Monitoring, Evidence, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager at Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)Abuja, Nigeria Data and Artificial Intelligence

Contract

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent, humanitarian, non-profit, non-governmental organisation. We provide assistance, protection and durable solutions to refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide. What is NRC? NRC promotes and protects the rights of refugees and people who have been displaced within their own country. We take action during situtations of armed conflict, and engage in other contextes where our competences will add value. The majority of our 5000 staff members are national employees in NRC’s projects in around 25 countries worldwide. All our projects are supervised by the NRC Head Office in Oslo. NRC was established in 1946 under the name Aid to Europe, to assist refugees in Europe after World War II. Today NRC is organised as an independent, private foundation. We cooperate closely with the UN and other humanitarian organisations, around the world as well as in Norway. What does NRC do? Programme Activities: NRC’s main activity is the deliverance of humanitarian aid through programme activities in the field. NRC specialises in five programme areas, or core competences - Shelter, Food Security, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Education, and Information Counselling and Legal Aid (ICLA). The core competences are adaptive to different contexts and mutually reinforcing.

What we are looking for

The role of the Monitoring, Evidence, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager is to lead the strategic direction and quality assurance of MEAL across the entire NRC mission in Nigeria.
As the MEAL Manager, you will design and implement the strategy, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and budget for the function, which aims to ensure the Country Office (CO) is meeting and exceeding MEAL minimum standards.
In collaboration with the programme leadership, you will also lead CO learning agenda and evaluation planning required to feed into program and strategic decision-making at key learning moments.
As a functional manager in this role, you will be part of a technical matrix structure, and you will work collaboratively with both the technical and the operational management structures at country and area offices.

What you will do

Responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining all CO-level MEAL systems and SOPs ensuring they meet or exceed minimum standards, align with NRC’s global MEAL frameworks and are adapted to the country context.
Ensure quality data collection and analysis, and support programmes in their data interpretation and use, throughout the project cycle, and support proposal development through technical review of Theories of Change (ToCs), logframes, and MEAL budgeting.
Responsible for ensuring the roll-out and adaptation of global MEAL initiatives including digital ones at the country level.
Line management responsibilities for directly reporting staff. This includes:
- Performance management process: setting clear goals aligned to country strategy and priorities, and to follow up and support staff’s achievement.
- Responsible for key processes as workforce planning, recruitment, staff induction and development and ensure Duty of Care for own staff.
Responsible for the MEAL support to Area Office (AO) colleagues with MEAL responsibilities and develop relevant MEAL training including coaching of MEAL Coordinators to ensure they meet NRC’s MEAL standards. Also contribute to the induction of new staff with a role in the MEAL processes.
Coordinate and facilitate the development of the CO learning agenda and evaluation plan and manage and/or technically oversee the implementation of evaluations.
Oversee the Community Feedback Mechanism (CFM) and its staff to ensure it is functional, inclusive, and used to improve programmes, respond to community priorities and address concerns in a timely manner.
Oversee the effective use, rollout, and continuous improvement of NRC’s programmatic information management systems within the country office, ensuring alignment with global standards and country needs.
Develop and maintain strategic learning partnership with key relevant academic and research institutions to enhance internal learning and advocacy efforts of NRC Nigeria.
Ensure capacity sharing strategy to partners on MEAL processes and procedures, as needed and as requested by partners.
Ensure compliance and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures, and a specific responsibility for the MEAL policies and procedures

What you will bring
Professional Competencies:

Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Information Systems Management, Social Sciences, Development Studies or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years MEAL experience, including at least 03 years in a managerial position with an international NGO, preferably in emergency or post-conflict settings, with experience supporting Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) and working in camp or remote management environments.
Candidates without a degree but with at least 8 years of relevant experience may also be considered.
Strong understanding of MEAL principles and current approaches in relief and development settings, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Skilled in data analysis, interpretation or trends, and communication of findings.
Excellent analytic, communication, interpersonal, writing, collaboration, problem-solving, planning/organizing, and facilitation skills
Experience in mobile and online data collection systems and in data management and analysis platforms.
Experience handling sensitive community feedback in line with data protection principles.
Experience coordinating with the UN system, INGOs, donors, and local authorities at field level.
Technical expertise in programme evaluation methodologies and approaches.
Excellent analytical, communication, interpersonal, writing, collaboration, problem-solving, and facilitation skills.
Fluency in spoken and written English
Proficiency in Microsoft 365 or at least in Microsoft Office.
Experience with local partners capacity building in complex or sensitive environments.
Experience implementing MEAL systems in hard-to-reach or remote-managed areas.