Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Lead at Arewa Health Trust Initiative (AHTI)

Arewa Health Trust Initiative is an indigenous non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing community health equity, strengthening health systems, and improving maternal and child health outcomes across Northern Nigeria. Through evidence-based interventions and strategic partnerships, we work to ensure sustainable access to quality healthcare for underserved populations

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Lead

Location:Jigawa
Contract Duration: 18 Months (Fixed-term, July 2026 to December 2027
Project: GAVI-supported Routine Immunization (RI) and Primary Health Care (PHC) Integration Project

Project Overview

• Starting in July 2026, AHTI will implement an 18-month GAVI-supported initiative across 9 priority Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Jigawa State. The project focuses on reducing the number of zero-dose and under-immunized children through an innovative Performance-Based Financing (PBF) model executed alongside localized Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).

The Role

• We are seeking a data-driven public health professional to serve as the MEL Lead. In this role, you will be the guardian of project data integrity. Because our funding structure rewards actual health outputs (verified immunization shots), you will lead the monthly verification loop.
• This involves checking CBO field reports against physical health facility registers to prevent data errors and validate performance payments.

Key Responsibilities

• Data System Architecture: Design and manage the project's monitoring framework, data collection tools, and data quality assurance protocols.
• The Verification Loop: Coordinate with the 9 embedded LGA TA Coordinators to execute the monthly data-verification cycle, cross-checking CBO tallies against SPHCDA facility registers.
• Independent Auditing: Conduct regular, random physical and telephonic spot-checks on a sample of reported cases to verify immunization authenticity before payments are approved.
• DHIS2 Integration: Ensure all verified project data is cleanly integrated into national health management information systems (DHIS2) and donor reporting platforms.
• Learning & Adaptation: Lead quarterly data review meetings to identify operational bottlenecks and guide the State Program Manager on programmatic course corrections.

Minimum Recruitment Standards

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Epidemiology, Public Health, Economics, or a related field. A Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience managing M&E systems for donor-funded public health projects (GAVI, Global Fund, USAID, or UN agencies preferred).
• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Excel, DHIS2, and mobile data collection tools (ODK, KoboToolbox, or CommCare). Strong statistical analysis skills are required.
• Contextual Knowledge: Proven experience working within the primary healthcare system of Northern Nigeria, preferably Jigawa State.
• Skills: Strong analytical thinking, exceptional data presentation skills, and a rigorous attention to detail.

Application Closing Date
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should forward a tailored suitability statement and a comprehensive
resume as a single MS Word document to: arewahealthrustinitiative@gmail.comusing "MEL Lead - Jigawa" as the subject of the mail.