Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Director At Pact

Pact seeks a Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) for the anticipated five-year USAID-funded Strengthening Primary and Community Health Care Activity in Cote d’Ivoire. This Activity is expected to support an integrated package of health services and health promotion, including (but not limited to) MCH, FP, malaria, and global health security at the facility and community levels in selected districts.

This position is contingent upon award; it is anticipated to be based in Abidjan with frequent travel to regional and/or district offices.

The Director of MERL will provide strategic guidance, vision, and management for successful monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning components of the program. The position will develop monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) systems that include appropriate performance and context-level indicators, baseline data, targets, a plan to evaluate performance, and routine data quality assessments. The Director will develop a research and/or learning agenda for the activity (contingent on award), and ensure methodological rigor of research undertaken, strategic learning and data use within the program. The position will also oversee the development and submission of timely, accurate, and complete reporting and supervise MERL staff, ensuring the strategic and functional integration of all MERL activities as well as active collaboration with sub-awardees and USAID.

The Director will also ensure that the program aligns with industry quality standards in MERL and work in closer coordination with Pact Global Learning Evidence and Impact team.

*All CVs must be submitted in English*

At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better future. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those facing poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone is in control of their future. We do this by developing systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable, resilient communities where the people we serve are heard, empowered, and vibrant.

Pact is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Manager for the Strengthening Primary and Community Health Care Activity in Côte d’Ivoire, which is expected to last five years and be funded by USAID. This activity is expected to support an integrated package of health and health promotion services, including (but not limited to) maternal and child health, family planning, malaria, and global health security at the facility and community levels in selected districts.

This position is contingent upon award of the grant; it is expected to be based in Abidjan, with frequent travel to regional and/or district offices.

The MERL Director will provide strategic direction, vision, and management for the monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning components of the program. The incumbent will develop monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) systems that include appropriate performance and context indicators, baseline data, targets, a performance evaluation plan, and regular data quality assessments. The Director will develop a research and/or learning agenda for the activity (as appropriate to the award) and ensure methodological rigor in the research undertaken, strategic learning, and use of data within the program. The incumbent will also oversee the development and submission of timely, accurate, and complete reports and supervise MERL staff, ensuring strategic and functional integration of all MERL activities as well as active collaboration with subrecipients and USAID.

The Director will also ensure that the program aligns with industry quality standards for MERL and will work in close coordination with Pact Global Learning’s Evidence and Impact team.

*All CVs must be submitted in English*

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of the program’s MERL system in collaboration with Pact’s Global LEAP (Learning, Evidence, and Impact) [Monitoring and Evaluation] Team to develop key RMNCH and health systems performance indicators, targets, tools, and appropriate MERL responsibilities across the project.
• Oversee data collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data is of high quality and audit worthy.
• Oversee partners’ compliance with the MEL system.
• Strengthen staff and partners’ capacity in qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation techniques through comprehensive staff training, mentoring and/or coaching.
• Coordinate any external evaluation processes, including drafting evaluation terms of reference and selection of firms, in alignment with the award.
• Conduct and manage Routine Data Quality Assessments (RDQA); ensuring implementation of corrective actions to improve data quality and accountability of staff and partners.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of a comprehensive strategic information management system roll-out and ensure accurate usage for timely program monitoring, performance tracking, learning and adaptation.
• Design and manage a flexible research agenda, ensuring methodological rigor of research and lead/facilitate the implementation of studies and coordinate presentation of findings, with support from Pact’s LEAP Team.
• Lead the program team on routine reviews and interpretation of data for learning and adaptation; package and disseminate timely findings in a meaningful way, and make suggestions for adaptation, using USAID collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) approaches, tools and strategies.
• Liaise with USAID MERL staff and with counterparts at international, government, non-government agencies involved in related activities and collaborate in promoting high quality results and complementary efforts.
• Employee complies with all company policies and procedures, including completing all compliance training topics by the deadline to satisfy each and receiving the corresponding acknowledgment statement that the training has been completed.
• All other duties as assigned
• Lead the design and implementation of the program’s MERL system in collaboration with Pact’s global LEAP (Learning, Evidence, and Impact) team to develop appropriate MERL performance indicators, targets, tools, and accountabilities for the entire project.
• Oversee the collection, aggregation, storage, analysis and reporting, ensuring that data is of high quality and can be verified.
• Supervise partners’ compliance with the MEL system.
• Strengthen the capacity of staff and partners in qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation techniques through comprehensive staff training, mentoring and/or coaching.
• Coordinate external evaluation processes, including drafting of evaluation terms of reference and selection of companies, in accordance with the award.
• Conduct and manage regular data quality assessments (RDQAs), ensuring implementation of corrective actions to improve data quality and accountability of staff and partners.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of a comprehensive strategic information management system and ensure it is used accurately for program monitoring, performance tracking, learning and timely adaptation.
• Design and manage a flexible research program, ensuring methodological rigor of the research, and lead/facilitate the implementation of studies and coordinate the presentation of results, with support from Pact’s LEAP team.
• Lead the program team on routine reviews and interpretation of data for learning and adaptation; present and disseminate timely findings in a meaningful manner, and make suggestions for adaptation, using USAID Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (CLA) approaches, tools, and strategies.
• Liaise with USAID MERL staff and with counterparts in international, governmental and non-governmental agencies involved in related activities and collaborate to promote high-quality results and complementary efforts.
• Employee complies with all company policies and procedures, including completing all compliance training within the required timeframe and receiving the corresponding acknowledgement statement attesting to the training being completed.
• All other tasks assigned to him

Basic Requirements

• Master’s degree in statistics, evaluation, public health, international development, social sciences, or other relevant field and a minimum of 9+’ years of relevant experience working in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning on public health programs in sub-Saharan Africa or other resource-limited settings.
• OR Bachelor’s degree and 11 years of experience may be substituted, pending release of final position requirements from USAID.
• Minimum of 5 years of management experience.
• Minimum of 5 years leading the MERL component of a USAID-funded project of similar size and scope.
• Documented hands-on practical experience setting up and managing MER systems for health programs in developing countries, including data quality assurance.
• Demonstrated expertise in rigorous quantitative and qualitative research and experience in M&E capacity building.
• Proven ability to produce professional quality English-language documents such as progress reports, case studies, and research protocols.
• Full professional proficiency in English and French.
• Master’s degree in statistics, evaluation, public health, international development, social sciences or other relevant field and at least 9 years of relevant experience in monitoring, evaluation, research and learning of public health programs in sub-Saharan Africa or other resource-limited settings.
• OR Bachelor’s degree and 11 years of experience may be substituted, pending publication of final position requirements by USAID.
• At least 5 years of management experience.
• At least 5 years leading the MERL component of a USAID-funded project of similar size and scope.
• Documented practical experience in setting up and managing MER systems for health programs in developing countries, including data quality assurance.
• Proven expertise in rigorous quantitative and qualitative research and experience in monitoring and evaluation capacity building.
• Proven ability to produce professional quality English language documents, such as progress reports, case studies and research protocols.
• Full professional command of English and French.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with DHIS2 platform and mobile data collection software.
• Experience utilizing and employing gender equity and social inclusion sensitive indicators and analysis.
• Experience with DHIS2 platform and mobile data collection software.
• Experience in the use and employment of indicators and analyses sensitive to gender equity and social inclusion.

Salary for this position is commensurate with local office salary scales and will be determined based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, citizenship status, genetic information, matriculation, family responsibilities, personal appearance, credit information, tobacco use (except in the workplace), membership in an employee organization, or other protected classifications or non-merit factors.
At Pact, we recognize your impact, offer you opportunities and support your total well-being. Our comprehensive benefit offerings may include healthcare, retirement (8.8% to 13% based on service tenure) and savings plans, paid time off, disability and life insurance programs, learning and development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections.
With the continuing impacts of COVID-19 around the world, we are taking action to protect the health and well-being of our colleagues and maintain the safety of the communities where we operate. Pact seeks an environment free from COVID-19 and prefers all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Attestation of vaccination status will be required for employment with Pact. Unvaccinated employees may be subject to additional health and safety requirements to include any federal, state and/or client restrictions.