Global Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Research, & Learning (MEARL) Specialist

TITLE: Global Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Research, & Learning (MEARL) Specialist

REPORTS TO: Chief Program Officer

BASED IN: Nairobi, Kenya (temporarily remote)

CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time Employee

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

HealthRight International is a global health organization that expands equitable access to quality health systems for marginalized communities, with particular focus on those affected by HIV, violence, unmet mental health needs, and inadequate reproductive, maternal, newborn, child & adolescent (RMNCAH) health services. Employing a human rights-based approach, HealthRight works closely with community-based partners to build local capacity and create sustainable programs that have lasting impact. Since its founding in 1990, HealthRight has worked in over 30 countries, with current projects in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the United States.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Global Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, & Learning (MEARL) Specialist will be responsible for the design, coordination and implementation of the global monitoring and evaluation, research, and learning framework and systems for HealthRight. S/he will oversee a systematic MEAL framework to ensure the timely, accurate, and quality of project teams’ data collection and reporting of organizational indicators. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring overall coherence of monitoring and reporting tools (i.e. dashboards) ; and coordination of data compilation from different HealthRight projects, and will have a strong working relationship with all projects. S/he will also provide monitoring and evaluation technical assistance to all Country Offices. The Global MEARL Specialist reports to the Chief Program Officer, and works collaboratively with the HQ MEARL Senior Advisor.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Quality Assurance of Global M&E Systems:

• Oversee and strengthen the overall organizational MEARL frameworks and develop systems to monitor performance of organizational goals, objectives, and strategies.

• Develop a plan for organizational- and country-related capacity-building including training on M&E and for any computer-based support that may be required.

• Manage data quality assurance to ensure that detailed, feasible monitoring plans: i) provide an indicator matrix, ii) consider ethical and safe collection and storage of data, iii) consider data quality audits, vi) consider storing, protecting and sharing project documents;

• Develop tools that aid documenting, storing and sharing lessons learned that have implications for refinement of best programmatic practice across projects, programs, and countries.

Global M&E Programming:

• Work with the country support staff to ensure the effective and smooth implementation of the MEARL systems and frameworks.

• Collect data on a regular basis to measure achievement against the organizational indicators; and support progress reports, reviews, and evaluations.

• Maintain and administer the Organizational Indicators Framework (i.e. dashboard); analyze and aggregate findings. • Support the development, implementation, and analysis of projects’ digital data collection via the Dharma platform, including ensuring the appropriate data structure, data workflows, and trainings

• Identify areas where technical support to country teams is required. Organize refresher training on M&E as required.

• Conduct field monitoring visits and document learnings. Share lessons learned and develop case studies to capture qualitative and quantitative outputs of the project.

• Provide advice to Country Directors on improving project performance using M&E findings.

Knowledge Management & Dissemination:

• Produce reports on M&E findings and prepare presentations based on M&E data as required

• Check that monitoring data are discussed in appropriate forum and in a timely fashion in terms of implications for future action, including identifying gaps.

• Provide M&E inputs for regular analysis and action planning meetings to (1) compare data against project milestones, targets, and quality expectations across project sites; (2) identify issues requiring concerned staff attention.

• Extract lessons learned from projects, systematically document and make easily accessible to staff.

• Perform other duties as may be allocated by supervisor.

SUMMARY OF SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Strong commitment to sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives, and teamwork

• Cultural sensitivity and demonstrated experience working in teams effectively with a variety of personalities and across disciplines

• Degree in statistics, public health, social sciences or related field (M&E, impact measurement, project management and planning)

• Demonstrated work experience in an M&E role, managing research, design, implementation monitoring, learning and evaluation tools and systems

• Strong record implementing quantitative/qualitative research methods (i.e. fielding surveys and leading primary data collection exercises)

• Demonstrated experience in research, statistical analysis, strategy development, mainstreaming, and capacity building • Knowledge of core computer packages e.g. Microsoft Excel, Access, SPSS, EPI-INFO, EPI-DATA, STATA, NVivo, Atlas.ti, MAXQDA, or Dedoose

• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills

• Ability to travel to country offices as required

HIGHLY DESIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Research experience related to health programs for marginalized populations.

• Experience working with Ministries of Health and local/regional LMIC governments.