MEL Associate at John Snow Incorporated (JSI) - 6 Openings

John Snow Incorporated (JSI) - We are public health care and health systems consultants and researchers driven by a passion to improve health services and health outcomes for all.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Jot Title: MEL Associate

Locations: Abuja, Bayelsa, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, and Lagos
Project: USAID MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity Project/Nigeria

Project Description

• The MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity (M-RITE) project is part of a suite of innovative awards funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to holistically improve family planning and maternal and child health in partner countries around the world.
• The project applies best practices and explores innovations to increase equitable immunization coverage in USAID-supported countries around the globe. It works to build countries’ capacity to identify and overcome barriers to reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children and older populations with life-saving vaccines and other integrated health services. M-RITE works at multiple levels and in alignment with global strategies such as the Immunization Agenda 2030 and Gavi 5.0.
• The project also contributes to ongoing global efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on immunization services and support countries to prepare for and introduce vaccines against COVID-19 once they are available.
• In Nigeria M-RITE works to strengthen routine immunization (RI) services in M-RITE-supported counties and supports COVID-19 vaccine rollout at the national level, with targeted support at the county level.

Summary

• As a member of the M-RITE Project’s broader MEL team, the Officer(s) will contribute to the MEL approach through advice on MEL tools, processes, and guidance.
• The position will maintain the Project’s results framework, get into the field for monitoring visits, collect a range of evidence, and evaluate the performance of various aspects of the Project.
• This role will convene Data review meetings with staff and other stakeholders to talk about results and how M-RITE can improve its performance.
• He/she will also contribute to M-RITE’s reporting to the USAID, writing clear, concise reports on our development results. This position report to the State Team Lead.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with RI stakeholders including representing M-RITE on technical committees to facilitate evidence-based planning for Immunization services and ensuring that plans are aligned to National Strategic Plans for Immunization.
• Collaborate with the Abuja MEL team on the development and monitoring of indicators to measure immunization coverages. This includes setting up performance review meetings, developing performance dashboards to influence data-to-decision making at national and sub national levels.
• Coordinate and supervise support supervision to State/LGAs and other Implementing Partners to; improve data collection, recording, reporting and compliance with the set standards.
• In collaboration with the SERICC and LERICC, support Program and M&E Officers to collect, process, and manage data on immunization service delivery and logistics/supplies to ensure the data is of high quality for accurate reporting and use in planning, and keeping up-to-date data base.
• Participate in NPHCDA/SPHCDA led operational research useful to inform policy development and program design for implementation.
• Lead learning and adaptation process within the team, facilitating a quarterly Learning Retrospective meeting to review, analyse, and interpret monitoring data and discuss changes to implementation as needed.
• Regularly control and review data collection processes, performing data quality assessments, and adjusting as needed.
• Identify ways to streamline processes and increase efficiency in gathering and using performance information to maximize program impact and development.
• Communicate information obtained through MEL activities to program staff and various external stakeholders, notably donors and partners.
• Develop data collection flows to ensure data integrity and validity at the output and outcome levels.
• Provide technical support and oversight on monitoring and evaluation of the M-RITE project at the state and LGA level
• Ensure that the implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities are in line with the project’s implementation plan and meets the donor and project’s M&E needs.
• Provide technical support to state officers in ensuring that programmatic data/indicators are accurately captured, and reported according to set guidelines.
• Represent and make appropriate presentations to stakeholders at various fora on program achievements and deliverables and other M&E activities
• Provide continuous technical lead to project team on data management and regularly analyze state data, highlight important programmatic gaps and coordinate with program management and others in addressing these gaps.
• Conduct routine monitoring and supportive supervisory visits to project sites, including the conduct of data verification and validation and data quality assessments (DQAs) using standard checklists
• Ensure regular maintenance of database/information system, project’s training database and programmatic progress updates that documents achievements on a regular basis.
• Support monitoring activities to project sites, collation/analysis of monitoring reports for program feedback and decision making
• Facilitate the preparation/production of project reports, journal publications,and assessment reports, human success stories and quarterly fact sheets.

Qualifications

• The applicant should preferably hold a Master's Degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, Medicine, Biostatistics, Statistics, Health informatics, Computer Sciences, Social Sciences, or any other health related field.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in M&E for international donor funded projects, preferably USAID-funded projects.
• Knowledge and experience with immunization programming and activities or related experience in MNCH and Integrated PHC required.
• Field experience in conducting  periodic RDQA and Routine Immunization Spots checks for USAID funded projects is mandatory
• Strong experience with data management in Nigeria including data entry and cleaning, data analysis and report writing.
• Demonstrated ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Knowledge of evaluation research methods (qualitative and quantitative), including data processing.
• Computer proficiency including use of MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint; experience with advanced statistical packages (e.g., Stata, SPSS), routine data collection and reporting platforms (e.g., DHIS2) and GIS mapping skills as a plus.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Written and spoken English required.
• Strong command of English and any Nigerian Language Hausa/Igbo/Yoruba.

Salary
JSI offers competitive salary and benefits.

Application Closing Date
6th January, 2024

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

Note

• Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.
• Only short-listed candidates will be notified
• JSI is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity.
• We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or protected veteran status in any employment decisions.
• Women are encouraged to apply.