USAID/West Africa Expand Family Planning and Sexual and Reproductive Health Activity (ExpandPF) aims to support replication and scale-up of key FP HIPs (i.e., immediate postpartum family planning, post-abortion family planning, adolescent responsive contraceptive services, task sharing, community health workers, and knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and self-efficacy) in urban and peri-urban centers, with targeted service delivery in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and Togo.
The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor develops and implements a project MEL system according to Pathfinder standards and practices and consults with USAID and other stakeholders to establish a transparent, reliable, and valid MEL system. The MEL Adviser utilizes CLA approaches to develop learning portfolios for complex activities across various countries and provides field-based technical advice around monitoring and evaluation, data quality, and translating data and learning for use. The MEL Advisor also works with local sub-grantees and implementing partners to assess and strengthen capacity in MEL systems in order to prepare them for management of direct USAID awards.
Strategic Technical Leadership:
- Ensures that the MEL system is a cost-effective, results-orientated system that provides USAID and the program with necessary information to assess the progress, effectiveness, and outcome of activities.
- Facilitates data use among project staff and key stakeholders through key analyses and established feedback loops which support activity adaptation in coordination with program and technical teams.
- Collaborates with partners to develop MEL and training plans as appropriate.
- Develops/adapts tools for data collection; designs and implements surveys and other data collection tasks in coordination with partner MEL teams.
- Designs/adapts a project performance monitoring database to report national and global indicator and performance indicator data quarterly to senior managers, COP, and Pathfinder headquarters.
- Provides technical support to strengthening MEL systems at national and community level.
- Directly contributes and provides leadership to national learning platforms and exchanges.
Program Management:
- Oversees implementation of the project’s baseline and end-of-project surveys.
- Documents project achievements against targets using monitoring data and works with project staff to identify and document challenges/gaps.
- Institutes regular use of performance monitoring data among project managers, Country Offices, and other relevant Project staff.
- Identifies best practices and state-of-the art approaches to the program activities and evaluates them.
- Disseminates information on project evaluations through written reports, conference presentations, and publications.
- Uses data to document achievements, success stories, and best practices systematically and consistently.
- Supervises MEL team members to: manage production of data to meet all reporting requirements including quarterly and annual reports, research, technical reports, presentations, etc.; ensure that all data is up to date and ready for immediate use; review quarterly reports prior to submission to donors; assist project staff with preparation of reports as appropriate.
- Strengthens capacity of project staff and partners, on the use of data for decision making and performance improvement.
- Ensure research procedures meets Pathfinder and USAID requirement and standards
Organizational Representation and Collaboration:
- Provides overall guidance and manages all the MEL related efforts, communicating and coordinating as needed with global MEL staff.
- Liaise with donors, partners, host government agencies, and other key stakeholders to share progress, accomplishments, and challenges to ensure dissemination and incorporation of best practices.
- Cultivate strong relations with headquarters to achieve organizational goals and provide periodic updates to staff worldwide on the progress, challenges, successes, and lessons learned in managing the project.
Required Education, Training and Experience:
- Master’s degree in epidemiology, statistics, or health related field.
- Extensive experience in successfully developing and implementing effective monitoring and evaluation systems for health programs in West Africa.
- Skilled in diverse CLA approaches and have experience developing learning portfolios for complex activities across various countries.
- Demonstrable experience providing field-based technical advice around monitoring and evaluation, data quality, and translating data and learning for use.
- Conversant with communicating results to technical and non-technical audiences and through varying channels including implementing partner reports, social media and online platforms, fact sheets, etc.
- Demonstrated research experience and skills; experience working with DHIS2, and relevant data system/platforms.
- Expertise in performance and impact measurement related to FP service delivery, contraceptive security preferred.
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Experience in successfully developing and implementing effective monitoring and evaluation systems required.
- Expertise in developing learning portfolios for complex activities across various countries preferred.
- Fluency in French and strong English oral and written skills are required.
Required Job-Specific Competencies:
- Leadership: Demonstrated leadership skills in working collaboratively with donors, host country institutions, and international organizations. Experience leading learning workshops and exchanges.
- Relationship Building: Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to maintain professional relationships. Ability to create and maintain effective working relations with senior Government personnel, INGOs, and USG.
- Management and Supervision: Proven ability to lead, manage, and develop direct reports within a matrix culture. Demonstrated competence in assessing priorities and in managing a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment, and in meeting deadlines with attention to detail and quality.
Required Organizational Competencies:
- Communication and Influencing Skills: Proven ability to influence others through diplomacy and proven oral and written communication skills.
- Passion for SRH: Demonstrated commitment to FP, RH services, gender, maternal, child health services, and eradication of harmful traditional practices.
- Software Applications: Advanced knowledge of MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook.
- Self-Management and Teamwork: Ability to work independently or as a member of the team, ability to thrive in a matrix organization, ability to be detailed-oriented, and ability to manage stress effectively in a fast-paced environment.
- Matrix Management: Ability to thrive in a matrixed organization.
- Confidentiality: Ability to maintain confidentiality on work-related matters.
Travel Requirements:
- At least 35% local and international travel
Application procedure / How to apply:
- Interested applicants are requested to include the contact details for at least 3 references in their resume.
- Please submit your application via our website no later than 5th June 2023
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Pathfinder is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the people we serve and our staff. We have zero tolerance for any type of behavior that inflicts harm on children, young people, adults, our staff, and partners including sexual abuse, harassment, bullying, and exploitation. We do everything possible to ensure that we recruit only those who are suitable to work with for us and expect that everyone we hire will abide by our safeguarding and related policies and will report any suspected or known violations. This job is subject to a range of vetting checks as legally permitted in the country where they are being hired. By applying, the job applicant acknowledges they understand our intent to verify suitability to work with us.