Database Officer at the Foundation for Refugee Economic Empowerment (FREE)

The Foundation for Refugee Economic Empowerment (FREE) is a purpose-driven humanitarian and development non-governmental organization that implements a range of portfolio through purposeful partnerships. FREE builds bridges for improved lives for people affected by calamity. Our mission is to support people affected by natural and man-made disasters, especially those who have suffered displacement to be able to get back their lives and livelihoods in no time.

We work also with underserved communities to ensure that they have basic facilities and services. Over the past 7 years, working closely with government, civil society and private sector partners, FREE has reached more than 1,000,000 beneficiaries across Nigeria with assistance in Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Food and Livelihood Assistance, Health and Nutrition Support, Education in emergency, among others. 

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Database Officer

Location: Borno
Job Type: Full Time

Role Responsibilities

• The purpose of the Database Officer position is to actively manage all data-related activities within FREE’s Northeast Nigeria programme.
• The IM Officer is part of the MEAL team and reports directly to the Programme M&E Officer and collaborate with the MEAL Coordinators, to establish and maintain data management platforms that enable effective and efficient reporting and visualization.
• The MEAL information and reports will allow project stakeholders to view and analyse project reach across locations, sex, age, type of service and residency status of beneficiaries served and other real-time progress against deliverables.
• It will also flag shortfalls against intended outcomes, supporting the FREE team to work with partners to adapt modalities and implementation plans as needed.

Result Areas:

• Maintain oversight and management of data and information systems
• Ensure necessary partners’ data is uploaded in a timely manner in Arabic and English and is cross-checked and triangulated with narrative reports.
• Conduct timely and periodic (at least monthly) quality checks on reach data reported by partners and work with project team on cross-checking data from different sources.
• Report on any identified shortfalls in reach data and follow up with partners and support them in cleaning and improving the quality of said data.
• Provide the PMEO with feedback on the database and areas of improvement to facilitate donor reporting.
• Design and deploy digital data collection tools on KoBo, Survey Gizmo, or CommCare to support accurate data collection.
• This includes (but is not limited) to form development, testing, refinement and training partner staff on application approaches.
• Focal point for Data Protection Guidelines for FREE’s Northeast Nigeria Programme internally and with partners.
• Support programme in interaction with cluster and working group IM colleagues, including submission of 4Ws, other regular quantitative reporting (emergency response, ad hoc updates), and coordinate in trainings and competency building. Deliver high quality and accurate data visualization
• Lead on the design and presentation of an information tracking system at the programme level.
• This requires the integration of various datasets (across projects) into one platform and ensuring unique beneficiaries are tracked across projects.
• Lead on the development of a holistic digital and real-time dashboard which embeds aggregated data compiled through the information tracking system and visualises achievements.
• The dashboard will also flag shortfalls against intended outcomes, supporting FREE as lead to work with project teams to adapt modalities and implementation plans as needed (using PowerBi or other appropriate platforms).
• Lead on high quality project-level visualisation of output and outcome data for reporting purposes. Contribute to internal and donor reporting
• Develop and/or streamline reporting templates that facilitate the acquisition, aggregation and flow of information in and between projects.
• Assist MEAL lead in the processing, analysis and reporting of data whenever needed.
• Support PMEO and Coordinators in producing annual beneficiary counts by verifying the numbers and uploading those on the FREE Borno system.
• Support in submission of project proposals and donor reports, with calculation of reach and standardising consolidations per sector area.
• Builds the capacity of FREE staff on data systems
• Train FREE staff on FREE’s database and deployed digitised data collection tools
• Support and build capacity of local partners and FREE staff to ensure quality and efficient data collection, storage, analysis, and visualisation is systematically applied and maintained.

Knowledge and Experience

• Relevant academic background (e.g. IM, Computer Science, software Development, Research, Social Science, Statistics).
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience working on information management systems and data management, monitoring and evaluation, ideally with humanitarian/development organisations.
• Excellent computer skills, including experience with Excel and PowerPoint. Experience with PowerBI, SQL and Oracle are strong plus.
• Advanced skills in Excel required including pivot tables, database design, designing dashboards and graphical representation.
• Work experience using ODK or Kobo data collection systems required. Experience with Commcare is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated knowledge of quantitative and qualitative MEAL systems and tools.
• Proven ability to work productively with a variety of stakeholders to run participatory processes and meet tight deadlines with an emphasis on quality.
• Excellent visual design skills related to clear and accurate presentation of data.
• Good report writing and information dissemination skills.
• Familiarity with the political, social, cultural, humanitarian and donor context of Northeast Nigeria is ideal.

Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to effectively interpret, present, and visualise data with attention to detail.
• Able to think critically about data and information, triangulating and cross-checking data when needed and with minimal guidance.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills and ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Results-oriented.
• Able to quickly identify needs / gaps and work towards solutions.
• Excellent coordination, teamwork skills and flexibility.
• Ability to guide and support others.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Culturally sensitive.
• Commitment to high level of confidentiality with sensitive information.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Hausa.

Application Closing Date
6th November, 2022.

Interview Date
9th November, 2022.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their recent CV along with a Cover Letter (no more than a page) to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

Pre-employment Checks
Any employment with FREE could be subject to the following checks:

• Screening clearance
• Criminal records check
• Receipt of satisfactory references.

Note

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
• Do NOT apply for more than one position. Existing FREE staff are eligible to apply.

Our Values and Commitment to Safeguarding:

• FREE is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom FREE engages.
• FREE expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.
• The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.
• All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.
• We may request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.