Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Advisor-DISC Project in Zambia JHPIEGO

Position Overview

Jhpiego Zambia is seeking a skilled Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Advisor to support the DISC (Delivering Innovations in Self-Care) project. This role is pivotal to ensuring the project achieves its goals of enhancing family planning services and promoting self-care through rigorous data analysis and evidence-based decision-making.

Delivering Innovation in Self-Care (DISC) is a 3-year sexual and reproductive health (SRH) program to be implemented by Population Services International (PSI) and Jhpiego Zambia, with funding from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). DISC will support women to assume greater power and control over their SRH by using contraceptive self-care methods like DMPA-SC self-inject (SI). In partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH), healthcare provider networks, and other implementing organizations, DISC will integrate self-care into health systems in selected health facilities of Luapula, Muchinga, Eastern, Southern Central and Northern Provinces of Zambia, bringing care closer to women and amplifying their voice, choice, and agency.

Key Responsibilities

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive MEL plan, ensuring indicators are feasible, measurable, and aligned with global standards.
• Oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting, ensuring timely and accurate information flow.
  Establish and maintain data management systems for project monitoring and reporting.
• Conduct regular data quality assessments and provide feedback to improve data collection processes.
• Prepare and submit periodic MEL reports to project management, donors, and stakeholders.

Research:

• Design and implement research studies to assess the impact of the DISC project and identify best practices.
• Develop research protocols, including ethical considerations, sampling methods, and data analysis plans.
• Lead data collection efforts, ensuring adherence to protocols and ethical standards.
• Analyze research data and generate reports, manuscripts, and policy briefs.

Capacity Building:

• Train project staff and partners on MEL concepts, tools, and practices.
• Provide ongoing mentorship and support to ensure effective implementation of MEL activities.
• Develop and disseminate MEL guidelines, templates, and tools for consistent application across the project.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborate with the Ministry of health at national and sub-national level to integrate DISC agenda.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align MEL activities with national health priorities and strategies.

Data Use and Visualization:

• Implement data use strategies to enable country teams to engage with and use data to improve program performance.
• Support country teams to develop and implement a Data to Action strategy.
• Ensure timely updating and maintenance of the DISC monitoring dashboard.

Data Quality and Compliance:

• Triangulate Project DHIS2 instance with standard sources to ensure accuracy.
• Contribute to accuracy of data in HMIS through the SI TWG.
• Ensure country teams have the skills, tools, and robust work plans for data quality activities.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Synthesize, analyze, and share routine monitoring data to establish a culture of performance review and learning.
• Lead on DISC’s adaptive implementation processes, including structured and participatory learning with key stakeholders.
• Coordinate with in-country teams and relevant projects for knowledge sharing and learning.

External Representation:

• Represent PSI and Jhpiego in relevant technical working groups within the broader SRH community.
• Build and identify strategic partnerships to enhance project impact and sustainability.

Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree or Master’s in Public Health, Epidemiology & Biostatistics or related field.
• Experience: At least 7-8 years of recent senior-level experience in successful field implementation and management of M&E programs preferably in reproductive health or family planning.

Skills:

• Strong analytical skills and experience with statistical software’s (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R).
• Excellent data visualization skills. (Power BI, Tableau, QGIS)
• Proficiency with DHIS2 and national HMIS
• Experience in designing and implementing MEL frameworks and systems.
• Proven ability to conduct research studies and disseminate findings.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Capacity building and training experience.