Tenders are invited for External Review of ACF USAs MEAL Function. Closing Date: 5 Jun 2026 Background Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a non-profit that works across 55 countries, our 8,990 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good. Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, Action Against Hunger USA currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Haiti. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $100 million in programs, and approximately 1,800 permanent staff based in New York City, Washington D.C, Nairobi, and country offices. Additional growth is anticipated. Rationale Action Against Hunger USA (ACF USA) continues to invest in strengthening its Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems at both headquarters/HEARO and country office levels to support evidence-informed decision-making, accountability to affected populations, adaptive project/program management, donor compliance, and organizational learning. As part of these efforts, ACF USA has conducted two internal/self-led MEAL system reviews in recent years: A Country Offices MEAL Capacity Self-Assessment (2024), covering eight country offices across 13 MEAL thematic areas, which highlighted uneven maturity, with persistent weaknesses in data systems, data safety and security, budgeting, and system-wide standardization. An ACF USA MEAL System Diagnostic (2025), which provided a comparative synthesis of self-assessment findings, identified systemic risks (notably around data protection, staffing, and individual-level data systems), and explicitly noted the limitations and subjectivity inherent in self-assessment methodologies. Both reviews relied on a standardized internal tool, the MEAL Capacity Assessment Tool (MEALCAT), covering functional domains such as human resources, MEAL planning, data collection and management, data quality assurance, accountability, learning, evaluation, leadership, and budgeting. While these internal reviews have generated valuable insights and informed several improvement actions, ACF USA leadership now seeks an external, independent review to: Validate and triangulate existing findings through an objective lens; Assess effectiveness of our MEAL systems and infrastructure/architecture and the extent to which they are fit for purpose (including the ability to respond to ACF Network measurement needs) Identify blind spots and systemic risks that internal processes may not fully capture; Benchmark ACF USAs MEAL system against international best practice; Provide prioritized, actionable, and costed recommendations to guide the next phase of MEAL system strengthening. Assess existing ACF US compendia indicators (including outcome indicators) and how these are utilized for project designs, monitoring and evaluation? Assess data quality assurance protocols (accuracy, completeness, timeliness) and extent of adherence to those protocols at all levels (base, country office, regional office, and global). This engagement will focus on how we can improve the MEAL function fundamentals around project design, start up, implementation (including Monitoring and Evaluation), and closeout, including alignment between program portfolios and country strategies. Purpose and Objectives of the Review Purpose The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct an independent, organization-wide assessment of the ACF USA MEAL function; Benchmark it against best practice, Determine gaps, and Provide recommendations to address the gaps. Specific Objectives The consultant will: Assess the design, coherence, and functionality of the ACF USA MEAL system across all organizational layers, from bases to country offices, regional and global structures; including the architecture, governance, and interrelationships between these levels. Evaluate the extent to which the MEAL system is fit for purpose, including its ability to: Support program design, implementation, and closeout Meet ACF Network measurement and reporting requirements Enable coherent data flows, aggregation, and decision-making across levels Validate, triangulate, and integrate findings from previous assessments, including: The 2024 and 2025 internal MEAL self-assessments, and Earlier ELA-led MEAL assessments, identifying areas of convergence, divergence, and potential bias. Assess capacities, competencies, and skill gaps of MEAL staff across all levels, including: Technical MEAL skills Competencies in data quality assurance, accountability to affected populations (AAP), evaluation, and learning Capacity to appropriately use digital tools and emerging technologies (including AI) and provide recommendations for strengthening MEAL human resource capacity. Assess the effectiveness of MEAL systems, data architecture, and data management practices, including: Integration and interoperability of systems Data quality assurance processes and adherence Data protection and responsible data practices Evaluate the quality and use of MEAL data and processes across the full MEAL spectrum, including monitoring (quantitative and qualitative), evaluation, AAP, and learning, with a focus on how evidence is used for decision-making, adaptation, and accountability. Assess the quality of MEAL integration into program design and implementation, including theories of change, indicators (including compendium indicators), lifecycle integration of baselines and evaluations, and alignment with country strategies. Review ACF USAs engagement with the Action Against Hunger Network MEAL architecture, including alignment with network standards, platforms, and coordination mechanisms. Explore and assess opportunities for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics within the MEAL system, including: Potential use cases to improve data collection, analysis, reporting, learning, and decision-making Risks related to data protection, bias, ethics, and accountability Organizational readiness (systems, skills, governance) to adopt AI responsibly and provide practical recommendations for safe, ethical, and value-adding use. Provide practical, prioritized, and sequenced recommendations (short-, medium-, long-term), including resource implications, to strengthen the MEAL system holistically. 2. Scope of the Review The review will be organization-wide, covering ACF USA offices in the US, Nairobi and a sample of four country offices, and twelve bases (three bases per country office). Tentatively: Ethiopia, Somalia South Sudan and Zambia or Kenya) will be visited by the consultant. The consultant will virtually engage with the rest of the country offices where there will be no field visits. Furthermore, the consultant will engage with the Evaluation, Learning and Accountability (ELA) team and other ACF network members. Thematic Scope The review will cover, at minimum, the following: MEAL System Architecture, Governance, and Relationships System design across HQ, regional, CO, and base levels Governance, roles, and decision-making structures Functional relationships and data/reporting flows System coherence in relation to program and organizational hierarchies MEAL Capacity and Resourcing Staffing structures and workload distribution Skills and competency gaps across MEAL domains Capacity in DQA, AAP, evaluation, and learning Capacity to use digital tools, data systems, and emerging technologies (including AI) Training systems and career pathways MEAL Systems, Data Architecture, and Digital Ecosystem Data systems (including ADMS and other tools) Integration and interoperability across levels Data flows from base to HQ and to network Data storage, accessibility, and usability Readiness of systems to support advanced analytics and AI-enabled processes Data Quality Assurance and Responsible Data DQA systems and adherence Verification processes and audits Data protection, privacy, and responsible data practices Ethical considerations in data use, including emerging risks related to AI Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Functions Monitoring systems (quantitative and qualitative) Evaluation planning and quality Accountability to affected populations (AAP) Learning systems and knowledge management Use of evidence for decision-making and adaptation MEAL Integration in Program Design and Implementation MEL plans, theories of change, and results frameworks Indicator selection and use (including compendium indicators) Integration of baselines and evaluations Alignment with country strategies and program portfolios Use of Evidence and Decision-Making Credibility and use of data Feedback loops and adaptive management Use of evidence in strategic and operational decisions Engagement with the ACF Network Participation in MEAL IWG and other forums Use of network standards and platforms Contribution to global learning and evidence Innovation, AI, and Advanced Analytics in MEAL Current use (if any) of AI or automation in MEAL processes Potential use cases (e.g., data cleaning, forecasting, anomaly detection, text analysis, learning synthesis) Risks (bias, data privacy, misuse, over-reliance on automated outputs) Governance, safeguards, and ethical frameworks for AI use Organizational readiness (skills, systems, policies) Summary Table Organization Action Against Hunger -USA ACF USA Offices US Office (Washington & New York), HEAR Office and Country Offices i.e. Ethiopia, Ha Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4213582/external-review-acf-usas-meal-function
