Monitoring and Evaluation Lead Full-Time

Helen Keller International is a Monitoring and Evaluation Lead based in Zambezia.

Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA)

Helen Keller International is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition and diseases of poverty. Co-founded by Helen Keller – and guided by her fierce optimism and belief in human potential – the organization delivers life-changing health and food security solutions to build resilience of vulnerable families where the need is great but access to care is limited. In the US, Africa, and Asia, Helen Keller’s proven, science-based programs empower people to create opportunities in their own lives and build lasting change.

Background

The purpose of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)/Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) funding for a Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Mozambique is to improve and sustain the food and nutrition security of children under two years of age in Zambezia, Livelihood Zone 5. The objectives of this project are to sustainably improve women’s nutrition even in the face of shocks and improve infant and young child feeding. Project activities will involve work at the individual, household, community and institutional levels to address the underlying causes of food insecurity and malnutrition by focusing on improving access and consumption of nutritious foods, whilst changing behaviors for better nutritional outcomes.

Scope of the Position

The Monitoring and Evaluation Lead (M&E Lead) will be responsible for the design, coordination and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation, research and learning framework of the Mozambique RFSA in a manner that conforms to USAID/BHA Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting guidance. Working closely with the Chief of Party and all relevant colleagues, the M&E Lead will be responsible for developing and implementing tools for tracking performance during the project’s implementation and working with stakeholders to ensure that project outcomes are achieved on time. The M&E Lead will oversee the design and implementation of research as needed; as well as building the capacities of project staff and relevant stakeholders on all areas related to M&E.

This position will be based in Maputo or Quelimane. This five-year position is contingent on Helen Keller being awarded funding and is anticipated to begin in January 2022.

Specific Responsibilities

The M&E Lead will be responsible for the following:

1. Designing the USAID/BHA RFSA M&E Framework

• Lead in the development of the overall M&E framework for the RFSA. This includes;
• Design of the overall M&E system that meets the information needs of project staff, the donor and other stakeholders;
• Design of data quality assurance procedures and tools, formative supervision tools, design of surveys including sampling and questionnaires;
• Ensuring that monitoring data is systematically used by project staff to strengthen implementation in a timely fashion;
• Using Helen Keller’s approval guidelines related to surveys and research, provide guidance and support to project staff in design and conducting baseline, midterm and endline surveys to ensure quality and alignment to donor requirements. This will include a review of sampling methodology, questionnaire design, analysis plans, and final reporting;
• Lead the mid-term project review, impact assessment, final evaluation, and develop project monitoring plan with relevant data collection systems.

2. Implementation of M&E and Coordination

• Ensure that the project monitoring plan is updated consistently to inform project progress and performance;
• Lead all M&E initiatives for the RFSA including monitoring data quality and tracking the progress of the project towards targets;
• Lead regular review meetings to assess progress against set targets, and provide recommendations based on internal policies, donor regulations and project timeline;
• Lead in the identification and implementation of key performance indicators (KPI) as well as monitoring them throughout the duration of the project;
• Lead project staff on ways to properly document, organize and capture project progress;
• Keep abreast of developments in grant/project changes and progress to advise and recommend tools and strategies to increase project performances and results;
• Perform regular field visits to ensure the quality of data collected by project staff and to verify the accuracy of reported data;
• Lead in undertaking research and assessments;
• Ensure that verifiable, quantitative data analysis is shared with relevant stakeholders to inform project review;
• Identify lessons learned and develop case studies to capture qualitative outputs of the project;
• Represent Helen Keller Intl at national and/or international level coordination forums.

Required Qualifications/Competencies

• Minimum of a master’s degree or above in a quantitative field (economics, agricultural/develop-ment economics, statistics, biostatistics, nutrition, applied sociology, anthropology, or other relevant subject) with significant training in quantitative methods; plus;
• At least seven years of related work experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Knowledge of and experience with USAID/BHA monitoring and evaluation requirements. Previous Food for Peace experience is an advantage;
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement monitoring and evaluation systems for public health programs in low and middle-income countries, including selecting appropriate indicators for program activities and ensuring timely data collection, analysis and reporting;
• Experience in developing results frameworks, logical frameworks, program impact pathways or similar tools for project design and implementation is required;
• Proven expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, as well as strong understanding and ability to guide the design and implementation of operations research and surveys;
• Demonstrated understanding of the health management information systems in low- and middle-income countries. Experience using digital data collection technologies (e.g., ODK, CommCare) and the DHIS2 information system preferred;
• Demonstrated track record in promoting the dissemination and use of data, including the ability to write policy briefs and articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals;
• Demonstrated ability to build M&E capacity of other staff, and the range of ways in which this can be conducted and assessed;
• Technical knowledge of nutrition programming is preferred;
• Strong interpersonal skills in dealing with external contacts, as well as internal colleagues;
• An ability to work in challenging and changing environments, and to see through challenges to find solutions; an ability to maintain balance when under stress;
• Demonstrable respect for all persons regardless of religion, ethnicity, class or gender, with a high comfort level working in a diverse environment with a demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards;Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; Fluency in Portuguese is highly desirable.