Regional MEAL Office

Position Identification

Position Title      :  Regional MEAL Officer

Organization       :  Islamic Relief South Africa ‘IRSA’

Location               :  South Africa – KZN

Contract               :  Permanent

Reports to           :  National Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Coordinator

Job Purpose:

Regional MEAL Officer will play a critical role in the development and strengthening of the planning, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) system for the projects and programs of Islamic Relief South Africa, Western Cape Region. He/ She will also assist during project design and development, maintain relationships and networking with all stakeholders involved in programs or projects. Regional Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning will work closely with the National MEAL Manager, Project Managers, Regional Head of Programs and the programs managers. He/She will be responsible for conducting, monitoring, and evaluating data; collecting and disseminating lessons learned from regional projects/programs. The incumbent will collaborate closely with Project/Program Managers in the region in producing high- quality reports with specific recommendations before sharing them with the National MEAL Lead. He/ She will contribute to the development of MEAL plans for various projects and programs and implement them in accordance with the IRW’s MEAL framework. Other responsibilities will include contributing to the design and management of surveys, assisting project teams in designing needs assessment tools, conducting mid-term evaluations, result monitoring, feedback surveys, and post distribution monitoring, especially for any types of vouchers.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

The incumbent will be responsible for the establishment of the MEAL system in the Region under the following key areas:

Program/ Project Design Phase:

• Lead the development of regional MEAL approaches, tools & plans for all projects/ programs to be/ being implemented. e.g. M&E Frameworks.
• Identify problems to be addressed by the program/ project, develop performance indicators to track progress toward goals and outcomes in all regional projects.
• Work closely with the ME&D to determine and develop relevant, effective data collection methods for all regional projects e.g. surveys, interviews, observations, and participatory assessment, and applications proposed for the programs.
• Contribute towards the successful development of assessment/ program or project monitoring forms by providing inputs.
• Develop M&E Plans and ensure that regional programs/ projects activities aligns with them within the set timeframes.

Program/ Project Implementation Phase:

• Develop Terms of References for conducting baseline surveys, midterm reviews and final evaluation. Conduct post-distribution monitoring surveys, result in monitoring and facilitate feedback surveys.
• Prepare and conduct of the baseline survey together with OSP officers/ Project Manager responsible for the program/ project.
• Establish target/s and conduct project site inspections with OSP officers/ Project Managers during which pre-distribution monitoring forms & post-distribution monitoring forms are used during related activities.
• Establish/ implement monitoring and evaluation systems aligned with the Organization’s needs, e.g. Global Programmes & MEAL System as applicable to each Program/ Project.
• Ensure continuous productivity by engaging with programs/ project leads on weekly, monthly & quarterly basis through various means of communication such as meetings, reports etc… for progress review and verification of data/ information provided.
• Lead internal and external programme/project evaluations as required in the region.
• Review monitoring reports, evaluation reports, and project reports and provide necessary technical guidance to ensure compliance with programme/project requirements for monitoring and evaluation.

Effective Management of Programs/ Programs:

• Conduct regular field visits to monitor the implementation of project/ program, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and organizational standards.
• Assist with the data collection and management including verification/ cleaning for accuracy on reporting.
• Liaise with ME&D Coordinator, Project Managers and other partners the implementation of all activities to ensure that all the objectives are met as per planned time-frames.
• Work closely with Project Managers in monitoring and evaluation activities including the development and tracking of detailed implementation plans.
• Monitor the performance of all the indicators and targets set for each program/ project, and provide reports with recommendations.
• Ensure that M&E skills are transferred to relevant Manager/s overseeing programs/ projects to ensure smooth flow of processes especially tools/ systems.

Organisational learning & capacity building:

• Establish and maintain a system for organizational learning (i.e. Develop and maintain a learning log and ensure learning points are embedded at policy and practice levels)
• Participate and contribute to the IRW-MEAL Community of Practice regularly.
• Coordinate with program management to budget and organize learning events regularly.
• Identify opportunities to communicate programme/project learning and information sharing/learning exchanges with other actors
• Conduct orientation sessions around MEAL requirements and identify capacity-building needs around MEAL for Partner organization.
• Supporting colleagues in utilizing MEAL tools for different intervention

Project Evaluation & Reporting:

• Ensure continuous improvement of M&E processes such as collection and analysis of data post implementation.
• Identify lessons learnt provide insights/ recommendation on programs/ projects based on past experiences, and compile reports that incorporating them.
• Collaborate with team members and making sure all projects are linked to each other in the region to avoid duplication when rendering services.

Coordination and support to programme management:

• Facilitate and lead the processes to ensure compliance with Core Humanitarian Standard and IHSAN Standards (IRW-Quality Management System).
• Ensure that relevant MEAL-related budgets are incorporated within project budgets in coordination with the programme, finance, and CD.
• Write MEAL-related sections of each proposal submitted to any donor.

• Any other duties assigned by the Management

Key Interfaces:

• Internally: Head of Programmes, Monitoring & Evaluation & Learning (MEAL) Coordinator, Regional Head of Programs, Programs and Projects Managers.
• Externally: Service Providers, Right-holders.

Educational Qualifications:

• A recognized qualification by South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) in Social Science, Development Studies, or Statistics.

Professional Competencies:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a monitoring and evaluation, research or impact assessment projects.
• Experience working in a variety of humanitarian and development projects in the country.
• Knowledge and experience concerning the Core Humanitarian Standards.
• Sound knowledge of and commitment to participatory approaches to working with communities, and innovative approach to working on these issues with a proven commitment to people empowerment methodologies
• Knowledge and experience concerning the Core Humanitarian Principles Verification Framework.
• Good knowledge of globally accepted humanitarian technical standards and initiatives, e.g. Sphere, LEGS, INEE, CALP, SDGs, Inclusion Charter, ADCAP
• An understanding of gender equity and inclusion and how to integrate principles of gender equity and inclusion into program work.

Skills, knowledge & experience required:

• Functional knowledge of statistics and data processing.
• Experience in collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data.
• Experience in integrated programme/community development.
• Familiar with online data collection platforms such as KOBO.
• Experience and knowledge of Database and mapping software
• Good working knowledge of Results-Based Management, Theory of Change, Value for money, ‘Do no harm’, Complaints management and report writing.
• Highly organized with good attention to detail and developed the ability to prioritize multiple tasks to meet tight deadlines
• Excellent program management skills and excellent communication skills – able to communicate and report on technical points, both oral and writing.
• Willing to be accountable for work conducted.
• Communicates honestly, openly, and consistently.
• Shares information appropriately and ensures that team members’ views are freely expressed.
• Able to form creative solutions in problem-solving.
• Encourages a positive rather than negative viewpoint.
• Problem-solving skills and self-management.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work sensitively with people from various cultural and social backgrounds.
• Willing to adapt to the organization’s norms and values without compromising personal beliefs and principles.
• Good networking skills and representation.
• Good in written and spoken English.

Key Islamic Relief Qualities Required:

• It is essential that the post holder shows a good understanding and sympathy with Islamic values and principles as well as commitment to IR’s vision and mission as per below:

• Excellence (Ihsan): Our actions in tackling poverty are marked by excellence in our operations and conduct which are deserving of the people we serve.
• Sincerity (Ikhlas): In responding to poverty and suffering our efforts are driven by sincerity to God and the need to fulfil our obligations to humanity
• Social Justice (Adl): Our work is founded on enabling people and institutions to fulfil the rights of the poor and vulnerable. We work to empower the dispossessed towards realising their God-given human potential and developing their capabilities and resources.
• Compassion (Rahma): We believe the protection and well-being of every life is of paramount importance and we shall join with other humanitarian actors to act as one in responding to suffering brought on by disasters, poverty and injustice.
• Custodianship (Amana): We uphold our duty of custodianship over the earth, its resources and the trust people place in us as humanitarian and development practitioners to be transparent and accountable.

Closing date: 03 July 2026

The application must be accompanied by the following:

• A copy of the completed application form (available on the website),
• 1 page motivational letter and your CV along with a certified copy of your ID to recruitment@islamic-relief.org.za

Dearest applicant, kindly consider the following: If the requirements of the application as above, is not met, we will consider the application as incomplete and this will therefore not be accepted. Please consider your application as unsuccessful if you are not contacted within a month after the closing date. Over and above operational requirements Islamic Relief South Africa will take into account the country’s and organizational employment equity imperatives.