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MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING DIRECTOR

Family Health International
Full-time
On-site
Ethiopia-Addis Ababa (F; Cherkos sub-city, Woreda 06) Ethiopia

About FHI:

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff include experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) & youth, research, and technology. This variety creates a unique mix of capabilities to adequately address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries and all U.S. states and territories. We are currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of monitoring, evaluation and learning director for the USAID funded Caring for Vulnerable Children Activity.

Summary Position Description

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) advisor will be responsible for providing technical support in the design and implementation of MEL activities for the CVC activities including technical assistance to local implementing organizations. This role involves strengthening the project M&E systems; ensuring project data quality assurance, supporting LIPs to collect, document, and report quality OVC data, enhancing collaborating, learning, and adaptive management. She/he will ensure project monitoring reports are completed in an accurate and timely fashion to improve program effectiveness, and drive learning across the program and its local partner organizations. S/he will support the project in its knowledge management efforts including uploading all project reporting documents to the USAID’s Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC). The MEL advisor will work closely with senior project leadership and local implementing partner teams to complete PEPFAR/USAID program monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements including PEPFAR’s DATIM reporting.

Key Responsibilities.

Strengthen project monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning systems,

  • Ensure efficient project MEL system that generates real-time, high-quality data to improve program performance.
  • Lead the development of data collection tools, methodologies, and protocols that ensure the integrity and reliability of data, ensuring that they meet USAID/PEPFAR’s requirements and align with FHI360 priorities.
  • Synthesize assessment and learning findings, lessons learned, and best practices to inform program quality improvement.
  • Lead the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data to assess program performance and impact while utilizing advanced data visualization techniques to present findings in a clear and accessible manner to various stakeholders.
  • Ensure the timely preparation and submission of high-quality MEL reports to USAID, FHI 360 MEL systems, partners, senior management and other stakeholders as necessary.
  • Collect routine and non-routine reports regularly (monthly, quarterly, and annually) from LIPs, check for consistency between the narrative and quantitative parts, compile the quantitative part and make data entry into USAID’s unified data system, USAID/PEPFAR DATIM and other relevant program databases.
  • Develop and disseminate knowledge products such as case studies, policy briefs, and reports that showcase the impact and lessons from the project.
  • Promote the use of digital tools and technologies to enhance data collection, analysis, and reporting processes and drive adaptive management practices by ensuring that learning is integrated into project planning and implementation, monitoring, documentation, and knowledge management.
  • Undertake regular field visits to monitor and supervise project implementation, identify bottlenecks and success stories.

Technical assistance and capacity strengthening for local partner organizations

  • Provide technical assistance and capacity building to local partners on OVC related MEL concepts, tools, and best practices through mentorships, trainings and coaching to enhance their technical skills and capacities in MEL methodologies, knowledge management and data quality assessment.
  • Strengthen the capacity of LIPs to collect, document and report high-quality OVC data by providing updated tools, guidance, and continuous supportive supervision on the correct use of standardized data collection and reporting tools.
  • Assist LIPs for timely data entry into Unified Data System/Comm-Care to ensure completeness and facilitate the use of integrated dashboards to improve program performance.
  • Assist IPs to develop digital systems for documenting and tracking internal and external OVC KM and dissemination activities. The digitized systems will include real-time KM platforms and tools for continuous quality improvement, data quality assessments, service quality assessments, trainings, SIMS, meetings, site visits and supportive supervision, participants, activity, and volunteers.
  • Assist local IPs to conduct systematic OVC service data quality assessment using FHI 360 standardized DQA tools.
  • Support the LIPs to strengthen monitoring of implementation progress through the following: 1) Developing written user instructions/guidance for all case management tools and orient LIPs, 2) Orienting the LIPs’ M&E teams on data verification that meets minimum standards for data completeness and strong internal systems of control and verification, 3) Developing and/or strengthening beneficiary-level tracking, data integrity and confidentiality.

Collaborating, learning, and adapting

  • Track the uploading of all project reporting documents to the USAID’s DEC.
  • Foster a culture of continuous learning within the project by facilitating learning sessions, after-action reviews, and learning/reflection workshops.
  • Conduct or oversee surveys and evaluations (e.g., operations survey, client satisfaction surveys, end-line) and special studies as per clients’ requirements.
  • Lead creation of a “content bank” of resources to share with identified audiences, including FHI 360’s Vine platform and other relevant resources.
  • Develop evidence-based success stories, newsletter articles, cases and paper presentations to tell the CVC story in the epidemic control.
  • Provide technical support in organizing CVC end of project learning event, to showcase achievements, best practices, and innovations of the Activity and other IPs in the country.
  • Take measures to ensure high-quality of project deliverables----including workplans, performance reports and other documents, through their quality, demonstrate the project’s commitment to excellence.
  • Strengthen communications skills; continue working closely with FHI 360 Corp Comms to build these skills.
  • Develop inputs and reports for CVC’s participation in the USAID Health IP coordination task forces to coordinate, support, advise, and advocate for recovery needs in the target regions.
  • Lead period program performance reviews (at the output levels and results-based reviews at the outcome levels, and share program results, lessons learnt and best practices.

Others

  • Required to adhere to FHI 360’s principles and values.
  • Support to ensure safeguarding of program participants and gender sensitivity in all program activities.
  • Undertake additional tasks assigned by his/her supervisor.

Business Development and Client/Funder Support:

  • Collect data for inclusion in proposals
  • Assists with proposal research
  • Assists with developing proposal strategies
  • Draft proposals, budgets, and work plans
  • Develops and maintains relationships with potential clients / funders, partners, peers, etc. to develop new business.
  • Participate in business development meetings with partners/clients.
  • Develop strategies to grow the business.
  • The other higher-level (develop strategies to grow the business, lead design, etc.) are appropriate.
  • Participate in client / funder meetings and provide technical input.
  • Draft sponsor reports and presentations.
  • Represents the organization and / or Institute to external entities at professional meetings and conferences.
  • Maintains collaborative relationships with donor/client organizations, relevant government agencies, bilateral and other NGOs (non governmental organizations) and consistently maintained and viewed as a knowledgeable resource in their technical area.
  • Continually maintains a dialogue and technical exchange with field counterparts and technical staff members of implementing partners.
  • Participate in client / funder meetings and draft reports/presentations.

Partner/Sub-Award Management:

  • May be daily POC (Point of Contact) with clients for some projects on technical matters.

Capacity Building, Training and Supervision:

  • Develops and implements technical training and capacity building interventions.
  • Identifies strategies to address training gaps.
  • May supervise or provide technical guidance to staff members locally and in the region.

Operations Management (Finance, HR, etc.):

  • Manages the processes, services, planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling of all technical resources for a project.

Project/Program Reporting:

  • Drafts sponsor financial and technical reports.
  • Collates and uploads output and deliverables data to sponsor data systems.
  • Prepares and delivers presentations to sponsors on progress.
  • Helps in the development and review of work plans.
  • Creates technical content, owning the content, true experts at an advanced level (maybe the most senior technical person).
  • Serves as the primary author for technical deliverables (e.g., reports, presentations, manuscripts).
  • Gathers and aggregates data to provide a summary / high level overview.

Quality Assurance:

  • Ensures technical deliverables are consistent with best practices in the industry / subject and meet client / funder contractual obligations
  • Identifies areas for improved efficiency or effectiveness within prescribed parameters, and institutes enhancements to procedures.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

  • Ensures appropriate and timely technical support for field projects.
  • Ensures the quality of implemented technical activities and systems at all levels.
  • Conducts routine coordination with employees and consultants, on-site and in the field.
  • Strong knowledge and skills in a specific technical area/function and general understanding of concepts and principles of related technical areas/functions.
  • Solid knowledge of standards for the technical area/field, operational processes and procedures, work, and task flow.
  • Has the ability to manage projects, set realistic priorities, and plan for the successful implementation of activities.
  • Proficient writing and verbal communication skills.
  • Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office).
  • Ability to manage their own work to job and performance standards.
  • Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English fluent in host country language.

Competencies:

There are 31 FHI 360 development competencies, of greatest focus for this particular job will be:

  • Project Management (Planning and Time Management) - Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks (sets objectives/goals/measures). Breaks down work into steps, schedules, task/people assignments. Marshals people, time, and resources efficiently. Arranges information in a useful manner and orchestrates multiple activities at once.
  • People Management (Making Others Great) – Facilitate professional development of staff by providing challenging, learning assignments and opportunities. Shares and solicits feedback monthly at the very least. Helps establish compelling development plans. Assigns responsibility and accountability for tasks/decisions. Monitors process, progress, and results. Creates a climate in which people want to do their best.
  • Creating and Managing Systems and Processes – Recognizes the need for standardization and balances client and organization need in systems design. Anticipates the effects of process change on people while optimizing task efficiency and simplicity.
  • Employees are expected to possess or have high potential for the development of these three fundamental competencies.

Problem Solving & Impact:

  • Demonstrates the ability to assess needs within agreed upon duties and considers course of action best to meet those needs.

  • Effectively applies knowledge of technical area to solve a range of problems.
  • Demonstrates the ability to develop solutions to problems that cannot be solved using existing methods or approaches.
  • Faulty decisions/ recommendations /failures to complete assignments will normally result in serious delays to assigned projects resulting in considerable expenditure of additional time, resources, and funds.
  • Decisions and actions impact primarily workflow, project processes and timeframes.
  • Problems encountered are varied, requiring review of practices and precedents to resolve.
  • Problem solving involves evaluating and resolving discrepancies with data, analyses, processes, etc. within prescribed guidelines.
  • Policies or guidelines exist for most problems; others must be referred to by a supervisor or more senior professional.

Supervision Given/Received:

  • May supervise junior staff members.
  • Coordinates own workflow and sets individual priorities.
  • Works under general guidelines for completion and accuracy as determined by the supervisor.
  • Accomplishes results through lower-level staff managers or through experienced staff who exercise independence in their assignments.
  • May manage a centralized functional area of activity.
  • Serves as mentor to more inexperienced technical staff.
  • Typically reports to a Director.

Education:

  • Master’s degree in Statistics, M&E, Public Health, Project Management, or a related field.
  • Post graduate studies in Project planning or Monitoring and Evaluation are desirable

Experience:

  • At least 8 years of experience in MEL roles, with a focus on large-scale, development programs multi-country development programs.
  • Solid familiarity with USAID/PEPFAR monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements is desired.
  • Significant experience in designing and leading complex quantitative and qualitative data collection and data management systems in HIV/AIDS and or OVC programming is essential.
  • In-depth knowledge of MEL best practices, methodologies, and tools in the context of HIV programming and international development. Understanding of the principles of collaborative, evidence-based learning and adaptive management.
  • Prior experience of oversight in implementing quality/performance improvement approaches/ Quality Improvement Collaborative model is desirable.
  • Experience in developing and conducting training is desirable.

Typical Physical Demands:

  • Typical office environment.
  • Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
  • Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

Technology to be Used:

  • Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

Travel Requirements:

  • 10% - 25%

Date Revised: 9/13/2021

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

FHI 360 will never ask you for your career site username or password, and we will never request money, goods or services during the application, recruitment or employment process. If you have questions or concerns about correspondence from us, please email CareerCenterSupport@fhi360.org.

FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.

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