Impact Assessment and Shared Learning Manager at ActionAid (AA) Nigeria

ActionAid is an anti-poverty agency that prioritises work with people living in poverty and exclusion; promoting values and commitment in civil society, institutions and Governments with the aim of achieving structural changes in order to eradicate injustices and poverty in the world. ActionAid Nigeria is an affiliate of ActionAid International, an International Non-Governmental organisation registered in The Netherlands with its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa. ActionAid International works in more than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Impact Assessment and Shared Learning Manager

Location: Abuja
Responsible to: Director of Programmes
Line Management: IASL Officer, matrix reporting – MEL Advisor

Overall Purpose

The post holder will be a part of the Country Management Team.
S/he will lead and coordinate the operationalisation of effective and appropriate systems and processes for planning, measuring progress and impact, learning and reporting across the organisation.
S/he will also provide leadership in meeting Accountability, Learning and Planning System (ALPS) requirements at all levels.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Technical:
Planning and Reporting:

Promote and support AAI’s Accountability, Learning and Planning (Alps) system and domestication within AAN, partner organisations and communities
Lead the process of development and review of strategic documents such as country and programme strategy papers and translate these into departmental/unit plans for operational delivery
Coordinate the overall planning processes across the organisation including analysing organisation-wide plans (three-year and operational) to ensure delivery of strategic objectives and prepare gap analysis and gap closure recommendations for review at Country Management Team meetings.
Lead on the development of organisation-wide report, management updates and other reports as necessary to ensure accountability across Local Rights Programme (LRP) to other donor funded projects
Coordinate the project steering committee meetings convened by the Director of Programmes

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning:

Work collaboratively with unit Leads to develop systems for monitoring progress against country strategy papers and other strategies
Develop standards and tools as well as provide technical advice – guidance, coaching, training – to local and national programme teams and implementing partners on M&E
Take a lead on LRP monitoring and evaluation system
Coordinate the annual Participatory Review and Reflection process (PRRP) with programme partners and development of Annual Progress Document
Responsible for quality control of evaluations, partnership appraisals and peer reviews
Ensure that feminist lens, power analysis and rights perspectives are fully incorporated into ActionAid’s planning, monitoring and evaluation processes
Ensure implementing partners’ compliance with agreed programme standards including meeting reporting requirements
Co-ordinate the operationalization of action research to elicit issues impacting on power, poverty, gender and vulnerability especially from the perspective of the poor and excluded people
Actively engage in applied research to increase capacity in the organisation to test theories of change and promote innovation leading to increase impact

Management Information Systems

Provide oversight to the management of the Impact Assessment and Shared Learning unit and the Knowledge Management working group
Position Data Management System (DMS) as a core part of meeting the information needs of the organisation in an efficient and cost-effective way
Participate in the development and implementation of programme and organisation learning activities of ActionAid Nigeria (AAN)
Develop and support the operationalisation of management information systems (MIS) for capturing and managing data including baseline and coverage information, emanating from programme work in the communities

Human Resources:

Ensure performance management and staff development of both direct reports and staff in extended matrix teams
Monitor the team’s performance against the agreed organisational standards and ensure that problems are identified and resolved
Foster the necessary consultation, communications and good relation with other departments and the entire organisation

Others:

Responsible for Impact Assessment and Shared Learning budget
Support the various themes in the development of funding proposals for programme work, especially in definition of progress and impact assessment processes
Build and sustain networks with organisations and practitioners working in the areas of impact assessment and shared learning with a view to influencing and learning from approaches and practices beyond AAN
Assume any other responsibilities relevant to the position as assigned by line manager.

Representation:

Represent AAN and ensure the maintenance of optimum relations at all levels with Government agencies, Private Organisations, as well as Non-Governmental
Organisation in Nigeria.
Represent AAN at meetings within ActionAid Federation and platforms relevant to the role.

Key Relationships:

Internal Relationships: Entire AAN staff, AAI team
External Relationships: Partners, Networks & Donors

Person Specification
Education/Qualifications:
Essential:

First Degree in Social Sciences or Arts / Humanities
Master’s Degree in a related field

Desirable:

Membership of relevant professional Institute.

Experience:
Essential:

Minimum of 8 years work experience, 5 of which should be in a similar role in the development
Excellent quantitative and qualitative monitoring and evaluation skills and familiarity with the range of approaches and methods currently being deployed in the development sector
Human Rights Based Approach programming and monitoring experience, including working with partners and social movements
Experience designing and monitoring campaigns

Desirable:

Deep understanding of and commitment to human rights based approach including women’s rights, with knowledge of methodologies that are effective in monitoring and evaluation

Skill Abilities:

Strong writing skills
Strong analytical/problem solving skills
Ability to influence and encourage others to new concepts and ways of working within an environment of change
Excellent planning and prioritization skills
Demonstrable IT skills
Highly numerate
Excellent skills in policy analysis and interpretation

Personal Qualities: