Accountability Officer

Accountability Officer

Position Title

Accountability Officer

Supervised by
MEAL Team Leader

Reporting to
MEAL Team Leader

Duty Station
MMC, Borno State

Area of Operation
Nigeria

Employment Period
1 Year with possibility of extension.

Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee)
National

Salary & Benefits
NM - H

Introduction
The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profitmaking, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Background
Danish Refugee Council (DRC), and its safety unit, has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015. DRC Nigeria is the largest DRC country mission in the West Africa region and one of the largest DRC country missions globally. Currently, DRC delivers life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including internally displaced persons, returnees, and host communities in the areas of armed violence reduction, humanitarian mine action, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, protection, shelter, and non-food items (NFI) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in 30+ Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in northeast Nigeria.

Purpose
The Accountability Officer is to ensure that DRC maintain high standards of accountability and transparency. He oversee monitoring and evaluation, establish community feedback mechanisms, ensure compliance with policies and standards, and promote transparency. His role also involves capacity building, risk management, and detailed reporting on accountability measures. This position is crucial for fostering trust with beneficiaries, donors, and stakeholders, ensuring that the organization’s operations are ethical, effective, and responsive to community needs.

To this end, the accountability officer will liaise with DRC staff across departments to ensure compliance with DRC MEAL/AAP SOPs and the maintenance of SOP-compliant records during programming as directed by the MEAL Team Leader. Additionally, the role of the accountability officer is to ensure the development and implementation of an efficient, accountable, durable solution and measurable all program in the areas where DRC is operational and within the geographical area of responsibility.

Duties and Responsibilities:
General Programming & Operations

• Establish and run the Community and Feedback Mechanism.
• Ensure that all beneficiaries can make community feedback in confidence and with full privacy.
• Be the first point of contact for the beneficiaries’ community and feedback.
• Ensure that the mechanism is fully trusted by the beneficiaries.
• Ensure printed information on the complaints and feedback procedure is clearly visible.
• Ensure that beneficiaries can safely and easily access the Community and Feedback Mechanism.
• Support and assist beneficiaries at the time of making a community and/or providing feedback.
• Listen to complaints and/or feedback to guide beneficiaries that seek assistance.
• Ensure timely response to the community or feedback submitted by the beneficiaries.
• Ensure data collection, reporting, and follow-up on each community/feedback received.
• Monitor community and feedback received and respond/follow up through developing and maintaining a systematic tracking mechanism.
• Ensure that persons of concern receive up-to-date information on available services.
• Actively disseminate information among the beneficiaries about the community and feedback mechanism.
• Communicate with relevant field staff on the community and feedback received.
• Compile monthly reports on the implementation status of the Community and Feedback Mechanism.
• Analyze trends of the community and feedback received to help improve programming.
• Ensure respect for confidentiality as well as age, gender, and diversity in all steps of the community and feedback mechanism process.
• Maintain documentation of records; classified community should be in a secured database, and periodically update data in order to produce reports on a weekly and monthly basis to superiors.
• Follow up on pending complaints with the superiors.
• This job description is not intended to be all inclusive, and the employee will also perform other related tasks as required.

Coordination and representation

• Collaborate with relevant Internal and External technical experts on issues related to MEAL.
• Represent DRC at AAP meetings and other relevant technical coordination meetings at the field level if needed.
• Ensure integration and support of MEAL activities with other DRC sectors.
• Coordinate with MEAL/AAP counterparts in other locations in the implementation of commonly funded projects.
• Ensure good representation and reputation of the MEAL sector at all levels.
• Actively participate in internal and external AAP coordination meetings.

Project Development:

• Assist in developing project plans and budgets for funding
• Assist in the development of the projects’ MEAL tools
• Ensure Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning for all Projects in the field level.
• Ensure quality control during the implementation of all activities in accordance with Sphere and National standards.
• Prepare AAP weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports to relevant authorities as per need.

Logistics / Finance:

• Support the line Manager to monitor financial commitments and expenditures against budgets and provide timely feedback on budget follow-ups.
• Support in initiating procurements and ensure their execution.
• Contribute to grants management of all MEAL projects through management of day-to-day project expenditures with line manager.
• Assist the MEAL Team Leader in developing a procurement plan at the start of the project cycle to forecast procurement needs.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support in developing and implementing the project monitoring and evaluation plan, and timely submission of reports and other document requirements.
• Provide feedback on project implementation modality, assist in achieving maximum efficiency in project delivery, and inform the development/update of DRC’s MEAL/AAP strategy in Nigeria.
• Support in developing appropriate accountability tools and ensure their implementation.
• The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

Experience and technical competencies:
Essential:

• Minimum of 2 years of previous experience with implementing Community Feedback Mechanism or with monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian programs.
• Knowledge of MEAL and AAP Approaches and SHERE Standard
• Solid computer skills and competency in MS Word and Excel as a minimum.

Desirable:

• Project Planning and Management is an added advantage.
• Excellent facilitation skills and a strong understanding of how to collect feedback safely and accurately from all members of a community regardless of their age, gender, or other diversity factors.
• Experience working in emergency response with NGOs, preferably in a humanitarian context.
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Fluency in local spoken languages (Hausa, Kanuri etc).

Education: (include certificates, licenses etc.)

• Bachelor’s degree in social science, business, development, or any related field.
• Excellent communication, presentation, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.

We offer.

• Contract length: 1 year with the possibility of extension.
• Level: NM - H, Step 1
• Start date: October 2024

General Regulations:

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality, and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization.
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period.
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization.
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.

Application Process

• All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.
• DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, colour, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.
• DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.
• Applications submitted after the closing date will not be considered.
• Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline.

However, all applicants shall take into consideration that DRC cannot offer an international work contract to a citizen of the country of assignment (in this specific case, Nigeria)
Deadline: Applications close on the 1st of October 2024 at midnight (GMT).

Note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis due to the urgency, therefore a candidate who closely meets the requirements may be selected before the above deadline.

• Only short-listed applicants will be invited for written tests and oral interviews.
• For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult: www.drc.dk

Position Title

Accountability Officer

Supervised by
MEAL Team Leader

Reporting to
MEAL Team Leader

Duty Station
MMC, Borno State

Area of Operation
Nigeria

Employment Period
1 Year with possibility of extension.

Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee)
National

Salary & Benefits
NM - H

Introduction
The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profitmaking, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Background
Danish Refugee Council (DRC), and its safety unit, has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015. DRC Nigeria is the largest DRC country mission in the West Africa region and one of the largest DRC country missions globally. Currently, DRC delivers life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including internally displaced persons, returnees, and host communities in the areas of armed violence reduction, humanitarian mine action, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, protection, shelter, and non-food items (NFI) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in 30+ Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in northeast Nigeria.

Purpose
The Accountability Officer is to ensure that DRC maintain high standards of accountability and transparency. He oversee monitoring and evaluation, establish community feedback mechanisms, ensure compliance with policies and standards, and promote transparency. His role also involves capacity building, risk management, and detailed reporting on accountability measures. This position is crucial for fostering trust with beneficiaries, donors, and stakeholders, ensuring that the organization’s operations are ethical, effective, and responsive to community needs.

To this end, the accountability officer will liaise with DRC staff across departments to ensure compliance with DRC MEAL/AAP SOPs and the maintenance of SOP-compliant records during programming as directed by the MEAL Team Leader. Additionally, the role of the accountability officer is to ensure the development and implementation of an efficient, accountable, durable solution and measurable all program in the areas where DRC is operational and within the geographical area of responsibility.

Duties and Responsibilities:
General Programming & Operations

• Establish and run the Community and Feedback Mechanism.
• Ensure that all beneficiaries can make community feedback in confidence and with full privacy.
• Be the first point of contact for the beneficiaries’ community and feedback.
• Ensure that the mechanism is fully trusted by the beneficiaries.
• Ensure printed information on the complaints and feedback procedure is clearly visible.
• Ensure that beneficiaries can safely and easily access the Community and Feedback Mechanism.
• Support and assist beneficiaries at the time of making a community and/or providing feedback.
• Listen to complaints and/or feedback to guide beneficiaries that seek assistance.
• Ensure timely response to the community or feedback submitted by the beneficiaries.
• Ensure data collection, reporting, and follow-up on each community/feedback received.
• Monitor community and feedback received and respond/follow up through developing and maintaining a systematic tracking mechanism.
• Ensure that persons of concern receive up-to-date information on available services.
• Actively disseminate information among the beneficiaries about the community and feedback mechanism.
• Communicate with relevant field staff on the community and feedback received.
• Compile monthly reports on the implementation status of the Community and Feedback Mechanism.
• Analyze trends of the community and feedback received to help improve programming.
• Ensure respect for confidentiality as well as age, gender, and diversity in all steps of the community and feedback mechanism process.
• Maintain documentation of records; classified community should be in a secured database, and periodically update data in order to produce reports on a weekly and monthly basis to superiors.
• Follow up on pending complaints with the superiors.
• This job description is not intended to be all inclusive, and the employee will also perform other related tasks as required.

Coordination and representation

• Collaborate with relevant Internal and External technical experts on issues related to MEAL.
• Represent DRC at AAP meetings and other relevant technical coordination meetings at the field level if needed.
• Ensure integration and support of MEAL activities with other DRC sectors.
• Coordinate with MEAL/AAP counterparts in other locations in the implementation of commonly funded projects.
• Ensure good representation and reputation of the MEAL sector at all levels.
• Actively participate in internal and external AAP coordination meetings.

Project Development:

• Assist in developing project plans and budgets for funding
• Assist in the development of the projects’ MEAL tools
• Ensure Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning for all Projects in the field level.
• Ensure quality control during the implementation of all activities in accordance with Sphere and National standards.
• Prepare AAP weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports to relevant authorities as per need.

Logistics / Finance:

• Support the line Manager to monitor financial commitments and expenditures against budgets and provide timely feedback on budget follow-ups.
• Support in initiating procurements and ensure their execution.
• Contribute to grants management of all MEAL projects through management of day-to-day project expenditures with line manager.
• Assist the MEAL Team Leader in developing a procurement plan at the start of the project cycle to forecast procurement needs.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support in developing and implementing the project monitoring and evaluation plan, and timely submission of reports and other document requirements.
• Provide feedback on project implementation modality, assist in achieving maximum efficiency in project delivery, and inform the development/update of DRC’s MEAL/AAP strategy in Nigeria.
• Support in developing appropriate accountability tools and ensure their implementation.
• The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

Experience and technical competencies:
Essential:

• Minimum of 2 years of previous experience with implementing Community Feedback Mechanism or with monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian programs.
• Knowledge of MEAL and AAP Approaches and SHERE Standard
• Solid computer skills and competency in MS Word and Excel as a minimum.

Desirable:

• Project Planning and Management is an added advantage.
• Excellent facilitation skills and a strong understanding of how to collect feedback safely and accurately from all members of a community regardless of their age, gender, or other diversity factors.
• Experience working in emergency response with NGOs, preferably in a humanitarian context.
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Fluency in local spoken languages (Hausa, Kanuri etc).

Education: (include certificates, licenses etc.)

• Bachelor’s degree in social science, business, development, or any related field.
• Excellent communication, presentation, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.

We offer.

• Contract length: 1 year with the possibility of extension.
• Level: NM - H, Step 1
• Start date: October 2024

General Regulations:

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality, and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization.
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period.
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization.
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.

Application Process

• All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.
• DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, colour, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.
• DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.
• Applications submitted after the closing date will not be considered.
• Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline.

However, all applicants shall take into consideration that DRC cannot offer an international work contract to a citizen of the country of assignment (in this specific case, Nigeria)
Deadline: Applications close on the 1st of October 2024 at midnight (GMT).

Note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis due to the urgency, therefore a candidate who closely meets the requirements may be selected before the above deadline.

• Only short-listed applicants will be invited for written tests and oral interviews.
• For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult: www.drc.dk

Department: Borgergade 10, 3.sal , København K

Location: Maiduguri, Borno State

Application deadline: 01 Oct 2024