Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL)
At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone owns their future. To do this, we build systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable and resilient communities where those we serve are heard, capable, and vibrant. Pact is a recognized global leader in international development. Our staff have a range of expertise in areas including public health, capacity development, governance and civil society, natural resource management, poverty, fragile states, monitoring and evaluation, small-scale and artisanal mining, microfinance and more. This expertise is combined in Pact’s unique integrated approach, which focuses on systemic changes needed to improve people’s lives.
Department
Program Delivery (PDEL) – Pact exists to help create a world where those who are poor and marginalized exercise their voice, build their own solutions, and take ownership of their future. The Program Delivery Team, contributes to realizing this purpose by: Forging smart partnerships and treating all people with dignity and respect; Applying organizational policies and regulatory compliance appropriately and consistently; Facilitating team spirit among colleagues and promoting the organization through communications; Influencing decision makers through focused, relevant communications; Continually striving to learn and share knowledge and find small ways to make the workplace more enjoyable for all; Cultivating and harvesting innovation; Contributing to the organization’s ability to think and act strategically at all times; Inspiring and spreading our desired organizational culture across the global enterprise.
Position Overview
Pact is recruiting a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Director for an upcoming U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funded Community Social Welfare System Strengthening follow-on activity to increase access to and use of health/HIV, social welfare, and protection services by vulnerable HIV-affected populations. The goal of this proposed Community Social Welfare System Strengthening program is to improve the health, well-being, and protection of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), at-risk Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) and People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in high HIV burden communities. The activity will be client-centered and community-focused in order to contribute to 95-95-95 goals.
The program seeks to attain the following objectives:
Objective 1: Improve core competencies of the community-based social welfare workforce to enable the delivery of health/HIV, social, and protection services (50% LOE)
Objective 2: Improve functionality of community systems and structures to strengthen service delivery for OVC, at-risk AGYW and PLHIV (40% LOE)
Objective 3: Strengthen community social welfare planning and budgeting for improved accountability to HIV affected populations (10% LOE)
Position Purpose
The MERL Director provides strategic guidance, vision, and management for successful monitoring and evaluation of the program. This individual also supervises MERL staff and ensures the strategic and functional integration of all MERL activities as well as active collaboration with sub-awardees and USAID. The Director oversees all MEL activities, provides technical direction and support, and ensures the accurate reporting of results for program activities. This position is contingent upon award.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the design and implementation of the project’s MERL system in coordination with Pact’s HQ Results and Measurement (R&M) Team to develop key performance indicators, targets, tools, and appropriate MERL responsibilities across the project.
- Manage baseline assessments and support the implementation of research and learning studies with Pact’s HQ R&M Team.
- Coordinate any external evaluation processes, including drafting evaluation ToR and selection of firm, in alignment with award.
- Develop and disseminate relevant M&E tools, formats and lead the provision of M&E specific technical training
- Oversee data collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data is of high quality and audit worthy
- Supervise other M&E staff and oversee consortium partners’ compliance with MEL system.
- Ensure appropriate training and supportive supervision of all partners in monitoring and evaluation procedures, data collection tools, and data management practices in alignment with the MELP
- Work closely with partners to establish their internal MERL systems, M&E plans, and data quality management
- Strengthen staff and partners’ capacity in qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation techniques through comprehensive staff training, mentoring, and/or coaching.
- Conduct and manage Routine Data Quality Assessments (RDQA); ensuring implementation of corrective actions to improve data quality and accountability of staff and partners
- Oversee the development and maintenance of a comprehensive project database, ensure accurate and timely storage of electronic files.
- Responsible for calculation and reporting of Pact’s Global Indicators through imPact, Pact’s instance of DHIS2
- Responsible for the data analysis, writing, and review of the results and learning sections of program reports in collaboration with program staff, before submission to donor and ensure consortium partners’ compliance with internal data quality requirements and timely submissions for reporting.
- Commitment to applied learning and adaptation based on data: Lead the program team on routine reviews and interpretation of data for learning and adaptation; package and disseminate timely findings in a meaningful way, and make suggestions for adaption based on USAID CLA
- Supervise and manage a team of MEL members
- Create a learning agenda and implement a system designed to identify lessons learned and disseminate timely information, in accordance with USAID CLA
- Produce learning products and thought leadership pieces relevant to the project intervention; present in local conferences or on webinars regarding project’s MERL successes
- Other tasks as assigned
Basic Requirements
- Bachelors Degree with 13 or more years of experience; Master’s degree with 11 or more years of experience; PhD with 9 years or more of experience in any of the following or related fields: social science, international development, public health, evaluation, statistics, or economics
- At least 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in designing, managing, and implementing results based MERL activities
- At least 5 years of supervisory experience
- Demonstrated relevant technical skills in analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data, and packaging the findings
- Excellent organizational as well as English oral and written communication skills
- Progressively responsible experience in monitoring and evaluation of projects and program beneficiaries, preferably for USAID/PEPFAR funded programs, focused on at least one of the following technical areas: health and social welfare
- Experience in utilizing gender and social inclusion sensitive indicators and measures
- Extensive knowledge of reporting procedures, including USAID/PEPFAR, best practices, guidelines, and tools for monitoring, evaluation and learning, including impact evaluation.
- Ability to work well on team and with various partner organizations
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, i.e., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc., and the ability to use various commercially available statistical software programs.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with DHIS2 platform and mobile data collection software
- Experience in utilizing health, gender and social inclusion sensitive indicators and analysis
- Tanzanian work experience preferred. Tanzania National preferred.
- Pact is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, citizenship status, genetic information, matriculation, family responsibilities, personal appearance, credit information, tobacco use (except in the workplace), membership in an employee organization, or other protected classifications or non-merit factors.
Closing date: 31 Mar 2020