MEAL Consultant

Job Summary ASCEND is seeking a qualified MEAL Consultant to support the implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system for the Building Climate Resilience and Social Cohesion. The consultant will be responsible for monitoring project progress, ensuring data quality, conducting assessments, managing beneficiary feedback mechanisms, analyzing project data, and supporting high-quality reporting and learning. This will be a part time postion. Key Responsibilities 1. Implement and maintain the project's Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system, ensuring effective tracking of project activities, outputs, outcomes, and indicators in accordance with the approved MEAL Plan, Results Framework, Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT), and donor requirements. 2. Design and oversee data collection systems by developing questionnaires, digital data collection tools (e.g., Kobo Toolbox), checklists, monitoring forms, and databases to ensure accurate, timely, and high-quality data collection. 3. Conduct regular monitoring activities, including field visits, spot checks, data verification, and progress tracking to assess implementation against project work plans, targets, and indicators. 4. Lead project evaluations and assessments, including baseline, endline, post-training evaluations, outcome monitoring, and other surveys, ensuring high-quality data analysis and reporting. 5. Ensure data quality and information management by implementing data quality assurance measures, validating and cleaning datasets, maintaining secure databases, and safeguarding confidential information. 6. Prepare and contribute to project reporting, including monthly and quarterly MEAL reports, indicator tracking reports, dashboards, success stories, donor reports, and evidence-based recommendations for management. 7. Strengthen accountability mechanisms by implementing and monitoring the project's Feedback and Complaint Response Mechanism (FCRM), ensuring beneficiary feedback is recorded, analyzed, addressed, and used to improve program quality. 8. Promote learning and adaptive management by documenting lessons learned, best practices, implementation challenges, and facilitating learning and reflection sessions with the project team. 9. Build the capacity of project staff and enumerators on MEAL tools, data collection methodologies, data quality standards, accountability mechanisms, and reporting requirements. 10. Collaborate closely with the Project Officer , Environmental Expert, Community Engagement Officer, and other project staff to ensure compliance with ASCEND policies, safeguarding standards, donor requirements, and Results-Based Management (RBM) principles while providing technical support on all MEAL-related activities. Job Requirements Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Statistics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Economy, Environmental Sciences, or a related field. At least 5 years of relevant experience in MEAL for development or humanitarian projects. Experience with Kobo Toolbox, Microsoft Excel, and data analysis. Strong analytical, report writing, and communication skills. Fluency in English language