Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer - PHIZER at CARE International

CARE International is a global leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to saving lives and ending poverty. We work in over 94 countries around the world to provide over 1000 poverty-fighting development and humanitarian aid projects.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

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

Location: Yobe
Job Type: Contract

Job Summary
CARE Nigeria is seeking the engagement of a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer for the implementation of the Lafiyayyen Yara (Healthy Children):

Reducing Infectious Disease among Children Under Five project. The MEAL officer will be responsible for the RIDCU-5 Project Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL).
The MEAL Officer will design, implement cost effective, innovative robust MEAL systems, and continually review the practicality and effectiveness and suggest modifications as necessary of the MEAL system for activities on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) in the supported Facilities and Outreach Service Areas (FOSAs) in Bade LGA of Yobe State.
S/He shall support data entry/cleaning for the community-based surveillance, community engagement, and clinical activities.
S/He will also work in active collaboration with primary health facility staff, clinical officers, community-based surveillance focal points, and community engagement facilitators/model mothers to create demand for the uptake of services and facilitate timely referral of complicated conditions to secondary health care facilities.

Job Responsibilities
Develop an appropriate MEAL system in line with the RMNCAH Sector design and objectives (25%):

Continually examine specific RIDCU-5 project output components to be monitored and evaluated.
Develop monitoring, accountability and reporting tools for the project and programs’ outputs, suggest modifications and develop new and appropriate tools as necessary.
Provide routine guidance to RIDCU-5 field testing and use of new innovative monitoring tools as they are developed and refine them for RMNCAH/SRH Sector use.
Provide technical and program support to ensure quality implementation of comprehensive Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health activities with focus on data collection, entry, cleaning, and analysis on:
- Immunization
- Integrated community case management and integrated management of childhood illness care in facilities
- Maternal health services
- Infection, Prevention and Control to reduce disease transmission in facilities and communities
- Community engagement to address social norms impacting child health, improve health practices and health service delivery
- Community-based surveillance for detection of infectious diseases and
- Referrals to health facilities.

Facilitate the implementation of RIDCU-5 MEAL system and ensure accuracy of data and information collected (25%):

Take the lead in training all staff in understanding and use of all monitoring and reporting tools.
Review field reports to ensure that they respond to the RIDCU-5 project objectives and comply with sector indicators.
Undertake competency-based skills development and mentoring for CBS focal points covering early detection, early warning, infection prevention and control, community-based surveillance (in line with the nationally adopted Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy) and strengthening of referrals.
Ensure that weekly reports and returns are submitted to the PM and relevant government authorities as stipulated in the regulations and policies
Identify training needs for CARE staff and suggest ways of meeting those needs

Monitoring and Learning (25%):

Ensure the regular data collection using appropriate tools from the supported FOSAs, and entry into the DISC in the database for analysis of the data collected to make recommendations to the supported health structures and the Project Manager
Identify problems with the DISC and flag it to the M& E officer/PM, also suggest ways of improving data collection, storage and use for decision making
Participate in monthly tripartite meetings bringing together FOSA providers, community facilitators, CARE staff and the Health District to analyze the data, identify the difficulties encountered and help them find solutions
Establish a filing system for various program activities to ensure easy retrieval of information as and when needed.
Establish and use responsive complaint and feedback systems to track and report complaint and feedback to support effective service delivery
Periodically review performance metrics with the Clinical and Health Promotion officers
Identify and document and dissemination of appropriate success stories, experiences, best practice and lessons, at least one every 3 months
Encourage sharing of learning and experience with the team, across the organization and with like-minded/peer organizations
Develop an appropriate project database of the sector to facilitate processing of required information.
Continually analyze RIDCU-5 field data to verify status as and when necessary, and produce daily, weekly, monthly/quarterly data computation and analysis reports for use by project/project management.
Verify the validity of field data by making routine field visits to check adherence to agreed data collection methods and authenticity of collected information.
Supports monitoring and evaluation initiatives at selected facilities/communities including analysis of supply chain system in the state to strengthen existing system and suggest best practices

Relationship with Staff / Management (20%):

Develop a good communication and interpersonal relationship with other project staff and CARE staff to avoid creating a tense environment in the workplace
Manage and resolve problems amicably following appropriate communication channels and procedures
Listens and accept constructive criticism
Foster teamwork among supervised staff and with staff from other units/departments
Represent CARE at coordination meetings in their location
Organizes community sensitization health talk through the community linkage structures (CBS focal points, Model Mothers)
Understand CARE’s vision, mission, and practice the core values of CARE
Cultivate good working relationships with service providers, community, MOH staff, local CSOs, INGOs, UN agencies etc.

Perform any other duties assigned (5%):
Not only limited to:

Ability to willingly accept and take up additional responsibilities
Ability to share knowledge and skills for the purpose of knowledge and skill transfer to other staff
Carry out any other duties and responsibilities, which may be assigned by the management from time to time

Communication/Reporting:

Provide regular feedback to the Project Manager on the clinic activities.
Participate in the development of mobile health clinic work plans and reviewing them monthly with the project Manager

Budget/Grants:

Participate in proposal writing and budget development

Supervision:

Supervise nurses/mobile team staff activities.
Ensure monthly reports are compiled and of good quality.

Work Conditions

The position is based in Gashua with on-need-basis travels to Damaturu to receive support, plan activities and update the PM on progress of activities in the field (100% of project locations). It involves liaising with and coordinating activities with providers, community health workers, Local Government Authorities, local implementing partners, other humanitarian actors and stakeholders within the areas of operation.
It is essential that the MEAL Officer maintain active presence in the field to ensure proper technical support, implementation, and supervision of data collection and management by both clinical and health promotion teams.
However, S/He will be required to travel to Damaturu at periodic intervals, for meetings, planning, training events and reporting purpose.

Requirements
The MEAL Officer shall have a suitable combination of academic qualification, experience, and relevant trainings in the following technical and programmatic requirements for the post:

Minimum of First Degree in Biostatistics, Statistics, Economics, or Business Administration
Post-graduate qualification in Public Health will be an asset
Expert level knowledge and at least three years of monitoring and evaluation of programs in humanitarian or development
Training in project management, planning, monitoring and evaluation will be an asset
At least 3 years’ field experience in working with health facility providers, community health workers and coaching and mentoring on the job preferred
Ability to plan training sessions, provide formative supervision, monitoring and evaluation of medical activities
Must be a good team player that is able to work independently with minimum supervision.
Exemplary customer service and people skills
Leadership abilities that have been proven in small- and large-scale arenas
Problem solving skills that lead to feasible resolutions for the future
Disciplined, organized, respecting deadlines, adapting to a multicultural work environment, tolerance, respect CARE's Core values.
Ability to enhance good interpersonal relationship.
Good knowledge and application of Microsoft Office Suite.
Ability to ensure quality data collection, compile and analyse data to formulate relevant recommendations
Ability to write quality reports in English and submit them on time
Disciplined, organized, respect for deadlines, adaptation in a multicultural working environment, tolerance, respect for CARE's core values and gender
Strong relationship building skills and ability to work in complex environment.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
Ability to multitask and prioritize activities.

Required Competencies:

Application of technical skills and program support
Excellent ability to conduct quantitative and qualitative research, studies, assessment from start to end including dissemination of findings to a wide range of diverse audience
Maintenance of relationships.
Communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to communicate effectively in the local languages (Hausa, Kanuri, Bade) -this will be tested
Quality and timeliness of support provided.
Observance of policies and procedures.

Key Working Relationships: