MERL Officers x2 (Lusaka and Ndola) Pact Zambia

Pact Overview

At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone owns their future. To do this, we build systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable and resilient communities where those we serve are heard, capable, and vibrant. Pact is a recognized global leader in international development. Our staff have a range of expertise in areas including public health, capacity development, governance and civil society, natural resource management, poverty, fragile states, monitoring and evaluation, small-scale and artisanal mining, microfinance and more. This expertise is combined in Pact’s unique integrated approach, which focuses on systemic changes needed to improve people’s lives.

The Position

The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer will take the lead in implementation of the performance monitoring plan (PMP)/or Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) to capture project performance and results including routine service delivery data reporting. S/he will be responsible for overall coordination of data collection and reporting of service delivery data against the indicators and ensure quality of data through routine data verification procedures. The M&E officer will also make periodic technical assistance/data quality audit visits to partner sites in data collection, analysis and use of data for decision-making and program improvement. S/he works collaboratively with other team members on project planning, implementation, and the adjustment of project activities based on monitoring information obtained by using innovative, participatory methods and standard approaches.

Specific Duties:

Leadership

• Provide technical leadership and direction to project M&E strategies, frameworks, plans and indicators to capture project performance and results.
• Provide leadership in coordinating the successful implementation of the project’s M&E activities.
• Support and oversee data collection associated with  Project activities in all the Project districts.
• Conduct bi-monthly technical supervision of data collection
• Provide technical support to sub partners on data base management and reporting
• Provide technical leadership on the use of data collection tools and ensure that they are used correctly and consistently.
• Build Capacity to the overall M&E unit both Pact and Sub partner
• Advise sub partners on achievement of targets related to Project activities!
• Organize and facilitate training workshops on monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Provide overall support to M&E Assistants for all project activities.
• Enhance systems for routine data collection and M&E feedback to technical/or program staff
• Work collaboratively with other project team members to ensure that necessary project planning, development, resource availability and management activities function smoothly and efficiently
• Provide overall Supervision to the M&E team

Management

•  Contribute to routine and ad hoc reports to donor and Pact HQ
• Contribute to annual work planning.
• Analyzing all data collected and advise program management on needed program revisions for planning and decision making.
• Facilitate data review meetings at regional level.
• Work closely with sub-implementing partner structures to strengthen routine monitoring of programs.
• Track performance results on all  output indicators using the PMP or IPTT
• Document write progress reports and disseminate program related data.
• Support data verification to sub-partners.
• Conduct data Audits .
• Work with sub-implementing partners in ensuring that Project data is up-to-date in Dhis2 database.
• Promote and support the dissemination of project information among the project team.
• Advise program technical staff in preparation of work plans and key project reports.
• Regularly assess sub-implementing partner data to ensure accuracy prior to submission.
• Coordinate quarterly Data Quality Assessments (DQA)
• Represent Pact during regional technical stakeholder meetings.

Basic Requirements

• Degree in public health, Monitoring and Evaluation or related field or equivalent experience
• Not less than five years’ work experience in monitoring and evaluating health and/or development programs
• Proven ability to design and manage monitoring and evaluation systems on development projects
• Demonstrated capacity to facilitate training workshops on M&E with local organizations
• Ability to travel at least 50% of the time
• Experience and understanding of the PEPFAR framework and reporting system.
• Excellent writing and communications skills
• Experience with statistical analysis and word processing, database and graphical software
• Ability to work in a complex environment with multiple tasks, short deadlines and intense pressure to perform
• Fluency in English
• Zambian national preferred

Skills and Abilities:

• Concern for order & quality
• Budgeting and cost control
• Strong interpersonal and team building skills
• Exceptional planning and time management skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to make a presentation
• Ability to problem-solve difficult issues
• Ability to multitask with ease, adapting to frequently changing priorities
• Competence using common desktop applications and internal systems