MEAL Team Leader at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a Danish international non-governmental organisation, which promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people all over the world. DRC is present in more than 30 conflict territories around the world assisting displaced people with shelter, food, income-generating activities, and a wide range of other assistance. It is of utmost importance for DRC to work in compliance with the DRC Accountability and Quality Management system and national legislations. Smooth, reliable and effective operational systems are preconditions for DRC to maintain its position as a trustworthy and reliable partner for our donors and an accountable organisation towards our beneficiaries.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: MEAL Team Leader

Location: Mubi, Adamawa
Contract type: National 
Employment Period: 6 months with possibility of extension
Area of Operations: Nigeria
Reporting to: Area Manager
Supervised by: MEAL Coordinator
Availability: 01.12.2021

About the Job

• The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)  Team leader leads the direct implementation of all MEAL processes and activities required to improve programme quality over the course of project implementation, ensure and demonstrate positive impact on beneficiaries’ lives.
• S/he works under the direct supervision of the Area Manager in Adamawa, with technical guidance and overall leadership from the MEAL Coordinator.
• S/he plays a key role in ensuring that the learning system helping Programme teams to make iterative improvements to design and implementation is functional and effective at all times.
• The MEAL team leader is responsible to conduct all field monitoring and other data collection exercises required to measure indicators for all projects / programmes’ Logical Frameworks present in their area of operation.
• This includes, among other responsibilities, management of the Red Rose platform, tracking area-specific project activities and measuring progress against indicators in close collaboration with the Programme teams, carrying out all field data collection including assessment, monitoring or evaluation as instructed by Area manager and MEAL Coordinator, supporting data analysis and reporting efforts at state level, disseminating monitoring and evaluation findings with MEAL and Programme teams at at state level, and ensuring follow up and documentation of actions taken.
• S/he will be compiling project- and programme-level output data received from project teams, and will be responsible for the timely reporting on monitoring missions, recommendations and actions taken; progress made on outcome indicators.
• S/he will submit daily, weekly and monthly update to the Area manager, Consortium MEAL focal person and to the MEAL Coordinator.
• Finally, s/he will also assist in strengthening DRC Nigeria accountability mechanisms at state level in close collaboration with the Complaints Response Mechanism team. 

Responsibilities
Meal Systems Development at Base Level in Consultation with the Country Meal Coordinator:

• Based on the project proposals, implementation plan, and donor reporting requirements, support the MEAL Coordinator in the development and implementation of a system for capturing and documenting data and relevant information on project activities, beneficiaries, outputs, outcomes, and impacts
• Ensure an effective roll-out of MEAL collection and reporting systems at the base level through training, site visits, manuals, and other technical support as needed
• Conduct training for base project staff on MEAL in line with identified capacity needs and provide ongoing mentoring support in consultation with the MEAL Coordinator.
• Work with the various project teams to ensure that all information and data is collected, documented, and collated in an accurate and timely manner
• Contribute to regular reviews of the MEAL system itself, making improvements as needed and recommended, in consultation with technical managers MEAL Coordinator, staff, and partners
• Support on the management of the RedRose platform under the MEAL coordinator supervision.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Lead on compilation of regular monthly and quarterly base level reports using data provided by Base project teams and ensure data verification prior to use.
• Support the Head of Base and technical MEAL coordinator to ensure that planned activities are carried out in a timely fashion, cost effective, adheres to best practice and standard operating procedure.
• Provide base level project data to help with donor monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting

Research and Evaluation:

• Coordinate with the donor-contracted Evaluation Team for conducting of activities at base and community level.
• Support coordination of overall project review and evaluation activities as required. This includes working with the independent Evaluation Team to coordinate mid-term and final evaluations and supporting donor and external reviews as required

Accountability:

• Support creation of a system for ensuring that information obtained is also shared with communities, women, and other stakeholders through a regular feedback mechanism.
• Ensure beneficiary accountability mechanism is logged and addresses complaints in a timely manner. Ensure program managers are aware of delays in acting on any complaints or information requests
• Training beneficiaries, community stakeholders and program participants on DRC complaint response mechanism to promote downward accountability.

Staff Management:

• Supervise MEAL unit team at Adamawa (MEAL Assistants and Officers).
• Provide technical and programmatic leadership for MEAL Assistants and Officers and other stakeholders as deemed
• Set performance objectives and annual appraisal for MEAL unit staff.

Knowledge Management & Learning:

• In consultation with Area manager, country MEAL coordinator and technical managers, facilitate and compile case studies, change stories and lessons learned reports on a regular basis to share wider program and inform improvements in quality and delivery
• Analyze information about the base level program / projects and make recommendations for improvement.
• Ensure key base level lessons and challenges are documented and shared with staff and partners to help consolidate lessons learned for future proposal development and implementation of best practices.
• Proven knowledge of managing red rose platform.

Key Requirements
Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Social Sciences, Humanitarian and/or Development Studies, or relevant field.

Essential:

• Training in quantitative methodologies, including database management.
• 4 years of direct experience of monitoring and evaluation related to one or more of these fields: Protection, WASH, Shelter, Food security, Livelihoods Community Liaison and Peace Building initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills and an understanding of a range of methods for monitoring, evaluation, and assessment to promote evidence-based learning.  Demonstrated ability and understanding to design, commission, and manage assessment methodologies and techniques such as focus group discussions, key informant interviews, observations to name a few.
• Good verbal and written communication skills. Ability to analyses data and summarize it for a range of different audiences.
• Good understanding of red rose platform in addressing issues relating beneficiary cash programming
• Computer literate.
• Ability to build support from staff across teams and across members, and to build the capacity of others.
• Proven ability to coordinate effective resource allocation to ensure quality programs.
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and innovate and to set priorities and evaluate progress.
• Experience of working within budget constraints.
• Commitment to DRC’s mission, values, and approach.
• Commitment to team working and understanding of how to contribute. Ability to build support from staff across teams and across members, and to build the capacity of others.
• Proven ability to coordinate effective resource allocation to ensure quality program.
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and innovate and to set priorities and evaluate progress.
• Experience of working within budget constraints.
• Commitment to DRC’s mission, values, and approach.
• Commitment to team working and understanding of how to contribute.

Desirable:

• Good verbal and written communication skills. Ability to analyses data and summarise it for a range of different audiences.
• Ability to build support from staff across teams and across members, and to build the capacity of others.
• Proven ability to coordinate effective resource allocation to ensure quality programmes.
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and innovate and to set priorities and evaluate progress.
• Experience of working under budget constraints.
• Commitment to DRC  mission, values and approach.
• Commitment to team working and understanding of how to contribute.

Core Competencies of DRC:

• Striving for excellence
• Collaboration
• Taking the lead
• Communication
• Demonstrating Integrity

Languages:

• English
• Ability to speak the common local languages including Hausa, Kanuri, and Fulani.

Key Stakeholders: (internal and external)

• MEAL Team Leader/ MEAL Coordinator
• Area Manager
• Other program staff
• Consortium partners
• Other humanitarian partners.

Salary & Benefits

• M-G
• In accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment.
• The income will be subject to statutory deductions as per applicable Nigeria laws. The employee is responsible for the tax returns.

Application Closing Date
8th November, 2021.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.
• The position is for Nigerian nationals only and qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.
• DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.
• Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.
• Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline.