Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning Officer

Role Summary

The MEAL Officer will play a critical role in overseeing the design and implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning systems for a pilot solar energy project aimed at increasing rural energy access in Kambia District. The role will ensure that the project’s goals are tracked, its impact is measured, and key insights are captured to inform future scaling. The MEAL Officer will also facilitate learning processes to improve project outcomes, particularly related to business models, payment mechanisms, and community engagement strategies. The role collaborates with: SPV Consultant, Procurement Officer, Climate Change Innovation Officer. The role is based in Freetown with frequent travel to implementing communities.

Key Responsibilities

Technical support

• Provide technical support to the Project Team to implement and update the integrated MEAL plan and to design and implement a Results Framework for the project
• Provide training and technical advice on monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning to project staff, including tool selection, data collection, analysis and interpretation including qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
• Provide technical support to the Project Team on measuring reach including the annual collection and reporting of reach at country level.
• In collaboration with Project Manager and Program Manager, lead in conducting timely monitoring and learning activities, including oversight and quality assurance of field data collection, data management and analysis that will contribute to quality reporting increased accountability, visibility of project impact and continual project improvement.
• Support the Project Team and partners in strategic targeting of project participants in line with organisational and donor standards.
• Advise and support the Project Manager to champion gender sensitive data collection and analysis, including the use of practical indicators and monitoring tools and processes
• Advise on the use of the donor’s and Trócaire’s common indicators, tools and methodologies in the project.
• Support the development, design and management of project evaluations, baselines or research. 
• Support CMT to implement the accountability framework, including feedback and complaints mechanisms, to ensure the sharing of monitoring information with project participants and other stakeholders.
• Support the Project Team to use M&E learnings to inform and adapt implementation.
• Assist in the development of reports in close coordination with colleagues and partners.

Strengthening MEAL related partner capacity

• Develop jointly with the partner and implement a partner MEAL capacity strengthening plan, generating training materials and resources where needed.
• Work with Project Manager and line manager  to support partner use of results-based management and engagement with project learning and review processes.
• Through training and close accompaniment, support partner staff to develop skills and competencies to gather, manage and analyse quality gender-sensitive data. 
• In coordination with the Project Manager, conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments and implement relevant action plans with partners.
• Support and mentor partner staff to analyse and interpret data to inform programme quality control, produce quality donor reports, document lessons learned and programme impact and to inform future project development.
• Support partners to implement quality field monitoring in a manner that is sensitive to the different needs of programme participants.
• Support partners in establishing their accountability practices, including safeguarding, complaints and response mechanisms, participation and information sharing mechanisms.
• Support partners to strengthen internal MEAL capacity and where appropriate adopt Trócaire MEAL approaches.

Learning and Adaptation

• Organize regular learning workshops with project stakeholders to reflect on implementation progress and operational challenges.
• Facilitate discussions to document best practices and develop actionable recommendations for improving project design and scaling strategies.
• Collaborate with the project team to adapt the business model, pricing strategies, and community engagement approaches based on emerging data and insights.
• Support the preparation of a final Lessons Learned Report, summarizing key findings and providing strategic guidance for future rural energy access initiatives.
• Collaborate with the project team to conduct action research on the effectiveness of different community engagement strategies and contribute to knowledge dissemination through presentations and reports

• Actively engage with the Global MEAL Team sharing learnings from Sierra Leone.

Other

• Attendance at strategic meetings with consortium members or key stakeholders in Sierra Leone in relation to programming, particularly MEAL.
• Participate in wider project planning and review work.
• Any other reasonable duty as may be assigned by the line manager that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility.

Linkages:

• Provides data and community insights to the SPV Consultant and Project Manager.
• Evaluates the cost-effectiveness of procurement activities in collaboration with the Logistics & Procurement Officer.

Requirements

Essential Requirements

Qualifications:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Business administration, economics, statistics, demography, other social sciences, or a similar relevant field.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation, preferably in energy access, rural development, or community-based projects using results-based management approaches.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Experience putting in place a performance monitoring system and mentoring project staff on its use to ensure good quality of performance data.
• Demonstrated experience in community engagement and participatory monitoring approaches.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including local partners, government agencies, and community members.
• Previous experience in donor reporting and grant management.
• Previous experience in participatory MEAL approaches.
• Previous experience working with local partner organizations.

Skills:

• Technical skills to implement MEAL in a gender-sensitive manner, including tool design, sampling, data collection, analysis, participatory rural appraisal and report writing.
• Ability to develop indicators, tools and processes for monitoring.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills, with the ability to present complex data in an accessible manner (e.g., reports, short summaries, presentations).
• Experience leveraging performance monitoring data for improving ongoing project management.
• Facilitation, coordination and communication skills, with an ability to communicate to a variety of audiences in a variety of formats.
• High level of proficiency in Excel, Word, PowerPoint and online data management systems such as Kobo Collect or CommCare.
• Excellent spoken and written English.

Qualities:

• Commitment to Trócaire’s Vision, Mission and Values and an understanding of a partnership approach to development.
• Sympathetic understanding of the Catholic Church’s role in relief and development.
• Ability to work to deadlines with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong team player who can establish solid working relationships with colleagues.

Others:

• Willingness to travel frequently in country.
• Able to work irregular hours on an occasional basis

Safeguarding Programme Participants-Children & Adults

Trócaire is committed to safeguarding people within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives. More information on Trócaire’s safeguarding policies available here.

Diversity and inclusion

We welcome diverse applicants to join our inclusive workforce.

Trócaire is an equal opportunities employer. We are an organisation that embraces diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds to bring their experiences and perspectives to Trócaire.

Diversity and Inclusion statement available here

Benefits

For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, Trócaire offers a competitive package of salary and benefits.

Closing Date: 20th December 2024

See link with full Job Description: https://trocaire.box.com/s/ylngzvivxa83b1m1ytf8cr7k75lsnhmp