Senior MEAL Officer

Who we are: NQA is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit organization. NQA is dedicated to the advancement of education and health in remote and neglected regions of Afghanistan, with a specific focus on and commitment towards women and girls.

Our vision: an educated, healthy and balanced society in which women and men lead together social, cultural and economic changes in an inclusive manner that enable their children - boys and girls- to thrive.

Our mission: improve access to education and health in particular for women and girls of marginalized communities in remote areas of the country: mobilize local communities to build strong and empowered communities and foster change through sustainable development of rural Afghanistan.

NQA implements projects by Afghans, with Afghans and for Afghans. The association is committed to strengthening the dignity, self-confidence and initiative of the population in general, and of women and girls in particular.

For information on our projects, see www.nai-qala.org.

Overall Responsibility

The Senior MEAL Officer is responsible for implementing and strengthening NQA’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems. This role ensures that our work remains relevant, effective, community-centered, and evidence-based, in line with NQA’s MEAL policy and the challenging realities of rural Afghanistan.

The Senior MEAL Officer will support program quality across the project cycle from design to closure and promote a culture of reflection, learning, and continuous improvement within a small, committed team.

Key Responsibilities

1.     Monitoring and Evaluation:

1.1  Develop and implement MEAL frameworks and tools that align with NQA’s mission and project objectives;

1.2  Lead the design of indicators and data collection methods appropriate for education and health programs in rural areas;

1.3  Conduct regular field visits to monitor project progress and ensure data quality;

1.4  Coordinate and lead baseline, midline, and endline assessments as needed;

1.5  Ensure analysis of program data and its integration into reporting and program design.

2.     Accountability:

2.1  Establish and maintain accessible, community-appropriate feedback and complaints mechanisms in all project areas;

2.2  Promote community participation in all stages of the project cycle, including monitoring and evaluation activities;

2.3  Document and address feedback in line with NQA’s values of transparency, respect, and responsiveness.

3.     Learning and Adaptation:

3.1  Facilitate regular reflection and learning sessions with staff and community representatives;

3.2  Document and share lessons learned, success stories, and case studies to improve programs and inform strategy;

3.3  Promote the use of data for decision-making at all levels of the organization.

4.     Capacity Building:

4.1  Build the MEAL capacity of program staff, volunteers, and community-based monitors through mentoring and training;

4.2  Promote a shared understanding of MEAL principles among all staff, aligned with NQA’s policy on equity, inclusion, and ethical practice.

5.     Reporting and Documentation:

5.1  Support timely and accurate donor and internal reports through high-quality data and analysis;

5.2  Maintain an organized and confidential archive of MEAL data, reports, and feedback records;

5.3 Support proposal development with M&E frameworks, indicators, and evidence-based input. 

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Education, Public Health, Development Studies, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar MEAL role, preferably with NGOs in rural or fragile contexts.
• Experience in developing MEAL frameworks and tools tailored to low-resource settings.
• Strong skills in data collection and analysis, including use of tools like Kobo Tool box, Excel, and mobile data platforms.
• Proven ability to facilitate community-based M&E and engage diverse groups in feedback and learning.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; working knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto strongly preferred.
• Deep commitment to NQA’s values of equity, inclusion, ethics, and community voice.

Other Requirements

• Willingness to travel regularly to remote, hard-to-reach areas.

• High degree of cultural sensitivity.
• Understanding of confidentiality, data protection, and ethical standards in MEAL.
• Familiarity with education and health program indicators is an asset.

Nai Qala Association (NQA) is an equal-opportunity employer committed to transparent, open, fair, and merit-based recruitment.

NQA maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards protection on sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH), abuse of authority, discrimination, and all other forms of misconduct. The organization is firmly committed to safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk. Successful candidates will be required to comply fully with all applicable NQA policies, procedures, codes of conduct, and safeguarding standards. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon the satisfactory completion of reference and background checks.  

Applicants must not attempt to influence the recruitment process through inappropriate contact, lobbying or interference. Such conduct, or repeated inappropriate follow-up, may result in disqualification.

Qualified applicants who are exactly suitable with the above criteria are requested to send their applications + CVs through this link: 

Link: https://forms.gle/KQhsQjqHqzgnuAKF6