Director of Monitoring Evaluation and Learning DAI

Project Background

The Scaling Up Nutrition Program is a cross-ministry and multi-donor program to reduce stunting in Zambia through implementation of the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) 1,000 Most Critical Days Program.

SUN TA provides support and direct technical assistance to sub-national local government departments in target districts to plan, implement, coordinate, and monitor integrated nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific activities to reduce the rate of stunting among Zambian children under two and improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating mothers. USAID has identified two main objectives that address stunting, including (1) Adequate Quantity and Quality of Dietary Intake among Target Groups; and (2) Adequate Health Conditions for Biological Utilization of Nutrients. SUN TA interventions increases access and availability of safe, diverse, nutritious food; adoption of better child feeding and household hygiene practices; and access to improved health, water and sanitation services. The project prioritizes sustainability by improving intra-household joint decision making and building the capacity of local government and their stakeholders to ensure coordination, accountability, and learning, following the Scaling Up Nutrition model.

1. Location: Lusaka, Zambia, with frequent in-country travel on contract for 12 months.

2. Objective:

The Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning will provide technical and conceptual vision and leadership for SUN TA’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) strategy, team and system. The Director will lead the design and implementation of all monitoring activities, near real-time data management systems, results measurement and analysis, incorporation of lessons learned from external evaluations and research, and capacity building of project staff – as well as district and sub-district public service staff and volunteers. This position will be responsible for sectoral leadership in MEL related capacity development and will be a thought leader in SUN TA’s engagement with SUN stakeholders and beneficiaries.

3. Tasks and Responsibilities:

Provide overall vision, leadership, and guidance of the project’s MEL approach for project staff, partnering organizations, host governments, other donors, and stakeholders. Serve as the primary technical point of contact with the SUN Learning and Evaluation implementing partner and the NFNC monitoring, evaluation and learning unit.
Serve as SUN TA’s internal leader for knowledge management, including monitoring of performance, implementation and effective sharing of knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned throughout the project’s offices and activities.
Support and guide the design and adjustment of interventions by ensuring an effective flow and use of data and information from assessments and ongoing analyses to implementation plans.
Provide conceptual leadership to a robust monitoring and evaluation and data team around M&E planning, data collection, management, analysis, and reporting.
Provide expert-level oversight and quality control for all project data collection and research, including design and management of tools and protocols, management of relational database models, and internal and external M&E data dashboards.
Provide TA to build counterpart capacity for M&E at all levels, with a primary focus on improving data collection at the district level in collaboration with the NFNC and respective DNCCs.
Update the Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan annually or as needed.
Update the SUN TA Monitoring, Coordination, and Communication Plan ensuring specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound indicators and targets in work plans.
Oversee documentation and dissemination of key indicators, learning, and best practices.
Schedule and implement SUN learning events, both internal, to support adaptive management, and external, to share lessons and success of SUN TA with national and international stakeholders.
Other tasks as may be assigned by the Chief of Party for successful achievement of M&E objectives.
4. Reporting and Supervision:

The Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning directly reports to the DCOP in activity implementation and management. This position supervises the Lusaka-based Data Management Specialist and M&E Manager and coordinates closely with the field-based M&E and Communications Provincial Officers and District Data Associates.

5. Qualifications:

Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline;
Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in program monitoring and evaluation, capacity building and reporting on large-scale project progress, including leadership and design of program causal logic models and M&E systems;
Previous experience as a MEL or CLA Director, Knowledge Manager, or equivalent senior management position for a project of similar magnitude and complexity required;
Proven knowledge of a wide variety of M&E and related data system tools, approaches, and methodologies applied at scale;
Project evaluation experience required;
Demonstrated successful use of data and research to guide program management and implementation;
Demonstrated ability to inform causal design and programming based on third party evaluations;
Working experience in training, coaching and mentoring teams in monitoring-related techniques and methods;
Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to adapt communication styles to a range of audiences, including professional and community stakeholders;
Previous supervisory experience required;
Fluency in written and spoken English is required.