Impact and Learning Manager

The Community Family Empowerment (CFE) Programme is meant to transform family and community environments into safe, nurturing and loving environments for children and young people. It builds the capacity of parents and caregivers to ensure safeguarding, socio-emotional well-being of children in homes and community settings. It empowers parents with sustainable livelihood programmes to alleviate multiple deprivation situations in families. The Impact and Learning (MEIL) Manager provides strategic leadership, system design and oversight of the Community and Family Empowerment (CFE) programmes Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Impact and Learning function across all implementation sites. The role is responsible for leading the design, implementation and continuous strengthening of an integrated MEIL framework that ensures credible, high-quality evidence is systematically generated, verified, analysed and used to inform strategic decision-making, programme learning, accountability and reporting. The MEIL Manager oversees the collection, management and analysis of programme data to assess effectiveness, outcomes and emerging impact for children, families and communities. This includes providing technical leadership on monitoring systems, evaluations, learning processes and applied research that support adaptive management and continuous improvement of the CFE programme. Primary requirements an KPA: KPA 1: MEAL System Design, Governance and Strategic Oversight Develop, lead and maintain the overall Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Impact and Learning (MEAIL) framework , including the theory of change, results chains, indicator reference sheets, targets and reporting schedules, aligned to organisational priorities, donor requirements and national policy frameworks. Ensure MEAL systems are responsive to priority vulnerabilities identified by the Provincial Department of Social Development (including child abuse and neglect, GBV, substance abuse, mental health challenges, teenage pregnancy, child-headed households and extreme poverty). Provide governance and strategic oversight to ensure MEAL plans are embedded within programme planning, implementation, reviews and adaptive management processes across all CFE sites. · Define and oversee indicators related to family strengthening, youth empowerment, child wellbeing and community resilience . KPA 2: Tools, Digital Systems and Standardisation · Approve, standardise and oversee the design and roll-out of MEAL tools, templates and digital platforms (including PDB2, ProDIGI and other approved organisational systems). · Ensure harmonised data standards, indicator definitions and reporting tools are consistently applied across all villages and social centres. · Oversee system enhancements, automation and data workflows to improve efficiency, accuracy, accessibility and use of data for decision-making. KPA 3: Supervision, Data Quality Assurance and Compliance · Provide direct supervision, coaching and performance management of MEAL Officers to ensure consistent application of MEAL standards and practices. · Lead routine Data Quality Assessments (DQAs), verification processes and compliance checks across all programme sites. · Ensure ethical data management, confidentiality, safeguarding compliance and adherence to South African legislation, donor requirements and organisational policies. · Identify and escalate systemic risks, data integrity issues and compliance gaps to senior management, with clear mitigation actions. KPA 4: Analysis, Learning and Adaptive Management · Lead the production of consolidated monthly, quarterly and annual performance dashboards, analytical reports and management insights across the CFE programme. · Facilitate structured learning processes, reflection sessions, after-action reviews and knowledge-sharing platforms to strengthen programme quality and outcomes. · Document, synthesise and promote evidence-based learning, good practices and lessons to inform programme refinement, scaling and innovation. · Promote a strong organisational culture of evidence-based decision-making, learning and continuous improvement . KPA 5: Evaluation, Research and Evidence Generation · Plan, commission and manage baseline studies, midline reviews, endline evaluations, impact assessments and special studies (internal and external). · Oversee applied research and learning initiatives that inform programme design, policy engagement and advocacy. · Ensure evaluation findings and research evidence are synthesised and translated into actionable recommendations for programme improvement. · Integrate global best practices and relevant international frameworks (including UN Guidelines for Alternative Care) into programme learning and design. KPA 6: Capacity Building and Technical Leadership · Design and implement structured capacity-building plans for MEAL Officers and programme staff on MEAL concepts, tools, indicator measurement, data analysis and reporting standards. · Provide advanced technical support to strengthen data interpretation, impact measurement and evidence use at site and programme levels. · Support programme teams to set realistic targets, track milestones and use data to improve implementation quality and outcomes. KPA 7: Reporting, Donor Accountability and Stakeholder Engagement · Ensure the production of timely, accurate and high-quality internal, management and donor reports in line with agreed schedules and standards. · Serve as the technical focal point for MEAL in donor engagements, audits, evaluations and review processes. · Present impact, learning and performance findings to donors, partners and government stakeholders. · Ensure consistency and credibility of figures, narratives and evidence across all reporting and communication products. KPA 8: CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFEGUARDING: · Responsible within own area of work to raise awareness of the SOS Child Protection Policy principles and to prevent and protect children from all forms of abuse, abandonment, exploitation, violence and discrimination. · Responsible to report any CS suspicion, concern, allegation or incident immediately following Child Safeguarding reporting procedures. CS reports should be made to the CS focal person and/or to the respective line manager. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE, QUALIFICATIONS Bachelors degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Statistics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Health or related field. Postgraduate qualification in M&E or Development Management will be an advantage. · A Valid South African Drivers Licence. EXPERIENCE Minimum 7 - 10 years experience in NGO or development programmes, with at least 5 years in MEAL leadership or management. Proven experience supervising MEAL staff and leading programme-wide MEL systems. Proficiency in data analysis tools (SPSS, Power BI, or similar) preferred. Experience in child wellbeing, family strengthening or community-based programmes required.