Senior MEAL and Innovation Officer

This position requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, excellent communication, sound understanding of humanitarian accountability principles and the ability to translate monitoring findings into practical recommendations. The post holder must demonstrate a commitment to ethical data management, inclusion, safeguarding, accountability and continuous programme improvement in a humanitarian setting.

The successful candidate will support the design and implementation of MEAL plans, results frameworks, data collection tools, accountability mechanisms and learning initiatives.

We are seeking a qualified, analytical and innovative Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) and Innovation Officer to strengthen evidence-based programming, programme quality, accountability to affected populations and continuous learning across its humanitarian and development interventions.

The role will also promote the use of digital solutions, participatory approaches and practical innovations to improve data quality, programme efficiency and service delivery.

The MEAL and Innovation Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems, tracking programme performance against approved indicators and targets, conducting field monitoring and assessments, supporting data collection and analysis, facilitating learning processes and identifying innovative approaches to improve programme effectiveness.

The post holder will work closely with programme managers, project officers, field teams, community representatives and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that programme implementation is informed by reliable data, community feedback and documented lessons learned.

Key Responsibilities

• MEAL System Development and Implementation:
• Ensure that MEAL tools and processes are appropriate to the operational context, accessible to affected populations and feasible for field teams to implement.
• Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of organizational and project-specific MEAL frameworks, plans and procedures.
• Support the development and review of monitoring plans, evaluation plans, data collection schedules and reporting calendars.
• Ensure that project objectives, outputs, outcomes, indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification are clearly defined and aligned with approved project documents.
• Work with programme teams to identify appropriate quantitative and qualitative indicators for measuring programme performance and results.
• Ensure that monitoring activities are aligned with approved project proposals, donor requirements, organizational standards and relevant humanitarian guidelines.
• Monitor progress against approved work plans, budgets, targets and implementation timelines, highlighting variances and areas requiring management attention.
• Support the integration of MEAL activities into programme planning, implementation, review and close-out processes.
• Develop and maintain results frameworks, logical frameworks, theories of change, indicator tracking tables and performance monitoring tools in collaboration with programme teams.
• Establish practical systems for tracking programme progress, measuring results and identifying implementation gaps.
• Monitoring, Field Verification and Assessments:
• Ensure that monitoring activities are conducted respectfully and safely, with due consideration for the security, privacy and dignity of affected populations.
• Conduct or support baseline studies, needs assessments, rapid assessments, post-distribution monitoring, outcome monitoring and endline assessments as required.
• Verify reported programme achievements through field observations, source document reviews, beneficiary consultations and other appropriate verification methods.
• Track the implementation of recommendations arising from monitoring visits, assessments, reviews and evaluations.
• Develop and use structured monitoring checklists, observation tools, interview guides and other appropriate data collection instruments.
• Collect and analyse information from beneficiaries, community members, frontline personnel and other relevant stakeholders to assess programme relevance, effectiveness and quality.
• Monitor project activities, beneficiary reach, service delivery, distribution processes and other programme interventions against established standards and indicators.
• Identify implementation challenges, emerging risks, gaps in service delivery and unintended programme effects, and communicate findings to relevant programme managers.
• Prepare field monitoring reports containing key findings, evidence, recommendations, responsible persons and proposed follow-up actions.
• Conduct routine field monitoring visits to verify programme implementation, assess service quality and document progress against approved targets.
• Support joint monitoring visits with donors, government representatives, partners and other authorized stakeholders when required.
• Data Collection, Management and Analysis:
• Design, adapt and maintain appropriate quantitative and qualitative data collection tools for programme monitoring, assessments and evaluations.
• Produce clear tables, charts, dashboards and summary analyses to support programme planning and management decisions.
• Ensure that data is disaggregated by relevant categories, such as sex, age, disability and location, where appropriate, safe and required by programme indicators.
• Analyse programme data to identify trends, compare results against targets and highlight performance gaps, emerging needs and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop data collection forms with appropriate validation rules, skip logic, mandatory fields and other quality controls to minimize errors.
• Train and guide field personnel, enumerators and programme staff on data collection procedures, indicator definitions and reporting requirements.
• Conduct routine data cleaning, validation, verification, consolidation and analysis to ensure that information is accurate, complete, consistent and reliable.
• Ensure that personal and sensitive data are collected only when necessary and managed in accordance with approved data protection procedures.
• Maintain proper documentation of data sources, calculation methods, indicator definitions and assumptions to support traceability and verification.
• Support the use of digital data collection platforms, including KoboToolbox, ODK or other approved systems, where applicable.
• Identify missing information, duplicate records, inconsistencies and unusual data patterns, and coordinate corrective action with relevant personnel.
• Maintain organized databases, indicator tracking sheets, beneficiary records and other approved monitoring information systems.
• Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP):
• Protect complainant confidentiality and ensure that sensitive cases are not included in routine reports in ways that could identify affected individuals or compromise their safety.
• Document how community feedback has informed programme adjustments and communicate appropriate responses to communities through safe and accessible channels.
• Ensure that sensitive safeguarding complaints, allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), fraud and other serious misconduct are referred promptly through designated confidential reporting mechanisms.
• Ensure that beneficiaries and community members can provide feedback and raise concerns through channels that are accessible, confidential and appropriate to their circumstances.
• Ensure that affected populations are informed about programme objectives, eligibility criteria, available services, entitlements, selection procedures and feedback channels.
• Coordinate with relevant programme managers and designated safeguarding or complaints focal persons to ensure that feedback is referred and addressed appropriately.
• Support community consultations and feedback sessions to ensure that programme decisions reflect the priorities, experiences and concerns of affected populations.
• Categorize and analyse feedback to identify recurring concerns, service delivery gaps, community priorities and opportunities for programme improvement.
• Promote meaningful participation of women, children, persons with disabilities, older people and other groups who may face barriers to accessing feedback mechanisms, using safe and appropriate approaches.
• Support the operation of appropriate feedback and complaints mechanisms, including designated focal persons, help desks, telephone channels, suggestion boxes and community consultations, as applicable.
• Support the establishment, implementation and strengthening of accessible, safe and context-appropriate accountability mechanisms across programme locations.
• Monitor the timeliness and effectiveness of responses to routine feedback and complaints, escalating unresolved concerns through established channels.
• Maintain secure and organized records of feedback, complaints, referrals, responses and resolution status in accordance with established procedures.
• Learning, Evaluation and Programme Quality Improvement:
• Support internal and external evaluations by preparing relevant documentation, coordinating data collection and facilitating access to appropriate programme information.
• Track management responses to evaluation findings and follow up on agreed recommendations.
• Support the development and maintenance of an organizational learning repository containing approved reports, tools, assessments and other relevant knowledge products.
• Promote the use of monitoring findings, evaluation results and community feedback in programme planning, adaptation and decision-making.
• Support the development of case studies, learning briefs, success stories and other evidence-based knowledge products.
• Work with programme teams to identify what is working, what requires improvement and what approaches should be adapted, expanded or discontinued.
• Facilitate the sharing of lessons learned and promising practices across projects, field offices and programme teams.
• Ensure that lessons learned are documented in practical formats that can inform current implementation and future programme design.
• Document good practices, implementation challenges, success stories, lessons learned and recommendations from programme activities.
• Facilitate learning activities, including programme review meetings, reflection sessions, after-action reviews and lessons-learned workshops.
• Encourage a learning culture in which programme teams use evidence constructively to improve performance and service delivery.
• Innovation and Adaptive Programming:
• Explore appropriate digital technologies and data management solutions to improve monitoring, reporting, information sharing and decision-making.
• Support pilot initiatives and small-scale tests of new approaches before wider implementation, where feasible.
• Support the design, testing and documentation of innovative approaches, tools and methods that can improve programme effectiveness, efficiency and accountability.
• Document the results, costs, limitations, lessons learned and recommendations arising from innovation initiatives.
• Establish clear objectives, success criteria and monitoring arrangements for innovation pilots to assess their usefulness and potential for replication.
• Work with programme teams to identify operational challenges and develop feasible, evidence-informed solutions appropriate to the local context.
• Promote the responsible use of technology in programme implementation, ensuring that proposed solutions are accessible, cost-effective, secure and appropriate for affected populations.
• Identify opportunities to improve programme delivery, monitoring systems, beneficiary engagement and organizational processes through practical innovation.
• Facilitate collaboration between programme teams, community representatives and relevant stakeholders to generate and refine practical solutions.
• Ensure that innovation initiatives comply with organizational policies, donor requirements, safeguarding standards and data protection principles.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes, reduce duplication, improve data quality and strengthen programme responsiveness.
• Support adaptive management by sharing emerging evidence and recommending adjustments to activities, delivery approaches and implementation strategies.
• Reporting, Visualization and Donor Compliance:
• Respond to authorized requests for MEAL information from management, programme teams, donors and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support the timely preparation of monthly, quarterly, midterm, annual and final programme reports, as applicable.
• Support the preparation of evidence for donor monitoring visits, project reviews, audits and programme evaluations.
• Ensure that reported figures are supported by verifiable records and consistent with approved indicator definitions and calculation methods.
• Consolidate monitoring data, indicator achievements, beneficiary figures and relevant qualitative findings for periodic reporting.
• Review reported programme results against source documents and approved indicators to ensure consistency and accuracy.
• Maintain an organized archive of monitoring reports, assessment findings, data collection tools and supporting evidence.
• Ensure that reports are clear, accurate, appropriately disaggregated and compliant with relevant reporting requirements.
• Prepare routine MEAL reports highlighting achievements, performance gaps, challenges, emerging trends, corrective actions and lessons learned.
• Support programme teams in preparing accurate, evidence-based MEAL contributions for internal reports, donor reports and other approved reporting requirements.
• Develop simple dashboards, charts, tables and other visual reporting products to communicate programme performance clearly.
• Capacity Building and Technical Support:
• Conduct training and orientation sessions for field personnel, enumerators and community-based staff on MEAL procedures and tools.
• Promote collaboration between MEAL, programme, finance, logistics and other relevant units to improve data consistency and programme accountability.
• Support the standardization of MEAL tools and procedures across projects while allowing for appropriate adaptation to specific programme requirements.
• Provide feedback on the quality of monitoring records, beneficiary data, activity reports and other programme documentation.
• Support programme teams to understand indicator definitions, data sources, reporting timelines and verification requirements.
• Provide practical guidance and technical support to programme staff on monitoring frameworks, indicators, data collection, documentation and reporting.
• Build staff capacity in data quality assurance, accountability to affected populations, learning and the responsible use of evidence.
• Encourage programme personnel to integrate monitoring, feedback and learning into routine implementation rather than treating MEAL as a separate activity.
• Identify capacity gaps and recommend relevant coaching, mentoring and training interventions.
• Coordination, Compliance and Professional Conduct:
• Coordinate with relevant government institutions, community structures, implementing partners and other stakeholders on approved monitoring and learning activities.
• Protect the confidentiality and security of beneficiary information, especially information relating to children, survivors of abuse and other vulnerable individuals.
• Ensure compliance with LPF policies, procedures, donor requirements, humanitarian principles and applicable data protection standards.
• Report suspected data manipulation, misrepresentation of results, fraud, ethical violations and other serious concerns through established organizational channels.
• Work closely with programme managers, project officers, field teams and organizational management to strengthen programme quality and results measurement.
• Perform other MEAL, learning and innovation duties assigned by the supervisor, consistent with the position's responsibilities and organizational priorities.
• Maintain independence, objectivity and professional integrity in data collection, analysis, verification and reporting.
• Participate in programme coordination meetings, technical working groups and relevant sector forums when assigned.
• Key Deliverables
• The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the following:
• Improved data quality through documented verification, cleaning and validation procedures.
• Innovation pilot documentation, including objectives, results, lessons learned and recommendations for adaptation or scale-up.
• Regular performance dashboards and analysis comparing actual achievements against approved targets.
• Secure and organized MEAL records, assessment reports, data collection tools and supporting evidence.
• Functional project-specific MEAL plans, results frameworks and indicator tracking tools.
• Completed baseline, needs assessment, post-distribution monitoring, outcome monitoring and evaluation activities, as applicable.
• Timely referral of sensitive complaints through designated safeguarding and confidential reporting channels.
• Regular field monitoring reports with evidence-based findings and actionable recommendations.
• Functional and documented accountability and feedback mechanisms, including appropriate follow-up on routine complaints and feedback.
• Documented follow-up on monitoring findings, evaluation recommendations and agreed corrective actions.
• Training and technical support provided to programme and field personnel on MEAL tools and procedures.
• Accurate MEAL contributions to monthly, quarterly, midterm and final donor reports.
• Updated databases, indicator tracking sheets and beneficiary monitoring records.
• Documented learning sessions, after-action reviews, lessons learned and programme improvement recommendations.
• Qualifications and Experience
• Minimum Qualifications:
• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation, accountability, programme quality, research or related functions, preferably within humanitarian or development programmes.
• Demonstrated experience developing or implementing MEAL plans, results frameworks, indicator tracking systems and data collection tools.
• Practical experience conducting field monitoring, assessments, data verification, data analysis and programme performance reviews.
• Working knowledge of accountability to affected populations, complaints and feedback mechanisms, and humanitarian accountability principles.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, for data management, analysis and reporting.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and undertake field visits as required.
• Familiarity with digital data collection tools such as KoboToolbox, ODK or equivalent platforms.
• Experience preparing monitoring reports, analytical summaries, dashboards and other programme reporting products.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse quantitative and qualitative data and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Strong report-writing, communication, facilitation and presentation skills.
• Bachelor's Degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Economics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Health, Information Management or another relevant discipline.
• Excellent attention to detail, analytical thinking, problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Desirable Experience:
• Experience working with NGOs, INGOs or donor-funded humanitarian and development programmes.
• Experience working in complex, insecure or resource-constrained operating environments, preferably in northeastern Nigeria.
• Experience supporting accountability mechanisms and community engagement initiatives in emergency-response settings.
• Experience in health, nutrition, WASH, protection, food security or other humanitarian programme sectors.
• Familiarity with donor reporting requirements, results-based management and common humanitarian monitoring sta