Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Advisor 19 views

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Report to: AGCI Ethiopia Country Director

Grade: GD

Status: Full-Time

Position requires the successful completion of an extensive criminal background check.

Job Summary

The Senior MEAL Advisor serves as AGCI Ethiopia’s lead technical expert on Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning. This role provides high-level guidance and advisory support to the Country Director, Senior Leadership Team, program managers, and HQ M&E colleagues to ensure strong evidence generation, data quality, and accountability across all programs. The Advisor leads the adaptation and implementation of AGCI’s global MEAL standards in Ethiopia, strengthens country-level MEAL systems, and ensures that evidence meaningfully informs decisions, strategy, and program improvement. The position is responsible for building MEAL capacity across teams, reinforcing organizational learning, ensuring compliance with donor and government reporting requirements, and demonstrating AGCI Ethiopia’s impact through rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and research practices

Principal Duties and Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as the senior technical MEAL advisor to the Country Director, Senior Leadership Team,

and Management Team.

• Lead the development and implementation of AGCI Ethiopia’s MEAL strategy and systems.
• Develop and maintain results frameworks, monitoring tools, protocols, and plans aligned with program goals and donor requirements, in collaboration with HQ and in alignment with AGCI Global Standards
• Build the capacity of staff to actively participate in MEAL processes.
• Participate in proposal development and fundraising efforts by contributing evidence, indicators, and MEAL frameworks.
• Ensure MEAL is adequately budgeted in project proposals and operational plans.
• Advise on program design, proposals, theories of change, indicators, and results frameworks.
• Collaborate closely with HQ M&E to align country systems with global priorities and reporting needs.

Monitoring & Evaluation Standards

• Lead the adaptation and implementation of AGCI’s global MEAL standards
• Strengthen and harmonize existing MEAL tools and checklists.
• Provide technical guidance to program teams on data collection, management, and analysis.
• Ensure compliance with donor and government monitoring and reporting requirements.
• Oversee the implementation of MEAL minimum standards across all projects.
• Coordinate training and mentorship on data systems, collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Provide regular data summaries and project updates to leadership.
• Design and lead baseline, midterm, and final evaluations, as well as internal reviews.
• Collaborate with the Program Unit and US MEAL team on research projects.
• Oversee the development and strengthening of MEAL tools tailored to Ethiopia’s context.
• Provide guidance on Apricot data architecture and supervise construction of country-specific reporting dashboards and bulletins.

Accountability & Learning

• Promote accountability and feedback mechanisms across all projects.
• Support teams in implementing effective Feedback and Response Mechanisms (FRMs).
• Monitor implementation of safe and accessible feedback pathways for children, caregivers, and other beneficiaries.
• Collect and document lessons learned and good practices.
• Lead the dissemination of MEAL insights internally and externally.
• Organize regular program review meetings to analyze progress and identify improvements.
• Lead data analysis, generate insights, and produce high-quality reports.
• Integrate accountability indicators into program monitoring and quality assurance processes.
• Support project design through theory of change, logframes, and evidence-based approaches.

Reporting & Communication

• Prepare monthly reports to the Country Director, Director of Programs, and US Office.
• Lead quarterly and annual reporting for donors, government, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure timely, quality reporting aligned with donor deadlines and guidelines.
• Coordinate communication with external stakeholders on quality and learning systems.
• Ensure Ethiopia’s MEAL contributions are incorporated effectively into AGCI’s global reporting.

Research, Evidence & Learning

• Lead the design and execution of evaluations, assessments, research studies, and time-series analyses.
• Develop learning agendas that align with strategic priorities and donor requirements.
• Facilitate quarterly learning and reflection meetings with program teams and leadership.
• Produce clear, high-quality learning briefs, evaluation reports, and summaries for internal and external use.
• Identify emerging trends, risks, and strategic opportunities based on data insights.

Representation & Coordination

• Represent AGCI Ethiopia in MEAL-related networks, workshops, and review meetings.
• Travel to project sites to provide technical support and monitoring.
• Engage with government ministries, donors, NGOs, and research institutions to strengthen MEAL alignment and partnerships.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Leadership & Culture

• Strong advisory and leadership skills with the ability to influence and coach teams.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-building abilities in English and Amharic.
• Proven ability to strengthen evidence-driven organizational culture and learning.
• Highly collaborative, relational, and adept at working with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Professional & Technical

• Advanced understanding of MEAL methodologies, systems, indicators, and evaluation design.
• Strong technical expertise in both quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Proficiency with data systems and tools (Excel, SPSS, Power BI, or similar).
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.
• Knowledge of safeguarding ethics, data protection standards, and research ethics.

Integrity & Compliance

• High level of discretion and confidentiality in handling sensitive information.
• Strong understanding of donor and government compliance frameworks.
• Demonstrated sound judgment in identifying risks and escalating when necessary.

Core Competencies

• Strategic MEAL planning and advisory leadership.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
• Flexible, detail-oriented, and solution-focused.
• Commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred (Statistics, Development Studies, Economics, Public Health, Social Sciences, or related field).
• Minimum 8–10 years of progressively responsible MEAL experience, including advisory or senior technical roles.
• Demonstrated experience designing evaluations, assessments, or research studies.
• Experience working with vulnerable children, families, or anti-trafficking programs preferred.

Work Environment

• Primarily office-based with required travel to project sites for advisory support, monitoring, and evaluations.
• May require flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, or holidays, depending on program needs.

Additional Responsibilities

Perform other tasks within the scope of work, as assigned by the Country Director.