Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) State Officer at United Purpose (UP)

United Purpose (UP) is an international development organisation that works to sustainably reduce poverty and improve the lives of some of the world's poorest communities. In Nigeria, UP has been working for almost two decades with local partners and rural communities to implement projects funded by international donors. Addressing areas of gender inequalities and rights abuses, improving sanitation and access to water, fostering accountability, preserving vital ecosystems, and developing sustainable development livelihoods.

In Nigeria, we partner with Federal, State and Local Governments, other civil society organisations, and communities to implement development interventions reaching thousands of rural people each year. Several funding partners currently fund the Nigeria Country Programme, including the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF - former WSSCC), Unicef, the Welsh Government, etc.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) State Officer

Location: Ogun (Travel to other parts of Nigeria and internationally may be required)
Employment Type: Full-time
Reporting to: Project MEAL Coordinator
Responsible for: Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting.
Duration of Contract: One year with a yearly renewal of contract subject to performance and continued availability of funds
Expected Start Date: February 2023 (depending on donor’s decision)

Background

• United Purpose has been nominated as SHF Primary Recipient in Nigeria for a three-year project focused on facilitating sustainable access to improved sanitation and hygiene services using market-based approaches in 3 states: Ogun, Bauchi and Jigawa. United Purpose is the consortium's lead, which regroups three other organisations.
• The project's primary participatory approach is Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and the Market-Based Approach. The M&E of the Project is a regular assessment process and support function for all Project and partner staff. The emphasis is on an M&E participatory approach with communities and partners.
• The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Officer will provide support in monitoring and evaluating ongoing Project activities, outputs and outcomes in sanitation, hygiene, MHH and the market-based approach at State and LGA level.
• They will support the analysis and interpretation based on verified data to demonstrate the programme's performance. They will take the support on all contract technical reporting. Moreover, the incumbent is expected to promote key learnings in the Project and broader sharing and learning in UP and SHF.

Job Purpose

• The project will take a market-based approach to increase access to improved sanitation, hygiene and MHH services, developing product solutions and approaches that are evidence-based and effective, to be demonstrated for scaling.
• It will work in Open Defecation Free (ODF), and Open Defecation (OD) practicing Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bauchi, Jigawa and Ogun states, developing and demonstrating context-specific approaches. It will incorporate global expertise on Market-based Sanitation (MBS) and build the capacity of local NGOs.
• The program will define how MBS can effectively be combined with CLTS to move households directly from OD to durable, at least basic levels of service and test how ODF communities can be raised on the sanitation ladder by MBS, reducing common risks of ODF slippage.
• More information about the background, aims and objectives of the SHF are found here: https://www.shfund.org/

The Role

• We are seeking a full-time, State Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Officer who will contribute to implementing activities for the project. This position will support the implementation of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) projects and is aimed at (WASH) professionals with good knowledge of WASH development issues.
• The initial focus of the post-holder will be to support the agreed used database to monitor the areas of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning and State and LGA and feed all reports to the overall MEAL for the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The State Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Officer will have the responsibility to monitor the areas of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning for the development of a sanitation market in the selected LGAs to increase access to improved sanitation, hygiene and MHH services.

They will have the following duties and responsibilities:

Technical M&E lead and advice:

• Use the agreed M&E tools for measuring and reporting indicators performance; develop indicator guidance reference sheet for activity output and outcome indicators
• Provide technical support in developing baseline surveys, assessments and studies.
• Contribute to updating the log-frame and results against Project indicators at state and LGA level with more detailed input provided towards preparing annual reports.
• Use the agreed questionnaires and conduct field interviews of the various stakeholders involved in the project
• Visit project sites at LGA for monitoring and quality assurance of water point construction and repairs.
• Monitoring and data checks on rural water supply activities at LGA to ensure reporting compliance.
• Work collaboratively with other Project to strengthen integration and cross-learning in the country Project and with Donors.

Training and supporting partners:

• Capacity building of partners and local government authorities.
• To supervise regular data collection through implementing partners at LGA and State and ensure the quality of the data by verifications and validations.
• Provide feedback to partners and staff on project performance based on data collected and findings, and lead partner staff in reviewing project plans as part of the learning and sharing process.

Reporting:

• Provide weekly and monthly updates reports as per the approved format, summarising the progress made in project implementation, lessons learned recommendations for improvement, and case studies at LGA.

Documentation and learning:

• Manage the Project’s Monitoring & Evaluation and learning system at State and LGA while ensuring adequate technical capacity to enhance the system's performance to achieve optimal program reporting.
• Targeted analysis and information gathering on the WASH sector.
• Participate in regular meetings with key stakeholders at the community/civil society/Local Government level, ensuring a common understanding of the project's objectives and outcomes.
• Other reasonable duties may be assigned to you that are consistent with the job and its level of responsibility. These will require pre-approval by your line manager.

Person Specification

• Preferably a Master's Degree in Monitoring and Impact Evaluation and Statistical Analysis using programs coupled with 3 - 6 years of experience in Monitoring and Evaluation in WASH programs, preferably with partners or sub-recipients and multi-donor setup.
• Knowledge and understanding of project monitoring and evaluation
• Knowledge of the current M&E trends and especially M&E systems in development organisations and Practical experience in rural water-point maintenance and monitoring
• Experience in WASH Programming in Nigeria and familiarity with the WASH sector and key stakeholders.
• Good abilities for training, mentoring, and coaching skills (supervising enumerators and field staff).
• Good technical writing skills, presentation, facilitation, abilities for synthesisProactive, resourceful and results-oriented
• Must be a good team player, honest, dependable and willing to be flexible with work hours
• Fluent in written and spoken English, with the ability to speak local languages

Desirable:

• Gender, intercultural and interfaith sensitivity.
• Willing to work additional hours at crucial times.
• Positive outlook and stand-alone disposition.
• Adaptable and responsive disposition relative to the demands and development of the Project.

Languages

• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of Hausa and/or Yoruba is a plus

What We Offer

• An attractive package dependent on the successful candidate's experience and qualifications.
• This position offers the opportunity to gain experience with an international NGO whilst receiving mentoring and learning on best practice global WASH approaches and issues. We provide a competitive salary and benefits package and, above all, a respectful and empowering working.

Application Closing Date
4th December, 2022.