Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is one of the largest aid organizations in the Nordic region. We respond to disasters and emergencies by providing water and critical assistance to those affected. Through our international network and partner organizations in the ACT Alliance, we reach millions of people each year, helping to make a positive difference around the world. Our mission is to eradicate injustice, and we work passionately on advocacy, long-term development in local communities, and emergency assistance.
As the number of people impacted by disasters continues to rise, we are committed to delivering more emergency relief and ensuring access to clean water. We believe that people in need must be helped, and we will not stop fighting for a just world.
NCA has been operational in northeastern Nigeria, providing humanitarian relief with a strong presence in Monguno, Maiduguri, Pulka, and Dikwa.
We are now seeking the right candidate to join our team as a Senior MEAL Officer to help us further our mission and contribute to ongoing efforts in the region. (See details below).
TITLE: Senior MEAL Officer
REPORTING TO: SMT
DUTY STATION: Maiduguri, Borno State
TIME FRAME: 1 year – with possibility of extension
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Reporting to the SMT, the overall purpose of this position is to support NCA performance and accountability in effective planning, monitoring and evaluation, by developing, innovating, supervising and supporting technically the introduction and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems, methods, and processes across NCA grants and projects in Nigeria.
The Senior MEAL Officer will be responsible for ensuring data collection, quality assurance, aggregation and analysis of results. This entails collaborating closely with the Programme Managers and office staff, providing technical assistance and guidance on M&E related matters. Responsibilities include ensuring reliable monitoring and evaluation for all NCA operational and partner-based programming, working with the Programme Team for proposal writing, donor reporting, and bolstering programs and operations through capacity-building efforts.
The position aims to elevate project quality, performance, and impact through specialized technical assistance and direction in monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning.
JOB ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Related to Objective 1
✓ Ensures quality monitoring and evaluation of all ongoing projects in collaboration with Program Managers and other relevant team members, in accordance with NCA policies and guidelines.
✓ Takes lead on quality assurance of logical frameworks/results frameworks and MEAL plans for both operational and partner-based projects – including during proposal development.
✓ In cooperation with Programme Managers – ensures routines and procedures aligned with global NCA standards are in place and followed, for partner and project follow up, monitoring and reporting.
✓ Takes lead on ensuring best practice within the COs MEAL work, and compliance with relevant donor expectations and requirements.
✓ Supports management, and the Finance and Programme teams with regular updates and analysis on progress against set targets for ongoing interventions – with a focus on trends, deviations and challenges.
✓ In collaboration with the program managers, leads updating the Project Management Information Management System (PIMS) regularly.
✓ Develops and implements a system for regular collection and analysis of Most Significant Change stories from the field – for learning as well as promotional purposes.
✓ Conducts field visits and support program staff on data collection, reporting and data cleaning to inform program implementation.
✓ Supervises and manages the day-to-day activities and performance of the MEAL assistant.
Related to Objective 2:
✓ Plans and ensures needs assessments are conducted on a regular basis to ensure availability of up-to-date data on contextual development – or when needed for proposal development.
✓ Initiates and supports planning and implementation of evaluations and research as/when relevant/required.
✓ Develops and ensures use of appropriate resources and tools for data collection in relation to assessments, research, evaluations, etc.
✓ Takes lead on following up application of learning from assessments, evaluations, research, etc., to improve programmes in dialogue with the Programme Team and management.
Related to Objective 3:
✓ Be responsible for the administration/management and use of MEAL related digital tools relevant for NCA Nigeria – including KOBO and Power BI.
✓ Takes lead on ensuring data is collected and reported for both operational and partner-based project through KOBO, according to relevant MEAL-plans.
✓ Takes lead on quality assurance and cleaning of data collected through KOBO for analysis and reporting.
✓ In cooperation with the Programme team, ensures availability and use of quality assured data for reporting to donors.
✓ Develops, maintains and updates CO grant and project dashboards in Power BI – and present latest updates and analysis in relevant CO meetings (SMT and grant review meetings) for further discussion and follow-up.
✓ Ensures the production of periodic statistical reports: weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually, according to internal and external requirements.
✓ Ensures the production of monthly sitreps (situation reports).
Related to Objective 4
✓ Ensures management and follow-up of the COs CRM system – in compliance with NCA policies.
✓ Supervises and manages the day-to-day activities and performance of the CRM adviser and assistant.
Related to Objective 5
✓ Takes lead on identification of MEAL-related capacity building needs, internally and with partners – and development and implementation of capacity building plans based on identified needs.
✓ Represent the Nigeria office in NCA’s global MEL CoP – and follow up relevant global processes and developments with the Country Office, as relevant.
Additional Job Responsibilities -The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the Post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Essential Criteria:
- Technical Expertise in MEAL: Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing effective MEAL systems, including data collection tools, analysis methodologies, and reporting frameworks.
- Commitment to NCA Values: Strong commitment to NCA’s core values, including integrity, transparency, and accountability, as well as adherence to safeguarding and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards.
- Data Management Skills: Proven ability to manage large datasets, ensuring data accuracy and integrity, and the ability to synthesize information for reports and presentations.
- Analysis and Reporting: Strong analytical skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports on program outcomes, effectiveness, and impact, providing valuable insights for decision-making.
- Accountability and Feedback Mechanisms: Experience in establishing and maintaining community-based feedback and complaints mechanisms to enhance program accountability.
- Capacity Building: Proven track record in training and mentoring staff on MEAL processes and fostering a learning culture within the organization.
- Communication Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present complex data in a clear and compelling way to stakeholders and team members.
- Cultural Competence: Ability to work effectively in a culturally diverse environment, understanding and respecting local dynamics and promoting collaboration with community stakeholders.
- Fieldwork Readiness: Willingness to travel to project sites, conduct field monitoring visits, and engage with program beneficiaries and field teams to ensure MEAL systems are functioning effectively.
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Development Studies, Monitoring and Evaluation, or a related field. Professional Certification: Additional certifications in MEAL-related fields (e.g., M&E, statistics, program management) will be an added advantage.
Experience:
- INGO Experience: Minimum of 4 years of experience working with International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGO), preferably in humanitarian or emergency settings.
- MEAL System Implementation: Proven experience in establishing and managing MEAL systems, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Program Evaluation: Experience in evaluating program impact and outcomes, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
- Collaboration: Experience working closely with program teams, donors, and other stakeholders to ensure the effective integration of MEAL activities into overall project planning.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Interested and qualified candidates should submit a copy of their CV and cover letter in a single PDF file to [email protected], using the subject line “Senior MEAL Officer”
Please ensure that you follow these instructions carefully, as failure to do so may result in disqualification from the recruitment process.
Application Deadline: Applications will close on 4th November 2024, at 4 PM.
Important Notes:
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we encourage early submission.
• We are committed to a fair and transparent recruitment process, ensuring all applications are evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and relevant experience, free from bias or discrimination.
• We value diversity and encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.
• Only candidates who meet the specified qualifications will be contacted for the subsequent phases of the recruitment process.
NCA’S Commitments
NCA is committed to following the following policies, standards and commitments and all staff are equally expected to conform to their requirements:
• Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP)
• Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in
Disaster Relief
• ACT Alliance Code of Conduct
• SPHERE Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Relief
• NCA Nigeria Security Plan
• NCA Nigeria Staff Handbook
Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:
Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within Norwegian Church Aid and amongst beneficiaries served by Norwegian Church Aid.
Compliance & Ethics:
Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance and ethics within Norwegian Church Aid.
As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of Norwegian Church Aid’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Conducts work with the highest level of integrity. Communicates these values to staff and to partners and requires them to adhere to these values.
