Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Assistant - Youth in Work Project at Self Help Africa

Project Description

• SHA is partnering with the World Food Programme to implement theStrengthening Food Systems to Promote Increased Value Chain Employment Opportunities for the Youth in Nigeria-Northwest (Sokoto).
• The project aims to strengthen food systems that promote increased value chain employment opportunities for the youth; sustaining and improving on-farm and off-farm job opportunities for 25,000 young women and young men engaged in the different nodes of sorghum, millet, soya bean, groundnut, and horticulture value chains.
• The project will focus on capacity building interventions for existing enterprises, using this as an avenue to create employment opportunities for youth and women in Sokoto State.

Job Purpose

• SHA is looking for a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Assistant who will support the implementation of MEL activities in Kano state with support from the MEAL Coordinator.
• The Assistant will ensure effective monitoring of project outcomes, promote data-driven decision-making, and strengthen accountability to stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities
Monitoring and Evaluation System Implementation:

• Support data collection, analysis, and reporting in the Kano state.
• Support the adaptation and implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) tools in collaboration with the MEAL Coordinator.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor project activities, process monitoring and verify data accuracy.
• Assist in developing and refining project indicators and log frames.

Data Management and Reporting:

• Maintain up-to-date and accurate project databases.
• Analyse data to generate weekly and monthly reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide timely feedback to the project team to inform implementation adjustments.
• Report output indicators monthly on SUDACOM.

Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building:

• Train enumerators and field staff on M&E tools and protocols.
• Coordinate with local stakeholders, including community groups and government agencies, to ensure alignment with project goals.
• Support the establishment and management of feedback and complaints mechanisms.

Learning and Adaptation:

• Facilitate periodic reflection sessions to evaluate project progress and challenges.
• Document and share lessons learned and best practices to improve project delivery.
• Contribute to strategy reviews and the design of future projects.

Transparency, Compliance and safeguarding:

• Employ the highest standards of openness, transparency and accountability to ensure good financial management in line with SHA’s zero-tolerance approach to fraud, bribery and corruption.
• Demonstrate commitment to safeguarding, protection, gender mainstreaming and inclusion of vulnerable population including people with disabilities.
• Provide support to establish feedback, complaints and response mechanism across communities of implementation to ensure programmatic and operational decisions are informed by local perspectives and priorities, and contribute to the protection of program participants at the LGA level.

Accountability:
In line with Self Help Africa’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), the job holder will:

• Actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E).
• Work withrelevantcolleaguestoensure that the Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) is functionaland accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed.
• Work withrelevantcolleaguestoensure thatinformation aboutCFRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviouris disseminatedamong programme participants and communities.

Key Relationships

• Internal: Internal: Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning, Programme, Finance & Admin, Procurement, Human Resource, Communications and Security teams
• External: WFP, MCF M&E teams and other stakeholders.

Knowledge, Experience and Other Requirements:

• University Degree in Statistics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field.
  • 1 – 2 years’ work of experience in an M&E/MEAL or research role, preferably in an INGO.
  • Familiarity with the local context and communities in Kano State.

Experience and Skills:

• Experience working in rural areas and engaging with diverse stakeholders.
  • Familiarity with MEAL frameworks is a plus.
  • ICT operation, and proficiency in MS Office.
• Proficiency in M&E tools and software (e.g., Kobo Collect, DHIS2, CommCare).
• Strong skills in data analysis and reporting using tools like SPSS, R, or STATA.
• Experience in participatory evaluation techniques.
• Excellent coordination skills (and ability to coordinate several tasks at once and managing priorities)
• Effective communication, problem solving and decision-making skills
• Commitment to safeguarding, including child protection, PSEA, and GBV prevention and response
• Networking, facilitation and mobilisation.
• Organisational development
• Reporting and documentation

Desirables:

• Gender and intercultural sensitivity.
• Positive outlook and team spirit.
• Adaptable and responsive disposition relative to the demands of the Project.
• Women are strongly advised to apply.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent written and oral proficiency in English and Hausa language is required.