Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist

at  Oxfam Novib

Do you want to fight for equality? Tackling inequality at its roots, together with colleagues, our partner organizations and activists in more than 90 countries? To change the systems behind it, once and for all!
Oxfam Novib stands behind the people who stand up for equality. Together, we fight for a world where everyone has equal opportunities, regardless of religion, ethnicity, sex, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. A world where everyone feels safe; where income gaps are shrinking instead of growing, where climate change is tackled firmly.
Equality is the common thread in our work, both internally and externally. We recognize that our team of colleagues can become even more diverse, and that only with a diverse team can we gain a broad perspective on the world. Therefore, we want to encourage everyone who is interested to apply. Our aim is to create an environment where colleagues feel welcome and diversity is embraced and celebrated.
Our aim is to build a team that offers a rich variety of perspectives, enabling us to achieve an inclusive and inspiring work environment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Learning, Innovation and Knowledge (LINK) Unit is part of the Programs Department. This Department consists of one director, seven goal units and two expertise units, of which LINK is one. The purpose of the Programs Department is to achieve impact by shaping policies, designing thematic strategies, supporting, managing and implementing our programs/projects and global, regional and national level campaigns that help further our 10 year vision (Manifesto 2030) of an inclusive (Equal), secure (Safe), equitable (Fair) and sustainable (Green) world in an efficient and effective manner. Our programs are driven by the voice of the people whose lives we seek to impact in order to achieve system changes. We seek mutually beneficial partnerships with other civil society organizations and change actors.

JOB SUMMARY

The MEAL specialist will support program implementation teams in diverse countries and lead the design and implementation of monitoring methods and tools to assess our progress towards results, facilitate learning, and enable accountability-towards our partners, the people and communities we work with, donors and supporters. You are a leader with a solid understanding of the direct and operational components of the design and implementation of a MEAL strategy and learning agenda. You will coach and support other MEAL specialists, in close collaboration with Oxfam colleagues and partners in southern countries. You will facilitate outcome harvesting and learning workshops, commission and guide external mid-term and end-term evaluations. You may be called upon to represent the Unit and the MEAL team in ongoing conversations and collaboration with Oxfam confederation and external research and academic centers.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JOB

• BA in economics, social or political science with relative specialization in research and monitoring methods. MA in related field would be an advantage.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar position, preferably in a civic organization, research center or in the public sector.
• You have practical experience leading, designing and implementing MEAL strategies.
• You have experience managing budgets and projects.
• You have familiarity and experience working with partners in the global south, and highly developed diversity and cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• You have practical experience supporting other MEAL advisors, facilitating MEAL and learning workshops.
• You have a well-developed ability to develop (e-)learning initiatives.
• You are a good presenter.
• You are a pro-active networker.
• You are collaborative and take initiative.
• You have excellent command of English, both written and spoken. Working knowledge of Nederland and either Arabic, French and/or Portuguese would be an advantage.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Do you believe that this is the job you are looking for? Then we would love to meet you! Please send your resume and cover letter via our application portal.
• If you have questions regarding the position, please contact Jorge Romero Leon, Unit Manager Learning, Innovation and Knowledge at jorge.romeroleon@oxfamnovib.nl.
• Only applications received before the closing date 30 September 2024 and submitted via our application portal will be considered.
• This job opening is posted internally and externally, simultaneously. Internal candidates are given preference if they are sufficiently qualified or can be obtained in short term. We believe it’s important in our organization that our employees are offered maximum opportunities for growth in new themes and competencies. Priority for internal candidates supports this.
• At the time of a contract offer, it is necessary for Oxfam Novib to request valid references. Our candidates will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including criminal records and terrorism, financial checks or integrity screenings/references.
• Oxfam Novib reserves the right, to its sole discretion, not to make agreements regarding this job opening, make an agreement in a lower level, or make an agreement with an amended job description.

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT

The unit supports, connects and collaborates with colleagues and partners to ensure impactful multi-country programs are informed by sound methodologies, monitoring and evidence of progress towards objectives, as well as lessons learnt on what works for our Equal, Green, Fair and Safe goals. This is achieved within and beyond the Oxfam confederation through the team’s expertise and by influencing and challenging the culture and practice around monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL), research, innovation and Knowledge management.
The unit is responsible for leading and overseeing organizational learning (including evaluations), applied research, adaptive monitoring, knowledge management, design and development of tools and approaches to assess how we deliver outcomes and results, in cooperation with our compliance colleagues.

MAIN TASKS OF THE MONITORING, EVALUATION, ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEARNING (MEAL) SPECIALIST

• Coordinates, designs and implements MEAL plan and learning agenda for complex multi-country programmes, focusing on systems change with a large influencing component.
• Coordinates the training of project teams and local partners to implement MEAL frameworks and providing hands on support if necessary (based on inclusive, and where possible gender- and age disaggregated, data collection methodologies and tools).
• Quality control of indicator totals and advising on analysis of the monitoring data to facilitate reporting, learning and disseminating results at project level.
• Advises program implementation teams and consortia partners in different countries on tools for planning and reporting in line with programme needs and donor requirements.
• Leads on and ensures quality control of the mid-term and final evaluations across domains (in close cooperation with the Unit manager and senior staff.
• Ensures MEAL contributes to the gender transformation goals of programs, by supporting teams to use established tools and methodologies or ensuring that a capacity strengthening trajectory is developed for programs.
• Supports specialized and program implementation teams to make sense of process and results, harvest key lessons, enabling them to formulate learning agendas.
• Supports MEAL and research colleagues in ensuring learnings are disseminated through shared digital platforms and webinars. Contributes to the quality of learning and knowledge exchanges in Oxfam Novib, with colleagues on other Oxfam Affiliate offices and Oxfam International staff.
• Contributes to external thought leadership of lessons learnt in Oxfam Novib programmes
• Collaboratively produces and contributes to the production and dissemination of evidence-based communication products for specific internal and external audiences.
• Works closely with our monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability, learning and innovations facilitators and project leaders located in other teams, units or country offices.