Jobs at Helen Keller International / USAID Advancing Nutrition Project

Background

• We are seeking a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer to support the development and implementation of USAID Advancing Nutrition MELP at state level.
• S/He will have responsibility for tracking project performance and reporting results to inform programming. The incumbent will play role in promoting skey learning and accountability for the improvement of the project and for wider leaning.
• The UAN project will strengthen systems, programs, and platforms; applying evidence and innovation; and bringing multi-sectoral actors together to build country-level commitment and capacity to scale up what works.
• This project will also strengthen the enabling environment for innovation, commitment, capacity strengthening, coordination, collaboration, and support for multi-sectoral nutrition policies and programs among government, donors, civil society and private sector stakeholders in Nigeria.
• The overall purpose is to provide technical support to the Government of Nigeria, and other nutrition stakeholders and generate evidence to enhance nutrition programming toward achieving the overall goal of improving nutrition for a healthy, productive, and resilient Nigeria. The project will provide technical assistance, and in some cases will undertake direct implementation at the community and/or state level, to enhance nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programming to improve diets, nutritional status, and resilience of vulnerable populations, especially women, adolescents, and children aged 0-59 months.

Specific Responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of project performance monitoring framework/plan that ensures that project activities align with required deliverables and targets.
• Utilize established system and tools for collecting, analyzing and reporting data on the project.
• Work with the Monitoring Evaluation and Research Advisor, to ensure the alignment of M&E activities with program goals and contributes to the development of annual work plans to identify state targets and ensure inclusion of M&E activities
• Monitor project activities and track activities against the state results framework
• Conduct visits to LGAs and service delivery sites to monitor the quality and completeness of data sets.
• Generate monthly indicator reports and tracking progress against key indicators
• Work closely with the state stakeholders and train M&E staff at the LGA, facility, and community levels to build their M&E capacity
• Contribute to the identification, analysis, and synthesis of technical knowledge and evidence-based information in intervention areas including family planning, reproductive, maternal and child health, malaria, nutrition and immunization.
• Report directly to the Monitoring Evaluation and Research Advisor.

Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor's Degree / HND in Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, Public Health, Health Information Management or related field
• Master's Degree Preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience designing, implementing, monitoring, evaluation and learning tasks for health and/or development projects.
• Familiarity with USAID / International indicators and standard measurement tools in Nutrition as well NHMIS and DHIS2 is required.
• Competency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and ACCESS, and a statistical software package (SPSS, EPI-INFO, STATA, SAS or similar.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with relevant government partners, USAID, other Donors, and implementing partners
• Good verbal, listening, writing, and intrapersonal skills essential for effective interaction among several institutions and staff involved in a broad range of activities.
• Experience at organizing and facilitating systems strengthening, capacity development and mentoring processes
• Fluent in English (written and oral communication) and Hausa.

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Scope of the Position

• The State Coordinators will provide overall leadership and management of the project in Kebbi and Bauchi states in a manner that strengthens partnerships with the states government and other partners.
• S/He will spearhead coordination, implementation and reporting of the states project activities and ensure optimal resource management.
• S/He will serve as a member of the Project Management Team and will be responsible for overall performance of the project in the two states. The positions is based in Kebbi and Bauchi.

Specific Responsibilities
Project Planning:

• Facilitate the creation and implementation of a detailed work-plan which identifies, and sequences activities needed to successfully implement the project in the most cost-effective manner and ensures that project objectives and deliverables are met in line with national policies, and USAID goals.
• In collaboration with key stakeholders, facilitate the development and roll out of partner specific action and implementation plans to implement project activities.
• Facilitate the development or review of project specific annual budgets and monitor implementation

Project Management:

• Provides clear documentation of programmatic achievements as well as required data and keep project senior management informed of state activities on monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• Take responsibility for management of the state project budget and all other resources under the direction of the Senior Program Officer.
• Ensure that project partners execute the project according to their respective project plans.
• Document project activities and ensure that all project information is appropriately secured.
• Monitor the progress of the project implementation and adjust as necessary to ensure the project remains on track and is successfully completed.
• Establish a communication schedule to update stakeholders including appropriate staff in the organization on the progress of state project activities
• Manage all project funds according to established accounting policies and procedures and ensure that all financial records for the projects are up to date.

Project Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Provide clear documentation of programmatic achievements as well as required data and Establish system for project monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
• Establish a functional state M&E data system with periodic analyses and review to inform program management and provide reports to project M&E team
• Ensure that the project deliverables are on time, within budget and at the required level of international standards as set by donor.
• Internally and when requested, support project research activities as required.
• Disseminate findings from research to support organizational learning and contribute to policy processing or development.

Advocacy and Strategic Alliances:

• Liaise and network with relevant partners and collaborators in the state to improve project visibility, coordination of activities and promotion of shared advocacy agenda.
• Build and maintain meaningful working relationships with both government and key project stakeholders at all levels to strengthen opportunities for advocacy and higher visibility.
• Represent the project at the state level.

Resources and Process Management:

• Effectively manage project resources and processes
• Cost effectiveness (Judicious use of available resources in the State)
• Optimal utilization of project resources
• Responsiveness (Timeliness in delivering on internal processes such as reporting, request for information, promptness for meetings etc.)

Qualifications and Experience

• Graduate Degree in Public Health Nutrition, Public Administration, Management or related discipline, or its equivalent.
• Postgraduate Degree in related field preferred.
• At least 7 years’ senior level work experience in development program management in Nigeria or equivalent experience
• Previous supervision or team leader experience
• Proven track record in managing international projects
• Willingness to travel within the state and other parts of the country as needed
• Experience of managing a nutrition program, would be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated capacity to collaborate with colleagues, teams and partner organizations to achieve results.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge pertaining to the job requirements
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Able to work under pressure with minimal supervision and able to execute deliverables according to deadlines.
• Demonstrated excellent personal integrity and confidentially
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Computer skills: Windows applications for word processing and spreadsheet software
• Extraordinary verbal and written communication skills to manage project communications and disseminate project information are required
• Fluency in Hausa language is highly desire