Job Advertisement

Position Title: MEAL Director
Location: Abidjan
Country: Cote d'Ivoire
Deadline Date: November 4, 2024

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies. Established in 1945, CARE has a presence in over 100 countries and works with more than 900 partner organizations. The organization focuses on empowering women and girls, improving health and nutrition, and responding to Climate Change, among other initiatives. With a workforce of thousands of employees worldwide, CARE is committed to creating lasting change in the communities it serves.

Job Overview:
The MEAL Director will be responsible for the strategic guidance and management of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) activities for the USAID-funded Strengthening Primary and Community Health Care (SPCH) program in Cote d’Ivoire. This role is crucial in ensuring that the program meets its objectives of improving health care access for pregnant women and children under five, as well as enhancing family planning and reproductive health services. The MEAL Director will oversee the MEAL team, ensuring that all activities are integrated and that partnerships with USAID, government entities, and project sub-partners are effectively managed. The position requires designing a comprehensive MEAL plan, obtaining donor approval, and ensuring accurate reporting of program results. The MEAL Director will also lead Data Collection and Analysis, ensuring compliance with USAID standards, and will be responsible for documenting lessons learned and best practices to facilitate continuous improvement.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The MEAL Director will develop a comprehensive MEAL plan that includes robust quantitative and qualitative tools, context-appropriate systems for data collection, quality assurance, analysis, and reporting. They will oversee a team responsible for data collection, entry, verification, analysis, and reporting, ensuring high-quality data is reported. The Director will ensure alignment of MEAL activities with program goals and local health system objectives, develop annual work plans, monitor project activities, conduct field visits for data validation, and ensure timely reporting of data. They will capture lessons learned, strengthen local health authorities' MEAL systems, generate monthly reports, and provide technical leadership and Capacity Building to project staff. The MEAL Director will also recruit and train MEAL staff, coordinate project evaluations, and Design knowledge exchange events to promote learning and collaboration among stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in statistics, Data Management, public health, international development, or a related field. They should have at least 8-10 years of senior experience in international development, preferably as a MEAL director or program director on health projects of similar scope and scale. Proven experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods, implementation, and Data Analysis is essential. Candidates should also have strong knowledge of USAID M&E guidelines and systems, as well as experience in building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders and local partners.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in a relevant field such as statistics, data management, public health, or international development is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of monitoring and evaluation in Health Programs and for effectively managing data-driven decision-making processes.

Experience:
The position requires at least 8-10 years of relevant senior experience in international development, specifically in roles such as MEAL director or program director. Candidates should have experience working on health projects that are multi-year and multi-million dollar in scope. Additionally, at least 5 years of experience working in the West and Central Africa region, particularly in Cote d’Ivoire, is preferred. Experience in recruiting, developing, and managing staff and teams is also essential.

Languages:
Fluency in both French and English is required, with strong oral and written communication skills. Candidates should be able to effectively communicate technical information to non-technical audiences. Proficiency in additional local languages may be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as Key Personnel and is subject to USAID approval. It is contingent on project award and funding. National candidates are encouraged to apply. The role is based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and may require travel within the country as security conditions allow. The application deadline is November 4, 2024.