MEAL Officer - Strengthening the Capacity of CSOs Project

Experience Needed :   A minimum of 4 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation of development projects

Education Level:         Bachelor’s degree in economics, statistics, social sciences, development studies or a related field.

Contract LENGTH :      3 years 

Location :                   Cairo - Maadi 

About Life Makers Foundation

Life Makers Foundation (LMF) is an Egyptian youth-led, voluntary, and non-governmental umbrella organization. It was established in 2011 to foster youth engagement in addressing emerging challenges at the local and global levels. Since its establishment, LMF has worked closely with community-based organizations to build youth capacities and support their efforts to develop their societies and respond to humanitarian needs and disasters. LMF operates in 24 governorates through a nonformal network of partner youth-led organizations and registered offices across Egypt, with a broad portfolio of projects and local initiatives in the sectors of Health, Education, Livelihoods, Humanitarian Assistance, Environment, and Youth Participation.

LMF adopts the core principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence in its operations to ensure the provision of assistance with no discrimination towards differences in ethnicity, religion, race, or any other consideration. LMF provides development and humanitarian interventions for the most vulnerable while preserving their dignity and ensuring their participation.

Life Makers is a voluntary, non-governmental, non-religious, non-political, and non-partisan movement that was launched in 2003 to mobilize the best of the human spirit to alleviate human suffering and protect human life and human rights.

About the Project 

This project aims to strengthen the role of local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Beni Suef, Fayoum, Luxor, Aswan, Sohag, Qena, and North and South Sinai, enabling them to engage in sustainable development actively. The project provides sub-grants and tailored capacity-building support to at least 30 local CSOs. Through training, coaching, and institutional development, CSOs will be empowered to improve their services and community impact. The project also promotes structured coordination between CSOs and local authorities. Key thematic areas include economic empowerment, civic participation, women and youth empowerment, inclusion of persons with disabilities, digitalization, and sustainable development.

Job Purpose  

 The MEAL Officer will design and implement a strong Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) system to track the project’s performance and results. This includes developing appropriate indicators, data collection tools, and processes to gather information on project activities (sub-grants, training, meetings) and their outcomes. The Officer will ensure systematic and consistent data collection, coordinate baseline and endline evaluations, and produce analyses and reports that inform project management and satisfy donor reporting requirements. This role works closely with all project staff and external evaluators to foster a culture of learning and accountability, ensuring the project not only meets its targets but also remains responsive to stakeholders and adapts based on lessons learned

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop a comprehensive MEAL plan: In the inception phase, develop a detailed MEAL plan covering monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning components. Define clear indicators for all project outputs and outcomes, along with targets and verification methods, aligned with the project’s logical framework and EU reporting requirements. Ensure that both accountability (e.g., feedback collection) and learning activities are integrated into this plan from the start.
• Coordinate baseline assessment: Lead the implementation of a baseline study to establish benchmark data on CSO capacities and local needs at the start of the project. Work with external experts or research firms (as needed) to design the baseline methodology, which will include a mix of qualitative and quantitative data collection (interviews, focus groups, surveys). Ensure the baseline covers all target governorates and produces a comprehensive report of findings that will inform project strategies.
• Develop and refine data collection tools: Create and continually improve user-friendly data collection tools and templates for ongoing monitoring. This may involve designing survey questionnaires, observation checklists, reporting formats for sub-grantees, and databases or spreadsheets for data entry. The tools should capture both quantitative and qualitative information and be easy for field staff and partner CSOs to use.
• Train project staff and partners on MEAL: Build the capacity of project team members (especially Field Coordinators and any volunteers involved in data gathering) and partner CSOs in using the MEAL system. Provide training on how to use data collection forms, maintain data quality, and understand indicator definitions. Ensure everyone involved understands how to collect and report data accurately.
• Monitor activities and outputs: Regularly track project activities against the work plan and performance indicators. For capacity-building activities, monitor outputs such as the number of training sessions held, the number of participants trained, and the number of coaching sessions provided. For each sub-grant project, track key milestones and outputs delivered by the CSO (through field visits and review of sub-grantee reports) to verify progress on the ground.
• Establish data collection from sub-grantees: Set up a system for collecting and compiling periodic reports from CSO sub-grantees. Ensure sub-grantees provide required data on beneficiaries reached, services delivered, and outcomes achieved. Verify the data through sample visits or calls to validate accuracy, then integrate it into the project’s overall MEAL database for consolidated analysis.
• Implement accountability mechanisms: Establish and manage feedback and complaint mechanisms to ensure the project is accountable to its beneficiaries and stakeholders. Set up clear channels (such as feedback forms, community meetings, hotlines, or suggestion boxes) for participants to voice their opinions or grievances. Make sure all feedback and complaints are recorded and responded to in a timely manner, and use this information to improve project activities.
• Analyze data and report findings: Analyze collected data and generate M&E reports that highlight progress, trends, and any areas of concern. Provide the Project Manager and team with concise summaries (e.g., monthly or quarterly dashboards) that show achievements versus targets. Use the data to identify success stories and lessons learned, and recommend any adjustments to the project implementation strategy. These analyses will inform decision-making and help keep the project on track.
• Promote learning and adaptation: Foster a continuous learning environment within the project. Organize regular learning and reflection sessions or workshops with the project team and partners to discuss the M&E findings, successes, and challenges. Document lessons learned and best practices in these sessions and ensure they are shared with the broader organization. Use the insights gained to adapt project strategies and improve future programming.
• Coordinate mid-term and final evaluations: Oversee the planning of mid-term (interim) and final external evaluations of the project. Prepare clear Terms of Reference (TOR) for external evaluator(s) and facilitate their access to project data and stakeholders. Work closely with the external evaluator during the evaluations, ensuring they have all the necessary information and that their methodologies are sound. Review the evaluation reports and lead discussions with the team and stakeholders to interpret findings and apply recommendations.
• Integrate cross-cutting concerns: Ensure that all MEAL processes systematically integrate the project’s cross-cutting priorities (e.g., gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability). Collect and analyze disaggregated data to assess how project activities impact women, youth, and persons with disabilities. Monitor how sub-grants contribute to these cross-cutting goals and targets. Also, include measures to capture feedback from these groups to verify that the project is inclusive and addresses their needs.
• Maintain M&E data and documentation: Maintain an organized archive of all MEAL documents and data sets. This includes storing raw data (survey responses, attendance sheets), cleaned datasets in databases or spreadsheets, analysis files, and all M&E reports. Ensure regular backups are kept and that data confidentiality is respected where appropriate. An orderly data management system will support transparency and make reporting and audits easier.
• Contribute to donor reporting and presentations: Provide the M&E sections for quarterly and annual reports to the donor, ensuring that data and proper methodology back all reported figures. Clearly document how each indicator’s data was collected and verified. If required, present MEAL findings in meetings with the donor, project partners, or local authorities to demonstrate the project’s results and impact, using evidence and data visualizations to tell the story of the project.

Core Competencies and Skills

Achievement focused:

• Follow Results-based management (RBM) in achieving planned goals and objectives.

Working Smart:

• Achieve more in less time.
• Balances between work life and personal life to ensure the sustainability of high-quality performance.
• Able to contribute and create a participatory, enjoyable, fulfilling, and rewarding work environment.

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable to making decisions and managing resources efficiently.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for himself/herself (and the team), takes responsibility for self-development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their vision, engages, and motivates others to contribute to the bigger vision of LMF.
• Future orientated and thinks strategically.
• Thinks globally and acts locally.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships with project team, colleagues and external partners.
• Values diversity as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener and easy to communicate with.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest and encourages openness and transparency

Qualifications and Experience:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, statistics, social sciences, development studies, or a related field. Specialized training in monitoring & evaluation, results-based management, or data analysis is highly desirable.
• Experience: A minimum of 4 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation of development projects, with some of that experience ideally including accountability and learning components. Experience in both designing M&E frameworks and implementing field-level data collection activities is required. 
• Experience coordinating or conducting baseline studies and endline evaluations is especially valuable, and familiarity with working alongside external evaluators or research consultants is a plus.
• Research and analysis skills: Strong skills in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Proficiency in survey design and statistical data analysis (using software such as Excel, SPSS, or other tools) is required.
•  Familiarity with participatory evaluation methods and qualitative data collection techniques (e.g., conducting interviews and focus group discussions) is also essential. Able to interpret complex datasets, identify trends or anomalies, and derive meaningful insights about project performance.
• M&E tool development: Demonstrated ability to develop data collection tools and M&E guidelines. 
• Experience creating logical frameworks or indicator tracking tables for donor-funded projects is an asset. Should be capable of setting up databases or spreadsheets for managing project data and ensuring data quality control.
• Accountability and learning: Experience implementing accountability initiatives (such as community feedback or complaints mechanisms) and facilitating learning processes is highly desirable. For example, having set up beneficiary feedback channels or organized learning workshops to reflect on project results would be a strong advantage. 
• A commitment to transparency and responsiveness to beneficiary input is crucial for this role.
• Communication skills: Excellent analytical and communication skills, both written and oral. Capable of preparing clear, concise reports and creating visual representations of data (charts, graphs) to communicate findings. 
• Should be comfortable presenting findings to various audiences, including project staff, community stakeholders, and donor representatives, and explaining technical concepts in an accessible manner.
• Training and facilitation: Strong training and facilitation skills to build the capacity of colleagues and partner organizations in MEAL practices.
•  Patience and clarity in explaining M&E concepts to those less familiar, and an ability to mentor others in data collection and analysis techniques.
• Attention to detail: Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to data quality. 
• Must ensure the accuracy and reliability of all reported data through careful validation and cross-checking processes. This includes spot-checking data entries, cleaning data for errors or duplicates, and maintaining consistent definitions for indicators.
• Knowledge of donor requirements: Familiarity with EU-funded project M&E and reporting requirements is an advantage. This could include understanding EU logical framework indicators, specific monitoring and documentation expectations, and compliance standards for results reporting.
• Language proficiency: Proficiency in English is required for reporting and technical documentation.