Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager Nigeria

The Norwegian Refugee Council in Nigeria is seeking a dynamic Monitoring & Evaluation professional with strong analytical background.

Context

Since 2015, NRC Nigeria has been working to help displacement affected communities meet their basic needs, improve their livelihoods, access essential services, and enhance their resilience to future shocks through our six core competencies: water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Shelter, Education, Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA), Livelihoods and Food Security (LFS), Camp Management, and Protection. NRC provides immediate assistance during the onset of emergencies through the rapid response mechanism (RRM). In 2021, NRC reached over 269,000 people with assistance.

The crisis in Nigeria is marked by brutal violence against civilians causing acute humanitarian needs and displacement. In the north-east, the 13-year conflict has shattered lives, infrastructure, basic services, and social fabric.

Two million people are internally displaced across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Approximately half of these are living within local communities, putting increasing pressure on scarce resources. Access to food is limited, particularly in Borno state where most families are already facing crisis levels of food insecurity. Civilians, including aid workers, continue to be the target of deadly attacks by non-state armed groups and transport corridors are persistently insecure.

In the north-west and north-central regions, violence and displacement are rooted in disputes over land and resources, which has been worsened by climate change. Criminality is on the rise.

Livelihood opportunities are scarce, and children face an uncertain future, unable to access quality education. Many families have either lost identity papers while fleeing or never obtained them, hindering their ability to access essential services

More information about the mission in Nigeria here.

RESPONSIBILITIES

What you will do:

The role of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager is to lead the strategic direction and quality assurance of monitoring and evaluation in the country office. The MEL Manager should design and implement a strategy, SOPs, and budget for MEL which ensures the CO is meeting and exceeding MEL minimum standards. Plan for and generates the evidence and learning required to feed into programme and strategic decision making.

1. Responsible to develop the CO monitoring, evaluation and learning strategy, responding to contextual challenges but also ensuring alignment with the regional strategy and global MEL framework, policy and strategy.
2. Design, lead, and manage Country Office and program level monitoring and evaluation systems ensuring the learning is integrated, accurate and relevant. Ensure the findings and M&E systems are institutionalized.
3. Lead the process of developing the country evaluation plan, and ensure that evaluations are completed as per the NRC Evaluation Policy and evaluation handbook and encourage absorption of lessons and recommendations being provided by various CO events: evaluations, assessments, technical visits, learning reviews; and that monitoring data feed into management decisions.
4. Maintain and improve the beneficiary feedback and complaints mechanism (as the current cornerstone of Nigeria’s accountability framework), ensuring staff capacity building where needed.
5. Update and maintainCO specific MEL SOPs responding to contextual challenges, according to NRC’s MEL minimum standards ensuring necessary resources
6. Technical input to programme monitoring and evaluation plans, including methodological guidance and resource planning
7. Ensuring the roll out and use of global and regional MEL developments at the CO level. Also leading new technical developments to respond to MEL needs in the context.
8. Lead the development, rollout, and updating of Nigeria specific MEL SOPs
9. Contribute to fundraising through ensuring robust TOCs, MEL plans, log frames, MEL activities, budgets and staffing are incorporated into programme and project proposals
10. Provide technical MEL support, guidelines and capacity building across the CO.
11. Line manage CO MEL staff and capacity building for area office MEL staff and Programme Teams
12. Ensure planning and quality control of all monitoring and evaluation activities throughout the PCM cycle, including technical support for Theory of Change, MEL plans, indicator reference sheets, data quality assessments and evaluation processes.

QUALIFICATIONS

What you will bring:

• 5-7 years of demonstrated management experience in design, implementation, and oversight of monitoring, evaluation, and research for large to mid-scale international projects or programmes
• Advanced degree in economics, research methods, social sciences or a related field
• Technical competency and prior experience implementing various programme evaluation methodologies and approaches
• Excellent analytic, communication, interpersonal, writing, collaboration, problem-solving, planning/organizing, and facilitation skills;
• Advanced experience in qualitative and quantitative data analysis and tools
• Fluency in spoken and written English.
• Experience within supporting MEL for one of NRC’s core competencies is an asset

More info on this role here!

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility. At NRC we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

What We Offer

• 12 months contract
• Grade 9 on NRC salary scale
• Location: Maiduguri
• Start date: March 2024
• An opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause
• A chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields

DEADLINE TO APPLY: 1/12/2023

Important information about the application process

• Internal candidates only: please click on the suitcase icon labelled “I am an employee” to be redirected to NRC’s internal careers site.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position.
• If you have any questions about this role, please email [email protected] with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts
• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility
• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity

Learn more about NRC