TITLE:  Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Lead

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Programme Development & Quality 

LOCATION: Lusaka, Zambia

GRADE: NAT 2

Safeguarding:

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

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ROLE PURPOSE:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Lead will be responsible for providing leadership to strengthen organizational capacity to design and implement effective monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems. S/he will have an integral leadership role within the Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) department and work closely with Technical Specialists, Programme Managers and other departments. S/he will actively seek to incorporate innovation, best practices, and lessons learned for improvement of programme quality. The role will include capacity building of MEAL and programme/partner staff; strategic and annual planning, internal reporting, as well as programme development.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Programme Director

Staff reporting to this post: 1+ (the role will have either direct or matrix line management of project MEAL staff)

Role Dimensions: The role is expected to foster relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including Save the Children members, the Country Office Programme Development & Quality team, advocacy colleagues, Regional Advisors, technical counterparts in other organisation, donors etc. The role is also expected to engage with internal technical working groups and communities of practice.

Context : Development and Development-Humanitarian Nexus

Primary Technical area:Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Design and Implementation of a MEAL System that meets SCI standards

• Lead the development and implementation of a MEAL System for the Zambia County Office. This requires close collaboration with the Programme Ops and PDQ Departments and must be in line with SCI’s Quality Framework. Project-specific MEAL systems need to meet demands and standards of different donors.

MEAL Structure and Capacity

• Review the country’s MEAL structure and ensure it is fit for purpose

Ensure MEAL, Programme and PDQ staff have and understand clearly defined roles and responsibilities that are also understood by Program Ops and PDQ teams

Strategic and Annual Planning

•  Ensure that evidence and learning is brought together across thematic and operational regions to develop a Country Strategic Plan (including participating in a Child Needs Situational Assessment).  

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master’s degree in relevant field or equivalent field experience

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Minimum of 5-7 years of programming experience within the aid sector, preferably linked to one of Save the Children’s priority technical sectors (Child Poverty, Child Protection, Child Rights Governance, Education, Health & Nutrition), and with the majority of that time focused on overseeing comprehensive MEAL systems that ensure programme effectiveness and quality.
• Understanding of both emergency and development contexts, with a preference for experience in both contexts.
•  Experience adhering to international quality standards (Red Cross Code of Conduct, Sphere, CHS) or equivalent.
•  Experience and knowledge of monitoring systems, including robust and responsible data collection and use.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

QUALIFIED APPLICANTS SHOULD ONLY ATTACH A COVER LETTER AND AN UPDATED CV.

for a detailed Job desciption please follow the link below;

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19kp-dWLQ47y_Oe71rF5F9vAZaf2_bsEs/view?usp=sharing

The closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday 4th June 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Save the Children reserves the right to re advertise if suitable applicants are not found.

Save the Children is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer that does not engage in any practices which discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, colour, religion, gender, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status and we will never ask that you pay for anything as part of the selection process or thereafter