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About the Role

The Head of MEAL provides strategic leadership for War Child’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) function, ensuring high-quality evidence, learning and data systems that strengthen programme quality, organisational accountability and evidence-based decision-making. The role leads the development and operationalisation of War Child’s global MEAL framework, data strategy and quality assurance systems, with a strong focus on Evidence-Based Methods (EBMs), Quality of Care (QoC) indicators, and continuous learning. The Head of MEAL manages a global team of MEAL, knowledge and data specialists, supports country offices and partners through mutual capacity strengthening, and positions MEAL as a core enabler of programme excellence, scaling and localisation.

Responsibilities

Set and steward War Child’s global MEAL, knowledge and data strategy, ensuring it drives programme quality, organisational learning and evidence-based decision-making.
Ensure effective implementation and continuous improvement of the Global MEAL Framework, aligned with organisational strategy, Theory of Change, thematic priorities and Evidence-Based Methods (EBMs).
Guarantee that MEAL systems enable accountability, learning and adaptive management at global and country levels, strengthening programme relevance and impact.
Lead the integration of MEAL across the EBM portfolio, ensuring consistent application of Quality of Care (QoC) indicators, evidence standards and learning processes.
Provide organisational oversight of evidence and QoC data, ensuring consolidated analysis informs leadership review, strategic direction and scaling decisions.
Enable continuous adaptation, localisation and scale-up of EBMs, using MEAL evidence to guide improvement and contextual relevance.
Uphold alignment with international MEAL and quality standards, strengthening organisational credibility, consistency and best practice.
Provide authoritative technical leadership in MEAL, knowledge and data, guiding global, country and partner teams to strengthen quality and coherence of practice.
Ensure robust MEAL data governance and digital enablement, safeguarding ethical, secure and effective use of programme data while strengthening digital tools, dashboards and insight generation.
Build and lead a high-performing global MEAL function, ensuring strong team leadership, capacity strengthening across countries and partners, and positioning War Child as a credible sector leader in evidence, accountability and learning.
Ensure MEAL systems serve organisational priorities across programming, fundraising, advocacy and accountability.
Act as a strategic partner to senior leadership by translating complex MEAL data into actionable organisational insights.
Support localisation by promoting proportional, partner-appropriate MEAL approaches and mutual capacity strengthening.
Embed accountability to children and communities through feedback mechanisms and learning loops.
Align MEAL processes with donor requirements without compromising organisational learning priorities.
Strengthen internal collaboration between MEAL, Programme Quality, R&D, Advocacy, Communications and Funding teams.
Support organisational change processes by ensuring learning and evidence guide adaptation and decision-making.
Represent War Child in global MEAL, learning and accountability networks and initiatives.
Promote a learning culture that values reflection, curiosity, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Relevant academic background in MEAL, social sciences, development, public policy, data or related fields.
Master’s degree desirable.
Relevant experience in MEAL, knowledge management and/or data analysis.
Significant experience working in humanitarian or post-conflict contexts.
Demonstrated leadership of global or multi-country MEAL systems and teams.
Experience designing and operationalising MEAL frameworks, tools and learning systems.
Strong experience with EBMs, quality frameworks and international standards.
Experience in capacity strengthening, training design and facilitation.
Proven ability to work through organisational change processes.
Fluency in English is required.
Additional languages may be useful depending on stakeholder groups and organisational context, for example Arabic, Dari, French, Spanish, or Ukrainian.
Sound knowledge and understanding of children’s rights.
Knowledge of localisation and anti-racism issues and practices in humanitarian aid and development sectors.
Knowledge of geopolitical trends and conflicts in the world.
Knowledge of digital tools and software such as Mural, Miro, Sharepoint, MS Teams, etc.

Skills

MEAL
Knowledge Management
Data Analysis
Evidence-Based Methods (EBMs)
Quality of Care (QoC) indicators
Digital tools and software (Mural, Miro, Sharepoint, MS Teams)

Location

Afghanistan
Central African Republic
Colombia
DR Congo
Germany
Jordan
Lebanon
Occupied Palestinian territory
South Sudan
Sweden
Syria
Uganda
Ukraine
Yemen
Netherlands
United Kingdom

Work Type

Local contract

Experience Level

Leadership of global or multi-country MEAL systems and teams
Significant experience working in humanitarian or post-conflict contexts

Education Level

Master’s degree desirable

Benefits

Salary and secondary labour conditions based on the in-country salary scale
Local T&C's will apply
Meaningful Impact
Professional Growth
Global Reach
Collaborative & Inclusive Culture

About the Company

The War Child Alliance is an international non-governmental organization committed to providing psychosocial support, child protection, youth empowerment programming and quality education to the children affected by armed conflict.
We implement evidence-based interventions to empower key stakeholders—including governments, educators, caregivers, and communities—to foster children’s wellbeing, education, and self-determination.
We work with global teams with team members being based in different locations.
War Child is currently operates in: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Colombia, DR Congo, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, South Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Uganda, Ukraine (soon to be registered), and Yemen.
We also have offices in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Our work with children and at-risk adults to keep them safe is the most important thing we do.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in all areas of our work.
We have zero tolerance for any behaviours and practices that puts children and/or vulnerable adults at risk of abuse and/or harm.
All (prospective) employees will be expected to be compliant with and sign up to our Child Safeguarding policy, our Code of Conduct and PSEA: Adults at Risk Policy.

Equal Opportunity

We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to ensuring that all our people and job applicants are treated fairly, irrespective of where, what or whom they were born, or of other characteristics.
We want to offer a safe and inclusive workplace where all our people, especially those who are currently marginalised or underrepresented, can be themselves at work.