Design Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Job - Health Unlimited

Title: Design Monitoring and Evaluation Officer - Africa Regional Office

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Reports to: Area Programme Manager (APM)

Directly responsible for: Providing leadership and technical support on design, monitoring and evaluation across the ongoing Ethiopia, Kenya, Somaliland Country Programs as well as future country programs in Southern Sudan and Djibouti.

Background:

Spanning almost a quarter of a century, Health Poverty Action’s (formerly known as Health Unlimited) work has grown to include programmes in 13 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America (with more currently in development).

We always prioritise the most poor and the most marginalised – those neglected by governments and almost everyone else. This has led us to work in some very difficult environments, often providing the only external assistance.

We currently directly support 4 million people each year through our community health care initiatives (including 3.2 million indigenous people), and a further 23 million through our award-winning ‘edutainment’ radio soaps. Health Poverty Action (HPA) currently employs about 400 staff worldwide, and has an annual turnover of more than £7 million.

Working with communities to build local capacity, Health Poverty Action’s programmes seek to pioneer new approaches. We take a holistic approach, focusing not just on the health sector but being prepared to do anything we can to help make the biggest possible difference to health.

Our programmes attach a high priority to strengthening health systems, supporting safe birthing, prevention of life-threatening diseases such as malaria, TB, HIV, and other dangerous infections and improving communities’ health-seeking behaviour.

Health Poverty Action’s programmes also attach great importance to other factors such as nutrition, water and sanitation, income generation, and the social, economic and environmental determinants of health. Our programmes take a rights-based approach, strengthening poor and marginalised communities to advocate on their own behalf.

Health Poverty Action works in Somaliland, Ethiopia and Kenya in the Horn of Africa. HPA is currently implementing six SRH, Maternal and Child Health Programmes among the poorest and marginalized communities of these countries.

The Africa Regional Office (ARO), located in Nairobi – Kenya, provides technical and administrative leadership and backstopping to the above mentioned country offices.

The technical support areas include support with undertaking assessments for program development, project design, project monitoring and evaluation, country strategic planning, identification of regional, cross border and multi-country program concepts as well as updates and information sharing on new developments in relevant theoretical and practical strategic areas relevant to the country programs, facilitating sharing and lessons learnt across country programmes within HPA and relevant programmes outside of HPA.

The ARO also helps in organizing the Africa Regional Meeting, as well as tracking and sharing regional call for proposals, conferences and training opportunities.

Summary of the DME Officer Position

The Design, Monitoring and Evaluation (DME) Officer is responsible for providing leadership and technical support on design, monitoring and evaluation across the ongoing Ethiopia, Kenya, Somaliland Country Programs as well as future country programs in Southern Sudan, and Djibouti.

The post holder, answerable to the Area Program Manager (APM), will closely work with program officers, M&E officers and country directors.

The role will also include managing and supervising Interns and short-term consultants working on M&E related tasks including evaluations, project documentation, operational researches and development of relevant M&E systems.

The position is based in Nairobi Kenya with frequent travels across the Region.

Main Functions of Post:

 

1. Manages Situation assessment and design of projects/programmes and proposal writing in program and new countries in the region;
2. Coordinates with country offices in maintaining ongoing monitoring of projects
3. Coordinates with country office in undertaking Baseline survey, midterm reviews, and final evaluations of projects and programmes

Responsibilities:

1. Manages Situation assessment and design of projects/programmes and proposal writing in program and new countries in the region

• Lead and coordinate the conduct of situation assessments in potential target areas
• Based on findings of well-analysed situation assessment, coordinate the design of relevant projects to the target community and in line with HPA’s mission and values.
• Assist projects in putting proper M&E systems during design and detailed implementation planning, and ensure that efficient reporting systems are maintained through out the life of projects;
• Co-ordinate the recruitment, contracting and performance monitoring of DME consultants for specific short-term engagements
• Together with the APM, supervise consultants contracted to complete a specific piece of DME work at ARO and country offices and approve their final deliverables
• Coach and encourage, professional development/skills building of local partner staff to manage their part of M&E within the partnership projects
• Develop annual work plan and budgets for DME activities at ARO level

2. Coordinates with country offices in maintaining ongoing monitoring of projects

• Assist projects in the preparation of quarterly and annual work plans and budgets in accordance with project proposals;
• Through continued monitoring of projects track that activities are implemented as per schedule and outputs/results produced in accordance with project proposals, budgets, and donor contracts
• Ensure that HPA meets donor reporting requirements in its operations by drawing and communicating donor reporting information and schedule and continuously communicating this with country offices;
• Report to the APM and respective CDs on the progress and problems of with projects with review and analysis of project performance with agreed work plans and log frames
• Coordinate with CDs and provide support in the execution of ongoing, on-site monitoring and evaluation framework of the Programme
• Attend coordination meetings as required and as agreed with the APM Somalia Support Secretariat (health sector committee, RH task force and other working groups) representing HPA at Nairobi level
• Actively find and communicate with APM and CDs meetings, conferences and training opportunities for capacity building on DME in the region
• Takes initiatives in doing simple analysis of data from projects as inputs to important decisions with project management
• Participate in DME events, conferences, and meetings to keep up to date and maintain relationships with donors, governments and other stakeholders

3. Coordinates with country office in undertaking Baseline survey, midterm reviews, and final evaluations of projects and programmes

• Support country offices in finalising ToRs for consultants and providing inputs to survey tools and methodologies for baseline survey, Mid-term review and final evaluation
• Keep records of regional consultants and share this with country offices when needed
• Facilitate continuous learning across country offices and programs regarding DME using appropriate modalities
• Provide updates and maintain good communication with consultants hired at ARO level to undertake DME and related services
• Undertakes any other duties which might reasonably be requested

Person specification:

Essential requirements

• At least 5 years experience in the monitoring and evaluation of large scale programs, the region
• Bachelors degree in health related discipline or social sciences (Master’s degree preferred)
• Experience in the design and building of at least one monitoring and evaluation system, from inception (or design stages)
• Proven skills in Project Cycle Management including the logical framework approach and results framework planning
• The ability to think and operate strategically, with strong conceptual and analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills – with an ability to communicate with tact and diplomacy.
• Computer literacy in Word, Excel, Power Point and Working knowledge of database systems and data analysis software (e.g. SPSS, SAS)
• Fluent oral and written English
• Ability to travel (Up to 35% of the time)

Desirable requirements

• Masters degree in health, statistics/biostatistics related discipline or social sciences
• Knowledge and understanding of Africa, particularly the Horn of Africa
• Knowledge and skills on Project Cycle Management
• Knowledge of procurement systems
• Proven understanding of how international organizations work
• Report writing skills

Terms and Conditions:

Commensurate with experience and education from 14,400 to 18,000 USD salary per annum plus 5% pension. The benefits package includes: living allowance; 25 days of annual leave per year and national holidays of not more than 12 days a year. This will be a permanent position with a 1-year contract renewable upon satisfactory accomplishment.

Please email the completed application forms to jobs@healthunlimited.or.ke.

The email subject line should include the following: DME Officer.

Closing date for applications: Thursday, 14 July 2011

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