Monitoring Assistant _ Kobo

Medical Teams Calling

Daring to love like Jesus, we boldly break barriers to health and restore wholeness in a hurting world.

Medical Teams International holds strict child and vulnerable adult safeguarding principles and a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct related to sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse in the workplace and other places where the organization’s activities are rendered. Parallel to technical competence, recruitment & selection, hiring decisions will give due emphasis to assessing candidates’ eligibility thorough background checks, police clearance, and professional reference check processes.

JOB SUMMARY

The Field Monitoring Assistant supports the implementation of monitoring activities at field level to ensure quality data collection, accurate reporting, and effective tracking of project performance. The position works closely with program staff, partners, and community stakeholders to collect, verify, and report data in line with organizational and donor requirements.

The Monitoring Assistant conducts routine field visits to project sites to monitor activities, verify reported results, and ensure compliance with project plans and standards. The role also supports data quality assurance, beneficiary registration and verification, distribution monitoring, post-distribution monitoring (PDM), and feedback collection mechanisms.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct daily/weekly rapid monitoring at health posts, nutrition centers, mobile clinics, and outreach sites using mobile tools (KoboToolbox, ODK, CommCare).
• Collect, validate, and input critical health/nutrition indicators: OPD visits, disease outbreaks (cholera, measles), malnutrition (MUAC/WHZ), therapeutic feeding, maternal deliveries, immunization – with zero tolerance for delays.
• Perform on-site data quality checks to prevent misreporting that could disrupt supplies or clinical decisions.
• Maintain real-time emergency dashboards (digital/paper) for tracking caseloads, stock-outs, referral gaps, or protection incidents.
• Support rapid generation of Sit-Reports, dashboards, and alerts for internal/donor use during crises.
• Adapt data tools weekly based on emerging needs (e.g., adding GBV referral questions during influxes).
• Support rapid needs assessments (RNAs), post-distribution monitoring (PDM), and mortality/morbidity surveillance in new displacement sites.
• Produce “Field Flash Reports” – 1-page summaries of bottlenecks, rumors, risks, or gaps – for immediate program correction.
• Document case studies and survivor stories (with consent) to demonstrate impact, inform donor reporting, and drive advocacy for resources or policy shifts.
• Lead rapid operational research (e.g., “Why RUTF refusal?” or “Referral delays?”) – design tools, gather and analyze data, and deliver actionable recommendations within 5–7 days.
• Maintain MEAL trackers for assessments, after action reports/AARs/, and learning actions – log findings, assign owners, and track follow-up to closure.
• Ensure data quality in all evaluations through spot-checks, back-checks, and triangulation — flag and resolve inconsistencies before submission.
• Submit weekly learning briefs to the MEAL Officer — covering AAR progress, pending research, feedback trends, and upcoming assessments.
• Translate data insights into program improvements — collaborate with health/nutrition teams to adjust protocols, training, or supplies — and monitor impact of changes.
• Securely archive all raw/cleaned data and reports (digital + physical) — ensuring full traceability and readiness for audits or donor reviews.

Other Duties:

• Additional duties as assigned.
• EDUCATION,LICENSES,&CERTIFICATIONS
  Require Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Monitoring & Evaluation, Social Sciences, or Humanitarian Studies.
• Strongly Preferred: Certification in Humanitarian MEAL, Emergency Nutrition (CMAM/IMAM), Protection Mainstreaming, or GBV in Emergencies.

ABILITY

• Ability to work with diverse communities.
• The candidate must be able to travel frequently to project and operational sites, including field and community locations.
• Ability to work collaboratively with program and MEAL staff
• Ability to handle sensitive information responsibly.
• Ability to plan and execute field visits efficiently and meet reporting deadlines.
• Ability to identify challenges in field activities and propose practical solutions

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequent use of a personal computer, database and digital platforms, and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine and computer printer.
• Frequently uses hands, fingers, and arms to reach, handle, touch or feel equipment, medical instruments, materials, computer.
• Frequent communication and exchange of information among colleagues and persons of concern which requires the ability to speak, hear, convey and express oneself.
• Frequent close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally ascends/descends stairs, steps, or ladder
• Occasionally move about inside an office to access file cabinets, office machinery, meet with colleagues, etc.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25Kg.
• Seldom to occasionally positions oneself to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• If in travel status, occasional to frequent traversing over rough or steep terrain in either a motor vehicle or on foot.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.
• The employee may be required to travel to remote areas of the world where there are potential health hazards and risks, limited hygiene facilities, extreme weather, and very basic living conditions.

NOTE: The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by staff assigned to this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of staff in this position. Duties, responsibilities, and skills are also subject to change based on the changing needs of the job, department, or organization. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned; The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by Medical Teams International as the requirements of the job change.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 2 years of field-based MEAL, data collection, or research experience in emergency health/nutrition programs – preferably with refugees, IDPs, or conflict-affected populations.
• Proven experience working with INGOs/UN in Ethiopia’s emergency contexts or similar fragile settings.
• Hands-on expertise with mobile data tools (KoboToolbox, ODK, CommCare) under low-connectivity, high-pressure conditions.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE

• Deep understanding of emergency MEAL frameworks — including rapid assessments, real-time monitoring, and adaptive management in volatile contexts.
• Technical knowledge of emergency health protocols (ETC, IDSR, CCM) and acute malnutrition management (CMAM, blanket feeding, MUAC screening).
• Awareness of protection risks in displacement settings — including GBV, child separation, exploitation, and psychosocial distress — and how MEAL can mitigate them.

SKILLS

• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Data Collection & Reporting: Ability to collect, record, and report accurate program data using standard tools (Excel, KoboToolbox, ODK, or other data collection platforms).
• Monitoring & Evaluation Knowledge: Understanding of basic M&E concepts, indicators, and reporting requirements.
• Field Verification: Ability to verify project activities, beneficiary lists, and service delivery at community level.
• Data Quality Assurance: Checking data for completeness, accuracy, and consistency.
• Survey & Interview Skills: Conducting household or beneficiary interviews and focus group discussions.
• GIS / Mapping (Optional): Basic knowledge of mapping project sites or beneficiaries using GPS or GIS tools.