MEAL Officer (Protection, Women Empowerment and Child Protection) at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Requisition ID: req41435

Project Overview

• The BHA (Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance) project, “Integrated Emergency Response to the Displaced Population in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina States, Northwest Nigeria” depending on fund availability will be carried out by a consortium led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in collaboration with the Alliance for International Medical Action (Alima), Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), and Life Helpers Initiative (LHI), aims to leverage each partner's expertise to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people populations through area-based approach.
• The Consortium partners will provide an integrated multisectoral intervention in Health, Protection Outcome, WASH, Protection, and Multi-purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) activities in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto states in collaboration with state governments, UN organizations and other key actors in Northwest Nigeria.
• The project will be implemented by a dedicated support, quality assurance, and coordination team, who will work closely with all partners through a management unit of well-structured consortium governance for the activity.

Job Overview / Summary

• The purpose of the Protection Outcome MEAL Officer position is to coordinate the collection, compilation, consolidation, and analysis of data using platform to track programs/ projects activities, monitor progress and support impact measurement across Katsina and Zamfara states.  
• S/he will also serve as the focal person for all development research, engage in reflective practice, and generate lessons from projects/program and prepare MEAL plans for Child Protection (CP), Women Protection & Empowerment (WPE) and Protection Rule of Law (PROL)  sectors.  S/he is responsible for establishing and ensuring better field level data management systems for the core program s/he assigned to and coordinates the proper and timely evaluation of project objectives/impact.  S/he will contribute to the existing client response mechanisms and ensure program staff participation in MEAL activities.  
• The position holder will closely work with sector manager(s), front line staff, and community/facility volunteers.  S/he also will work closely with the MEAL unit on technical matters and reports to the Consortium Senior MEAL Manager and technically to the Protection, Child protection and WPE Coordinators.

Major Responsibilities
Program/project design and learning (20% of time):

• Participate in program/ project design especially in developing Protection Outcome a log frames and, also contribute learning from previous projects.
• Support to develop and make sure all the projects in the Protection Outcome sector has tested monitoring tools that capture both program activity and indicators progresses.
• Responsible for organizing periodical ongoing Protection Outcome level data review, reflective practice, evaluation, and progress monitoring events by involving communities and local partners.
• Responsible for proactively networking and sharing of lessons from the Protection Outcome core program with strategic partners and other stakeholder including government.
• Responsible for coordinating synergy and cross-learning among different projects.
• Responsible for cross feeding learning among projects by regularly producing (compiling) summary monitoring reports and sharing with staff and partners.
• Responsible for the development and continuously update project MEAL, and impact measurement tools and systems on timely fashion.
• Support to develop and make sure all the projects in the sector has tested monitoring tools that capture both program activity and indicators progress.
• Take part in diagnostic studies, evaluations, and surveys.
• Responsible for organizing periodical data review, reflective practice, evaluation and progress monitoring events;
• With support from the Protection Outcome MEAL Manager, Protection Outcome program manager(s) and coordinator, establish and maintain project level information management system;
• Contribute to designing strategy to collect field level information required by IRC, donors and/or stakeholders.
• Responsible for proactively ensuring networking and sharing of lessons from the program with strategic partners and other stakeholder including government.
• Responsible for coordinating synergy and cross-learning among different projects.
• Responsible for cross fertilizing learning among projects by regularly producing (compiling) summary monitoring reports and sharing to Protection Outcome staff and partners.

Monitoring and evaluation (50% of time):

• Responsible for tracking Protection Outcome progress against monitoring work plans.
• Coordinate the Protection Outcome field level community participatory monitoring and evaluation, reflective practice, and impact measurement.
• Responsible for ensuring the on-time execution of projects major monitoring and evaluation events including but not limited to baseline survey, mid-term evaluation, final evaluation, data quality audit and field supervision.
• Responsible for providing technical support to the sector and partner organization on information management system, proper data collection and record keeping.
• Responsible for updating Protection Outcome MEAL plan timely and provide feedback to program staff on status and quality of implementation.
• Responsible for conducting Protection Outcome regular data verification exercises to ensure reporting and collection of quality data across the Katsina and Zamfara states.
• Responsible for documenting findings from Protection Outcome data quality audits and store in project files to ensure collective and sustainable access.
• Actively participate in and contribute to MEAL team activities, system assessments, development, and implementation of new systems and/or tools aimed at strengthening overall MEAL practices at IRC Nigeria.
• Accountable for the recruitment of enumerators and support in other survey including engagement of consultants.
• Contribute to providing MEAL inputs for report written during project implementation, quarterly donor report and end of grant reporting.
• Responsible for periodically conducting Protection Outcome reflective practice forums at field office/ project level and compile lessons from project implementation processes.
• Adapt and maintain a high-quality database for the project in line with the country MEAL standards
• Responsible for planning and implementing MEAL activities on all Protection Outcome grants under the guidance of the MEAL Manager

Information management and reporting (10% of time):

• Support in reviewing and maintaining centralize Child Protection, Protection, Women Protection & Empowerment activities information management system.
• Responsible for submitting data set to update country office wide program database on monthly basis.
• Responsible for compiling and reporting monthly sector working group report such as 5W.
• Responsible for compiling regular project monitoring report, including lessons learned, prepared by different projects and application of evaluation recommendations.
• Support to ensuring all projects have downward/ forward client responsiveness mechanisms and works with project staff to make sure its implementation.
• Ensure high quality data are available on a regular and timely basis for reporting and programmatic decision making.

Capacity building and supervision (10% of time):

• Responsible for supporting Protection Outcome local partners in designing monitoring and reporting tools and establishing database management systems.
• Responsible for the orientation of front-line staff, partners’ staff and volunteers on the monitoring tools and train them how to use data for decision making.
• Orient program staff on the basic principles and practices of client responsiveness in accordance with the IRC

Perform other duties assigned by the supervisor (10% of time):

• Perform other task related assignment proposed by his/her supervisor/s

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Senior MEAL manager Consortium
• Position directly supervised by: Protection Outcome MEAL manager and Coordinators.
• Indirect Reporting: MEAL coordinator, Protection, Child protection and WPE managers and Coordinators

Qualifications

• Degree in Statistics, Computer Science / Information Managementor any other related field.
• Excellent computer skills are required (particularly Advanced Microsoft Excel, power point and Word);
• At least 3 years’ experience working in monitoring and evaluation preferred.
• Strong data collection, analysis, and report writing skills required.
• Ability to work independently, think analytically and take initiative in solving problems.
• Ability to communicate technical issues effectively.
• Familiarity with log frame analysis and MEAL plan.
• Experience in conducting assessment using Kobo, Commcare, etc.
• Background in Protection Outcome and Working with highly vulnerable and displaced people would be added advantage.
• Good verbal communication skills in local languages and working knowledge of English.
• Most importantly, commitment to IRC values and principles.
• A strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with groups of diverse backgrounds.
• Good knowledge of CMAM online
• Position holder must be willing to travel to other locations to conduct activities.
• Language Skills:  English, working knowledge of Hausa and Fulani preferred.
• Certificates or Licenses: Must be registered with Nursing and Midwifery council of Nigeria and allowed to practice in Nigeria.