MEAL Consultant job at Relief International

MEAL Consultant

MEAL - South Sudan (Remote)

Statement of Work

Consultancy Title: MEAL Consultant

Location(s) where the Services are to be performed: Remote (time zone +/-3 hours from Eastern Africa Time)

Contracting Manager: Deputy Country Director, Programs

Dates: 4 Months (March – Jun 2026)

Pre Hire Checks Requirements:

Depending on the nature of services of this contract, if the consultant if traveling to RI field operations they will require Advanced pre contracting checks.

About Relief International

Relief International is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing. We work in 16 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, providing Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education and Livelihoods programming that creates the foundation for community resilience.

About RI South Sudan

Relief International (RI) in South Sudan is recognized for its effectiveness in emergency response and lifesaving programs that reach the most vulnerable communities in some of the country’s hardest-to-access areas. Our teams are trusted by communities and respected by partners for their integrity, professionalism, and commitment to principled humanitarian action. Joining RI means being part of a mission-driven team that values impact, accountability, and innovation, and works collaboratively to deliver results that restore dignity and hope where it’s needed most.

Scope and Nature of Services:

The MEAL Consultant will provide technical oversight and guidance to strengthen RI’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems in South Sudan over a four-month period. The consultant will lead the design and operationalization of robust, harmonized MEAL systems that ensure programs are evidence-driven, accountable to affected populations, and aligned with RI global standards and donor requirements.

As a seasoned MEAL professional with an advanced degree in monitoring and evaluation, social sciences, or a related field, the consultant brings deep expertise in MEAL systems development, community feedback and complaints response mechanisms (CRM), information management, and humanitarian needs assessments in complex and fragile contexts. The role plays a critical advisory function, shaping country-level approaches to data quality, analysis, and use, and embedding learning across the program cycle. Working closely with senior leadership, technical teams, and field staff, the consultant strengthens institutional capacity, promotes a culture of accountability and learning, and ensures that high-quality evidence informs strategic decision-making, program design, and portfolio growth in South Sudan.

Information, services or resources to be provided by the consultant:

MEAL Systems Development

• Conduct a rapid review of existing MEAL systems, tools, SOPs, staffing structures, and capacities across the South Sudan country program.
• Map current practices against RI global MEAL standards and donor requirements.
• Develop or refine a comprehensive country-level MEAL framework, including:
  • Standardized indicator tracking
  • Clear roles, responsibilities, and workflows between program, MEAL, and field teams
  • Guidance on baseline, midline, endline, and post-distribution monitoring approaches
• Develop or update MEAL Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and practical guidance notes.
• Support the integration of MEAL systems into program design, proposal development, and implementation cycles.

Complaints Response Mechanism (CRM)

• Review existing accountability and feedback mechanisms at country and field levels.
• Design or strengthen a harmonized, context-appropriate CRM for South Sudan, ensuring:
  • Multiple safe and accessible feedback channels
  • Clear intake, referral, response, and closure procedures
  • Alignment with RI safeguarding, PSEA, and data protection policies
• Develop CRM tools, tracking systems, and reporting templates.
• Support training and sensitization of staff and partners on CRM principles and procedures.
• Provide recommendations for CRM governance, resourcing, and sustainability.

Information Management (IM)

• Review existing IM systems, databases, dashboards, and reporting workflows.
• Support the development or refinement of IM tools (e.g., data collection platforms, dashboards, reporting templates) that are user-friendly and field appropriate.
• Strengthen data quality assurance processes, including data validation, storage, and protection.
• Develop guidance on data analysis, visualization, and use for decision-making.
• Support capacity strengthening of MEAL and program staff on IM tools and data literacy.

Needs Assessments

• Review current approaches to needs assessments, including rapid assessments, multi-sector assessments, and sector-specific tools.
• Develop or standardize needs assessment methodologies and tools aligned with humanitarian best practices and South Sudan context.
• Support the integration of assessment findings into program design, targeting, and adaptive management.
• Provide guidance on secondary data review, triangulation, and analysis.
• Where feasible, support or advise on at least one priority assessment exercise during the consultancy period.

Capacity Strengthening

• Conduct targeted trainings, workshops, and on-the-job mentoring for MEAL and program staff.
• Develop practical job aids, templates, and learning materials.
• Promote a culture of learning, reflection, and adaptive management through structured learning moments.
• Provide actionable recommendations for longer-term MEAL capacity development and resourcing.

Deliverables:

The consultant is expected to deliver the following (final list to be agreed during inception):

• Inception report with workplan and timeline.
• MEAL systems review and gap analysis report.
• Country-level MEAL framework and/or updated MEAL SOPs.
• CRM design packages, including SOPs, tools, and reporting templates.
• IM tools and guidance (e.g., dashboards, data workflows, QA guidance).
• Standardized needs assessment tools and training guide.
• Training materials, schedule of capacity-strengthening activities, and post-training reports.
• Final report with key findings, achievements, and recommendations.

Payments:

This will be monthly payments based on submitted Invoice with supervisor approval on the deliverables

Requirements:

• Advanced degree in monitoring and evaluation, social sciences, international development, or a related field.
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in MEAL roles in humanitarian or fragile contexts.
• Demonstrated experience developing MEAL systems, CRM, and IM frameworks at country or regional level.
• Strong experience conducting and designing humanitarian needs assessments.
• Previous experience in South Sudan or similar complex, conflict-affected contexts is strongly preferred.
• Excellent facilitation, training, and capacity-building skills.
• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills in English.

RI Values.

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

We value:

• Integrity
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability

• Conduct a rapid review of existing MEAL systems, tools, SOPs, staffing structures, and capacities across the South Sudan country program.
• Map current practices against RI global MEAL standards and donor requirements.
• Develop or refine a comprehensive country-level MEAL framework, including: Standardized indicator tracking, Clear roles, responsibilities, and workflows between program, MEAL, and field teams, Guidance on baseline, midline, endline, and post-distribution monitoring approaches.
• Develop or update MEAL Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and practical guidance notes.
• Support the integration of MEAL systems into program design, proposal development, and implementation cycles.
• Review existing accountability and feedback mechanisms at country and field levels.
• Design or strengthen a harmonized, context-appropriate CRM for South Sudan, ensuring: Multiple safe and accessible feedback channels, Clear intake, referral, response, and closure procedures, Alignment with RI safeguarding, PSEA, and data protection policies.
• Develop CRM tools, tracking systems, and reporting templates.
• Support training and sensitization of staff and partners on CRM principles and procedures.
• Provide recommendations for CRM governance, resourcing, and sustainability.
• Review existing IM systems, databases, dashboards, and reporting workflows.
• Support the development or refinement of IM tools (e.g., data collection platforms, dashboards, reporting templates) that are user-friendly and field appropriate.
• Strengthen data quality assurance processes, including data validation, storage, and protection.
• Develop guidance on data analysis, visualization, and use for decision-making.
• Support capacity strengthening of MEAL and program staff on IM tools and data literacy.
• Review current approaches to needs assessments, including rapid assessments, multi-sector assessments, and sector-specific tools.
• Develop or standardize needs assessment methodologies and tools aligned with humanitarian best practices and South Sudan context.
• Support the integration of assessment findings into program design, targeting, and adaptive management.
• Provide guidance on secondary data review, triangulation, and analysis.
• Where feasible, support or advise on at least one priority assessment exercise during the consultancy period.
• Conduct targeted trainings, workshops, and on-the-job mentoring for MEAL and program staff.
• Develop practical job aids, templates, and learning materials.
• Promote a culture of learning, reflection, and adaptive management through structured learning moments.
• Provide actionable recommendations for longer-term MEAL capacity development and resourcing.

• MEAL systems development
• Community feedback and complaints response mechanisms (CRM)
• Information management
• Humanitarian needs assessments
• Data quality assurance
• Data analysis and visualization
• Facilitation
• Training
• Capacity building
• Analytical skills
• Writing skills
• Communication skills

• Advanced degree in monitoring and evaluation, social sciences, international development, or a related field.
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in MEAL roles in humanitarian or fragile contexts.
• Demonstrated experience developing MEAL systems, CRM, and IM frameworks at country or regional level.
• Strong experience conducting and designing humanitarian needs assessments.
• Previous experience in South Sudan or similar complex, conflict-affected contexts is strongly preferred.
• Excellent facilitation, training, and capacity-building skills.
• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills in English.