Background

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Advisor I will provide technical guidance and oversee the execution of day-to-day MEL activities for the STrengthening Infectious disease DEtection Systems (STRIDES) project in Malawi, implementing policies and processes, and ensuring quality data collection, analysis, and reporting to support evidence-based decision-making. This position will collaborate with MEL and technical teams in the HQ to ensure that FHI 360 is fulfilling its mission as an evidence-driven, adaptive and effective actor on the global stage. The MEL Advisor I will lead MEL activities and sub activities, assists with project implementation and provide quality assurance for monitoring, evaluation and learning.Social Sciences

Strong communication and teamwork skills are of absolute importance to succeed in this role, as is the ability to manage individual and team contributions across projects and time zones. This position offers vast opportunities for creative, passionate individuals who care about development, and who have demonstrated commitment and success in infusing learning and adaptive management into development programs.

Accountabilities

Technical Requirements:

• Provides project staff with overall technical direction and guidance to support planning, implementation, and reporting against STRIDES Activity, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP);
• Leads MEL activities and sub activities and assists with their implementation, supports staff and partner capacity building in MEL;
• Monitors and maintains project protocols, instruments, data sets, manuals, training materials and reports related to monitoring and evaluation of projects;
• Works closely with the team to ensure the Activity, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP) implementation remains technically sound and adheres to FHI 360’s strategy and standard operating procedures (SOP’s);
• Assists with the implementation of assessments by providing technical support and overall management to ensure coordination and field-level implementation;
• Provides technical support in the development and dissemination of tools, materials, and reports.

Project Design Implementation:

• Provides technical leadership in design, development, planning, implementation; and capacity building of specific technical components of STRIDES activity as it relates to data collection, assessment, and reporting activities;
• Leads the day-today MEL activities of STRIDES activity;
• Track delivery of MEL outputs;
• Develops tools for data collection
• Conducts analysis of MEL data to identify areas for improvement and propose appropriate technical strategy and guidelines;
• Ensures technical implementation of MEL activities is consistent with best practices;
• Develops and monitors MEL plans and budgets;
• Tracks delivery of STRIDES project outputs;

Capacity Building, Training and Supervision:

• Develops and implement MEL training and capacity building activities;
• Identifies strategies to address training gaps;
• May supervise or provide technical guidance to staff members locally and in the region.

Project/Program Reporting:

• Helps in the development and review of work plans;
• Collaborates with the team to interpret data sets and other assessment findings;
• Develops or writes technical briefs, reports, or other necessary materials to facilitate research, best practices, policies, procedures, and overall implementation of evaluation plans;
• Prepares reports and papers summarizing project results and analyzing data sets and technical assessment findings, drafts/prepares MEL technical reports;
• Participates in client/funder meetings and drafts report presentations.

Quality Assurance:

• Provides quality assurance on MEL deliverables and reported data;
• Ensures technical deliverables are consistent with best practices;
• Identifies areas for improved efficiency or effectiveness within prescribed parameters, and institutes enhancements to procedures;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of MEL concepts, practices, and procedures; providing technical support for research studies;
• Development of scope of work and deliverables for partners, consultants, etc.;
• Deep knowledge of MEL quality standards;
• Proficiency with database management softwares;
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant databases and data information systems in key government stakeholders in Malawi;
• Proficiency in dashboard development, data management and analytic software e.g., MS Excel, MS Power BI, Tableau, SAS, SPSS, Stata.
• Has sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of the political, contextual, and ethical issues in assigned areas;
• Articulate, professional, and able to communicate in a clear, positive manner with clients and staff;
• Ensures the quality of implemented technical activities and systems at all levels;
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills;
• Excellent and demonstrated project management skills;
• Demonstrated proficiency with using Microsoft Office Suite required;
• Ability to analyze and interpret data, identify errors, and prepare reports;
• Ability to solve problems and implement corrective action as needed;
• Creativity, problem solving, demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with others and independent thought are a must;
• Proficient writing and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to manage their own work to job and performance standards;
• Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English.

Supervision Given/Received:

• May supervise junior staff members;
• Coordinates own workflow and sets individual priorities;
• Works under general guidelines for completion and accuracy as determined by the supervisor;
• Accomplishes results through lower-level staff managers or through experienced staff who exercise independence in their assignments;
• May manage a centralized functional area of activity;
• Serves as mentor to more inexperienced technical staff.

Education:

• Master’s degree or its International equivalent in Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Health, International Development, Economic Development or related field.

Experience:

• Requires 8+ years of relevant experience developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation methodologies, including impact evaluations, and managing data collection activities for health programs;
• Documented experience providing MEL technical leadership and capacity building for health programs; global health security preferred;
• Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization;
• Experience working with diverse teams and applying research-to-practice principles to support program implementation.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at a computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time. Ability to lift 5 – 25 lbs.

Technology to be Used:

• Personal Computer, Microsoft Office 365 (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype/TEAMS, email), office telephone, cell phone and printer/copier.

Travel Requirements:

• Ability to travel 10% – 25%

• Provides project staff with overall technical direction and guidance to support planning, implementation, and reporting against STRIDES Activity, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP);
• Leads MEL activities and sub activities and assists with their implementation, supports staff and partner capacity building in MEL;
• Monitors and maintains project protocols, instruments, data sets, manuals, training materials and reports related to monitoring and evaluation of projects;
• Works closely with the team to ensure the Activity, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP) implementation remains technically sound and adheres to FHI 360’s strategy and standard operating procedures (SOP’s);
• Assists with the implementation of assessments by providing technical support and overall management to ensure coordination and field-level implementation;
• Provides technical support in the development and dissemination of tools, materials, and reports.
• Provides technical leadership in design, development, planning, implementation; and capacity building of specific technical components of STRIDES activity as it relates to data collection, assessment, and reporting activities;
• Leads the day-today MEL activities of STRIDES activity;
• Track delivery of MEL outputs;
• Develops tools for data collection
• Conducts analysis of MEL data to identify areas for improvement and propose appropriate technical strategy and guidelines;
• Ensures technical implementation of MEL activities is consistent with best practices;
• Develops and monitors MEL plans and budgets;
• Tracks delivery of STRIDES project outputs;
• Develops and implement MEL training and capacity building activities;
• Identifies strategies to address training gaps;
• May supervise or provide technical guidance to staff members locally and in the region.
• Helps in the development and review of work plans;
• Collaborates with the team to interpret data sets and other assessment findings;
• Develops or writes technical briefs, reports, or other necessary materials to facilitate research, best practices, policies, procedures, and overall implementation of evaluation plans;
• Prepares reports and papers summarizing project results and analyzing data sets and technical assessment findings, drafts/prepares MEL technical reports;
• Participates in client/funder meetings and drafts report presentations.
• Provides quality assurance on MEL deliverables and reported data;
• Ensures technical deliverables are consistent with best practices;
• Identifies areas for improved efficiency or effectiveness within prescribed parameters, and institutes enhancements to procedures;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to manage individual and team contributions across projects and time zones
• In-depth knowledge of MEL concepts, practices, and procedures
• Providing technical support for research studies
• Development of scope of work and deliverables for partners, consultants, etc.
• Deep knowledge of MEL quality standards
• Proficiency with database management softwares
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant databases and data information systems in key government stakeholders in Malawi
• Proficiency in dashboard development, data management and analytic software e.g., MS Excel, MS Power BI, Tableau, SAS, SPSS, Stata
• Sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of the political, contextual, and ethical issues in assigned areas
• Articulate, professional, and able to communicate in a clear, positive manner with clients and staff
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills
• Excellent and demonstrated project management skills
• Demonstrated proficiency with using Microsoft Office Suite required
• Ability to analyze and interpret data, identify errors, and prepare reports
• Ability to solve problems and implement corrective action as needed
• Creativity, problem solving, demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with others and independent thought
• Proficient writing and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage their own work to job and performance standards
• Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English

• Master’s degree or its International equivalent in Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Health, International Development, Economic Development or related field.
• 8+ years of relevant experience developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation methodologies, including impact evaluations, and managing data collection activities for health programs;
• Documented experience providing MEL technical leadership and capacity building for health programs; global health security preferred;
• Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization;
• Experience working with diverse teams and applying research-to-practice principles to support program implementation.