MEAL Officer

Aiming Change for Tomorrow (ACT) International, in collaboration with UNICEF Punjab and key partners including BISP/Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP), Punjab Department of Health, and Lady Health Worker Programme, is implementing BNP 3.0 across ten districts of Punjab. This initiative focuses on improving maternal, child, and adolescent nutrition while strengthening gender-responsive nutrition and social protection systems among BISP beneficiary households. The programme delivers activities through existing Facilitation Centres, Support Centres, and community structures, emphasizing Social and Behaviour Change (SBC), Early Childhood Development (ECD), parenting, counselling, referrals, youth engagement, and capacity development. All staff are expected to adhere to organizational policies on gender equality, disability inclusion, safeguarding, child protection, confidentiality, and data management, performing only approved non-clinical roles.

Key Responsibilities

MEAL Planning & Systems: Develop and implement the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) plan, including indicator tracking frameworks, monitoring tools, and reporting calendars. Ensure alignment of data collection tools with BNP 3.0, ACT International, and UNICEF standards. Standardize MEAL procedures across districts and Facilitation Centres, and orient teams on indicators, targets, and reporting requirements.

Data Management & Quality Assurance: Consolidate and review programme data for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. Maintain organized electronic and physical records, support dashboard and tracker development, and ensure data disaggregation by relevant categories. Conduct routine data-quality assessments, source-document reviews, and verification exercises. Identify data gaps and coordinate corrective actions, maintaining records of findings and follow-ups.

Monitoring & Field Verification: Develop monitoring schedules and supervise Field Monitors, reviewing their plans and reports. Conduct regular field visits to assess the quality of maternal nutrition, MIYCN, ECD, counselling, and community engagement activities such as cooking demonstrations and campaigns. Support joint monitoring visits with stakeholders and verify outreach, referrals, and follow-up activities.

Assessments & Evaluation: Assist in planning and executing baseline, midline, endline, and other assessments, including sampling, tool development, data cleaning, and analysis. Coordinate with external evaluators and ensure compliance with ethical and safeguarding standards. Present findings to support programme management and decision-making.

Accountability & Beneficiary Feedback: Support accessible feedback and complaints mechanisms, ensuring proper recording, referral, and resolution of concerns. Analyze feedback trends related to inclusion, satisfaction, and programme relevance while maintaining confidentiality. Share actionable insights with management to enhance programme quality.

Learning & Programme Improvement: Analyze monitoring data and feedback to identify trends and gaps. Facilitate learning sessions, document lessons learned and good practices, and track management responses. Support evidence-based improvements to programme activities, tools, and training.

Capacity Building & Reporting: Train staff on data collection, documentation, and reporting standards. Provide technical support for digital data systems. Prepare MEAL dashboards, analytical summaries, and reports for programme and donor review. Promote a culture of accountability and evidence-based decision-making.

Required Qualifications

A Master’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Public Health, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Monitoring & Evaluation, or a related field is required. Candidates must have at least five years of relevant experience in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, research, programme quality, or data management. Proven skills in quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, reporting, and field monitoring are essential. Experience with data-quality assessments, beneficiary verification, and donor-funded development or humanitarian programmes is required. Proficiency in digital data collection and analysis tools such as Kobo, ODK, and Excel is necessary. Additional training in MEAL, research, evaluation, or digital data systems is advantageous.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

Strong competencies in MEAL planning, data quality assurance, field monitoring, reporting, and learning facilitation are highly valued. Candidates should demonstrate a good understanding of accountability, safeguarding, and data protection principles, with excellent communication, coordination, and problem-solving skills. Willingness to travel regularly to programme sites is essential. ACT International promotes a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and misconduct. The organization is committed to safeguarding, gender equality, and inclusion and encourages applications from women and persons with disabilities.