MEAL Officer – CGPP @ International Medical Corps (IMC)

 

International Medical Corps is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization with a steadfast commitment to preserving lives and alleviating suffering by providing healthcare training, relief, and development programs. Founded in 1984 by dedicated volunteer doctors and nurses, it operates as an independent, voluntary, nonpartisan, and nonsectarian entity. The organization's overarching goal is to enhance the quality of life in marginalized communities worldwide through health-focused initiatives and complementary endeavors that empower local capacities.

• Job Title: MEAL Officer – CGPP
• Job Type: Full Time
• Qualification: BSc/HND/BA
• Location: Abuja

Job Duties and Scope of Work

• The CORE Group Partners Project (CGPP) is a collaborative initiative spanning multiple countries and partners. Our mission is to provide vital financial support, on-ground technical assistance, and expert guidance. Our primary goals include strengthening host country efforts in the global fight against polio and enhancing immunization systems.
• In addition to our core objectives, CGPP is at the forefront of implementing innovative community-level interventions. These interventions allow us to effectively respond to emerging infectious diseases within the context of both the Global Health Security Agenda and the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To achieve our mission, CGPP collaborates with pre-existing networks of international and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). These NGOs have a proven track record of carrying out child survival activities in challenging, hard-to-reach areas. These areas often struggle with inadequate immunization coverage and limited access to essential primary healthcare services.

In summary, CGPP's essential job duties and scope of work encompass:

• Providing financial support, technical expertise, and guidance to strengthen host country efforts in the fight against polio.
• Enhancing immunization systems to ensure comprehensive vaccine coverage.
• Pioneering community-level interventions to address emerging infectious diseases, especially in the context of global health security and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Collaborating with established international and local NGOs to reach underserved communities with limited access to essential healthcare services.
• Our commitment is to work tirelessly to improve global health outcomes, reduce disease burdens, and build resilient healthcare systems for vulnerable populations worldwide.

Job Summary

We are seeking a dedicated MEAL Officer to join our dynamic team at the CGPP Secretariat office in Abuja, Nigeria. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in shaping and executing the Monitoring Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) activities for our project in Nigeria. You will report to the MEAL Manager and collaborate closely with the CGPP Secretariat team to ensure the successful implementation of the project.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Primary Function:

As a MEAL Officer, your primary responsibilities, under the guidance of the MEAL Manager, will encompass a wide range of MEAL-related tasks. These include but are not limited to:

• Monitoring project progress by diligently tracking project indicators.
• Reviewing and improving M&E tools to enhance data collection and analysis.
• Overseeing and monitoring M&E activities within the states.
• Tracking project performance against predefined targets.
• Conducting thorough data quality assessments and audits to maintain data accuracy.
• Efficiently managing databases to ensure data integrity.
• Compiling comprehensive weekly, monthly, and quarterly MEAL reports to keep stakeholders informed of project developments and outcomes.

Specific Job Responsibilities

• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Coordination: Collaborate closely with the MEAL Manager to oversee and track the implementation of detailed implementation plans (DIPs) derived from state-level initiatives.
• Training Plan Compilation: Assist in the compilation and harmonization of annual training plans from various states, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
• Issue Tracking and Management: Maintain an updated Issues Log and meticulously record the addressed issues, including the ongoing updates to the Change Management Procedure (CMP) tool.
• Technical Working Group Support: Work in tandem with the Secretariat Project leads to strategically plan and facilitate Technical Working Group meetings, contributing to effective project coordination.
• MEAL System Oversight: Under the overall guidance of the SD-CoP, the MEAL officer will coordinate the MEAL system for CGPP projects, fostering collaboration with the MEAL Manager for streamlined operations.
• MEL Plan Enhancement: Collaborate with the MEAL Manager to enhance the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) plan, incorporating relevant data collection tools to strengthen reporting for the GHSA project.
• Coordination Meetings: Actively participate in bi-weekly or monthly coordination/check-in meetings for CGPP projects in Nigeria, ensuring alignment and progress tracking.
• Donor Engagement: Engage in quarterly Community of Practice (COP) sessions and monthly review meetings organized by USAID and other donor agencies at the national level, fostering strong partnerships and effective project execution.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure that CGPP focal states conduct high-quality cascade MEAL training sessions on reporting tools, promoting consistency and accuracy in data collection and reporting.

Data Management Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the MEAL Manager to contribute to the routine analysis and interpretation of field data collected in the focal state, providing essential feedback as needed.
• Perform frequent monitoring visits to focal states to verify data, ensuring its integrity, precision, reliability, timeliness, and validity.
• Extend assistance to state MEAL officers in maintaining the functionality of project devices used for data reporting.
• Under the guidance of the MEAL Manager and in partnership with State MEAL officers, take the lead in piloting and field-testing data collection tools.
• Work closely with the MEAL Manager to oversee and maintain the project's database, ensuring data accuracy and accessibility.
• Regularly submit COVID-19 data to the USAID APPR, Monitor, and DIS platforms on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.
• Develop and distribute appropriate data reporting templates for use in focal states, promoting consistency and accuracy in reporting.
• Act as a co-administrator for the CGPP Nigeria ODK/ONA and Kobo servers, managing user rights for MEAL Officers across all five States.
• Periodically develop and revise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the management of project devices, ensuring best practices are followed.
• Provide support for Data Quality Assessments related to CGPP projects, collaborating closely with consultants and the MEAL Manager to maintain data accuracy and reliability.

Survey Responsibilities:

• In alignment with the directives of our management team and in collaboration with the MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) Manager, your role will encompass assisting in the strategic planning and seamless execution of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) surveys, annual Data Quality Assurance (DQA) exercises, After Action Reviews, and intervention assessments and evaluations.
• Furthermore, your support will extend to aiding the CGPP (Community-based Global Polio Partnerships) and the National Polio Eradication program in conducting surveys, including Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS), dedicated to campaign monitoring.
• In close coordination with the MEAL Manager and other team members, your involvement will also be crucial in facilitating the completion of project baseline, midterm, and final evaluations. This collective effort ensures the success and impact of our initiatives.

Documentation:

• Compile Lessons Learned and Best Practices: Record and consolidate valuable insights and best practices gathered throughout CGPP Nigeria's operations.
• Contribute to Research and Publications: Offer valuable inputs for research activities and contribute to the creation of articles intended for publication.

Reporting:

• Maintain Comprehensive Archives: Ensure the systematic archiving of state reports, DIPs (Detailed Implementation Plans), supervisory visit reports, and the filing of essential data tools at the Secretariat.
• Weekly M&E Activity Status Reporting: Prepare weekly status reports on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) activities conducted in the states and promptly share them with the management team.
• Facilitate MEAL Training and Capacity Building: Conduct training and capacity-building sessions focused on data collection and reporting tools related to Polio, COVID-19, and GHSA (Global Health Security Agenda) projects across all five states.
• Prompt Detection and Reporting: Ensure that the focal states promptly detect and report relevant information related to Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and COVID-19 for the project.

 

Key Working Relationships:
Internal:

• Secretariat Director
• Deputy Secretariat Director
• MEAL Manager
• RI-PIO
• GHSA -PM
• MEAL Officers
• State Team Leads
• Senior MEAL Officer

External:

• NPHCDA
• Rotary
• GAVI
• BMGF
• WHO
• UNICEF
• SPHCDA
• NCDC

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Information Management, Social sciences, or related fields.
• A Master’s Degree and equivalent experience in Epidemiology, Demography, Sociology, Psychology, or other related Social Sciences is an added advantage.
• 3 – 5 years of experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning, preferably in a humanitarian or development context.
• Proficiency in GIS, Excel, ONA, ODK/Kobo, and experience with Word and PowerPoint.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills in English.
• Outstanding report-writing skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to detect and report inconsistencies.
• Exceptional organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics.
• Proactive, resourceful, solution-oriented, and results-oriented.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Familiarity with relevant donors’ regulations is a plus.
• Proven track record and experience in supporting the development of M&E plans, systems, and databases using MS Office applications (Excel or Access) and software applications.
• Strong knowledge and proven experience in developing and analyzing logical and conceptual frameworks.
• Ability to train partners and staff in developing and maintaining the M&E system.
• Demonstrated strong knowledge and understanding of the Polio Eradication program.
• A clear understanding of and commitment to promoting gender equity and the interests of vulnerable people.
• Ability to multitask and deliver work within tight deadlines.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English is required, with the ability to speak Hausa considered an advantage.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 75% and work in challenging environments.

Application Deadline

Closing Date: September 11, 2023

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please send your application to the Human Resource Coordinator at International Medical Corps via email: imcnigeriavacancy@internationalmedicalcorps.org. Use the job title as the subject of your email.

Important Notes:

• This vacancy is open to Nigerian nationals only.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.