Job Description
Job Description
Department: Ethiopia Education Team
Position Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Accountability (MEAL) Officer
Reports To: MEAL Manager
Duty Station: Addis Ababa, with field travel as required
Date: 29/09/2026
Position Summary
The Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Accountability (MEAL) Officer is responsible for coordinating the implementation and continuous strengthening of MEAL systems for Geneva Global Ethiopia’s (GG-Eth) education programs. Reporting to the MEAL Manager and working closely with program, technical, partner, and government teams, the role ensures timely and high-quality monitoring, reliable data management and analysis, evidence-based reporting, learning, and accountability. The MEAL Officer translates program data into actionable information, provides technical guidance to partners and field teams, and supports continuous program improvement and informed decision-making.
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Key Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the MEAL Manager and in close collaboration with program and technical teams, the MEAL Officer is responsible for the following areas:
Coordinate the development, adaptation, testing, rollout, and use of performance benchmarks, indicator tracking tools, MEAL checklists, and data collection instruments for education programs.
Track, analyze, and document program performance and learning across regions, partners, schools, and other institutions, and synthesize evidence for program management, reporting, and decision-making.
Plan and conduct field monitoring, data quality reviews, supervision visits, and follow-up actions, providing practical MEAL guidance to GG-Eth staff and partner organizations and tracking agreed corrective actions.
Major Activities and Tasks
Design and Planning
The MEAL Officer contributes substantively to MEAL system design and leads the routine planning and operationalization of MEAL activities in coordination with the MEAL Manager. Key tasks include:
Develop, adapt, test, and update MEAL tools, checklists, digital data collection forms, indicator definitions, and guidance materials in line with program and donor requirements.
Prepare, maintain, and track MEAL plans, indicator tracking matrices, reporting calendars, data collection schedules, and related implementation plans.
Assess MEAL capacity-building needs of GG-Eth staff, partners, and relevant government counterparts, and design or facilitate trainings, orientations, coaching, and ongoing technical support.
Coordinate the effective use and maintenance of MEAL-related software, digital platforms, databases, hardware, and data management systems, and work with relevant technical teams to address gaps and improve functionality.
Design and coordinate monitoring exercises, rapid reviews, case studies, learning assessments, and other evidence-generation activities for specific interventions or target groups.
Implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation Activities
The MEAL Officer coordinates the routine implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities and provides technical guidance to staff, partners, and data collectors. Key tasks include:
Coordinate the rollout and use of MEAL tools, guidelines, reporting templates, and data collection protocols, ensuring that data collectors and partners understand indicator definitions, timelines, quality standards, and submission requirements.
Organize and deliver trainings, orientations, and refresher sessions on MEAL tools, indicators, data collection procedures, digital systems, and data quality requirements.
Plan and conduct field monitoring and supervision visits, verify reported results, identify implementation and data quality gaps, provide on-site technical support, and document follow-up actions.
Coordinate regular follow-up with partners and data collectors to ensure complete and timely data submission, resolve reporting gaps, and escalate persistent issues when necessary.
Review submitted data for completeness, consistency, accuracy, plausibility, and alignment with indicator definitions and program targets, and work with responsible teams to resolve identified discrepancies.
Manage the regular updating and maintenance of program databases, indicator trackers, and digital data platforms, ensuring organized records, version control, and reliable data for reporting and analysis.
Conduct and document routine data quality assessments and verification checks, develop corrective actions with relevant teams, and follow up on implementation of agreed improvements.
Data Analysis and Reporting
The MEAL Officer leads routine data preparation and analysis and contributes directly to high-quality internal and external reporting. Key tasks include:
Develop and maintain analysis tools, indicator trackers, summary tables, and dashboards using appropriate software such as Excel and other approved data analysis or visualization platforms.
Clean, validate, code, organize, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data, including disaggregation by relevant characteristics such as sex, disability, location, and other program-defined categories.
Prepare and contribute to routine monitoring summaries, donor and management reports, field visit reports, performance updates, presentations, and partner feedback, highlighting achievements, gaps, trends, data quality concerns, and recommended follow-up actions.
Evaluations and Special Studies
The MEAL Officer contributes technically to evaluations, assessments, research, and special studies and may coordinate defined components under the guidance of the MEAL Manager. Key tasks include:
Identify emerging performance issues, evidence gaps, and learning questions that require deeper analysis, assessment, or investigation, and propose appropriate approaches for follow-up.
Contribute to the design and technical preparation of evaluations and special studies, including development or review of tools, sampling and field plans, schedules, data management arrangements, and coordination with relevant stakeholders.
Coordinate or participate in data collection, quality assurance, analysis, validation, and documentation for evaluations, assessments, and studies, as assigned.
Knowledge Management, Learning, and Accountability
The MEAL Officer strengthens organizational learning and accountability by:
Documenting and synthesizing lessons learned, good practices, implementation challenges, adaptations, and success stories, and ensuring relevant evidence is available for program improvement and reporting.
Preparing and disseminating learning and evidence products such as briefs, presentations, newsletters, case studies, infographics, and other knowledge products for internal and external audiences.
Facilitating or supporting learning events, reflection sessions, after-action reviews, and internal knowledge-sharing processes, and tracking agreed learning actions where relevant.
Coordinating the tracking and analysis of community feedback, complaints, and response actions with program teams, and supporting timely closure, documentation, and use of feedback to improve programming.
Other Duties
Provide MEAL technical support and guidance to GG-Eth program teams and partners as required, including troubleshooting tools, reporting processes, and data management issues.
Coordinate with ICT and IT consultants or service providers to maintain and improve MEAL-related systems and tools, including digital data collection, databases, dashboards, SMS, or other feedback mechanisms.
Represent the MEAL function in relevant internal and external meetings, workshops, review sessions, and conferences as assigned, and communicate key actions and follow-up requirements to relevant teams.
Perform other related duties consistent with the MEAL Officer role as assigned by Geneva Global Ethiopia or Geneva Global Inc.
Job Requirements
Minimum Qualifications and Experience
This is a mid-level position. Candidates are expected to meet the following minimum requirements:
Education
Master’s degree (MA/MSc) in Statistics, Development Studies, Economics, Sociology, Educational Planning and Management, Educational Research and Evaluation, Public Health, Monitoring and Evaluation, or a closely related field from a recognized university, with a minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience; OR
Bachelor’s degree (BA/BSc) in any of the above fields with a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience.
Short-term training or certification in monitoring and evaluation, research methods, data analysis, or statistical software is an added advantage.
Work Experience
Three (3) to five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in monitoring and evaluation, data management, and reporting, of which at least two (2) years in education programs with an NGO, INGO, UN agency, or donor-funded project in Ethiopia.
Demonstrated experience developing and rolling out MEAL tools, indicator tracking tables, and data collection instruments, and conducting field monitoring and data quality assessments.
Hands-on experience with digital data collection platforms (e.g., KoboToolbox, ODK, or CommCare) and with data analysis software such as advanced Excel, SPSS, or Stata; experience with dashboards or visualization tools (e.g., Power BI) is an advantage.
Experience analyzing quantitative and qualitative data and preparing donor and management reports, learning briefs, and presentations in English.
Experience working with local implementing partners and government counterparts, such as the Ministry of Education, Regional Education Bureaus, and Woreda Education Offices; familiarity with the Ethiopian education system, EMIS, and learning assessments (e.g., EGRA/EGMA) is highly desirable.
Experience supporting evaluations, baseline/endline surveys, or special studies, and working with community feedback and complaint mechanisms.
Fluency in Amharic and English (spoken and written) is required; working knowledge of Afaan Oromo or another regional language is an added advantage.
Willingness and ability to travel frequently to program field sites.
How To Apply
Interested applicants can submit their application letter and updated CV to ethiojobs
