MEAL Officer

jobsCareers, Careers - Malawi

Job ID: 85984
Job Title: MEAL Officer
Organisation: Self Help Africa
Contract Type: Full time, Fixed term 12 month contract
Hours: 37.5 per week
Location: Thyolo
Reports to: WASH & Climate Resilience Project Manager

About Self Help Africa :

Established in 1984, Self Help Africa is an international development organisation that works through agriculture and agri-enterprise development to address hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impacts of climate change. We believe that equitable economic development is key to lifting communities out of long-term poverty, empowering them to take control of their futures and improving their quality of life.

In early 2023 we launched a new five-year organisation strategy, which defines shared mission as the alleviation of hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community-led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, so that people can have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and incomes, while sustaining natural resources.

Our wider organisation also includes social enterprise subsidiaries Partner Africa, which provides ethical auditing and consultancy services, and CUMO, Malawi’s largest micro-finance provider.

Our three core values are:
▪ Impact: We are accountable, ambitious and committed to systemic change.
▪ Innovation: We are agile, creative and enterprising in an ever-changing World.
▪ Community: We are inclusive, honest and have integrity in our relationships.

About the Project

Self Help Africa (SHA) has been implementing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programming in Thyolo District for the past 10 years, with a strategic focus on increasing and sustaining equitable access to safe water and sanitation services in the context of climate change. With funding from The One Foundation, the WASH programme in Thyolo will deliver two projects: a WASH and Climate Resilience project and a general WASH project. In addition to support from The One Foundation, the programme also receives funding from Co-op UK to implement WASH interventions in collaboration with tea estates. SHA’s work in Thyolo is implemented in close coordination with district councils, relevant government line ministries, Thuchila Tea Association, MAFECO, and other WASH stakeholders, ensuring alignment with district priorities and national WASH strategies. Key interventions include provision of access to safe water, improved sanitation, hygiene promotion, water resource and catchment management and systems strengthening aimed at improving service delivery, accountability, and long-term sustainability. The project will adopt a district-wide WASH systems approach that integrates climate resilience, water resources management, health, agriculture, and food and nutrition security.

Job purpose:

The role of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer is to establish and implement monitoring systems to promote evidence-based decision-making, programme and project performance, and internal management. The MEAL Officer will contribute to quality programming through supporting access to and use of relevant and timely information on programme scale, relevance, and effectiveness. S/he is responsible for coordinating monitoring, evaluation, research, and knowledge management related to sustainable rural water supply services, Market based sanitation and other WASH pilots. The MEAL Officer will be reporting to the WASH and Climate Resilience Project Manager while working very closely with Deputy WASH Program Manager and other MEAL Officer.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Develop tools/methods/database to capture research, monitoring and evaluation, together with WASH WASH and Climate Resilience Project Manager, MEAL Coordinator, and Key WASH member at national and global level.
  • Undertaking specific research and data collection on aspects specific to Rural Water maintenance projects with support and supervision of the Project Manager.
  • Supporting data collection, ensuring all data are gender disaggregated, appropriately captured and stored in a timely manner, including regular field visits to monitor processes and outputs.
  • Analysing data and collaborate with the rest of the WASH team – and stakeholders – to discuss orientation of the intervention and to evolve approaches 
  • Responsible for updating, implementation and oversight of the “Rural Water maintenance projects” frameworks with project stakeholders and WASH teams.
  • Responsible for Harvesting and documenting key learning points from pilot activities coordinating knowledge capture, as well as appropriate dissemination. This includes facilitating learning reviews and document lessons for internal/external sharing and cross-learning, contribute to sectoral learning events with global advisors and consultants.
  • Lead the process of baseline, end line surveys, service’s satisfaction surveys and final evaluations and management responses.
  • Monitor reports deadlines and support management with the preparation of donor reports to ensure compliance with key programme indicators and objectives, contribute to accountability to communities and stakeholders.
  • Support in the development of improved information management systems and photo gallery within the program
  • Build capacity of SHA project staff, and relevant government and community partners on M&E related issues.
  • Work closely with the SHA National Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager and be an active member of the M&E technical working group.
  • Through the national MEAL working group ensure that project learning is shared.
  • Working with the safeguarding focal point for each project, ensure that safeguarding reporting channels are promoted and community feedback is reviewed and responded to and incorporate into programme implementation.

Key Relationships:

Internal:

  • WASH and Climate Resilience Project Manager
  • Deputy /WASH Program Manager
  • WASH Filed Facilitators
  • Project Accountant
  • Stores and Administration Officer
  • MEAL coordinator National MEAL Manager

External:

  • Local Partner
  • District Council

Qualification:

  • Bachelor’s degrees in fields like Statistics, social science, International Development, M & E or any related field.

Knowledge, Experience and Other Requirements:

  • Experience with both quantitative and qualitative methods; this should include survey development
  • Extensive experience of targeting and working with disadvantaged people in Malawian society.
  • Practical knowledge and experience in use of a wide range of M&E tools including participatory methodologies and use of statistical packages like mWater, Kobo, GIS platforms, SPSS, ACCESS, STATA.
  • Analytical thinking, problem solving and decision-making ability
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, in English and Chichewa,
  • Demonstrable understanding of safeguarding risks and mitigating actions.
  • Proven ability to work under pressure and meet tight and competing deadlines.
  • Good planner and ability to deliver results
  • Strong respect and empathy for rural communities, and an affinity to SHA’s mission and values of integrity, dignity and environmental respect.

How to apply:

Full job description here. 

Qualified and interested candidates who meet the stated requirements must submit a completed Application Form, along with an up to date Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letter here. 

The closing date for applications is 14th January 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Important information: 

Self Help Africa is an international development charity and is committed to the safeguarding of all those who we come into contact with or through our work. We are committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour relating to our work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and we are committed to promoting the welfare of children and the people we aim to assist with whom Self Help Africa engages. Self Help Africa expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviours outlined in the Code of Conduct and Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Recruitment to all roles in Self Help Africa will include, and be subject to, a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre- employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checking. Self Help Africa is committed to the principles of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment during employment. By submitting an application, the applicant confirms her/his understanding of these recruitment procedures. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Self Help Africa is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.