Senior Associate, Field Monitoring, North East at Evidence Action

Job purpose

• The Senior Associate, MLE, is a member of the Monitoring Learning and Evaluation Department and is responsible for supporting all Evidence Action’s Monitoring and Evaluation activities under the Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplement (SQLNS) and Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) project in Bauchi and Gombe, Nigeria.
• The Nigerian government plans a national rollout of Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS), which is a new child nutrition supplement designed to prevent malnutrition. An initial order is aimed at covering an estimated 10-20% of Nigerian children aged 6-18 months in 2026. Children are expected to receive SQ-LNS for a duration of six months during the initial distribution. Evidence Action is providing technical assistance to support optimal allocation of these resources through geospatial modeling that identifies high-burden areas for prioritized distribution. In the absence of a targeted approach, SQ-LNS distribution with a blanket coverage strategy would result in resource allocation to lower-burden areas where marginal benefits are lower. 
• In line with the 2021 WHO recommendations, FMOH is coordinating implementation research on optimizing the uptake and adherence of MMS as a replacement for IFA supplementation in Nigeria. The results of these studies will be used for decision-making on MMS scale-up in-country. Planning to ensure that sufficient volumes of quality UNIMMAP on MMS are manufactured locally. There is a need for integration and strengthening of government-partner coordination for MMS Research and Programming at National and subnational levels. MMS is being scaled up in Jigawa State.  This is an exciting position that involves supporting the state with routine data management, monitoring data collection, training of data collection teams, planning and executing health facility surveys, managing stakeholder relationships, and implementing quality assurance and quality control measures during data collection and management. 

Duties and responsibilities

Data Collection and IM/Research Firm management 

• Support the sourcing of independent monitoring. Research firms to provide data collection service to Evidence Action during baseline, midline, and endline surveys in Bauchi and Gombe, States. 
• Support the drafting of the scope of work with the rest of the  operation department during bidding process and RFQ 
• Support the review of technical and financial proposals leading to the selection of suitable vendors for contracting.  
• Support the development of Budget, timelines and deliverables for IM firms contracted to perform data collection on behalf of Evidence Action within the states 
• Lead in verifying and validating data collected by data collection vendors and the state through data reviews, checks (e.g., data validation, infield supervision, and back checks), and field visits. 
• Verify milestone achievements for timely payment of vendor during and after field collection 
• Follow up with vendors to ensure timely report submission upon completion of milestones for progress updates 
• Lead the development of a work plan for IM vendors and ensure timely updates to track program progress.  
• Supervise the recruitment of independent monitors by IM firms in all states.
• Ensure that all IM related documents and reports are updated and saved on Box. 
• Coordinate annual Feedback review meeting with IM firms, share analysis of backchecks, infield supervision, etc.  

Programs Support

• Support state program planning with M&E-related tasks during stakeholder meetings, review meetings, supportive supervision and dissemination meetings,to ensure data is correctly captured, collected and documented  
• Coordinate with the zonal program teams to ensure the review program reports, ensuring that data informs program decisions  
• Collaborate with the program team to fully understand program needs for data and translate that back to the necessary MLE delivery team/members for necessary action.  
• Support the program during extensive travel to selected sites for spot checks 

Training and Field Monitoring 

• Provide oversight for IM firms during the recruitment, training, and deployment of enumerators during field activities.  
• Ensure all training materials are updated and aligned with the SQLNS/MMS survey protocol prior to training both states. 
• Supervise the training of independent monitors by IM firms in Bauchi and Gombe,  States. 
• Support the training of government officials on MLE strategies, data collection tools, and data management practices, including DQAs. 
• Ensure regular update of the MLE feedback and accountability log on monthly basis for on-the-job learning 

Data Reporting (IM data & Treatment data) 

• Share timely quarterly reports with progress report on KPIs, with the program team at the states
• Ensure timely and accrual data reporting Health facilities and other aggregate levels by conducting routine data checks 
• Liaise with program data management and analysis teams to ensure timely data cleaning. 
• Together with the data learning team, support data cleaning efforts with the PDM team.
• Support the IM firm to submit timely and accurate reports on field monitoring activities conducted to Evidence Action 
• Plan and conduct data verification exercises to improve data quality from supported sites that are reported to the state ministry of health.  

Other 

• Support Evidence Actions Nigeria program expansion efforts in selected states.
• Accurately and timely raise issues/suggestions/areas of concerns around process monitoring 
• Perform any other monitoring, evaluation and learning duties as may be required, assigned or delegated 
• Organize monthly coordination meetings with the MLE Team. 
• Follow up with the team to ensure the MLE quarterly reports are completed, approved and saved on Box 

Requirements

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with strong Public Health, Biology, Microbiology, Nutrition, Monitoring and Evaluation, Health Economics, Statistics, or Mathematics;  
• A master's degree will be of significant advantage. 
• 6+ years of program M&E experience in Nigeria, specifically related to public health programs. 
• Strong technical skills and capacity, with at least 4 years of practical experience managing and working directly with large teams for data collection; 
• Strong IT skills related to data collection and management using data collection platforms and software such as Spreadsheets, Stata, R , Power BI, Google forms, Google Sheets, SPSS,  etc 
• Experience programming and using electronic data collection platforms, specifically Open Data Kit (Survey CTO, Kobo Collect, Comcare, Redcap, Surveytogo). 
• Data management and reporting skills: Data error checks using STATA, R or Excel 
• Excellent team management, presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills. 
• Willing to travel on short notice, to multitask, to work in ambiguity, and to respond to instructions from multiple sources. 
• Naturally inquisitive, detail-oriented, and organized; 
• Inspired by Evidence Action’s mission gather evidence needed to bring proven interventions to scale, improving the lives of millions;