MEL Associate at John Snow Inc - JSI

Project Description

• The MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity (M-RITE) project is part of a suite of innovative awards funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to holistically improve family planning and maternal and child health in partner countries around the world.
• The project applies best practices and explores innovations to increase equitable immunization coverage in USAID-supported countries around the globe. It works to build countries’ capacity to identify and overcome barriers to reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children and older populations with life-saving vaccines and other integrated health services. M-RITE works at multiple levels and in alignment with global strategies such as the Immunization Agenda 2030 and Gavi 5.0.
• The project also contributes to ongoing global efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on immunization services and support countries to prepare for and introduce vaccines against COVID-19 once they are available.
• In Nigeria M-RITE works to strengthen routine immunization (RI) services in M-RITE-supported counties and supports COVID-19 vaccine rollout at the national level, with targeted support at the county level.

Summary

• As a member of the M-RITE Project’s broader MEL team, the Officer(s) will contribute to the MEL approach through advice on MEL tools, processes, and guidance.
• The position will maintain the Project’s results framework, get into the field for monitoring visits, collect a range of evidence, and evaluate the performance of various aspects of the Project.
• This role will convene Data review meetings with staff and other stakeholders to talk about results and how M-RITE can improve its performance.
• He/she will also contribute to M-RITE’s reporting to the USAID, writing clear, concise reports on our development results. This position report to the State Team Lead.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with RI stakeholders including representing M-RITE on technical committees to facilitate evidence-based planning for Immunization services and ensuring that plans are aligned to National Strategic Plans for Immunization.
• Collaborate with the Abuja MEL team on the development and monitoring of indicators to measure immunization coverages. This includes setting up performance review meetings, developing performance dashboards to influence data-to-decision making at national and sub national levels.
• Coordinate and supervise support supervision to State/LGAs and other Implementing Partners to; improve data collection, recording, reporting and compliance with the set standards.
• In collaboration with the SERICC and LERICC, support Program and M&E Officers to collect, process, and manage data on immunization service delivery and logistics/supplies to ensure the data is of high quality for accurate reporting and use in planning, and keeping up-to-date data base.
• Participate in NPHCDA/SPHCDA led operational research useful to inform policy development and program design for implementation.
• Lead learning and adaptation process within the team, facilitating a quarterly Learning Retrospective meeting to review, analyse, and interpret monitoring data and discuss changes to implementation as needed.
• Regularly control and review data collection processes, performing data quality assessments, and adjusting as needed.
• Identify ways to streamline processes and increase efficiency in gathering and using performance information to maximize program impact and development.
• Communicate information obtained through MEL activities to program staff and various external stakeholders, notably donors and partners.
• Develop data collection flows to ensure data integrity and validity at the output and outcome levels.
• Provide technical support and oversight on monitoring and evaluation of the M-RITE project at the state and LGA level
• Ensure that the implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities are in line with the project’s implementation plan and meets the donor and project’s M&E needs.
• Provide technical support to state officers in ensuring that programmatic data/indicators are accurately captured, and reported according to set guidelines.
• Represent and make appropriate presentations to stakeholders at various fora on program achievements and deliverables and other M&E activities
• Provide continuous technical lead to project team on data management and regularly analyze state data, highlight important programmatic gaps and coordinate with program management and others in addressing these gaps.
• Conduct routine monitoring and supportive supervisory visits to project sites, including the conduct of data verification and validation and data quality assessments (DQAs) using standard checklists
• Ensure regular maintenance of database/information system, project’s training database and programmatic progress updates that documents achievements on a regular basis.
• Support monitoring activities to project sites, collation/analysis of monitoring reports for program feedback and decision making
• Facilitate the preparation/production of project reports, journal publications,and assessment reports, human success stories and quarterly fact sheets.

Qualifications

• The applicant should preferably hold a Master’s Degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, Medicine, Biostatistics, Statistics, Health informatics, Computer Sciences, Social Sciences, or any other health related field.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in M&E for international donor funded projects, preferably USAID-funded projects.
• Knowledge and experience with immunization programming and activities or related experience in MNCH and Integrated PHC required.
• Field experience in conducting  periodic RDQA and Routine Immunization Spots checks for USAID funded projects is mandatory
• Strong experience with data management in Nigeria including data entry and cleaning, data analysis and report writing.
• Demonstrated ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Knowledge of evaluation research methods (qualitative and quantitative), including data processing.
• Computer proficiency including use of MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint; experience with advanced statistical packages (e.g., Stata, SPSS), routine data collection and reporting platforms (e.g., DHIS2) and GIS mapping skills as a plus.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Written and spoken English required.
• Strong command of English and any Nigerian Language Hausa/Igbo/Yoruba.