of the Position

The MEAL Officer will be responsible for implementing and supporting MEAL activities in ELiDA’s project under its Area Coordination Office catchments. This includes ensuring effective data collection, monitoring, reporting, accountability, documentation, and learning processes that align with ELiDA’s strategic objectives. The MEAL Officer will collaborate with ELiDA head office and field teams, support partners, and provide timely and accurate reporting to measure the impact of project interventions.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Implement MEAL frameworks, tools, and systems under the guidance of the Senior MEAL Officer.
• Conduct regular field visits to projects implemented under EliDA’s area coordination office to monitor project activities.
• Collect, analyze, and verify quantitative and qualitative data to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Track project progress against established indicators, logframes, and activity plans.

Accountability

• Establish and manage community feedback and complaint mechanisms.
• Promote accountability and transparency by engaging regularly with ELiDA staff, beneficiaries and stakeholders.

Learning and Knowledge Management

• Document and share with the Senior MEAL Officer key lessons learned, success stories, and best practices.
• Organize reflection sessions with project teams to strengthen adaptive learning.

Reporting and Documentation

• Prepare and submit MEAL reports (monthly, quarterly, annual) to the Senior MEAL Officer under the mandates of the area coordination office.
• Contribute to donor reports, ensuring data quality and alignment with requirements.

Capacity Building

• Provide training and technical support to project staff and partners on MEAL systems.
• Support capacity-building initiatives for local stakeholders and community groups.

Coordination and Compliance

• Work closely with ELiDA program teams, local CSOs, ELiDA’s local partners and sub-grant recipients, and government offices to ensure coordination.
• Ensure adherence to ELiDA’s policies, including Safeguarding, PSEA, and data protection.

Minimum Job Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Sociology, Statistics, Development Studies, Social Anthropology, and Economics, .
• Experience: At least 3 to 5 years of relevant MEAL experience, specifically in NGO/INGO settings.
• Technical Skills:
  • Experience with MEAL frameworks and tools.
  • Strong knowledge of data collection and analysis methods (qualitative and quantitative).
  • Proficiency in software such as Kobo Toolbox, SPSS, Excel, and Power BI.

Other Requirements:

• Strong analytical, reporting, and communication skills.
• Ability to travel to project sites frequently.
• Fluency in English and Amharic.
• Commitment to gender equality, inclusion, and conflict-sensitive programming.

Core Competencies and Values

• Integrity & Accountability – Professional and transparent in all actions.
• Results Orientation – Focused on delivering measurable outcomes.
• Gender Sensitivity – Committed to promoting gender equality and inclusion.
• Collaboration & Teamwork – Builds strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Adaptability & Innovation – Uses creative approaches and digital MEAL tools.
• Safeguarding Commitment – Upholds ELiDA’s safeguarding principles and accountability to affected communities.