Save the Children MEAL and Data Quality Assurance Specialist in 110 views

The role

We are currently looking for MEAL and Data Quality Assurance Specialist based in Vientiane Capital, Laos

Role Purpose

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Reporting and Data Quality Assurance (DQA) Specialist will support the five-year, $20 million United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Learn to Read Activity to report on indicators as required. The focus of Learn to Read is to improve the reading skills of children in pre-primary, grade 1, and grade 2, with a particular focus on children who do not speak Lao at home and children with mild disabilities.  The reading improvement interventions of Learn to Read are measured by a rigorous external evaluation of reading gains.

Purpose

The MEAL Reporting and DQA Specialist is responsible for ensuring high-quality reporting on a large-scale USAID-funded early grade reading project. The Consultant will strengthen the operationalization of the results framework, support measurement and reporting of indicators according to established definitions, and support planning and execution of quality collection and processing of data for reporting as per the monitoring and evaluation plan.

This position is responsible for data collection, entry, analysis, quality assurance, and interpretation to ensure that the Activity appropriately implements its Activity Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Plan (AMELP).   This position must ensure that programmatic data including data from distributions of books and supplemental teaching and learning materials, teacher training and teacher support, and classroom observation are gathered in quality from staff who are carrying out programming and are correctly checked, tabulated, and reported on. 

The MEAL Reporting and DQA Specialist must prepare the Activity team for Data Quality Assurance reviews and visits by USAID.  This position requires familiarity with the USAID approach to DQA as detailed on the USAID website.  Through leading the Activity team through the DQA process, this position is responsible for demonstrating that the data shows all five measures of quality including: 1) Validity/Accuracy, 2) Reliability, 3) Timeliness, 4) Precision, and 5) Integrity. 

If appropriate, the Consultant will also work with the Chief of Party (COP) to design and execute the Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) strategy.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

KEY AREA OF ACCOUNTABILITY

• • MEAL Reporting:  Coordinate with the Learn to Read MEAL, Technical, and Operations teams to ensure accurate, timely, and high-quality reporting and data management related to reporting on indicators.  Responsibilities include working with the team to organize and verify completion of all MEAL instruments.  Review of completed instruments to ensure that they are completed correctly according to protocols.  Ensure that indicator calculations are correct according to the performance indicator reference sheets.    

• • Data Quality Assessment Preparation:  Manage and ensure success of USAID DQAs and other donor reviews.  Coordinate and facilitate, with support from the project MEAL Officers, development of the project’s annual work plans, as well as the preparation of quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports—according to donor and SCI requirements.  Organize data and supporting documents for prompt and efficient review process.  Tick and tie all reported numbers at time of reporting to assure success during DQA.  Ensure that all indicators are calculated according to the Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRS) of the AMELP.  Responsible for verifying that reporting corresponds to USAID DQA requirements of 1) Validity/Accuracy, 2) Reliability, 3) Timeliness, 4) Precision, and 5) Integrity. 
• • Implementation and Revision of the AMELP:  Coordinate with COP, Activity team, SCI MEAL and SCUS to support the development, revision, and USAID approval of, and implementation of the MEAL Plan. Report on MEAL indicators quarterly and annual donor reports.

• • Cost Capture and Cost Reporting: MEAL support, quality assurance, and reporting on cost, expenditure, and dosage in coordination with the finance and technical teams and in accordance with USAID’s cost reporting guidance. These data will contribute to an external cost analysis.
• • Fidelity of Implementation: In coordination with COP, technical team, and SCUS, operationalize tools and system to track fidelity of implementation to support project performance and the external evaluation and support reporting on results.
• • Performance Management and Accountability: Ensure, in collaboration with the DCOP and COP, MEAL evidence regarding project performance including implementation fidelity and impact are used for management decision-making and continuous performance improvement. Responsible for reporting on progress toward achieving the project targets, translating strategic information into improved programming and delivery of services.  Responsible for providing accountability for use of resources, and supporting internal and external capacity for using M&E for education targets.
• • Quality Donor Reports and Project Documents:  Work with the MEAL team to ensure that all USAID and cost share donor reports are prepared on time and at high quality from a MEAL perspective with high quality data and reporting on indicators.  Ensure that MEAL documents, data, and other information required for program strategic planning and reporting are prepared and submitted on time and in compliance with the requirements of USAID.
• • Staff Development in MEAL and DQA:  Use capacity building approaches including feedback and coaching to develop the capacity of the national MEAL team so that they develop the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively carry out their responsibilities and succeed in their work.  Capacity build the MEAL team for continuous improvement.

Expected Outputs

• • High Quality in MEAL Donor Reporting:  High quality MEAL reporting to USAID that is accurate, timely, and high-quality.  Excellent data management to support reporting on indicators.  Review of completed instruments to ensure that they are completed correctly according to protocols.  Ensure that indicator calculations are correct according to the performance indicator reference sheets.    

• • Data Quality Assessment Preparation:  Ensure success of USAID Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) and other donor reviews for MEAL Systems.  Coordinate and facilitate, with support from the project MEAL Officers, development of the project’s annual work plans, as well as the preparation of quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports—according to donor and SCI requirements.  Organize data and supporting documents for prompt and efficient review process.  Tick and tie all reported numbers at time of reporting to assure success during DQA.  Ensure that reporting corresponds to USAID DQA requirements of 1) Validity, 2) Reliability, 3) Timeliness, 4) Precision, and 5) Integrity. 

• • Cost Capture and Cost Reporting: Ensure effective, timely and compliant implementation of USAID cost reporting guidelines in coordination with project finance, technical, and senior management professionals.
• • Support to Baseline Assessment and Evaluation: As required, support the external evaluation including the baseline assessment through verification of school level data and other required inputs to the evaluation.  Support with the administration and data gathering of the assessment as needed.
• • Online Data Capture and digitization of MEAL:  The MEAL Reporting and DQA Specialist will support the Activity’s efforts to make greater use of technology in monitoring and evaluation activities including greater use of tablets on an ongoing basis for classroom monitoring.  Transition classroom observation forms for Pre-primary, Grade 1, and supplemental reading activities into the Kobo Toolbox (Kobo) online data collection tool.  Development of Kobo forms for Pre-primary, Grade 1, and supplemental reading activities.  Help the Activity to benefit from the fact that staff conducting school visits can share data immediately with the Vientiane office and Provincial offices enabling quicker analysis of trends across schools and districts.  Engage with the Vientiane-based senior technical and MEAL team to develop data screens that serve as an early warning system identifying schools that are at risk of problems for potential corrective actions.
• • Process Data for MEAL, AMELP, and Donor Reporting:  Processing of data for accurate donor reporting including both paper-based and electronically captured data (i.e. KoBo data) in line with the AMELP and DQA requirements. 

Ensure they and their team fully understand the provisions of the Child Safeguarding Policy, the Code of Conduct and Local/Country Procedures.

Conduct themselves and ensure their team conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of the Child Safeguarding Policy, in their personal and professional lives – which includes reporting suspicions of child abuse.

That child safeguarding is integrated and given a “voice” in all management processes including recruitment, induction, performance management, team meetings, annual planning processes, field level monitoring, etc.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in qualitative field of study such as mathematics, statistics, physics, or IT.  Master’s Degree preferred.

Experience and Skills

Essential

• Five years work experience in qualitative field where data quality and computational accuracy matter.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical concepts cross culturally.

Desirable

• Prior experience with digital data capture.  Familiarity, facility, and demonstrated success with the KoBoToolbox preferred.
• Experience with USAID MEAL including development of AMELP and DQA.
• MEAL and evaluation experience with international early grade reading projects.

Contract length: fixed term

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. 

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Interested candidates please submit a full application using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document including contact details of three professional referees (current and last line managers and HR department). Please also include details of your salary expectations and a copy of your ID card. Please note that we will require a copy of your Criminal Records (ໃບ້ແຈ້ງໂທດ) later.

Closing date for applications is: 13 Oct, 2020. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Apply online via link below on this page only ‘Apply Online’

How to submit your application?

1. Follow the link above
2. Click on Apply Online
3. If you have not registered with SCI’s online application system before (stcuk.taleo.net), please click on New User to create an account first
   • Set your new User Name (no space), Password (ensure it meets required criteria) and Email Address. Please ensure you do not forget this information, as you will need to use them when progressing to next stage
4. If you have applied and registered with SCI’s online application system before (stcuk.taleo.net), please input your User Name and Password to log in as Returning User.
5. Once registered/logged in, you are now ready to apply to any job on SCI’s online application system (stcuk.taleo.net). Good luck!

Frequently asked questions:

1. How do I fill in the ‘Title’ field?
   • Please click on clickable ‘search’ button right next to the field, to select the option provided (Mr, Ms, Mrs)
2. What do I put in ‘Secondary nationality’ field, if I only have one nationality?

• Secondary nationality is not a mandatory field, leave it blank if it does not apply to you

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   • Where applicable fill in all fields. But if not applicable, only fill in the mandate fields (fields with red * mark)

Save the Children International is a child-rights based organization. Safe recruitment is central to the safeguarding of children and young people that we come into contact with, and support through our programmes.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Save the children is an equal opportunities employer, qualified females, persons with disability and candidates from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.

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