First Step Action for Children Initiative (FIRST) is a child focused organization registered with the Cooperate Affairs Commission with the headquarters in Makurdi, Benue state Nigeria. The organization has functional offices in Adamawa, Benue and Nasarawa states in Nigeria. The offices are being coordinated by the functional secretariat in Makurdi Benue state headed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the program management team.

FIRST Step Action for Children Initiative (FSACI) was founded in 1998 as a community based organization called First Step Foundation Association (FSFA). The organization worked on several projects within the state expanding its scope across many Local Government Areas, and in February 2002 it became registered with the state Ministry of Women Affairs as an NGO. The association was established with a keen desire to assist rural families to improve the quality of lives of their children. Realizing that, young children have very close ties with their mothers in Nigeria, it became expedient to include women on the programs of the association. From the successes recorded, the Board of the organization was encouraged to apply for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja. On December 19, 2008 the association was formerly registered by the Commission and had its name changed to the present First Step Action for Children Initiative.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: M&E Officer

Location: Yola, Adamawa
Employment Type: Full-time

Purpose of Assignment

• The M&E Officer will bring significant experience to lead MEAL system implementation, review and evaluations. S/he will ensure quality, effectiveness and sustainability of Health and Nutrition project.
• The post-holder to capture lessons learned and communicate this information in various capacities to improve on-going and future programming.
• S/he will guide FSACI to maintain an effective monitoring system, including the use of beneficiary feedback data, to assure the quality of interventions.
• The M&E Officer will to define, refine and operationalise MEAL and lead in building capacity of staff and health works on MEAL, particularly on accountability and participation, with a specific focus on impact.

Major Duties and Responsibilities
MEAL Leadership and Data Management:

• Lead the development of MEAL plan, performance indicators, data collection, reporting tools, data management systems and standard operating procedures (data quality management plan) integrated with technology in implementation of MEAL activities for improving quality and availability of data for project/program decision making.
• Adapting and evolving tools for baseline and recurrent monitoring of the program activities, including analysis tools and tracking progress of the intervention
• Collaborating with program team for a participatory implementation, documentation and dissemination of learning and monitoring quality of the programme, reporting of achievement to ensure the project’s MEAL systems and outputs meet minimum quality standards.
• Oversee data collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data is of high quality and audit worthy.
• Ensure compliance with internal data quality requirements and timely submissions for reporting. This may include training, and in-person mentoring, review of data/reports and feedback/troubleshooting as needed. This may include regular travel travels to project sites.
• Establish and maintain strategic stakeholders’ relationships to promote collaboration, coordination and information sharing within the national integrated Nutrition & Health services delivery system.
• Integrate Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) into project workplan for evidence-based practice including leading the collection, analysis, documentation, dissemination and use of best practices and lessons learned.
• Conduct regular and ad-hoc data analysis and work closely with the Coordinators of Health and Nutrition to develop reports (monthly, quarterly, annual) to demonstrate progress and facilitate continuous learning for project management, support and other learning.

Application Closing Date

5th March, 2024.