The Head of MEAL provides strategic leadership for War Child’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) function, ensuring high-quality evidence, learning and data systems that strengthen programme quality, organisational accountability and evidence‑based decision‑making.
The role leads the development and operationalisation of War Child’s global MEAL framework, data strategy and quality assurance systems, with a strong focus on Evidence‑Based Methods (EBMs), Quality of Care (QoC) indicators, and continuous learning. The Head of MEAL manages a global team of MEAL, knowledge and data specialists, supports country offices and partners through mutual capacity strengthening, and positions MEAL as a core enabler of programme excellence, scaling and localisation.
The role leads the development and operationalisation of War Child’s global MEAL framework, data strategy and quality assurance systems, with a strong focus on Evidence‑Based Methods (EBMs), Quality of Care (QoC) indicators, and continuous learning. The Head of MEAL manages a global team of MEAL, knowledge and data specialists, supports country offices and partners through mutual capacity strengthening, and positions MEAL as a core enabler of programme excellence, scaling and localisation.
What you will do:
- Set and steward War Child’s global MEAL, knowledge and data strategy, ensuring it drives programme quality, organisational learning and evidence‑based decision‑making.
- Ensure effective implementation and continuous improvement of the Global MEAL Framework, aligned with organisational strategy, Theory of Change, thematic priorities and Evidence‑Based Methods (EBMs).
- Guarantee that MEAL systems enable accountability, learning and adaptive management at global and country levels, strengthening programme relevance and impact.
- Lead the integration of MEAL across the EBM portfolio, ensuring consistent application of Quality of Care (QoC) indicators, evidence standards and learning processes.
- Provide organisational oversight of evidence and QoC data, ensuring consolidated analysis informs leadership review, strategic direction and scaling decisions.
- Enable continuous adaptation, localisation and scale‑up of EBMs, using MEAL evidence to guide improvement and contextual relevance.
- Uphold alignment with international MEAL and quality standards, strengthening organisational credibility, consistency and best practice.
- Provide authoritative technical leadership in MEAL, knowledge and data, guiding global, country and partner teams to strengthen quality and coherence of practice.
- Ensure robust MEAL data governance and digital enablement, safeguarding ethical, secure and effective use of programme data while strengthening digital tools, dashboards and insight generation.
- Build and lead a high‑performing global MEAL function, ensuring strong team leadership, capacity strengthening across countries and partners, and positioning War Child as a credible sector leader in evidence, accountability and learning.
ROLE-SPECIFIC OR CONTEXT RESPONSIBILITIES
- Ensure MEAL systems serve organisational priorities across programming, fundraising, advocacy and accountability.
- Act as a strategic partner to senior leadership by translating complex MEAL data into actionable organisational insights.
- Support localisation by promoting proportional, partner‑appropriate MEAL approaches and mutual capacity strengthening.
- Embed accountability to children and communities through feedback mechanisms and learning loops.
- Align MEAL processes with donor requirements without compromising organisational learning priorities.
- Strengthen internal collaboration between MEAL, Programme Quality, R&D, Advocacy, Communications and Funding teams.
- Support organisational change processes by ensuring learning and evidence guide adaptation and decision‑making.
- Represent War Child in global MEAL, learning and accountability networks and initiatives.
- Promote a learning culture that values reflection, curiosity, and continuous improvement.