Monitoring, Evaluation, And Learning (MEL) SpecialistBanyan Global

Nigeria Health Workforce Management (HWM) Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) and Research Specialist Job Description:

• BG Laurel International Nigeria LTE/GTE is an owned subsidiary of Banyan Global, Inc, a woman-owned small business and international development consulting firm committed to improving livelihoods through market approaches for a broad and lasting impact.
• The firm is headquartered in Washington, DC and has program operations and activities in over fifteen countries around the world. Banyan Global operates within six practice areas: gender, youth, finance and investment, enterprise development, health, and evaluation and learning.
• Banyan Global is the prime recipient for the USAID Nigeria Health Workforce Management (HWM) Activity. The HWM Activity is a five-year task order to support the establishment of a cost-effective, well-trained, and motivated health workforce, particularly in targeted rural and remote areas of Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kebbi, and Sokoto States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). By its conclusion, HWM is expected to increase the production of new health workers competent to respond to current and future population health needs in these locations by 10,000; improve the distribution and skill mix of front-line workers to meet specific local demands; and strengthen the capacity of pre-service institutions to adopt and apply innovative education approaches.
• Targeted interventions will contribute to 1) improved management of maternal, child, and newborn health conditions and 2) increased responsiveness to community health needs. USAID will support the Government of Nigeria’s (GON’s) commitment to plan, recruit, train, manage, and retain its primary health care (PHC) workforce.
• This activity will contribute to the achievement of USAID/Nigeria’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) Development Objective 2 "a healthier, more educated population in targeted states” and Intermediate Result (IR) 2.1 “Utilization of quality health services in targeted areas and population groups increased.”

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic guidance and management for the MEL and Research functions of HWM Activity.
• Initiate, lead, and manage initiatives for implementation research to generate the evidence needed to inform policies and guidelines for implementing or scaling up innovations for improved HRH and translating them into practice.
• Ensure research protocols and implementation plans meet the relevant ethical requirements and obtain the relevant approvals.
• Serve as the project liaison with prioritized journals.
• Work closely with senior team members and supervise MEL staff and grant partners providing research and MEL support and ensuring the strategic and functional integration of all M&E activities as well as active collaboration with donors, other implementers, and local counterparts.
• Revise (when necessary) and implement the MEL plan across all program components.
• Oversee HWM’s collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) process in collaboration with the Country Director, ensure that the program’s CLA approach is applied with consistency and rigor, and work with the leadership team to apply program learnings in pursuit of adaptive management.
• Produce M&E reports and quarterly and annual performance plans for the program team and USAID.
• Oversee all activities related to the fourth intermediate result area of the project (Interventions to Improve Health-Worker Retention Developed and Adopted).

Qualifications And Skills
Applicants for these positions should possess the following minimum qualifications and skills:

• Post-graduate Degree in Statistics, Demographics, Public Health, Epidemiology, Social Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated progressive experience in monitoring and evaluation of health systems strengthening (HSS) programs and working with development agencies and organizations, government officials, project beneficiaries, and project staff.
• Proven success in strengthening program M&E systems and conducting implementation research.
• Strong knowledge of health program data collection and analysis methodologies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods.
• Experience in data collection and analysis of PEPFAR program data is an added advantage.
• Ability to develop and manage a database and dashboard for program indicator data.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating a learning environment in a program.
• Ability to communicate professionally and provide written reporting in English is required.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills and attention to detail