MEAL Specialist

About this role

Position MEAL Specialist Organisation Plus Development Consultancy (PDC) Duty station Dessie, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, with frequent travel to project and assessment sites Duration Two (2) months, with possibility of extension subject to performance, funding and project needs Reports to PDC Project Manager / Managing Director Supervises Enumerators, data clerks and field supervisors deployed on the assignment Start date Upon contract signing [date to be confirmed] 1. Purpose of the Role The MEAL Specialist will lead the design and day-to-day implementation of monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) systems for PDC's assignment. The role ensures that data is collected ethically, accurately and on time, that findings are analysed and used for decisions, and that affected communities have safe ways to give feedback. The post-holder will plan and supervise field data collection, including digital data collection, and will manage the enumerator team. 2. Key Responsibilities MEAL planning and design Develop or refine the MEAL plan, results framework, indicator reference sheets and data collection tools aligned with donor and client requirements. Design the assessment, baseline, monitoring or evaluation methodology, sampling approach and analysis plan. Data collection and field management Programme tools in KoboToolbox, ODK or similar platforms, test them, and manage devices, servers and data syncing. Recruit, train and supervise enumerators, including pre-testing of tools and field practice. Plan fieldwork schedules and travel to sites in and around Dessie (including North Shewa and North Wollo), and manage field logistics with the project team. Conduct spot checks, back-checks and daily data quality reviews; resolve errors and inconsistencies promptly. Data analysis and reporting Clean, analyse and visualise quantitative and qualitative data (Excel, SPSS, Stata, R or equivalent). Prepare clear, evidence-based reports, dashboards and presentations, and contribute to final deliverables. Accountability, ethics and learning Set up and promote a safe and accessible community feedback and complaints mechanism, and track responses to feedback. Ensure informed consent, confidentiality, Do No Harm, safeguarding and PSEA principles in all data work, including secure data storage and handling. Facilitate learning sessions and document lessons learned and good practices. Team and coordination Coordinate with the project team, local authorities and community leaders. Submit weekly progress updates and a final MEAL handover note to PDC. 3. Deliverables Deliverable Timing MEAL work plan, sampling plan and data collection tools (digital and paper) Week 1 Enumerator training and pilot test report Week 2 Weekly data quality and progress updates Weekly Clean datasets, analysis outputs and draft findings Weeks 6–7 Final MEAL report, presentation and handover of datasets and tools End of contract