MEAL Officer

The Sustainable Goals Organization for Afghanistan (SGOA) is a non-profit NGO established in 2020 and registered with the Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Public Health. It operates in various sectors, including WASH, health, education, food security, and livelihood support, providing emergency response and relief to returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in remote and underserved areas. Partnering with organizations such as UNDP, UN Women, and NRC, SGOA aims to enhance livelihoods, promote socio-economic inclusion, and deliver humanitarian assistance. Committed to upholding human rights and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SGOA focuses on economic empowerment, improving quality of life, and integrating individuals with disabilities, while valuing honesty, integrity, teamwork, and respect for diversity.

Job Summary

The MEAL Officer is responsible for designing, implementing, and strengthening Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems to ensure high-quality program delivery and evidence-based decision-making. The role focuses on tracking performance against indicators, ensuring accountability to affected populations, promoting learning, and supporting compliance with organizational and donor requirements. The MEAL Officer works closely with program and support teams to improve program quality, transparency, and impact.

Key Responsibilities

1. Monitoring & Evaluation Systems

• Develop and implement MEAL plans aligned with project log-frames, donor requirements, and organizational strategies.
• Define and track output, outcome, and impact indicators for all program activities.
• Support baseline, midline, and endline assessments in coordination with program teams.
• Ensure systematic monitoring of project activities against approved work plans and targets.

2. Data Collection, Management, and Analysis

• Design and maintain standardized data collection tools (digital and/or paper-based).
• Ensure data accuracy through regular validation, cleaning, and quality checks.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to assess effectiveness, efficiency, and outcomes.
• Produce dashboards, summaries, and visualizations to support management decision-making.

3. Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)

• Establish and manage beneficiary feedback and complaint response mechanisms (CRM).
• Ensure feedback is collected, documented, analyzed, and responded to in a timely manner.
• Promote participatory approaches and community engagement in monitoring activities.
• Ensure safeguarding, confidentiality, and ethical standards are upheld in all MEAL activities.

4. Reporting and Documentation

• Prepare high-quality weekly, monthly, and quarterly MEAL reports.
• Contribute to donor reports, audits, and evaluations by providing accurate and timely data.
• Maintain organized digital and physical records of MEAL tools, datasets, reports, and evidence.
• Document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories.

5. Learning and Adaptive Programming

• Facilitate reflection and learning sessions with program teams.
• Support the use of MEAL findings to improve program design and implementation.
• Share lessons learned internally to promote continuous improvement and organizational learning.

6. Coordination and Technical Support

• Work closely with program, finance, logistics, and field teams to ensure integrated MEAL processes.
• Act as focal point for coordination with external evaluators, consultants, and donor monitoring missions.
• Provide technical support to staff on indicators, reporting standards, and data use.

7. Capacity Building

• Train and mentor staff and enumerators on MEAL tools, data collection methods, and accountability principles.
• Conduct refresher trainings on data quality, ethical data collection, and learning practices.
• Strengthen staff capacity to use data for planning and decision-making.

Core Competencies

• Accountability: Strong commitment to transparency, ethical data collection, and accountability to beneficiaries.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Planning & Organization: Effective management of MEAL activities, timelines, and multiple priorities.
• Communication: Clear and concise reporting; ability to present findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Teamwork: Strong collaboration with program teams and stakeholders.

Technical Expertise: Solid knowledge of MEAL frameworks, results-based management, AAP principles, and MEAL tools.

Job Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Policy, or a related field.

• Relevant certifications or training in MEAL, Results-Based Management (RBM), data analysis, or accountability mechanisms are a strong advantage.

Experience

• Minimum of 2–4 years of relevant experience in MEAL, M&E, or program quality roles within humanitarian or development programs.

• Proven experience in designing and implementing MEAL systems, including indicators, data collection tools, and reporting frameworks.

• Experience supporting baseline, midline, endline assessments, evaluations, or donor monitoring visits.

• Previous experience with NGOs, INGOs, or UN-/donor-funded projects is highly preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of MEAL frameworks, Results-Based Management (RBM), and logical frameworks.

• Experience with quantitative and qualitative data collection, validation, analysis, and visualization.

• Familiarity with Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), feedback and complaint response mechanisms, and safeguarding principles.

• Proficiency in data collection and analysis tools such as KoboToolbox, ODK, Excel, Power BI, or similar platforms.

• Ability to produce high-quality analytical reports, dashboards, and evidence-based recommendations.

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present data clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team.

• Strong attention to detail, integrity, and commitment to data quality and accuracy.

Language Skills

• Fluency in Dari and Pashto is required.

• Good working knowledge of English (written and spoken) is preferred for reporting and donor communication.

Other Requirements

• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to field locations, including remote or hard-to-reach areas.

• Strong commitment to ethical data collection, confidentiality, safeguarding, gender equality, and accountability principles.

• Respect for organizational values and adherence to humanitarian and development standards and donor compliance requirements.

Candidates who meet the above-mentioned criteria are invited to apply through the submission link provided below. Applicants are required to upload their updated CV and cover letter and ensure that all requested documents are clear and complete. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Qualified local candidates are strongly encouraged to apply and will be given priority consideration.