M&E Officer at Malaria Consortium

Department: Technical
Role type: National
Length of contract: 1-Year
Travel involved: In-country
Grade: 7
Reporting to: Zonal Programme Manager/State Technical Officer
Child Safeguarding level: 2
Dotted Line Manager: M&E Manager, Abuja

Country and Project Background
The Nigeria Country Office with office in Abuja, started operations in 2008, through the DFID/UKaid funded Support to National Malaria Programme, SuNMaP (2008 – 2016). The office had presence in 23 states of the country and has managed at various times, about 15 programmes and projects. It follows the mandate of the parent organization in Nigeria and has been working specifically in the following areas:

• Malaria control/elimination;
• Integrated community case management (iCCM) for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea;
• Nutrition; and
• Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Currently, the Nigeria country office manages MC programmes/projects in Sierra Leone, Chad and Burkina Faso. Malaria Consortium has recently become a sub-recipient for the new grant of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GF) under the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and Catholic Relief Services as the principal recipients. The goal of the grant is to contribute towards reducing the malaria burden to pre-elimination levels and bringing malaria-related mortality to zero by 2020 in Nigeria.

This project aims to achieve seven objectives while delivering high-quality malaria services in 14 states (MC implementing in 8 of the states - Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Jigawa, Niger, Yobe, Gombe and iCCM only in Kebbi) through improved service delivery mechanisms, demand creation and health system strengthening strategies.

• To ensure at least 80% of targeted population utilizes appropriate preventive measures by 2020
• To test all care-seeking persons with suspected malaria using RDT or microscopy by 2020
• To treat all individuals with confirmed malaria seen in private or public facilities with effective anti-malarial drug by 2020
• To provide adequate information to all Nigerians such that at least 80% of the populace habitually takes appropriate malaria preventive and treatment measures as necessary by 2020
• To ensure the timely availability of appropriate antimalarial medicines and commodities required for prevention and treatment of malaria in Nigeria wherever they are needed by 2018
• At least 80% of health facilities in all LGAs report routinely on malaria by 2020
• To strengthen governance and coordination of all stakeholders for effective program implementation towards an “A” rating by 2018 on a standardized scorecard

Job Purpose

• The M&E officer will serve as the technical focal person for MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) activity which include data validation, DQA, coordination meetings, capacity building in data quality and supportive supervisory visit to strengthen health management information system in Global Fund project in the state. S/he will work closely with the state project manager / State technical officer to operationalise the project’s MEAL activities.

Scope of Work:

• The position holder will work as part of the project team under the direct supervision and guidance of the state project manager (Kano, Katsina, Niger and Yobe states) / state technical officer (Yobe, Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa) and closely with the Country Technical Coordinator (CTC) to achieve the project’s objectives.

Key Working Relationships:

• The M&E officer working under the line-management of the State Project Manager / State Coordinator and in close collaboration with the state, LGA, community actors, stakeholders and partners would deliver aspects of the project as per the specified job tasks and expected deliverables.

Key Accountabilities (percent of time spent on each area)
Technical contributions 50%:

• Develop a micro-plan for M&E activities following the approved work plan and with guidance from the state project manager / state coordinator
• Participate in the development and review of the Global Fund Malaria project MEAL plan.
• At state level, lead the Implementation of the MEAL Plan and put in place procedures for compliance
• Lead the set up and maintenance of a project database and linkages with the national DHIS version 2 platform for reporting
• Ensure availability of high quality routine data for all malaria indicators / parameters (both case management and prevention) and other project related data from all levels of health facilities (3o, 2o, 1o)
• In Niger and Kebbi, to also ensure high quality data are available in useable format on a regular and timely basis for programmatic decision making by facilitating data collection and entry from:
  • CORP’s service utilization register
  • CORP’s status update form to capture changes to the CORP’s status in relation to the project (e.g. withdrawal, change of supervisor, lost to follow ups, etc.)
• Supervision checklist to capture the details of the supervision visits
• Demand creation activity recording form to capture activities carried out by the demand creation team
• A logistics form that captures the logistic component of the project, including drug distributions, and other related equipment and tools.
• Working closely with the State Project Manager / State Coordinator, plan regular data quality assessments, and ensure the completeness, consistency and validity of routine data.
• Ensure the timely submission of high quality programmatic progress Update and Disbursement Request (PUDR) and the validation of such on a quarterly basis according to the approved project performance framework.
• Work with project team to facilitate the documentation of activities in form of reports and ensure proper archiving of such for easy access and reference
• Working closely with the State Project Manager / State Coordinator, plan and coordinate quarterly routine monitoring visits to project supported sites and provide supportive supervision
• Provide direct technical assistance and capacity building for state and LGA level implementers in the design and implementation of GF- supported monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Participate in project assessments, evaluations and design including development of survey protocols with support from country office and advisors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

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 programming staff to engage key populations in monitoring and evaluating program’s performance and to incorporate participatory methods into M&E systems in Nigeria.
• Orient program staff and partners on the basic principles and practices of beneficiary accountability in Nigeria.
• Support the development and implementation of feedback and response channels to reflect the preferences of community members and beneficiaries.
• Ensure that beneficiary feedback is adequately documented, addressed, analyzed, and utilized by program teams.

Knowledge Management and Learning (20%):

• Ensure that state M&E and program teams regularly review and accordingly adjust M&E plans and tools 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 analyze 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.
• Actively participate in the M&E Community of Practice with other PR, SRs and government M&E staff.
• Support knowledge management systems and practices to gather, document and share best practices with project 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.

Representation (10%):

• Liaise with technical counterparts in the State Ministry of Health, PRs, SRs, and other local stakeholders engaged in malaria activities in Nigeria.
• At state level, represent MC and make presentations at technical meetings and events related to MEAL, including quarterly Principal Recipient and Sub-recipients quarterly review meetings. Representation will be agreed with the State Project Manager / State Coordinator

Person Specification
Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in a similar role
• Degree in Statistics, Demography, Mathematics or any other relevant quantitative relevant discipline
• Cognate experience in monitoring and evaluation of community-based interventions is highly desirable
• Hands-on experience in the use and managing HMIS and CLMS
• Proficiency and demonstrable experience in database management software packages and statistical analysis especially with; Stata, SPSS, Epi Info and DHIS;
• Experience in survey design and implementation and write up of survey results

Desirable:

• Demonstrable contextual knowledge of local issues, community priorities, social and cultural constraints and realities related to community assessment, project design, evaluation and implementation
• Familiarity with Nigerian public sector health systems and Global Fund programme implementation will be added advantages.
• Experience working with donor grants or contracts such as GFATM, DFID or USAID/PMI
• Excellent facilitation and coordination skills

Work-based Skills and Competencies
Essential:

• Proven writing, communication and presentation skills in English
• He/she must clearly display the ability to effectively prioritise and perform tasks to meet tight deadline

Desirable:

• Skills in qualitative research
• The ideal candidate must be attentive to detail, highly organized, flexible and self-motivated

Core Competencies
Delivering results:

LEVEL C - Supports others to achieve results

• Displays a positive and enthusiastic approach and is not deterred by setbacks, finding alternative ways to reach goals or targets.
• Supports others to plan and deliver results
• Supports others to manage and cope with setbacks

Analysis and use of information:
LEVEL C - Works confidently with complex data to support work

• Interprets complex written information
• Works confidently with data before making decisions: for example; interpreting trends, issues and risks
• Acquainted with the validity, relevance and limitations of different sources of evidence

Interpersonal and communications:
LEVEL C - Adapts communications effectively

• Tailors communication (content, style and medium) to diverse audiences
• Communicates equally effectively at all organisational levels
• Understands others’ underlying needs, concerns and motivations and communicates effectively in sensitive situations
• Resolves intra-team and inter-team conflicts effectively

Collaboration and partnering:
LEVEL C - Builds strong networks internally and participates actively in external networks and think tanks:

• Builds strong networks internally
• Participates actively in external networks and/or think tanks.
• Engages with relevant experts to gather and evaluate evidence
• Shares and implements good practice with internal and external peers

Leading and motivating people:
LEVEL C – Effectively leads and motivates others or direct reports:

• Gives regular, timely and appropriate feedback,
• Acknowledges good performance and deals with issues concerning poor performance
• Carries out staff assessment and development activities conscientiously and effectively
• Develops the skills and competences of others through the development and application of skills
• Coaches and supports team members when they have difficulties

Flexibility/ adaptability:
LEVEL D - Clarifies priorities and ensures learning from experience:

• Clarifies priorities when leading change
• Sees and shows others the benefits of strategic change.
• Helps colleagues/team members to practice stress management through prioritization of workloads and modelling of appropriate self-management and care
• Makes time to learn from experience and feedback, and apply the lessons to a new situation

Living the values:
LEVEL C - Supports others to live Malaria Consortium’s values:

• Demonstrates personal integrity by using role position responsibly and fairly
• Cultivates an open culture within the wider team, promoting accountability, responsibility and respect for individual differences

Strategic planning and thinking and sector awareness:
LEVEL C - Keeps up to date with the internal and external environment:

• Takes into account economic, political and other business factors when drawing up medium and long-term plans, covering both public and private sectors,
• Looks beyond the immediate operations to prospects for new business,
• Engages with appropriate internal and external sources to establish major influences on future plans

Salary
Competitive.