I. Job Context:

ICCO Cooperation (www.icco-cooperation.org) is an international organization, whose mission is to end poverty and injustice in the global south, in partnership with enterprising people. We invest in the power and dreams of entrepreneurial people, stimulate their entrepreneurial spirit, and connect them with businesses, governments and social organizations. 

ICCO Cooperation is implementing the “Sustained Opportunities for Nutrition Governance (SONGO) Project” to improve maternal and child nutrition in Kurigram and Gaibandha districts. The SONGO project is of 5 years in duration with 4 inter-linked outcomes; (1) Establishing Upazila Nutrition Governance, (2) Improving Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition, (3) Improving WASH Practices (4) Enhancing Availability and Access to Safe and Nutritious Food.

SONGO is seeking a Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer to contribute to building SONGO’s understanding of how the project is contributing to improving the nutrition specific and sensitive facets of the target community. The officer will play a frontline role in designing assessments, administering key research enquiry investigations, facilitating the phase-in of new monitoring systems (manual and ICT based) and assist in ongoing evaluations of SONGO’s and reporting of SONGO’s impacts and operational processes. This hands-on role requires a keen minded candidate, who is innovative in their approaches, can critically analyze and is a self-starter willing to take initiative.

II.            Responsibilities and Tasks:

Contribute to the design, phase-in and overall execution of research exercises, coordinate and surveillance quality of field assessments

• Design research enquiries relevant to the thematic areas of SONGO and coordinate their implementation
• Committed to the upholding of strongest research practices, and championing the best execution of pre-existing assessments/methodologies
• Think systemically in building assessments that can be reported in-line with key operational activities
• Develop reporting formats, phase-in and train staff on implementation and summarize reported findings
• Develop digital databases and design submission formats on online platforms

Knowledge Management

• Contribute to the articulation, execution of the continual knowledge feedback processes
• Promote knowledge generation and sharing among SONGO stakeholders including with partners.
• Synthesize documentation and reporting of monitoring data, lessons learned and success stories from targeted areas for internal and external sharing
• Supporting the project staff and Partners as well as coordinate with PMEL Experts/officers, to find out case studies (at the beneficiary level) and feed such case studies/Most Significant Change stories to the Communication desk
• Willing to speak publicly, present findings to multiple stakeholders and facilitate focus group discussions. Prior evidence of doing so will be considered favorably
• Keeping up to date with latest developments in the PMEL field relevant to the scope of SONGO’s intervention areas.

Technical Skills, Experience and Knowledge

• Well-developed analytical and planning skills and an ability to analyze and synthesize information from different sources.
• Experience in vulnerable community consultations, in particular with women, disabled persons, adolescents is an asset
• Experience with use of household studies, community-based data gathering and use of secondary data is an advantage
• Knowledge of Local Governance Structures is desirable

Personal

• A team player, with the ability to work effectively with others to achieve results, with strong advisory/ facilitation skills.
• A dynamic, innovative person, with an aptitude for research
• Results-focused with ability to manage own workload proactively and with own initiative.
• An excellent understanding of and commitment to putting gender equality at the heart of development and humanitarian work
• Dedicated to building positive change among vulnerable groups and championing the truth

III.           Working Conditions:

• The position is based in Gaibandha, Rangpur Division. Applicants must be willing to locate/relocate themselves if successful.
• Working days from Sunday to Thursday with 40 hours per week. This position may be required to work some overtime hours to attend external meetings.
• From time to time local/day long travel may be required to reach different working and remote areas within the Gaibandha and Kurigram Districts.
• Any other tasks assigned by the supervisor from time to time.
• Yearly renewable the contract based on fund availability and performance.
• Following of ICCO HR, Admin and Finance related policy.

IV.       Key contacts:

Project Manager, Operation Lead, Head of Programs, Manager, HR & Admin and Finance department of ICCO

V.    Key Qualifications:

Priority

• Higher level qualification or degree, in either development, health, anthropology, agriculture, quantitative or relevant social science fields
• Proven initiative with the development context/immersion in development related fields, with rural experience preferable
• Professional research experience, or strong background of multi-disciplinary academic research in related or transferable skill areas
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English and Bengali
• IT Proficiency: Microsoft Excel proficiency is a must for this role
• Excellent interpersonal communications skills and willingness to immerse within a multicultural team
• Demonstrable lateral thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Committed to a rights-based approach, and championing the values upheld by ICCO Cooperation
• Strong report writing capabilities, and able to condense information from multiple sources to a relatable format.

Desirable

• Prior Experience in applied Qualitative Research is highly desirable
• Experience working with government/governance stakeholders at a local level
• Exposure to themes on nutrition/health challenges in rural communities
• Experience working within the NGO context at a field level or within communications, research or strategy environments.
• Exposure to digital data collection tools