Position Title:    Senior MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) Officer – Syria
Reports to:    Programme Coordinator (Syria programme)
Technical coordination:    LWF World Service PMER colleagues, as applicable
Duty Station:    Damascus, Syria, with field travel in Damascus and Rural Damascus
Salary:    According to LWF's salary scale and terms and conditions.

Assignment end date:    31 August 2027 (subject to contract terms and donor approval)

About LWF

LWF World Service is the humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized, international, faith-based organization working in over 20 countries. We seek to unite people of all backgrounds in the quest for justice, peace, and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world.
A commitment to the human rights of every individual, regardless of their status, guides our work, actions, and operations. Our humanitarian work is people-centered and community-based, engaging proactively with local government and community structures. www.lutheranworld.org/WorldService.
LWF has been operating in Syria since 2020. Its work includes protection, psychosocial support, child and youth programming, community-based activities, awareness raising, capacity building, resilience and social cohesion, serving people without discrimination.

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the Programme Coordinator, the Senior MEAL Officer leads the design, delivery and quality assurance of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning for LWF’s directly implemented child protection, family strengthening and youth self-reliance project in Damascus and Rural Damascus. The role maintains a complete and reliable results-monitoring system, independently verifies performance information and supporting evidence, oversees safe feedback mechanisms and ensures that findings inform programme decisions and donor reporting. The position works alongside the Senior Programme Officer and programme team but is not line-managed by the project implementation team. The role provides MEAL technical leadership without taking responsibility for programme case management, safeguarding investigations, finance, procurement or operational approvals.

MEAL Planning and Results Monitoring
•    Develop and maintain the project MEAL plan, results framework tracking matrix, indicator reference sheets, monitoring calendar and data collection tools aligned with approved donor targets and LWF PMER standards.
•    Agree indicator definitions, baselines, disaggregation, evidence requirements, reporting frequency and responsible data owners with programme colleagues; monitor achievement at output and outcome levels.
•    Generate regular progress dashboards and exception reports for management, highlighting achievement, delays, evidence gaps, risks and proposed corrective actions.
•    Monitor programme outcomes across child protection, psychosocial support, family strengthening, reunification and youth transition to self-reliance; verify unique beneficiary reach and prevent double-counting across activities.

Data Management, Verification and Evaluations
•    Oversee accurate collection, cleaning, consolidation, analysis and secure retention of quantitative and qualitative monitoring data, including appropriate use of ActivityInfo, Excel and other approved systems.
•    Conduct routine field verification, spot checks, source-document reviews and data quality assessments; document discrepancies and follow up on corrective actions with assigned programme staff.
•    Coordinate baseline and endline surveys, outcome assessments, pre/post tests, participant consultations, post-assistance monitoring and learning reviews as required by the approved intervention and ethical safeguards.
•    Coordinate with programme teams to reconcile monthly records, referral tracking, youth graduation and follow-up, attendance and case-management output reporting, without unnecessarily replicating sensitive case files.
•    Apply strict information-sharing controls, informed consent, data minimization, role-based access and secure transfer/storage procedures for child and survivor-related information.

Accountability to Affected People and Safeguarding
•    Establish and maintain safe, confidential, accessible and age-appropriate feedback and complaints channels, including information for children, caregivers and youth on how to provide feedback.
•    Maintain feedback registers and response timeliness tracking for routine programme feedback; analyse trends and report actions taken to management.
•    Immediately route safeguarding, PSEAH, child protection or other sensitive allegations via approved confidential reporting procedures; do not investigate or handle such allegations through general feedback logs.
•    Promote meaningful participation and disability-, gender- and age-sensitive approaches in monitoring and accountability activities.

Reporting, Learning and Coordination
•    Prepare verified MEAL summaries, indicator tables, data visualizations, methodological notes and evidence packs for monthly management review, donor narrative reporting and audits.
•    Provide analytical support to the Programme Coordinator on performance, outcome-level results, implementation bottlenecks and corrective measures, clearly separating verified achievements from planned activities.
•    Facilitate periodic learning and reflection meetings; record lessons, decisions and follow-up actions and assess whether programme adaptations are effective.
•    Coordinate closely with the Senior Programme Officer, Programme Officer, social workers, youth staff, finance and support services while preserving independence of MEAL verification.
•    Support MEAL-related donor communication and technical discussions as requested by the Programme Coordinator, and maintain orderly, auditable documentation.

Capacity Building and Professional Development
•    Coach project staff on indicator interpretation, data collection, documentation standards, ethical monitoring, database use, feedback mechanisms and data protection.
•    Develop practical guidance, reporting templates and refresher sessions; identify and address recurring data quality or reporting capacity gaps.
•    Plan and monitor MEAL activity needs and related budget requirements in coordination with the Programme Coordinator and finance, without assuming financial authorization responsibilities.

Professional Standards
The LWF and LWF workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the Code of Conduct, the Core Humanitarian Standard and relevant LWF policies including Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), Child Protection and Gender Justice. The staff member must conduct themselves, professionally and personally, in a manner that upholds LWF’s humanitarian mission, confidentiality and do-no-harm commitments.

Education and Work Experience
•    University degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Information Management or a related discipline; advanced MEAL certification is an advantage.
•    At least five years of relevant MEAL experience, preferably in humanitarian, protection, child protection or youth programmes in Syria or comparable complex operating contexts.
•    Demonstrated experience in results frameworks, outcome monitoring, quantitative and qualitative methods, data quality assurance, accountability mechanisms and donor reporting.
•    Experience with child-sensitive data protection, responsible handling of confidential programme records and multi-disciplinary team coordination is strongly preferred.

Technical Skills and Competencies
•    Advanced Excel skills and practical experience with digital data collection/analysis tools (e.g., Kobo/ODK, Power BI, SPSS or equivalent).
•    Ability to conduct surveys, sampling, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and quality checks, and interpret findings for programme decisions.
•    Excellent written and spoken Arabic and strong working English, including concise analytical and donor-facing writing.
•    Strong analytical judgement, attention to detail, independence, planning, interpersonal skills and ability to meet deadlines in a changing operating environment.
•    Ability to travel to project locations and work respectfully with children, families, youth and vulnerable communities.

Important Considerations
This position is based in Damascus, Syria, with regular field travel to project locations in Damascus and Rural Damascus. The assignment is planned to end on 31 August 2027, subject to contract terms and donor approval.

The post holder must have the legal right to work in Syria. LWF is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates.