Monitoring , Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Support Officer at Christian Aid (CA)

Christian Aid (CA) is a UK-based international NGO, partnering with others to end poverty in Africa. At the heart of this vision is the transformation of the lives of people who live in poverty, empowering them to have a brighter future. Christian Aid works in more than 30 countries and has been operating in Nigeria since 2003. The Nigeria Country programme focuses on Community Health and HIV, Accountable Governance including humanitarian response and Gender.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Monitoring , Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Support Officer

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Department: International
Reports to: MEAL Coordinator
Contracted hours: 35
Contract length: 5 months

Role purpose  

• The role holder will support Christian Aid’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria with special focuses on monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning sector interventions.
• She/he will support donor funded programmes which are implemented by Christian Aid and it partners in Borno and other northeast states.
• The role holder will assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of Christian Aid’s humanitarian response activities, providing effective and timely support (including capacity building) to liberated communities and partner organizations, enabling them to implement the rapid, effective and principled MEAL response to emergencies, and ensuring that this is in line with Christian Aid’s country strategy and Humanitarian Standards.
• The role holder will be representing CAID in sector working groups meetings/activities and engage in the right networks, while increasing the profile of CA Humanitarian and resilience work and its visibility in the locations of work. 

Role Context  

• The role will report to the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning Coordinator and work with the MEAL Unit to ensure quality programming, delivery and learning based on evidence of impact at field level.
• The MEAL Support Officer also works closely with programme teams and MEAL staff to ensure compliance with Christian requirement on the project and Christian Aid standards on progress, monitoring and programme quality.
• Impact and influence of the job is mostly within the job holder’s own technical programme unit (i.e. Borno Humanitarian response) but occasionally also with an external audience.

Key Outcomes 

• In liaison with programme team, support the coordination of the implementation of an effective monitoring and evaluation process for the projects so that a constant assessment of programme effectiveness can be undertaken and adjustments made as necessary.
• Maintain, guide and roll out the schedule of project and review work plans and evaluations surveys. 
• Build the capacity of project staff to carry out MEAL activities within their own project areas 
• As required, assist teams to collate information to feed into reports and programme planning, reporting. 
• Organise Post Distribution Monitoring Surveys and compile the report periodically.
• Ensure that quantitative & qualitative information from various sources are collected and compiled for final reporting against the indicators in the log frame.
• Take lead in setting feedback mechanisms and to ensure beneficiaries’ opinions feed into programme planning and design. 

Role requirements
Relationships: 

• External: Build  strong relationships with partners, networks, donors, stakeholders and community beneficiaries.
• Internal: Build strong relationship with program departments, program managers, M&E units and all in-country and global staff.

Decision Making:  

• Make decisions in order to manage team effectively, from recruitment of volunteers and program staff to day to day management of team members.
• Also providing technical input and overall leadership to MEAL team.
• Day to day decision to ensure partner portfolio projects are running effectively and higher levels decisions on supporting the projects informed by Christian Aid's strategy and strategic focus areas. Makes decisions around project proposals, ensuring they are prepared and comply with reporting requirements.
• Make policy decisions that support standing and emergency issues.
• Contribute to shaping and implementing MEAL strategy, making sound decisions to support this. Analytical skills  
• Works on complex specialist/ technical issues.  Problems and issue, risks and benefits may have implications across a number of departments.   
• Required to develop new ways of doing things to better meet program goals requiring substantial creative or analytical ability.

Developing self and others:

• Has direct responsibility for developing, coaching and motivating a team or teams of colleagues/project team members.Focus will be on advising and guiding senior management on policy issues/high level procedures and direct line management responsibility may be limited. 

Person specification
Applied skills/knowledge and expertise:
 
Essential: 

• First degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science with 2 – 3 years’ experience in emergency response.
• Experience of humanitarian emergency and development work and an understanding of Food, Security & Livelihood (FSL), Nutrition, protection, and gender needs.
• Designing Mobile surveys, collecting, cleaning and analysing data.
• Extensive proven field experience in diverse contexts;
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate in English clearly both verbally and in writing.
• Excellent coordination and influencing skills; local languages are a further advantage.
• Systematic and organised in approach, with ability to work on own initiative.
• Effective team player and demonstrates creativity in seeking better ways of doing things and sharing same with the team.

Desirable:

• Ability to communicate in the local languages. IT competency required Intermediate.

Competency profile 
LEVEL 1: You are expected to be able to: 

Build partnerships:

• Work in a collaborative way that develops positive relationships and proactively provide help to others.
• Proactively participate in team work and contribute ideas, including those that may be beyond your own or your team’s role.
• Keep others informed about what is going on in your own work area.
• Treat everyone with courteousness, dignity and respect, recognising that people are different and have different views.
• Act and behave consistently with what you say.

Communicate effectively:

• Communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.
• Pass on messages or information promptly and accurately, ensuring clarity and understanding.
• Proactively question to clarify when needed.
• Explain things simply and in a different way if someone appears not to have understood. 
• Be sensitive to and take responsibility for how your actions and words impact on others and adapt if necessary.

Steward resources:

• Be responsible for using resources economically, whether these are Christian Aid resources or wider environmental resources.
• Recognise that time is a resource and take responsibility and proactive measures for managing your time effectively.

Deliver Results:

• Agree your work plan and priorities, keep track of your own progress and keep others informed.
• Check the quality of your own work and deliver to expectations.
• Seek clarification and support from your manager when needed, ensuring appropriate sign-off.
• Respond promptly to the requests of others, handling competing priorities and seeking guidance on these where appropriate.
• Consider the consequences of your actions, and take responsibility for the impact on your work, your colleagues and team objectives.
• Be accountable for your actions.

Realise potential:

• Acknowledge gaps in your own knowledge and skills and seek out information and advice in order to learn.
• Regularly ask for and act on feedback on own performance.
• Assist others by showing how to complete tasks and sharing knowledge.  

Strive for improvement:

• Demonstrate openness and willingness to embrace change, be flexible and adapt to new methods of working.
• Respond quickly and positively to new initiatives.
• Find ways to make improvements in your work and ways of working.
• Show initiative when faced with problems and proactively seek solutions.
• Willingly share knowledge and information that may help others.

Remuneration
N3,528,327.96

Interview Date
12th February, 2018.

Application Closing Date
6th February, 2018

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here to view more information (pdf)