M.E.A.L Officer at Malaria Consortium

Job purpose

To provide technical support and oversight to all state-level Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning activities of the programme under the guidance of the state Team Lead and Senior MEAL Specialist.

Scope of work

The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer will serve as the main focal person for all Research, MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) activities which include data validation, DQA, coordination meetings, capacity building in data management and supportive supervisory visit to strengthen health management information system in SuNMaP2 programme in the state. S/he will assist and report to the state team lead and other State technical officers regarding the monitoring and evaluation of project activities.

Key working relationships

The officer working under the line-management of the State team Lead and in close collaboration with the state, LGA, community actors, stakeholders and partners, would deliver aspects of the programme as per the specified job tasks and expected deliverables. S/he will have dotted line management to the Senior MEAL Specialist.

Key accountabilities (percent of time spent on each area)

Technical contributions 50%

• Develop and implement a state-specific M&E plan drawing from the bigger programme M&E plan for the programme.
• Plan and implement M&E activities related to SuNMaP2 in the approved work plan under the guidance of the State team lead.
• Serve as the focal person for all monitoring and evaluation related work for the programme within the state.
• Institute and implement a Data Quality Assessment (DQA) plan to ensure high quality data are available on a regular and timely basis for programmatic decision making
• Manage the information-gathering process for results and performance reports, in addition to other briefings, summaries, papers, presentations, etc. for various audiences as needed. Coordinate the documentation of SuNMaP2 activities in form of reports and ensure proper archiving of such for easy access and reference
• Assist program and State team leads to develop robust monitoring plans for quantitative and qualitative reporting on programme performance indicators.
• Adapt and maintain a high quality database for the project in line with the regional standards.
• Contribute to work plans, sub agreements, budgets, pipelines, technical reports, and deliverables.
• Routinely monitor project performance against targets and prepare periodic reports on M&E activities for the programme.
• Participate in project assessments, evaluations and design including development of survey protocols.

Program Management (10%)

• Support SMoH staff with coordinating program management activities, by ensuring that the recommended coordination meetings hold at the LGA and state levels.
• Work with the state and LGA Ministry of Health staff to ensure that reports are obtained from all health facilities within the state through appropriate state-specific mechanisms.
• Participate in regular monitoring and supervisory visits to the GF-supported health facilities, and ensure that action plans are developed for identified gaps.
• Support health facilities with ensuring that all items in the action plans are addressed and all outstanding gaps are closed.

Accountability (10%)

• Support programme staff to engage key populations in monitoring and evaluating program performance and to incorporate participatory methods into M&E systems in the State.
• Orient programme staff and partners on the basic principles and practices of beneficiary accountability in the State.
• Support the development and implementation of feedback and response channels to reflect the preferences of community members and beneficiaries.
• Ensure that beneficiary feedback are adequately documented, addressed, analysed, and utilized by program teams.
• Knowledge Management and Learning (20%)
• Ensure that state M&E and program teams regularly review and adjust M&E plans and tools accordingly in the light of changes and needs in the field context based on monitoring data and reflection sessions.
• Support learning-to-action events and reflection sessions to systematically analyse data for programmatic use for the state, and to document and incorporate lessons learned into program design and implementation.
• Conduct regular data review and analysis for feedback to states for program improvement, and for updates to national level (MC and government).
• 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.
• Support knowledge management systems and practices to gather, document and share best practices with programme team, MC country office, government and technical partners. Collaborate with M&E and program staff to develop learning briefs, project bulletins and other materials for dissemination.
• Promote adoption of the best practices in knowledge management by other project staff and government partners.
• Participate in country level Technical Team Cross-learning Forum.

Representation (10%):

• Liaise with technical counterparts in the State Ministry of Health, and other local stakeholders engaged in malaria activities in Nigeria.
• Participate in events/ meetings related to Monitoring, Evaluation and research in the state.
• Actively participate in the M&E Community of Practice and government M&E staff.

Person specification

Qualifications and experience: 

Essential: 

• A minimum of 5-years’ experience in a related field
• Degree in statistics, demography, mathematics or any other relevant quantitative relevant discipline
• Demonstrable contextual knowledge of local issues, community priorities, social and cultural constraints and realities related to community assessment, project design, evaluation and implementation
• Cognate experience in monitoring and evaluation of community-based interventions is highly desirable
• Expert user of DHIS2 and familiarity with the national HMIS and community HMIS.
• Experience in managing HMIS and CLMS as well as familiarity with Nigerian public sector health systems will be added advantages.
• Experience in survey design and implementation, development of data bases and analysis and write up of survey results
• Demonstrated skills in data management and quantitative data analysis

Desirable: 

Previous MEAL experience at state level

Work-based skills and competencies:           

Essential:      

• A solid understanding of health systems strengthening
• Proficiency in database management especially DHIS; Excel, Word, PowerPoint and demonstrable experience with statistical software packages (Stata, SPSS, Epi Info)
• Strong analytical skills and experience interpreting a strategic vision into an operational model
• Proven writing, communication and presentation skills in English
• A collaborative and flexible style, with a strong service mentality
• Facilitation and coordination skills, including stakeholder engagement and management skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• The ideal candidate must be attentive to detail, highly organised, flexible and self-motivated with excellent communication skills in written and oral communication
• He/she must clearly display the ability to effectively prioritise and perform tasks to meet tight deadlines

Desirable: 

Skills in qualitative research