Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist

Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist

About Effect Hope

Effect Hope is a Canadian Christian global health organization. For more than 132 years, we have been partnering with other organizations to strengthen healthcare systems across Africa and Asia. We are Canada’s only global health organization focused exclusively on Neglected Tropical Diseases, working with some of the world’s most underserved people and communities. We work with our committed supporters here in Canada and globally with our partners to be champions of hope.

POSITION DETAILS:

Purpose:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist is responsible for designing, operationalizing and strengthening the organizational and programmatic monitoring and evaluation, research, and learning framework within the International Programs (IP) Team. This role leads the development of systematic monitoring frameworks to improve the qualitative and quantitative evidence gathered by projects, oversees data management, and ensures robust learning and accountability mechanisms. The role ensures that high-quality, consistent, and timely data are collected, validated, cleaned, consolidated, analyzed and reported across Effect Hope’s global portfolio to support program management, implementing partners, organizational learning, accountability, and strategic decision-making. The role plays a central part in building Effect Hope’s organization wide MEAL framework and its 2026–2030 strategy Performance Measurement Framework (PMF).

Reports To: Vice President, International Programs (with technical direction from the Senior Technical Advisor, Global Health)

Job type: Full time, permanent

Salary Range: $60,000 to $75,000 + benefits and pension

Location: Markham, Ontario (hybrid), with potential for remote work

RESPONSIBILITIES

Monitoring & Evaluation (approx. 40%)

• Under the technical direction of the Senior Technical Advisor, Global Health, and the VP, International Programs, lead the design, implementation, and strengthening of MEAL systems aligned with Effect Hope’s strategy.
• Ensure all projects have robust monitoring, reporting, and learning mechanisms, including appropriate theories of change, logical/results frameworks (including Global Affairs Canada results-based management logic models and Performance Measurement Frameworks (PMF), indicators, baselines, targets, and measurement plans.
• Operationalize Effect Hope’s organizational MEAL framework and the 2026–2030 strategy PMF, including indicator tracking and an annual organizational results report for senior leadership and the Board.
• Develop and refine M&E tools and coordinate data collection, validation, cleaning, consolidation, and reporting of program data across Effect Hope’s global portfolio.
• Ensure data are disaggregated by sex, age and disability (e.g., using the Washington Group questions) and that monitoring approaches are gender-responsive and disability-inclusive, consistent with GBA+ and donor requirements.
• Lead routine data quality and analysis, and contribute to the interpretation of findings to inform program and organizational decision-making.
• Align project monitoring with national health information systems (e.g., DHIS2/HMIS), National NTD and Leprosy Programme reporting, and WHO NTD Road Map 2021–2030 indicators where relevant.
• Produce high-quality M&E reports, timely dashboards, summaries and/or relevant analytical products for donors, partners, and internal audiences.
• Document and disseminate lessons learned, best practices, and case studies.
• Provide training, mentoring, and technical support to staff and partners on M&E concepts and tools.
• Ensure integration of M&E systems and results frameworks in proposals, project design, and organizational learning strategies.
• Plan and manage evaluations and operational research, including terms of reference, consultant selection, and review of deliverables.
• Support knowledge management by maintaining M&E standards, tools, and databases.

Accountability & Learning (approx. 15%)

• Support partners to establish and monitor community feedback and complaints mechanisms that are safe, accessible and inclusive of people affected by leprosy, NTDs and disability.
• Promote meaningful participation of people affected by leprosy and NTDs, and their organizations, in the design, monitoring and evaluation of projects.
• Apply recognized accountability standards (e.g., the Core Humanitarian Standard) and ensure MEAL processes uphold Effect Hope’s safeguarding policies.
• Facilitate learning and adaptive management, including a learning agenda for the IP portfolio and regular learning reviews with staff and partners.

Program & Partner Support (approx. 20%, including field travel)

• Maintain strong working relationships with implementing partners and support donor engagement on MEAL and results.
• Provide technical M&E support to IP Team and implementing partners throughout the project cycle.
• Work collaboratively with IP team to monitor progress, identify performance and data-quality gaps, and strengthen monitoring systems.
• Strengthen partner capacity in M&E, data collection, data quality, analysis, reporting, and use of evidence.
• Review partner reports and ensure monitoring data, results, and narrative quality for internal and donor use, including consistency with agreed results frameworks and indicator definitions.
• Conduct field visits (up to 12 weeks per year, primarily in Africa and South Asia) to support monitoring, data verification, learning, and partner capacity-building.
• Contribute results and evidence for fundraising, communications, and donor stewardship.

Proposal Development & Grant Support (approx. 15%)

• Contribute to development of funding proposals and concept notes.
• Integrate M&E frameworks, indicators, and learning strategies into proposals.
• Maintain monitoring evidence and documentation demonstrating accountable use of resources through implementing partners, in line with CRA requirements and in collaboration with Finance.
• Support donor reporting and ensure consistency of data across proposals, reports, and systems.

Data & Knowledge Management (approx. 10%)

• Maintain up-to-date project and organizational indicator trackers, M&E documentation, datasets and data dictionaries, ensuring completeness, consistency and traceability.
• Provide program results and M&E data required for organizational and donor reporting.
• Assist with project documentation, archiving, and adherence to knowledge translation plans, including appropriate data protection, confidentiality, and responsible data-management practices, and compliance with applicable privacy legislation (e.g., PIPEDA), partner-country data protection requirements, research ethics approvals and informed consent.

Other Requirements

• Demonstrates strong commitment to Effect Hope’s Vision, Values, and Mission.
• Displays cultural, gender, religious, race, nationality/ethnic, and age sensitivity and respect.
• Undertakes additional responsibilities commensurate with this role, as agreed with the line manager.

QUALIFICATIONS/QUALITIES

Education

• Master’s degree in Public or Global Health, International Development, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Social Sciences, or related field.

Experience

• 5 years’ professional experience with a minimum of 3 years’ in MEAL roles within public/global health or international development projects.
• Proven track record in supporting institutional grant funding applications (e.g., GAC, USAID (now US Department of State), UK FCDO).
• Experience in strategic planning, indicator selection, target setting, reporting, database management, data cleaning and quality assurance.
• Demonstrated experience working with public health program and implementing partners in low- and middle-income countries. Experience in Africa and/or South Asia strongly preferred. Experience in NTDs or other disease-control programs is an asset.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge to apply Results Based Management Tools and concepts.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and ability to speak and comprehend French desirable.
• Strong Microsoft Office, IT and AI skills.
• Ability and willingness to undertake overseas travel
• A commitment to the mandate of Effect Hope and Christian ethics.

COMPETENCIES

• Expertise in evaluation methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, impact) and their application in public/global health programs
• Proven experience in M&E frameworks, tools, systems, and mainstreaming M&E.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and experience with statistical/data analysis software (eg. Stata, SPSS, R or equivalent), digital data collection platforms (eg. Ko- boToolbox/ODK), and data visualization tools (eg. Power BI or equivalent).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with a high degree of initiative, ownership and accountability.
• Proactively identifies gaps, risks, and emerging needs and develops practical solu- tions rather than relying on detailed direction. Knows when issues require escala- tion or technical guidance.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work with diverse teams.
• Skilled in writing clear, concise reports.
• Highly organized and results-oriented, with the ability to take ownership of tasks, anticipate next steps, coordinate required inputs and follow activities through to completion.
• Ability to prioritize effectively in a dynamic environment, including communicating competing demands and constraints early.
• Strong knowledge of public/global health, international development, project man- agement, and reporting.
• Knowledge of GAC results-based management, gender-responsive and disability- inclusive MEAL, and national health information systems (e.g., DHIS2) is an asset.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Hybrid work in Canada; ability to collaborate across African and Indian time zones.
• Occasional travel (e.g. partner visits, audits) as project needs and safety permit.

TO APPLY

Interested candidates should forward their resume and cover letter to [email protected].

Please state the position title in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Closing date for applications is 30th November 2026.