About This Role
This is a senior technical role within a child-focused international NGO where the MEAL Coordinator essentially serves as the evidence backbone of the entire country programme. Rather than a purely desk-based data role, it involves shaping how CIFA designs, monitors, and learns from its education and women's empowerment work across three Ethiopian regions. It suits someone who understands that in the NGO sector, credible data is what keeps institutional donors confident and programmes funded.
What the Requirements Say About This Role
The five-to-eight year expectation signals that CIFA wants someone who has already navigated the full MEAL cycle within donor-funded projects — not a rising officer still building their toolkit. The emphasis on institutional donors like AICS, EU, and UN implies the role demands familiarity with complex reporting frameworks, logframe management, and the kind of audit-ready documentation these funders scrutinise. Underneath the technical language, the profile being sought is someone comfortable working across multiple field sites while also holding the strategic view needed to inform country-level decision-making.
How to Approach This Application
Your application should demonstrate concrete experience with donor compliance and reporting — specific funders, specific frameworks, and how your data informed programme adjustments. CIFA's mandate centres on vulnerable children and girls' education, so showing that your MEAL work has served similar populations or thematic areas will resonate strongly. Given the vacancy code and structured hiring process, follow the application instructions precisely and frame your CV around measurable programme outcomes rather than listing tools or software.
Who This Role Suits
This role best suits a seasoned MEAL professional with NGO field experience who is ready to operate at country-programme level, and given the seniority and donor-facing nature of the position, competition among experienced Ethiopian MEAL practitioners is likely to be strong.
Vacancy Code
CIFA_AA_MEAL-021_26
Introduction
CIFA is an international NGO with over 40 years of commitment in protecting the most vulnerable children and youth. Working in Ethiopia for over 20 years, CIFA supports access to primary and secondary education, especially for girls; it fights against the worst forms of discrimination and supports women’s economic empowerment. With this approach, CIFA currently works in Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa City Administration and Amhara (South Wollo).
The MEAL Coordinator position is crucial for strengthening our evidence-based approach and meeting the high standards of accountability required by institutional donors (e.g., AICS, EU, UN). This role is key to ensuring program quality and strategic learning across the entire Country Programme.
Organization
CIFA is an international NGO with over 40 years of experience in protecting vulnerable children and youth. Active in Ethiopia for more than 20 years, CIFA promotes access to quality education, child protection, gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and inclusive livelihoods. Through its integrated approach, CIFA has developed strong expertise in managing multi-sectoral projects, linking institutional support with grassroots socio-economic inclusion across Addis Ababa, Amhara, Dire Dawa, Harari, and Oromia.
Project
The Second Life project aims to strengthen solid waste management (SWM), circular economy approaches, and socio-economic inclusion through coordinated technical, institutional, and community-based actions in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.
Position
MEAL Coordinator (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning)
Duration Contract
Annual contract, until Dec 2027, renewable subject to performance and project needs with a 60- working days probation period and the possibility of extension.
Location
Addis Ababa
Key Tasks
1. MEAL System Development and Management
Lead the design and implementation of the Country-level MEAL Framework, ensuring alignment with CIFA’s Strategy and donor requirements (AICS, etc.).
Develop and standardize monitoring tools and procedures for project data collection, management, and analysis (e.g., PMPs, KPIs, data collection systems like ActivityInfo, KoboToolbox, ODK).
Ensure that all project documents (proposals, reports) contain clear, coherent, and measurable Logical Frameworks (Log Frames) and MEAL sections.
Oversee the integrity, security, and use of the national MEAL database and information management systems.
2. Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting
Ensure the adoption of rigorous Data Quality Assurance (DQA) protocols across all projects, including regular field visits and data verification checks.Coordinate and oversee Baseline activities, Mid-Term Reviews, and Endline Surveys, including the drafting of ToRs and management of external consultants.
Analyze collected quantitative and qualitative data, identify trends, assess performance, and determine significant deviations from expected outcomes.
Produce regular analytical MEAL reports, including performance summary reports for the Country Representative and Headquarters.
Develop accessible and up-to-date monitoring dashboards (e.g., using Power BI or similar tools) to facilitate evidence-based decision-making.
3. Accountability, Learning, and Capacity Building
Establish and manage an accessible and inclusive Beneficiary Accountability Mechanism (Feedback and Complaint Response Mechanism - FCRM), ensuring all complaints and feedback are recorded, categorized, and addressed in a timely and ethical manner.
Lead the organization of structured project review and learning sessions (Lesson Learned) to ensure that best practices and operational challenges inform future programming cycles and organizational strategy.
Provide continuous training and mentoring to project teams and field staff on MEAL methodologies, quality data collection, data ethics, and the use of MEAL tools.
4. Team Management and Coordination
Ensure close functional collaboration with Program Manager, Project Managers, Project Coordinators, Communication Coordinator, the Finance team, and the Logistics team for an effective flow of information and shared project understanding.
Represent CIFA in inter-agency and sectoral MEAL forums, working groups, and coordination meetings.
Remuneration
The employee’s Gross Salary will be € 743.81 [Seven Hundred Forty‑Three and Eighty‑One Cents Euro Only] based on the salary scale of the Organization (Grade 5 -Step 1) and will be paid at the end of each month to the employee’s bank account.
This gross salary included monthly transport allowance, 11% pension fund as per the law of the Country. Medical and life insurance are also provided as additional benefits under CIFA’s policy
Qualifications & Requirements
Education
- University degree (Master's preferred) in Statistics, Quantitative Analysis, Social Sciences, International Development, or a related field.
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of progressive professional experience in the MEAL sector, including at least 2 years at a coordination or management level in humanitarian/development contexts.
Technical Skills and Competencies
- Proven expertise in developing Log Frames/Theory of Change, advanced statistical analysis, and using data management software (e.g., advanced MS Excel, SPSS, R, or Python). Proven mastery of mobile data collection platforms (ActivityInfo, KoboToolbox, ODK).
- Familiarity with CIFA's primary donor requirements (e.g., AICS procedures, UN/EU reporting).
- Experience with qualitative research methodologies and ethical considerations in vulnerable contexts.
- Strong commitment to the humanitarian principles, Accountability, Transparency, and Learning.
Language
- Excellent knowledge and professional fluency in English (written and spoken) are mandatory.
Other Requirements
- Proficiency in visualization tools like PowerBI, Tableau, or similar.
How To Apply
Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit their applications through this Link: https://forms.gle/k9ahUFGFXbg7kHj47
Please attach your:
- CV in PDF
- Cover letter in PDF
- BA/MA/PHD Certificates in PDF
It is recommended to follow the guidelines provided. Given the possible high number of applications, there is no guarantee that we will be able to respond to all applicants.
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