MEAL Assistant at Youth Integrated For Positive Development Initiatiative

Sector: MEAL Assistance
Duty location: Field Base

Report to: MEAL Officer
Duration: 12 Months with Possibilities of extension

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The MEAL Assistant supports the implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning activities across projects. This includes conducting data collection through surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions, assisting in field monitoring visits, and supporting assessments and evaluations. The MEAL Assistant helps manage and document community feedback and complaints, ensures accurate data entry and database maintenance, and contributes to indicator tracking and reporting. They work closely with program teams to ensure quality, accountability, and learning are integrated throughout the project cycle.

Responsibilities:

Monitoring

• Conduct data collection (including but not limited to baselines and end lines and RNAs post distribution monitoring, Focus Group Discussions, exit interviews, and other quantitative and qualitative tools).
• Provide daily/weekly feedback to  MEAL officer to prepare weekly, monthly and quarterly reports
• Support programme assistant and partners MEAL equivalent on the use of activity tracker, attendance databases, and other tools as appropriate.
• Ensure the data submitted is of good quality and ready for analysis and reporting.
• Support the MEAL officer for data verification in the field, regularly conducted as per the agreed schedule.
• Quality monitoring of projects as joint exercises with Project Assistants to collect data and information from the field on a quarterly basis of a project.
• Conduct data collection trainings and follow up to the enumerators of YIPDI and support partners to do so.
• Conduct partners` field visits for various projects and MEAL activities ensuring quality and community engagement.

Accountability

• Support the MEAL officer in operationalizing the complaints and feedback mechanism with beneficiaries in both camp and communities for projects, including communicating feedback to beneficiaries
• Collecting feedback and complaints data through house-to-house visits, voice recorders, PDMs, FGDs and temporary helpdesks set up for one-off distributions under Shelter/WASH/education programming (as well as covering the hotline, when necessary)
• Collecting data on accountability and sharing of learning based on this experience to improve the design and implementation of the approach
• Accountability data entry, including translation
• Support closing of the feedback loop through house-to-house visits
• Regularly conduct focus group discussion or individual interviews with beneficiaries to collect feedback and complaints related to programming
• Introduce feedback mechanism and channels such as complaint boxes in camp and communities, as well as sharing information.
• Handling and documenting, safely and confidentially, complaints and feedback from complaint boxes, face-to-face visits, and focus group discussions
• Prepare weekly and monthly reports on complaints and feedback to share with MEAL Officer
• Follow up on responses to complaints and feedback received.
• Contribute to supporting partners in handling programmatic feedback.
• Holds him/her accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving the YIPDIvalues.
• Holds the team accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences for result-oriented oriented.

Evaluation and Learning

• Provide logistical and administrative support during learning workshops, including note-taking, documenting key findings, and supporting the preparation of learning materials and reports.
• Coordinate logistics for field data collection, including the preparation, distribution, and collection of tools and materials (e.g., tablets, questionnaires, consent forms).
• Contribute to ensuring the quality and accuracy of collected data by conducting spot checks, verifying completeness of forms, and flagging inconsistencies or gaps.
• Assist in compiling and cleaning raw data for further analysis and reporting, under the guidance of MEAL Officers.
• Support in organizing learning events or reflection sessions by preparing presentations, summaries, and lessons learned documents.
• Participate in post-assessment debriefings and provide feedback to improve future data collection and learning processes.
• Ensure proper filing and safe storage of all evaluation and learning-related documents in line with data protection and confidentiality protocols.

Capacity Building:

• Identify learning and training opportunities for YIPDI staff and partners and work as a mentor and role model for junior staff.

Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Ensure that YIPDI’s work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and the Government, and take a leadership role within Interagency Coordination forums, ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed.
• Advocates for minimum standards of humanitarian relief and maintains in accordance with the Sphere Charter and YIPDI’s Code of Conduct.

General

• Comply with YIPDI policies and practices with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, fraud, and other relevant policies and procedures.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development, and encourages their team to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for YIPDI, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, think strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships with their team, colleagues, Members, and external partners.
• Values diversity and sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to explore more innovative solutions in WASH Programming

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates the highest levels of integrity.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES

Essential:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: National diploma or University degree in (such as: statistics & data management, social science, public health, development economics, or a related subject area) Equivalent experience in a similar role may also be accepted in place of formal education.

Work Experience:

• Approximately 2 years of progressively responsible professional experience of humanitarian programming
• Previous experience in an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting is required.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to YIPDI’s mission, vision, values and YIPDI Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development.
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

• English is required, while Hausa and Kanuri are desired
• Travel: 98% to field sites in projects location

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to:  MEAL Officer

Working for Youth Integrated for Positive Development Initiative

YIPDI is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all people, regardless of gender, confession or origin.

YIPDI is committed to safeguarding people within our programmes from exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives. YIPDI conducts reference and background checks for all staff (including criminal records checks for specific roles). Any candidate offered a job with YIPDI will be expected to sign YIPDI’s Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

Desirable

• Previous experience within a humanitarian aid organisation is a plus.
• Experience in the use of Engineering software AutoCAD, ArchCad, Water Cad if an add advantage
• Previous experience working within the context of North-East Nigeria
• Proficiency in English and Knowledge of locally spoken languages will be an added advantage.

Additional job responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within a reasonable level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities:
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the YIPDI Equal Opportunities, Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and adult; protect them from harm. Safeguarding means: protecting children and adults from abuse and maltreatment, preventing harm to children and adults' health or development ensuring children and adults grow up with the provision of safe and effective caretaking, action to enable all children and adults to have the best outcomes.

Humanitarian response:
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be flexible.

At YIPDI, we give employees at all levels responsibility and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Together, we save lives and rebuild futures. Safeguarding is central to YIPDI’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity
• contribute to building a safe environment for all
• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment, and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse, and sexual harassment (SEAH)
• always report. YIPDI has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation,