Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Officer

At Save the Children we pride ourselves on our will to embrace change and mould our programs to suit the ever-changing needs of communities across PNG and the Pacific. As a member of the extended Senior Management Team, you will provide leadership in communication and advocacy initiatives aimed at changing practices for betterment of children’s lives at community and national levels. We don’t shy from new ideas; we need you to stir things up.

Save the Children is no ordinary not-for-profit.
We’re ambitious, creative and outspoken. We stand up for children’s rights. We want all children to be educated, healthy and live a life free from violence. We run programs in PNG, Pacific, Australia and overseas and, if there’s a disaster - like an earthquake, drought or conflict – we are there on the ground.

Where you come in:
In this full-time maximum term position based in Port Moresby, you will be responsible for implementation of all MEAL activities in the project, including the establishment and strengthening of monitoring systems, data collection and management, reporting, accountability, and learning. The MEAL Officer reports directly to Save the Children’s National MEAL Manager, with a functional accountability to the Project Coordinator. The MEAL Officer role is designed to monitor and conduct quality checks and manage feedback mechanisms.

You will make an impact by:

• Assist the Project Coordinator and team to set-up and manage MEAL systems for the project in line with the project’s log frame, objectives, and key indicators.
• Support the creation or strengthening of data collection tools, database and reporting systems for the project.
• Build capacity of the project team to collect, manage, and report quality and accurate data that will provide relevant information on project progress and learning.
• Assist the project team to ensure that quality and ethical standards for data collection are understood and utilised by all team members.
• Ensure that verifiable, quantitative, and qualitative data is collected and analysed in line with the project MEAL plans; is reported in donor reports; and is shared with relevant stakeholders to inform project performance.
• Develop/refine tools to monitor all SC-supported activities against agreed minimum and quality standards (i.e. quality benchmark).
• Implement post-activity monitoring functions.
• Set-up and manage contextually appropriate accountability mechanism (including feedback and reporting mechanisms, information sharing and participation opportunities) in the project areas.
• Analyse feedback data, report findings through accountability reports, support the use of findings for decision-marking, and help close the feedback loop.
• Support, identify, document, share and use learning from the project, in order to continuously adapt and improve project performance.
• Support knowledge management through the use of platforms that store and display evidence and learning that is made accessible and actively used between the project, the SC country office, the donor, and other relevant teams.

Does this sound like you?
You have a blend of technical skills, a proactive attitude, and a character that values accountability and learning. You need strong analytical and data management skills, alongside the ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively. A crucial character trait is a commitment to ethical data collection and use, ensuring transparency and accountability to stakeholders.

This role requires:

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience within the development sector in a similar MEAL role.
• Experience and knowledge of monitoring systems, including robust and responsible data collection and use.
• Experience and knowledge of systems for accountability to children and communities, including information sharing, participation of adults and children, and feedback and reporting mechanisms.
• Experience in developing MEAL capacity at national, provincial and local level (preferably in health sector), and health facility levels.
• Proficiency in relevant data collection and analysis software (KoBo, MS Excel and other digital and mobile data collection tools)
• Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner.
• Able to write clearly with high level of written and spoken English.
• Good communication skills both in English and Tok-Pisin.

Working at Save the Children is more than just a job.
It’s the feeling of knowing that your work is contributing to making the world a better place for children and working with others who feel the same. In addition to a connection to social causes, you will have access to:

• Opportunity to work on additional projects alongside business as usual
• Individual learning plans to assist in your career development
• Internal employment and development opportunities
• Support for workplace wellness, including access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Competitive salary + super

Sound interesting?
We’d love to hear from you. Submit your cover letter and resume to:

The Hiring Manager
Save the Children
CHM Corporate Park One Building
Level 1, Suite 6 - 7
P O Box 503, Boroko
National Capital District

Applications close 23^rd May 2025.

For more information about this position, please contact [email protected]