JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Assistant
WORK UNIT: Program Development & Quality – MEAL LOCATION: Borno
GRADE: 5 POST TYPE: National
CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3- The responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children or young people and, in the overseas context all posts are considered to be level 3 posts in view of potential situations which may allow staff unsupervised access to vulnerable children and young people.

ROLE PURPOSE: To support the MEAL team in ensuring accountability, learning, and programme quality. The MEAL Assistant will be responsible for data collection, field monitoring, supporting accountability mechanisms (including handling feedback and complaints), and contributing to reporting. The role requires extensive field visits (over 80%) to directly engage with affected populations, including children.

SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: MEAL Officer
Dimensions: Field office-based position with at least 80% field visits.
Functional relationship: Closely work with Sectoral MEAL and Accountability team and relevant programme staff

Staff directly reporting to this post: none.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

A. Monitoring

• Conduct regular field monitoring visits using standardized tools (e.g., quality benchmarks, checklists).

• Support the MEAL team in data collection for assessments, baseline/endline surveys, and programme evaluations.

• Perform post-distribution monitoring (PDM) and other verification activities.

• Facilitate focus group discussions (FGDs) and other participatory data collection methods with communities and children, ensuring ethical standards.

B. Accountability

• Support the operationalization of Complaints and Feedback Mechanisms (CFM) across programme sites.

• Act as a focal point for receiving, documenting, and tracking feedback and complaints from beneficiaries, ensuring confidentiality and security of data.

• Liaise with programmes and operations teams to ensure timely follow-up and resolution of complaints.

• Communicate responses back to complainants in a clear and respectful manner

C. Documentation and Dissemination:

• Contribute to preparing weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports on MEAL

• Prepare field visit report and do debriefing and action planning with the relevant staff
D. Quality Benchmarks:

• To conduct quality monitoring of programme activities, measured against international standards and using participatory methodologies (including child-friendly methodologies) and the quality benchmarks

E. Coordination:

• Coordinate and communicate with MEAL and relevant programme staff regarding feedback and complaints

• Maintain liaison with MEAL unit and programme particularly field coordination/community mobilization team

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• accuracy and timeliness in all areas of responsibility

• high level of accuracy in work, and ability to analyse complex sets of relationships and situations

• holds self and others accountable
Ambition

• creating best-in-class EA function

• future-orientated, thinks pro-actively
Collaboration:

• working effectively with stakeholders to achieve common goals

• excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners

• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:

• designing more effective admin and data management systems

• willing to take disciplined risks
Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency, demonstrates highest levels of integrity.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Essential

• A first degree in Statistics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field.

• Minimum of one year of experience in a similar role (M&E, data collection, community engagement) with an NGO.

• Proven experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection methods (e.g., surveys, FGDs).

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to draft clear reports.

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively within a team.

• Proficiency in basic Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel).

• Ability and willingness to undertake frequent travel to field sites (over 80% of the time).

• Fluency in Hausa and/or other local languages spoken in Borno State.

Desirable

• Experience in working directly with children in a research or monitoring context, with an understanding of ethical standards and child safeguarding protocols.

• Familiarity with key MEAL concepts and humanitarian standards (e.g., Core Humanitarian Standard).

• Experience using mobile data collection tools (e.g., KOBO Toolbox, ODK)
Additional job responsibilities

The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe, so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Safeguarding our Staff:

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy.
Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Note: ‘No individual is expected to pay any amount or offer any form of favor to secure a position or contract with SCI. Any such act is strictly prohibited and should be avoided.’