Senior Manager, MEAL at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Band:            9

Department: Global Fund Malaria Program

Reports To:  Chief of Party

Location:      Abuja, Nigeria.

Job Ref Code: SMM311018

Full JD Links:  https://goo.gl/HQ5uUE

 Project Background:

CRS has a long and rich history of collaboration with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). Since 2003, CRS has been awarded over $290 million in Global Fund resources to implement programs in 27 countries. In Nigeria, CRS is a sub-recipient (SR) on the Global Fund HIV and Malaria grants and will assume the role of principal recipient (PR) for the Global Fund Malaria grant starting January 2017. As PR, CRS will partner with the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), various state governments and malaria partners and stakeholders to coordinate the 2017 long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLIN) mass campaigns in 6 states.  CRS will also oversee an SR and support a range of malaria treatment and prevention services at the state level.

Job Summary:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Senior Manager will provide leadership on all monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) activities to the CRS Global Fund Malaria program; ensure that the project documents progress and achievement of stated objectives; and provide accurate and timely reports to Global Fund and relevant entities of the Government of Nigeria (GON). The MEAL Senior Manager reports to the Chief of Party and is accountable for all the monitoring and evaluation, accountability, learning and documentation of technical project related activities, results and program quality.

Specific Job Responsibilities:

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure collection of high-quality reliable and timely data by the SRs to monitor program activities and evaluate progress towards achievement of program objectives and targets.
• Lead the preparation of M&E/program-related reports on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) by CRS to the donor and Federal Ministry of Health.
• Ensure that CP MEAL Coordinator and Regional/HQ technical team review all reports/submissions before they are sent to the Global Fund Country Team or Federal Ministry of Health/NMEP.
• Support NMEP and implementers to prepare for the quarterly/annual Program Review meetings with Global Fund Country Team.
• Lead development of the program’s M&E plans and procedures. Ensure plans are adhered to and in line with national M&E strategies, health information management systems, and CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures.
• Work closely with CP MEAL Coordinator and CARO RTA MEAL to ensure that GF Malaria grant aligns with CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures, and meets all audit requirements
• Develop and continually update the M&E Operational Manual to ensure all M&E-related documents, processes and tools are organized, up-to-date, and accessible. 

 Accountability

• Support CRS GF Malaria grant staff to engage key populations & beneficiaries in monitoring and evaluating project’s performance and incorporate participatory methods into M&E systems.
• Orient program staff and SRs on the basic principles and practices of beneficiary accountability.
• Lead the development and implementation of feedback and response channels to reflect the preferences of community members and beneficiaries.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Ensure that M&E and Program teams regularly review and accordingly adjust implementation plans and tools in the light of lessons learnt, and project needs in the field context based on routine data and reflection sessions.
• Lead the preparation and dissemination of research/evaluation findings from GF Malaria project in posters, abstracts, journals, conferences and other scientific writing forums.
• Support learning-to-action events and reflection sessions to systematically analyze data for programmatic use, and to document and incorporate lessons learned into program design and implementation.
• Support program staff in key activities including development of a learning agenda, organizing regular learning events, supporting operations research, and reflecting, documentation, and communication of learning initiatives, in line with approved DIP.

 Management and Administration:

• Coordinate with the Chief of Party and Grant/Finance staff to maintain, track, and adjust M&E budget throughout the life of the project.
• Support preparation and submission of annual Progress Update/Disbursement Requests (PU/DR) and Quarterly Program Reports in collaboration with other program staff, in line with donor requirements.

Representation:

• Liaise with technical counterparts in the Ministry of Health, other Principal Recipients, Sub-recipients and other local and international stakeholders engaged in malaria activities in Nigeria.
• Represent CRS at relevant technical working groups, sectoral meetings and coordination forums.

Human Resource Management:

• Lead, manage and supervise a team of CRS Malaria Grant M&E staff to meet program objectives.
• Conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with CRS’ performance management system and mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: CRSGlobal Fund Malaria Team, CP MEAL Coordinator, Program Quality (PQ) Director, Deputy Country Representative Health/Agric, Country Representative, Head of Finance & Grants and Finance team, Head of Supply Chain and Procurement team, CARO RTA MEAL, Regional and Senior Technical Advisors, Deputy Regional Directors for PQ and MQ, GFSU.

External: Global Fund’s Fund Portfolio Manager and Nigeria Country Team, Sub-Recipients, State Malaria Elimination Programs (SMEP)/State Ministries of Health (SMOH), National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) within the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Technical and Financial Partners, partner health facilities, Local Fund Agent (LFA), WHO, Auditors.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Degree in M&E, a health-related discipline and/or master’s degree in Public Health.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience monitoring and evaluating health programs and providing technical assistance to government and non-government partners in complex donor funded health program (Global Fund experience preferred, developing country setting preferred).
• 3 to 5 years of supervisory experience, excellent partnership and interpersonal skills to work in a team environment with dependable ability to dialogue, network, and work effectively with senior managers of local and international institutions
• Knowledge of national health management information systems, strategies and tools in Nigeria; familiarity with DHIS2.0 platform highly desired
• Demonstrated experience with collection/analysis of epidemiological data
• Understanding of principles and current approaches to M&E for health programming, including knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative methods
• Familiarity with beneficiary accountability mechanisms
• Must be familiar with and committed to gender equity in programming and management practices
• Proficiency in database development/management, and skills in analyzing, interpreting and communicating data and information to various stakeholders
• Experience using ICT4D for data collection
• Significant experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative assessments and surveys
• Previous experience with leading and managing studies and consultants
• Experience with facilitation, capacity strengthening and partnership building, with the capacity to empower staff through opportunities for growth & development
• Knowledge of Global Fund strategies and regulations desired
• Proven ability to work independently, plan strategically and analyze situations critically.
• Diplomatic leader capable of working with Government Representative, NGO counterparts and Donor representatives.
• Proven ability to function effectively as part of a multi-cultural team.
• Excellent cross-cultural communication skills and proven diplomatic and negotiation skills.
• Proven experience working with multi-sector teams and the ability to coordinate multiple staff with varying levels of responsibility.
• Excellent English language oral and written communication skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time.

Disclaimer Clause: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position, kindly use the link provided for accessing the various JD for the position.