Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer

About VSF-Suisse:

Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse (VSF-Suisse) is a politically and religiously neutral humanitarian and development organization with its headquarters in Berne, Switzerland, and country offices in West and East Africa. Its mission is to improve the well-being and resilience of vulnerable populations by promoting the health and productivity of their livestock within a healthy environment. In Ethiopia, the organization implements programmes in the Somali and Oromia regions, working closely with communities, government institutions and partners to improve animal and human health, food security, resilience, climate adaptation and sustainable livelihoods.

Position Summary:

 We are seeking a highly qualified Monitoring, evaluation and accountability and learning officer to lead and coordinate MEAL functions across projects implemented by the Gode Field Office in order to document results, and to translate MEAL and other data into meaningful policy and program improvements. The position will develop and refine data collection tools and systems, collaborate closely with Programme Managers to embed data-driven decision-making, and support continuous quality improvement.

The successful candidate will be based in the Gode Field Office and will dedicate 50% of their time to the Gender-Responsive One Health (GROH) Project and 50% to supporting other VSF-Suisse projects in the field office, ensuring consistent implementation of organizational MEAL standards across the portfolio.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. Monitoring and Performance Management

• Lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of all Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) activities for projects implemented by the Gode Field Office.
• Develop project-specific monitoring plans, indicator tracking matrices, and data collection schedules in alignment with project log frames and donor requirements.
• Design, review, and update monitoring tools, checklists, questionnaires, and reporting templates to ensure accurate and timely data collection.
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to assess project implementation, verify reported achievements, identify implementation gaps, and provide practical recommendations for improvement.
• Monitor progress against project indicators, targets, work plans, and budgets, and provide timely feedback to project teams.

2. Data Collection, Management and Quality Assurance

• Lead the design and implementation of digital data collection systems using platforms such as Kobo Toolbox and other approved digital tools.
• Train, supervise, and support enumerators, field staff, and partners on data collection methodologies, digital tools, research ethics, and quality standards.
• Ensure high standards of data quality by conducting routine data verification, validation, consistency checks, and data quality assessments (DQAs).
• Maintain organized project databases and ensure secure storage, documentation, and backup of project data in accordance with organizational policies.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data and generate actionable findings to support evidence-based decision-making.

3. Evaluations, Assessments and Research

• Lead the planning and implementation of baseline, midline, endline evaluations, needs assessments, surveys, and operational research activities.
• Develop study protocols, sampling methodologies, questionnaires, and data collection plans.
• Coordinate data collection, supervise field teams, perform data cleaning and analysis, and prepare high-quality evaluation reports.
• Ensure evaluations are conducted in accordance with organizational standards and donor requirements.

4. Reporting and Information Management

• Prepare high-quality monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual, and final project reports for internal management, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Compile and validate project performance data from technical teams before submission.
• Develop dashboards, summaries, infographics, and other visualization products to communicate project performance effectively.
• Support timely reporting into organizational information management systems and donor reporting platforms.

5. Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)

• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of accountability mechanisms across all projects.
• Establish and monitor beneficiary feedback and complaint response mechanisms that are accessible, confidential, and responsive.
• Collect, analyze, categorize, and document community feedback and complaints, ensuring timely referral and resolution.
• Track corrective actions and ensure the feedback loop is closed by communicating responses back to communities.
• Produce periodic accountability reports highlighting trends, actions taken, and recommendations.

6. Learning and Knowledge Management

• Facilitate the identification, documentation, and dissemination of lessons learned, best practices, innovations, and success stories from project implementation.
• Organize reflection meetings, after-action reviews, and learning workshops to promote adaptive management.
• Share documented lessons and good practices with the Country Office to support organizational learning and replication across projects and field offices.
• Support the development of case studies, publications, and knowledge products.

7. Project Design and MEAL Planning

• Contribute to project proposal development by supporting the design of logical frameworks, indicators, targets, monitoring plans, and MEAL budgets.
• Develop comprehensive Project MEAL Plans, indicator reference sheets, data flow diagrams, and reporting schedules for newly approved projects.
• Ensure all project indicators are measurable, clearly defined, and aligned with donor and organizational requirements.

8. Capacity Building

• Build the capacity of project staff, partners, and community structures on MEAL concepts, data quality, reporting standards, accountability, and digital data collection.
• Provide ongoing technical support and mentoring to field teams to strengthen monitoring and reporting practices.
• Develop user guides, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and training materials for MEAL activities.

9. Coordination and Collaboration

• Work closely with project managers and technical teams to ensure timely collection, analysis, and use of project data.
• Coordinate with the Country Office MEAL team to ensure harmonized methodologies, tools, and reporting standards.
• Represent the organization in MEAL-related meetings, technical working groups, and coordination forums when delegated.
• Support donor visits, monitoring missions, audits, and evaluations by providing accurate project data and documentation.

10. Compliance and Data Protection

• Ensure compliance with organizational MEAL policies, donor requirements, ethical standards, and data protection principles.
• Promote confidentiality, informed consent, and responsible data management throughout all data collection and reporting processes.
• Maintain complete documentation of project evidence to support audits, evaluations, and donor verification exercises.

11. Other Duties

• Perform any other MEAL-related assignments delegated by the MEAL Lead, Country Director, or Field Coordinator.

Educational Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Economics, Development Studies, Business Management, Social Sciences, Public Health, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, or another related field from a recognized institution.
• Additional professional certification in Monitoring and Evaluation, Project Management, Data Science, GIS, or Information Management is an added advantage.

Professional Experience

• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL), preferably within international NGOs or development and humanitarian organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing MEAL systems for multi-sectoral development and humanitarian projects.
• Proven experience in leading baseline, midline, endline evaluations, needs assessments, surveys, and operational research.
• Experience in developing logical frameworks, indicators, results frameworks, MEAL plans, and performance monitoring systems.
• Strong experience in donor reporting and familiarity with donor compliance requirements.
• Experience in supervising data collection teams, enumerators, and field monitoring activities.
• Experience working in pastoral, rural, or humanitarian settings is highly desirable.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of results-based management (RBM), logical framework approaches, and performance measurement.
• Excellent skills in designing quantitative and qualitative data collection tools, including questionnaires, checklists, observation guides, and interview guides.
• Advanced knowledge of digital data collection platforms such as Kobo Toolbox, ODK, Surveyor, or other mobile data collection systems.
• Experience managing web-based information management systems such as Tola Data, DHIS2, Power BI, Comcare, or similar project management and reporting platforms.
• Strong statistical data analysis skills using software such as RStudio, SPSS, Excel (advanced), or other statistical packages.
• Experience in data visualization and dashboard development using Power BI, Tableau, Excel Dashboards, or similar visualization tools.
• Strong understanding of data quality assurance (DQA), data verification, validation, and data management principles.
• Excellent report writing, data interpretation, and presentation skills.

Computer Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Excellent knowledge of spreadsheet design, pivot tables, dashboards, formulas, and database management.
• Experience using cloud-based collaboration platforms such as SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, or Google Workspace.

Core Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent planning, organizational, and time management skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex datasets into clear, actionable insights.
• Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Excellent training, mentoring, and coaching abilities.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to accountability, transparency, safeguarding, and ethical data management.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.

Language Requirements

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Fluency in Somali and Amharic is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of local languages spoken in the Somali Region is an added advantage.

Other Requirements

• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to project implementation areas, including remote and pastoral communities.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing operational priorities.
• Commitment to VSF-Suisse’s mission, values, and safeguarding principles.
• Valid Ethiopian driving license is an added advantage.

Desirable Assets

Candidates with one or more of the following will have an advantage:

• Experience working on One Health, livestock, resilience, food security, climate adaptation, public health, or humanitarian response projects.
• Familiarity with donor requirements and reporting frameworks (e.g., SDC, EU, USAID, UN agencies, or other bilateral and multilateral donors).
• Experience developing organizational MEAL systems, SOPs, indicator reference sheets, and digital reporting frameworks.
• Experience supporting proposal development, including indicator selection, target setting, and MEAL budgeting.