MEAL Officer at African Youth for Peace Development and Empowerment Foundation (AFRYDEV)

African Youth for Peace Development and Empowerment Foundation (AFRYDEV) is a youth led non-governmental, non-profit and non-sectarian development organization established in 2013 with the mission to serve as a platform for enlightenment and empowerment of youth society for peace and development through active participation by mainstreaming their issues and concerns into national development agenda based on United Nation Sustainable Development Goals.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: MEAL Officer

Location: Damaturu, Yobe
Employment Type: Full-time
Contract Duration: 12 months with possibility of extension
Reports to:MEAL Manager
Direct Reports: (field enumerators or data collectors as needed)

Position Overview

• The MEAL Officer supports the implementation of the project’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) system. S/he is responsible for routine data collection, data quality assurance, beneficiary feedback mechanism management, documentation of lessons learned, and support for evaluations.
• The MEAL Officer works closely with project staff, community mobilizers, and partner organizations to ensure that MEAL activities are carried out effectively and that findings inform adaptive management.

Collaborates with

• Project Officer, Economic & Recovery Assistant, Gender & Social Inclusion Assistant, Governance & Social Cohesion Assistant, Finance Officer, Communication & IT Assistant, Partner MEAL staff, Community mobilizers, and VSLA/DRR committee members.

Key Responsibilities
MEAL System Implementation:

• Support the implementation of the project’s MEAL framework, indicators, targets, and methodologies as designed by the MEAL Manager.
• Assist in the design, pretesting, and finalization of data collection tools (surveys, FGD guides, KII templates, observation checklists) for baseline, midline, endline, and routine monitoring.
• Maintain and update project databases (beneficiary registry, activity tracking, indicator performance) ensuring data is accurate, complete, and securely stored.
• Participate in data quality assessments (DQAs) by conducting regular field checks, validation exercises, and spot-checks to verify the accuracy and reliability of data collected by field teams.
• Support the setup and use of mobile data collection tools (KoBoToolbox, ODK, CommCare) for surveys, assessments, and post-distribution monitoring.
• Support development of M&E framework for implementation of LDP/DRR/Resilience plans.

Data Collection and Analysis:

• Oversee and conduct routine AFRYDEV’S data collection across all project components (governance, livelihoods, gender, social cohesion and resilience building, WASH, health, education)
• Train and supervise community mobilizers, enumerators, and partner staff on proper data collection techniques, ethical protocols (informed consent, confidentiality), and use of data collection tools.
• Conduct qualitative data collection (focus group discussions, key informant interviews, community dialogues) and thematic analysis to capture perceptions, experiences, and contextual factors.
• Prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, and ad-hoc MEAL data summaries and progress reports to the MEAL Manager, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations.

Accountability and Feedback Mechanism:

• Support the design, operationalization, and day-to-day management of the project’s beneficiary feedback and complaint mechanism (hotline, suggestion boxes, helpdesk, community feedback sessions).
• Ensure that communities are informed about the feedback mechanism, their rights, and how to raise concerns through community sensitization sessions and IEC materials.
• Receive, log, categorize, and track all feedback and complaints in a confidential feedback tracker; ensure timely acknowledgment (within 48 hours) and response or referral to relevant staff.
• Conduct beneficiary satisfaction surveys and participatory assessments (e.g., community scorecards, most significant change) to measure community perceptions of project relevance, effectiveness, and dignity.
• Escalate sensitive complaints (e.g., GBV, PSHEA, fraud) immediately to the MEAL Manager or designated safeguarding focal point following established referral pathways.

Learning and Documentation:

• Document lessons learned, best practices, success stories, and case studies from field implementation; contribute to learning products such as briefs, technical sheets, and human-interest stories.
• Participate in and help facilitate learning events, including quarterly Feedback Days, after-action reviews, lessons learned workshops, and annual capitalization workshops.
• Support the MEAL Manager in documenting and sharing evidence-based recommendations for adaptive management, including adjustments to work plans, targeting criteria, and activity design.
• Assist in coordinating research activities and thematic studies (e.g., labour market assessments, gender analysis, vulnerability and capacity assessments) by organizing fieldwork, managing data collectors, and ensuring timely data submission.

Capacity Building:

• Train project staff, partner staff, and community mobilizers on MEAL tools, data collection protocols, reporting formats, and data quality standards.
• Provide ongoing mentoring and on-the-job coaching to field staff on accurate record-keeping, use of mobile data collection devices, and beneficiary feedback processes.
• Support partner organizations (CSOs) in harmonizing their MEAL approaches with project standards, including indicator tracking and reporting schedules.
• Organize and facilitate refresher training sessions on MEAL topics as needed.

Reporting and Compliance:

• Prepare and submit timely MEAL reports (weekly field reports, monthly data summaries, quarterly indicator tracking tables) to the MEAL Manager.
• Contribute MEAL data and narratives to donor reports (quarterly, annual) as requested, ensuring that data is accurate, well-presented (tables, graphs), and aligned with donor requirements (ECHO, EU).
• Support audit processes by organizing and providing MEAL documentation (data collection tools, raw datasets, feedback logs, training records) as requested by internal or external auditors.
• Ensure that all MEAL activities comply with donor MEAL requirements, organizational policies, and ethical standards (do no harm, confidentiality, informed consent).

Field Monitoring and Support:

• Conduct regular field visits to project sites to monitor activity implementation, verify beneficiary targeting, and assess data quality.
• Observe and document project activities (VSLA meetings, gender dialogues, DRR committee sessions, vocational training, distributions) and provide real-time feedback to project staff.
• Support post-distribution monitoring (PDM) for cash transfers (HLI, conditional, unconditional) and livelihood inputs by conducting household visits and beneficiary interviews.
• Identify and report any operational challenges, security concerns, or contextual changes that may affect project implementation or MEAL activities.

Required Qualifications and Experience
Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Demography, Development Studies, Economics, Public Health, or a related field.
• A Master’s degree or postgraduate diploma in Monitoring & Evaluation, Project Management, or a related discipline is an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum 4 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning for humanitarian or development projects.
• At least 3 years of field experience in data collection, data entry, data cleaning, and basic data analysis.
• Experience with mobile data collection tools (KoBoToolbox, ODK, CommCare, or similar) is required.
• Experience working on multi-sectoral projects (livelihoods, governance, gender, WASH, health) is an advantage.
• Experience working in Northeast Nigeria, particularly Yobe or Borno States, is strongly preferred.
• Experience with donor-funded projects (ECHO, EU, USAID, FCDO, UN) is an advantage.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in data analysis software: Excel (advanced), SPSS, STATA, or R (at least intermediate level).
• Proficiency in mobile data collection platforms (KoBoToolbox, ODK).
• Strong understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Good report writing skills with ability to present data clearly using tables, graphs, and narrative.
• Familiarity with accountability principles and feedback mechanism design.
• Knowledge of participatory assessment methodologies (community scorecards, most significant change, etc.).

Required Competencies:

• Analytical thinking:Ability to interpret data, identify trends, and draw actionable conclusions.
• Attention to detail:High level of accuracy in data collection, entry, and reporting.
• Communication:Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; ability to explain technical MEAL concepts to non-technical staff and community members.
• Interpersonal skills:Ability to work effectively with diverse teams, community members, local authorities, and partner organizations.
• Organizational skills:Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
• Problem-solving:Proactive in identifying and resolving field-level MEAL challenges.
• Cultural sensitivity:Respect for local customs, norms, and diversity; ability to work with women, youth, PWDs, and marginalized groups.
• Integrity and ethics:Commitment to confidentiality, do no harm principles, and protection of beneficiary data.
• Team player:Willingness to collaborate and support colleagues across all project components.

Specific Contextual Requirements:

• Willingness to spend significant time in the field (approximately 75% of working time) in rural communities in Damaturu and Fune LGAs.
• Ability to work in a challenging, low-resource, and conflict-affected environment with limited infrastructure.
• Understanding of the humanitarian and development context in Northeast Nigeria, including the dynamics of displacement, returnees, and host communities.
• Familiarity with gender-sensitive and conflict-sensitive MEAL approaches.
• Ability to ride a motorcycle or willingness to travel on project vehicles over rough terrain is an advantage.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.
• Fluency in Hausa is required; knowledge of Kanuri or other local languages is a strong advantage.

Benefits

• Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience
• As per AFRYDEV organizational policy (includes health insurance, pension contribution, and annual leave).

Application Deadline 
5th May, 2026.

Method of Application 
Interested and qualified candidates should use link below to Apply.

Click Here To Apply Online

Note

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
• AFRYDEV is an equal opportunity employer, does not discriminate against gender, religion or ethnicity.
• AFRYDEV recruitment and selection procedures do not involve any form of payment to the organization, request of such kinds should be immediately reported.
• Qualified Women and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.