Accountability Specialist at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Duties and Responsibilities

The Accountability Specialist will be based in Abuja will oversee and support the overall implementation of Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) ensuring the voices of people of concern are heard and that DRC programs are aligned accordingly. The Specialist will promote a culture of accountability within the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) operations, ensuring adherence to DRC's standards, policies, and donor requirements.

The main responsibilities and tasks of the Accountability Specialist:

Accountability Mechanisms

• Implement and monitor the DRC’s accountability framework, including feedback and complaints response mechanisms (FCRM).
• Ensure that all stakeholders, including beneficiaries, are aware of the feedback and complaint procedures and that these mechanisms are accessible to all.
• Reviewing and updating relevant AAP standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Review and improve the Accountability channels, mechanisms, procedures, materials and tools with the MEAL/IM and Programmes Teams;
• Document and respond to feedback and complaints in a timely and professional manner, in line with DRC's policies.
• Ensure feedback and complaints are addressed, followed up, and closed out according to the organization's standards and timelines.
• Continually aim to improve information sharing and participation with communities, support the design and roll out of innovative methods that increase the engagement and participation of persons of concern and stakeholder at DRC Nigeria.
• Supervise the day-to-day functions of the CFM in the Area Offices and to ensure the timely entry of all feedback received from beneficiaries/stakeholders into the CFM database. Provide support required to the Area Office team. Ensure that all non-sensitive feedback should be directly referred to the DRC designated colleagues for internal and external follow-up when required. Also, ensure immediate referral of protection related concerns and sensitive feedback according to the DRC CFM workflow.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Conduct regular monitoring visits to project sites to assess the effectiveness of accountability practices.
• Design Country monthly Accountability snapshots, compile key findings & trends and design reports to ensure analysis around timeliness and effectiveness of response to beneficiary feedback;
• Support the collection, analysis, and reporting of data related to beneficiary feedback and complaints.
• Work with Evidence and Learning Specialist CFM trends to support on facilitation of learning & reflection events such as ‘action/ real-time learning’ and ‘after action’ learning events.

Capacity Building

• Provide training and capacity-building support to DRC staff, partners on accountability principles and mechanisms.
• Promote best practices in accountability across DRC's programs and operations.

Coordination and Collaboration

• Actively engage and contribute at the regional AAP working group initiatives, and also represent DRC at national AAP related forms.
• Coordinate with program teams to ensure that accountability mechanisms are integrated into project design and implementation.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure that feedback and complaints are effectively used to improve DRC's programs.
• Represent DRC in relevant accountability forums and working groups as required.

Qualifications

Required

• A minimum of three years of experience in working in a relief or development NGO in a similar role.
• Bachelor Degree in social work, social sciences, development studies, humanities or other relevant discipline is required.
• Previous experience working in Accountability sector.
• Hands on experience in operating and managing a community feedback mechanism (CFM)
• Previous experience conducting trainings and delivering capacity building.
• Understanding of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning specifically, accountability frameworks processes. Knowledge of information management would be an asset
• Excellent communication skills in English and local languages.
• Ability to communicate key information in an easy to understand, informative and collaborative manner.
• Good contextual knowledge of local community and social/cultural constraints, realities and organizational relationships.
• Strong organization, planning, and time management skills.
• Genuine care and respect for needs of others, practically vulnerable populations with strong belief in empowering marginalized and disenfranchised people.
• High integrity and willingness to conduct her\himself transparently and open to scrutiny.
• Fluent in written and spoken English and Hausa

Desirable:

• Good command of other local languages spoken and written in North Nigeria (Kanuri, Fulani, etc.)