Senior MEAL and Innovation Officer

Lindii Peace Foundation (LPF) – Senior MEAL and Innovation Officer

About the Role

• We are seeking a qualified, analytical and innovative Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) and Innovation Officer to strengthen evidence-based programming, programme quality, accountability to affected populations and continuous learning across its humanitarian and development interventions.
• The MEAL and Innovation Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems, tracking programme performance against approved indicators and targets, conducting field monitoring and assessments, supporting data collection and analysis, facilitating learning processes and identifying innovative approaches to improve programme effectiveness.
• The post holder will work closely with programme managers, project officers, field teams, community representatives and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that programme implementation is informed by reliable data, community feedback and documented lessons learned.
• The successful candidate will support the design and implementation of MEAL plans, results frameworks, data collection tools, accountability mechanisms and learning initiatives.
• The role will also promote the use of digital solutions, participatory approaches and practical innovations to improve data quality, programme efficiency and service delivery.
• This position requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, excellent communication, sound understanding of humanitarian accountability principles and the ability to translate monitoring findings into practical recommendations. The post holder must demonstrate a commitment to ethical data management, inclusion, safeguarding, accountability and continuous programme improvement in a humanitarian setting.

Key Responsibilities

MEAL System Development and Implementation:

• Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of organizational and project-specific MEAL frameworks, plans and procedures.
• Develop and maintain results frameworks, logical frameworks, theories of change, indicator tracking tables and performance monitoring tools in collaboration with programme teams.
• Ensure that project objectives, outputs, outcomes, indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification are clearly defined and aligned with approved project documents.
• Support the development and review of monitoring plans, evaluation plans, data collection schedules and reporting calendars.
• Establish practical systems for tracking programme progress, measuring results and identifying implementation gaps.
• Ensure that monitoring activities are aligned with approved project proposals, donor requirements, organizational standards and relevant humanitarian guidelines.
• Work with programme teams to identify appropriate quantitative and qualitative indicators for measuring programme performance and results.
• Monitor progress against approved work plans, budgets, targets and implementation timelines, highlighting variances and areas requiring management attention.
• Support the integration of MEAL activities into programme planning, implementation, review and close-out processes.
• Ensure that MEAL tools and processes are appropriate to the operational context, accessible to affected populations and feasible for field teams to implement.

Monitoring, Field Verification and Assessments:

• Conduct routine field monitoring visits to verify programme implementation, assess service quality and document progress against approved targets.
• Develop and use structured monitoring checklists, observation tools, interview guides and other appropriate data collection instruments.
• Monitor project activities, beneficiary reach, service delivery, distribution processes and other programme interventions against established standards and indicators.
• Conduct or support baseline studies, needs assessments, rapid assessments, post-distribution monitoring, outcome monitoring and endline assessments as required.
• Collect and analyse information from beneficiaries, community members, frontline personnel and other relevant stakeholders to assess programme relevance, effectiveness and quality.
• Verify reported programme achievements through field observations, source document reviews, beneficiary consultations and other appropriate verification methods.
• Identify implementation challenges, emerging risks, gaps in service delivery and unintended programme effects, and communicate findings to relevant programme managers.
• Prepare field monitoring reports containing key findings, evidence, recommendations, responsible persons and proposed follow-up actions.
• Track the implementation of recommendations arising from monitoring visits, assessments, reviews and evaluations.
• Support joint monitoring visits with donors, government representatives, partners and other authorized stakeholders when required.
• Ensure that monitoring activities are conducted respectfully and safely, with due consideration for the security, privacy and dignity of affected populations.

Data Collection, Management and Analysis:

• Design, adapt and maintain appropriate quantitative and qualitative data collection tools for programme monitoring, assessments and evaluations.
• Support the use of digital data collection platforms, including KoboToolbox, ODK or other approved systems, where applicable.
• Develop data collection forms with appropriate validation rules, skip logic, mandatory fields and other quality controls to minimize errors.
• Train and guide field personnel, enumerators and programme staff on data collection procedures, indicator definitions and reporting requirements.
• Conduct routine data cleaning, validation, verification, consolidation and analysis to ensure that information is accurate, complete, consistent and reliable.
• Identify missing information, duplicate records, inconsistencies and unusual data patterns, and coordinate corrective action with relevant personnel.
• Maintain organized databases, indicator tracking sheets, beneficiary records and other approved monitoring information systems.
• Analyse programme data to identify trends, compare results against targets and highlight performance gaps, emerging needs and opportunities for improvement.
• Produce clear tables, charts, dashboards and summary analyses to support programme planning and management decisions.
• Ensure that data is disaggregated by relevant categories, such as sex, age, disability and location, where appropriate, safe and required by programme indicators.
• Maintain proper documentation of data sources, calculation methods, indicator definitions and assumptions to support traceability and verification.
• Ensure that personal and sensitive data are collected only when necessary and managed in accordance with approved data protection procedures.

Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP):

• Support the establishment, implementation and strengthening of accessible, safe and context-appropriate accountability mechanisms across programme locations.
• Ensure that affected populations are informed about programme objectives, eligibility criteria, available services, entitlements, selection procedures and feedback channels.
• Support the operation of appropriate feedback and complaints mechanisms, including designated focal persons, help desks, telephone channels, suggestion boxes and community consultations, as applicable.
• Ensure that beneficiaries and community members can provide feedback and raise concerns through channels that are accessible, confidential and appropriate to their circumstances.
• Maintain secure and organized records of feedback, complaints, referrals, responses and resolution status in accordance with established procedures.
• Categorize and analyse feedback to identify recurring concerns, service delivery gaps, community priorities and opportunities for programme improvement.
• Coordinate with relevant programme managers and designated safeguarding or complaints focal persons to ensure that feedback is referred and addressed appropriately.
• Monitor the timeliness and effectiveness of responses to routine feedback and complaints, escalating unresolved concerns through established channels.
• Ensure that sensitiv