Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Social Accountability (MEL&SA) Coordinators (C2) at Oxfam Nigeria

Oxfam is an international confederation of 17 independent aid and development organisations networked together to fight poverty and injustice around the world. Working with partners and local communities in more than 90 countries, the mission of Oxfam is a just world without poverty. With a conviction that people are well capable of building a life devoid of poverty on their own once given the chance to do so, Oxfam works with partners on projects in developing countries, lobbies companies and governments to take into account the interests of the poorest people and campaigns to ensure men and women are involved in decisions on issues that affect their lives. In Nigeria, Oxfam’s focus areas are Economic Justice/Livelihoods, Humanitarian Programming, Gender Justice / Female Leadership and Good Governance, adopting a rights-based approach. The overarching goal is to enable people exercise their rights and manage their own lives.

Oxfam in Nigeria with funding support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) is implementing a five year Livelihoods and Nutrition Empowerment (LINE) project in Bauchi State. The project is aimed at improving the livelihoods for 10.000 poor and vulnerable households through increased farm productivity, enhanced market access, better nutrition and a more enabling environment for business development in 6 LGAs in Bauchi state.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position for the LINE Project:

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Social Accountability (MEL&SA) Coordinator

Location: Abuja

Job Description

• Oxfam seeks a Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Social Accountability (MEL&SA) Coordinator for the four year EU supported pro resilience action (PRO-ACT) aiming at building food security and resilience in Kebbi and Adamawa in Northern Nigeria.
• The program will improve the food security, nutrition and resilience of vulnerable groups in 7 LGAs in the two States.
• It will deliver rapid improvement in livelihoods and preparedness toward risks for vulnerable populations and communities including women and youth;
• Strengthen resilience, food security and natural resource utilisation of small holder farming communities;
• Improve strategic linkages for food security and support to local market systems and;
• Improve response capacity of government towards social protection, early warning systems and strengthen local frameworks towards resilience building.
• The MEL&SA Coordinator position is meant to assume a technical role in establishing, implementing, and maintaining effective and appropriate Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning and Knowledge management systems for PRO ACT.
• The post is very technical and will involve support to Oxfam state teams and CSO partners and on capacity building, coordination of MEL&SA activities as well as critical reflextions to generate knowledge and learning.
• The post will help create and manage a strong MEAL and performance management plan for PROACT in line with EU reporting requirements, and with Oxfam Common Approach to Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Social Accountability (CAMSA) requirements, guidelines and best practices.
• Please submit applications for this position which is open to suitably qualified personnel who have the passion of making a difference in the lives of people and who will drive Project quality, learning and accountability.

Reporting LIines:

• Post holder reports to: Head of Programs/Head of OXFAM GB Staff reporting to this post: Matrix manage State MEL&SA Officers
• Budget Responsibility: None although this might change

Key Responsibilities

• The Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Social Accountability (MEL&SA) Coordinator will perform the following specific duties:
• Develop M&E System, M&E Plan, Reporting Indicators, and M&E Tools
• Provide the specific research design, key questions to be addressed, and methodological approaches to be used to be used to establish baseline survey, mid-term review and final evaluation and ex post assessment.
• Lead on special studies, operational research and testing hypotheses in the programme theory of change.
• Establish a robust knowledge management and learning system on how KM & L will take place between levels of the system (e.g., between field sites and national offices) and how KM & L takes place in a context of partnering/working with others
• Develop and Implement the system for capturing and documenting data and relevant information on project activities, beneficiaries, outputs, outcomes, and impacts, which is feasible, practical, and “user friendly”, and obtain valid and reliable information based on the project proposal, implementation plan, and donor reporting requirements.
• Ensure that Oxfam partners staff have the capacity to properly implement PROACT MEL&SA plan and meet the reporting requirements including data collection with all partners through mentorship, on the job training, site visits and other technical support as needed
• Plan for critical reflections/reviews - to generate lessons and knowledge
• Support the conduct of periodic supportive supervision and Data Quality Assessment visits to state teams, partners, and communities
• Establish a robust stakeholder’s complaints and response mechanism.
• Work with partners and state teams to maintain reporting processes to ensure that all information and data is collected, documented, and collated in an accurate and timely manner.
• Ensure project implementation is aligned to targets and indicators contained in project proposal
• Provide on-going support to partners, and communities to maintain MEL&SA systems; identify skill gaps that can be addressed in subsequent trainings.
• Analyse information about the programme and make recommendations for improvement.
• Prepare and submit quarterly reports in ensuring utmost quality
• Update project database routinely as at when required
• Support quarterly data review meetings in States.
• Work closely with the Livelihoods Program Manager to ensure that all project reporting and MEL&SA framework and systems are effectively implemented and that required information and reports are submitted accurately and on time
• Make sure that the dimensions of Social accountability are properly integrated in the MEL&SA plan and is well implemented, in communication with right-holders/beneficiaries
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the Head of Programs

Skills and Competence
Level of Education:

• Master's Degree in (development) economics, statistics, public policy, or relevant discipline
• Demonstrated experience in agriculture projects, and in the design of gender sensitive indicators in difficult contexts.
• Knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, mixedmethod, and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies.
• Experience developing or using M&E systems in projects with agriculture components and/or interventions.
• Adept in using logical framework and performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting, database management, and developing M&E and performance monitoring plans.
• Substantial training and experience in designing MEL&SA systems, in particular:
• For grassroots community programs that support women small scale farmers and families through local groups and structures.
• For programs that address issues affecting small scale farmers and families affected by food and nutrition insecurity.
• That capture accurate and relevant information, but which are user-friendly and can be managed by “non-IT experts”.
• That captures both qualitative and quantitative information.
• That will be used and coordinated by multiple levels of staff, partners, and community groups, across multiple geographical areas of operation.
• That complies with all EU and Oxfam GB reporting requirements.
• Capacities to Implement M&E and Learning in terms of planning skills for necessary conditions and capacities - staff skills and numbers, (human capacities, incentives for implementing MEL&SA and organizational structures)
• Involvement in projects utilizing grass-roots approaches and addressing issues of power, diversity, exclusion, participation, and gender.
• Experience in participatory monitoring and evaluation processes
• Demonstrated skills in quantitative data analysis, statistics and report writing
• Good ability to demonstrate qualitative data within a MEL&SA system
• Tech savvy with a strong level of IT Expertise and use of mobile survey/field data collection tools (odk, KoBoToolbox, TaroWorks, GIS mapping, etc)
• Excellent in various statistical packages and softwares including SPSS, Stata, Excel, Access, and CSPRO etc.
• Proven ability to prepare timely and accurate reports and well-written documents.
• Strong training and facilitation skills for various groups at multiple skill levels.
• Excellent analytical, conceptual and strategic planning skills
• At least 7 years experience on a similar role.

Language requirements:

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of Hausa (spoken) is a plus.

Application Closing Date
10th June, 2016.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their application letter and curriculum vitae in English to: [email protected]

Note:

• Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until deadline and position is filled. We highly recommend applying as early as possible before the deadline for the best chance of moving forward.
• Applications sent to this enquiry email will be disqualified.
• Please submit applications for this position which is open to suitably qualified personnel who have the passion of making a difference in the lives of people and who will drive Project quality, learning and accountability.