State MEL Officer, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (MNTD), REACH Malaria at PATH

Job ID: JR2183
Locations: Kebbi, Ebonyi, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Oyo and Cross River
Employment Type: Full-time

Description

• The Organization for Innovation in Public Health (OIPH, PATH’s local affiliate in Nigeria) seeks a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer for the Nigeria project team for the USG-funded Reaching every at-risk community and household with malaria services (PMI REACH Malaria) global contract. PMI REACH Malaria aims to provide implementation support services and technical assistance to countries to accelerate progress in comprehensive delivery of facility and community-based  malaria services, including malaria case management, prevention of malaria in pregnancy (MiP), seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) as applicable, health systems strengthening, data collection and use for service delivery, and other malaria prevention interventions.   
• The State MEL Officer will be supervised by and report to the State Coordinator with dotted reporting lines to the MEL Manager. S/he will provide technical leadership of PMI REACH Malaria Project’s surveillance, monitoring and evaluation (SME) and health systems strengthening (HSS) interventions, including the rollout and integration of PMI REACH 
• Malaria SME plans in the states as well as generating strategic data for program management, reporting, and documentation of best practices. The position will use analyzed and triangulated HMIS, LMIS, and surveillance data to guide strategic policy and management discussions to influence state HSS.  
• S/he will build the capacity of SMEP and LGA malaria focal persons in use of evidence to influence HRH, health financing, and service delivery system decisions.
• S/he will provide timely analyzed data to inform annual operation plan (AOP) processes.
• The position will build capacity of SMEP and LGA malaria focal persons in monitoring AOP implementation and budget performance to inform mTWG decisions. 

Responsibilities 

• Provide technical guidance in the planning and implementation of all state and LGA level M&E/HSS activities.  
• Develop and implement an M&E/HSS plan for the program in the state, in collaboration with the State Coordinator. 
• Take lead in the implementation of PMI REACH Malaria M&E plans and state work plan and reporting on Department of State indicators and targets in collaboration with the State Coordinator. 
• Establish system for flow of information from service delivery points to the DHIS2 central database and ensure timely M&E/HSS technical support to all implementing health facilities. 
• Build capacity of SMEP and LGA M&E officers in monitoring and evaluation, data management, and data use. 
• Support the SMEP team to analyze and use data to inform decisions and guide malaria interventions. 
• Participate in data quality review meetings at the state and LGA levels. Support data quality audits as needed. 
• Work with SMEP and LGAs to train health workers in the use of HMIS reporting forms and registers.  
• Support monitoring of quality of service at health facilities. 
• Take lead in implementation of selected health systems interventions including for example evidence-based state malaria annual planning to fit into state planning and budgeting cycle 
• Support state malaria partners to build an evidence base to monitor state malaria program performance towards elimination goals. 
• Provide HRH analytics to inform state HRH deployment and management practices. 
• Engage with the State DHPRS, SPHCDA, State Health Insurance Scheme to mainstream state malaria budgets in state government budget.   

Required Skills and Experience 

• A First Degree in any field of study and at least 5 years of progressive experience in Monitoring and Evaluation of health programs; or a postgraduate degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Epidemiology or related field with at least 3 years field experience in monitoring and evaluation of health programs is required.  
• Experience in developing monitoring plans and/or management information systems, generating, triangulating and using health data to inform State health systems strengthening is required. 
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience working in malaria programs in Nigeria 
• NGO experience is an added advantage 
• Familiarity with Department of State or any donor M&E and reporting systems is highly desirable 
• Excellent data quality assurance, analysis, presentation and reporting skills. 
• Experience in data quality audits and data review meetings, preferably for malaria programming.  
• Knowledge and experience of the MOH health information system and DHIS2 is a requirement. 
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to foresee problems and initiate appropriate action. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and fluency in English  
• Strong facilitation and report writing skills. 
• Excellent organizational, inter-personal, multi-cultural and team building skills. 
• Strong work ethic, resourcefulness, integrity, credibility, and dedication to PATH’s mission.    
• Professional proficiency in English required.