About SOS: SOS Children`s Villages Bangladesh has been working since 1972, when the organization signed an agreement with the Government of Bangladesh to establish its first village in Dhaka, as part of the global SOS Children`s Villages federation active in 135 countries. Today the organization operates across different locations as like Dhaka, Gazipur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Chattogram, Bogura, Kurigram and Sylhet providing family-like care to children who have lost parental care, strengthening vulnerable families so children can stay with their own parents wherever possible and supporting young people as they transition into independent, self-reliant lives. Alongside its care programmes, the organization runs education, health and community development initiatives and works closely with government bodies, donors and partner organizations to advocate for children`s rights and strengthen child protection systems nationwide. Over more than five decades, SOS Children`s Villages Bangladesh has supported tens of thousands of children, young people and caregivers
Job Context: SOS Children’s Villages Bangladesh is seeking an experienced, strategic and analytical professional to serve as Head of Programme Quality and MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning). The position will provide overall strategic and operational leadership for programme quality, results-based management, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning and evidence generation across the organization’s programme portfolio. The role will ensure robust MEAL systems, strong programme quality standards, reliable data and evidence, effective accountability mechanisms and continuous learning and improvement across grant-funded projects, partnership-based initiatives and regular programmes. The position will lead the development, roll-out and continuous strengthening of programme quality and MEAL frameworks, systems, tools and processes, including Result Based Management (RBM) and the Programme Database (PDB). It will ensure data quality, integrity, protection and appropriate use, while strengthening evaluations, programme reviews, learning processes and accountability to children, young people, families, communities, donors and partners. The incumbent will work closely with programme, technical, fundraising, finance, safeguarding, communications and other relevant functions to ensure evidence, evaluation findings, stakeholder feedback and learning are systematically used to improve programme design, implementation, decision-making and organizational performance. The role will also strengthen staff and partner capacity, promote a culture of accountability and adaptive management and support the organization in demonstrating programme quality, results, impact and learning to management, donors, partners and other stakeholders.
Job Location: Dhaka with frequent travel to programme locations
Reports to: Deputy National Director / National Director
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Programme Quality and MEAL Leadership
Provide strategic leadership and overall direction for Programme Quality and MEAL across the organization’s programme portfolio.
Develop, review and strengthen the organization’s Programme Quality and MEAL strategy and overarching framework in line with organizational priorities, donor requirements and international good practice.
Ensure Programme Quality, Results-Based Management (RBM), accountability, learning and the Programme Database (PDB) are effectively integrated throughout the programme cycle.
Advise senior management and Programme/Project Leads on strategic programme quality priorities, organizational performance, evidence use and emerging risks.
Contribute to organizational strategy, annual planning, policy review, risk management and organizational development initiatives.
Represent the Programme Quality and MEAL function in senior management discussions and contribute to organization-wide decision-making.
Ensure adequate MEAL staffing, budget, tools and technical resources are incorporated into programme and project design, proposals and implementation plans.
Ensure MEAL support is provided throughout the full programme cycle, including programme design, start-up, implementation, review, evaluation, close-out and learning.
Represent the organization in relevant MEAL, programme quality, research and learning forums, technical working groups, networks and partner platforms.
2. Programme Quality, Performance and Adaptive Management
Establish and oversee programme quality standards, quality assurance mechanisms and review processes across grant-funded projects, partnership-based initiatives and regular programmes.
Lead periodic programme quality and performance reviews to assess relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, inclusion, sustainability and progress toward intended results.
Monitor programme performance against results frameworks, indicators, targets, milestones, workplans and expected outcomes.
Identify performance gaps, operational risks and quality issues and ensure appropriate corrective actions are agreed, tracked and followed up.
Promote evidence-based decision-making, continuous improvement and adaptive management across programmes and projects.
Ensure programme quality findings and performance evidence are systematically used to strengthen programme implementation and management decisions.
3. MEAL Systems, Data Management and Evidence Generation
Lead the design, roll-out and continuous improvement of organization-wide MEAL systems, methodologies, tools and data flows.
Strengthen MEAL systems and capacity of implementing partners, local organizations and relevant counterparts and promote harmonized approaches where appropriate.
Ensure consistent application of RBM, including theories/results frameworks, baselines, indicators, targets, milestones and reporting cycles.
Oversee the effective use of the Programme Database (PDB), ensuring timely, accurate, complete and consistent programme data.
Promote the appropriate use of digital data collection, dashboards, visualization tools and other technologies to improve the timeliness, accessibility and use of programme data.
Establish and maintain data quality assurance mechanisms, including verification, validation, spot checks and periodic data quality assessments.
Oversee systematic data collection, analysis, visualization and interpretation to identify trends, performance gaps, risks and areas for improvement.
Lead baselines, assessments, evaluations, research and other evidence-generation initiatives, ensuring methodological quality, relevance and practical use of findings.
Ensure programme data is collected, stored, accessed and used in line with data protection, confidentiality, ethical and organizational requirements.
4. Accountability, Learning and Knowledge Management
Strengthen accountability to children, young people, families, communities, partners and other stakeholders through accessible and responsive feedback and complaints mechanisms.
Ensure accountability systems are aligned with safeguarding, child protection, inclusion, confidentiality and organizational standards.
Promote meaningful participation of children, young people, families and communities in programme monitoring, review, feedback and learning processes.
Analyze feedback and accountability data and ensure findings are used to improve programme quality and organizational responsiveness.
Lead organizational learning, reflection and knowledge-sharing processes across programmes and teams.
Ensure lessons learned, evaluation findings, good practices, innovations and programme evidence are documented, shared and used in programme design and implementation.
Develop and promote relevant learning and knowledge products, including evidence briefs, case studies, learning notes and other materials for internal and external audiences.
Use internal and external evidence, sector research, evaluations and learning to strengthen theories of change, programme design and strategic decision-making.
5. Reporting, Donor Compliance and Cross-Functional Support
Ensure programme results and evidence are accurately reflected in timely, high-quality management, organizational and donor reports.
Review and validate results, indicators, achievements and supporting evidence before inclusion in key reports and external submissions.
Ensure Programme Quality and MEAL practices comply with donor requirements, contractual commitments, organizational standards and approved results frameworks.
Work closely with Programme, Fundraising, Finance, Safeguarding, Communications and other relevant functions to strengthen programme quality, reporting and evidence use.
Provide technical support to programme and proposal development, including theories of change, results frameworks, indicators, MEAL plans, learning approaches and evidence strategies.
Support senior management with evidence-based programme performance information for donors, government stakeholders, boards, partners and other external audiences.
6. Team Leadership and Capacity Strengthening
Lead, manage, mentor and develop the Programme Quality and MEAL team, ensuring clear roles, effective performance management, professional development and strong teamwork.
Strengthen the capacity of Programme/Project Leads, field teams, partners and relevant staff in programme quality, RBM, PDB, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning, data quality and evidence-based programming.
Provide targeted training, coaching, technical guidance and on-the-job support based on identified organizational and programme capacity needs.
Strengthen the Programme Quality and MEAL capacity of implementing partners and promote consistent application of organizational standards and approaches.
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, inclusion and continuous improvement within the team and across programmes.
Ensure the Programme Quality and MEAL function has appropriate systems, tools, competencies and technical resources to effectively deliver its mandate.
Lead the integration of cross-cutting priorities including gender equality, disability inclusion, safeguarding, protection, climate resilience, diversity and inclusion and Do No Harm within MEAL systems, indicators, tools, analysis and learning processes.
Lead workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding and deployment of MEAL staff, consultants and technical support as required.
