Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer (SMEL) at International Alert

International Alert (Alert) is one of the world's leading peacebuilding organisations, with over 30 years of experience supporting communities, advising governments, organisations and companies on how to build peace. Alert works with people in conflict-affected and threatened areas to make a positive difference for peace; to improve the substance and implementation of international policies relevant to peacebuilding; and to strengthen the peacebuilding sector. We work with people directly affected by conflict to build lasting peace. Together, we believe peace is within our power. We work in over 25 countries and territories around the world.

International Alert began operations in Nigeria in 2011 as a partner on security governance within the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation programme (NSRP). Since then we have launched a social cohesion programme in the Northeast, while expanding our technical advisory in conflict and gender sensitivity to various governance and reform programmes.

For more on Alert’s work, please visit our website at www.international-alert.org.

 Job Purpose

The purpose of this job is to oversee and coordinate the monitoring and evaluation of Alert’s

projects in northeast Nigeria, and to ensure learning is shared internally and externally. The post holder will work closely with programme staff and provide advice and guidance on monitoring, evaluating & learning (MEL) tools, processes, and best practice. The post holder may also take part in internal evaluations and will support the management of external evaluations, ensuring that learning is fed back into the design and adjustment of projects.

The post holder will work closely with the Programme Quality and Development Manager and the Northeast Programme Manager who will provide content-based support and supervision.

Duties and Responsibilities 

1. Support and strengthen M&E planning systems and best practices

• Participate in proposal development processes providing MEL-related inputs (logical frameworks, SMART indicators, project’s MEL strategy and methodology).
• Develop, together with project teams, Monitoring and Evaluation plans in line with project intended goals and outcomes;
• Lead the development of a MEL plan for the northeast Nigeria programme; monitor and report back on progress against this plan;
• Work with project staff to ensure that MEL activities are integrated into project design and sufficiently budgeted for;
• Advise partners on MEL, ensuring that partner staff are implementing best practice on joint projects with Alert;
• Through training and accompaniment, build knowledge and skills of Alert staff and partners in monitoring and evaluation methods and tools including logical frameworks, data collection, data analysis and result-oriented programming;
• Ensure that teams are up to date with the latest tools and approaches for peacebuilding MEL and support their implementation together with the PQDM;
• Coordinate and deliver design, monitoring and evaluating (DM&E) training and learning programmes including inductions, refreshers and learning workshops.
• Support programme review and reflection sessions.

2. Coordinate the collection and reporting of monitoring data, and support evaluation management

• Support project staff to collect and analyse monitoring data and conduct verification visits to activity sites
• Coordinate with implementing partners for collecting data against agreed indicators
• Record, manage and preserve monitoring and evaluation data in a safe and accessible way, in accordance with data protection regulations, including on Alert’s global results system
• Support or design, conduct and manage internal evaluations
• Support the management of external assessments, research, and evaluations
• Review key programme reports (including annual reports) and ensure monitoring data is accurate.

3. Ensure utilisation of learning from monitoring and evaluation

• Ensure dissemination of lessons internally for redesign and learning purposes;
• Facilitate quarterly review meeting and learning sessions with partners
• Coordinate with Communications team to ensure that impact from Nigeria programme is disseminated on webpages and other forums;
• Coordinate with the Communications team on visual and practical dissemination strategies for evaluation findings;
• Work with project design staff to ensure learning from previous programming is integrated into new business development
• Contribute to organisation-wide learning and exchange on MEL;  
• 4. Other relevant tasks as required by the line manager

Travel requirements

This position is based in Maiduguri, with regular travel across the states, including to rural LGAs, and sporadic travel to Abuja.

 PERSON SPECIFICATION

 Essential requirements

•  University Bachelor’s degree in relevant subject (social sciences, governance, peace and conflict studies, M&E)
• A good theoretical knowledge and practical experience of the concepts and practices of M&E
• At least 3 years successful experience of implementing or coordinating DME processes at
• project level in a development, humanitarian or conflict context
• Proven knowledge and understanding of programme cycle management, information
• management and reporting
• English language written and oral fluency
• Strong communications and analytical writing skills in English
• Excellent computer literacy and knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• Experience in building capacity of staff and implementing partners
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Willingness to travel to insecure locations, particularly northeast Nigeria

Desirable requirements

• Knowledge and experience of M&E in the peacebuilding sector
• Experience of project design and fundraising
• Fluency in Hausa is desired