Job Description: MEAL Expert
About SEEDS
SEEDS (Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society) is a not-for-profit organization that enables every individual with practical solutions for disaster lifecycle management and a sustainable environment. It builds self-reliant, resilient, and sustainable communities across boundaries using innovation and engaging at the grassroots. Since 1994, the organization has worked extensively on every major disaster in the Indian subcontinent assisting affected families; strengthening and rebuilding schools and homes; putting its faith in skill-building, planning and communications to foster long-term resilience.
SEEDS is also India's first agency to be certified for the global core humanitarian standards - an international certification system for quality and accountability in humanitarian response and is recognized for its 30 years of service in disaster and environment by United Nations Sasakawa Award in 2022 and Government of India Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Award in 2021.
SEEDS completed nearly three-decade-long service to humanity rebuilding more than 62,000 homes, 650 schools and healthcare facilities, school safety programmes for more than a quarter million children, disaster management plans for 500+ communities, emergency assistance to more than 830,000 people. It has positively impacted the lives of more than six million people by re-anchoring its approach to building resilience through innovation. It continues to empower the most vulnerable across Asia to build a better future. For more information, visit www.seedsindia.org
1. Purpose of the Role
The MEAL Expert will primarily lead project assurance, compliance reviews, and audit functions across projects and programmes. This is an audit-led role with approximately 80% of the time dedicated to monitoring, remote (desk-based) audits, field audits, verification, compliance reviews and risk assurance activities, with up to 30% travel for field audits and verification visits.
2. Key Responsibilities
MEAL System Design and Management
- Develop and strengthen MEAL frameworks, indicators, tools, methodologies, and reporting systems for projects and programmes.
- Design logical frameworks, results frameworks, indicator tracking tables, and performance monitoring plans.
- Establish data collection, verification, validation, and reporting protocols.
- Ensure alignment of MEAL systems with donor requirements and organisational standards.
Monitoring and Field Oversight
- Lead monitoring processes through regular field visits and review mechanisms.
- Oversee baseline, endline, needs assessments, perception studies, and post-distribution monitoring (PDM).
- Monitor project progress against outputs, outcomes, indicators, and targets.
- Ensure quality assurance and timely implementation of monitoring activities.
Evaluation and Assessments
- Design and manage internal and external evaluations, impact assessments, and thematic studies.
- Develop methodologies, sampling approaches, questionnaires, and evaluation plans.
- Analyse project effectiveness, relevance, efficiency, sustainability, and impact.
- Provide actionable recommendations for programme improvement.
Project Audits and Compliance
- Conduct both desk-based (remote) audits and in-person field audits.
- Prepare annual and risk-based audit and assurance plans.
- Conduct desk reviews of project documentation, MIS, beneficiary databases and reporting systems.
- Assign risk ratings and recommend corrective and preventive actions.
- Track corrective action plans and verify closure of audit findings.
- Undertake programme assurance reviews and data quality assessments.
- Lead and oversee audits of projects, field activities, beneficiary records, documentation, and reporting systems.
- Conduct compliance reviews against donor guidelines, organisational policies, and project standards.
- Verify data quality, beneficiary selection processes, distribution records, and field implementation evidence.
- Identify risks, gaps, inconsistencies, and compliance issues and recommend corrective actions.
- Support follow-up actions and strengthen internal accountability systems.
Data Management and Analysis
- Supervise data collection, cleaning, analysis, and interpretation processes.
- Ensure data accuracy, integrity, confidentiality, and security.
- Update dashboards, visualisations, and analytical reports for management and donors.
Accountability and Community Feedback
- Establish and strengthen accountability and feedback mechanisms.
- Ensure complaints and feedback systems are accessible, responsive, and documented.
- Promote participation, inclusion, protection, and ethical standards in programme implementation.
Learning and Capacity Building
- Facilitate learning reviews, reflection sessions, and knowledge-sharing processes.
- Document lessons learned, best practices, and case studies.
- Build capacity of programme and field teams on MEAL systems, tools, and reporting requirements.
- Support development of organisational learning and evidence-generation processes.
3. Deliverables
- MEAL framework and monitoring plans
- Baseline, endline, and assessment reports
- Monitoring and evaluation reports
- Project audit and compliance reports
- Data analysis dashboards and visualisations
- Lessons learned and case study documentation
- Donor reporting inputs and presentations
- Capacity-building and training materials
- Risk assessment and assurance reports
- Corrective action trackers
- Audit closure reports
4. Required Qualifications and Experience
- Master’s degree in social sciences, development studies, statistics, public policy, data science, management, or related field.
- Minimum 8–10 years of experience in MEAL, impact assessment, programme monitoring, and humanitarian/development programming.
- Strong experience in designing MEAL frameworks, indicators, and evaluation methodologies.
- Demonstrated experience in programme assurance, compliance reviews, data quality assessments, risk-based auditing, and conducting both remote (desk-based) and field-based project audits.
- Experience working with NGOs, humanitarian, resilience, or development programmes preferred.
5. Reporting
The MEAL Expert will report to the Director of Monitoring and work closely with programme, finance, operations, and field teams to ensure effective implementation of MEAL systems and accountability processes.
Position: MEAL Expert (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning)
Location: Project / Programme Office with field travel as required
Reporting to: Director Monitoring & Training
Duration: As per project requirement
Pay: Up to ₹65,000.00 per month
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Provident Fund
Work Location: In person
