Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Job Posting Organization:
Action Against Hunger is a leading global organization dedicated to ending hunger. Established to innovate solutions and advocate for change, the organization reaches approximately 24 million people each year through proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. With a presence in 50 countries and a workforce of around 8,300 dedicated staff members, Action Against Hunger partners with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. Action Against Hunger USA operates independently within the international network and manages operations in eight countries, including Zambia, where it has been active since 2021, focusing on both humanitarian and development contexts to build resilience and protect lives and livelihoods.

Job Overview:
The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer plays a crucial role in supporting the implementation of high-quality Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems, tools, and practices that facilitate evidence-based decision-making, adaptive management, and accountability to stakeholders. This position is particularly focused on the ECHO project in the Mantapala Refugee Settlement, where the officer will lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of M&E systems. The role requires ensuring real-time data collection, rigorous analysis, timely reporting, and strong community accountability. The officer will collaborate closely with program teams to enable adaptive management and evidence-based decision-making in a complex and resource-constrained humanitarian setting, with travel of up to 60% required within the settlement and host communities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• MEAL System Design & Implementation: Develop and operationalize the project MEAL Plan, Indicator Tracking Table (ITT), and ECHO-aligned reporting frameworks. Design context-appropriate data collection tools for health, nutrition, WASH, and cash interventions. Ensure integration of gender, protection, accountability, and inclusion indicators. Support digital data systems using tools like Kobo Toolbox, ODK, or CommCare.
• Data Collection, Monitoring & Quality Assurance: Coordinate baseline, post-distribution monitoring (PDM), rapid assessments, and endline evaluations. Support routine monitoring of CMAM, health services, WASH indicators, and cash assistance. Conduct Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) and ensure adherence to data quality standards. Supervise enumerators and field teams during data collection exercises.
• Data Management, Analysis & Visualization: Maintain project databases and ensure timely data entry, cleaning, and validation. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to generate insights for program improvement. Develop dashboards and visualizations using tools like Excel or Power BI. Track progress against ECHO indicators and targets.
• Reporting & Learning: Contribute to donor reports (ECHO), SitReps, and internal updates. Produce learning briefs, case studies, and success stories. Facilitate After-Action Reviews (AARs) and reflection sessions. Ensure lessons learned inform adaptive programming and decision-making.
• Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP): Strengthen community feedback and complaints response mechanisms (CRM). Ensure complaints are documented, tracked, and resolved in a timely manner. Promote safe, inclusive, and accessible feedback channels. Support community engagement and information-sharing activities.
• Capacity Building: Train field staff, community volunteers, and partners on MEAL tools and systems, data collection methodologies, and ethical data management and safeguarding. Build team capacity in data use for decision-making.
• Emergency Preparedness & Crisis Modifier Support: Support early warning monitoring and trigger indicators. Contribute to rapid assessments within 3–14 days of shocks. Ensure MEAL systems are adaptable for emergency scale-up.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Public Health, Statistics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field. A postgraduate qualification in M&E or Project Management is considered a strong advantage. Candidates should possess a minimum of 4–5 years of MEAL experience in humanitarian or development settings, with proven experience in emergency programming, particularly with ECHO-funded projects. Hands-on experience in health, nutrition (CMAM), WASH, or cash-based interventions is essential, and experience in refugee or displacement contexts is highly desirable. Strong experience with digital data collection and analysis tools is also required.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Monitoring & Evaluation, Public Health, Statistics, Development Studies, or Social Sciences. A postgraduate qualification in Monitoring & Evaluation or Project Management is a strong advantage and may enhance the candidate's profile for this role.

Experience:
The role requires a minimum of 4–5 years of relevant experience in Monitoring and Evaluation within humanitarian or development settings. Candidates should have proven experience in emergency programming, particularly with ECHO-funded projects, and hands-on experience in health, nutrition (CMAM), WASH, or cash-based interventions. Experience in refugee or displacement contexts is highly desirable, along with strong familiarity with digital data collection and analysis tools.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both written and spoken, is mandatory for this position. A working knowledge of other local languages is considered an asset and may enhance communication with local communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
Action Against Hunger – USA offers an attractive salary and benefits package to all staff. The organization is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or veteran status. Action Against Hunger – USA complies with applicable laws governing non-discrimination in employment.