Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI)

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
ZAMBIA COVID–19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND HEALTH
SYSTEMS PREPAREDNESS – PROJECT ID (P174185)

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) was established with a legal mandate to prevent disease transmission, implement surveillance, and effectively respond to health threats and outbreaks. The World Bank, with co–financing from the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF), has provided US$49 million to the Government of Zambia for the Zambia COVID–19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project (ZCERHSP).

The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID–19 in Zambia and strengthen national public health systems for preparedness.

The Project aims to reduce the spread of COVID–19 and support COVID–19 case management,
infection prevention and control, and interventions to maintain essential health services. The funds are also meant to protect and ensure the continuity of essential reproductive, maternal, new–born, child and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH–N) services and related health systems strengthening amidst the challenges posed by COVID–19.

Additional Financing (AF) was also granted to provide upfront financing to help the Government purchase and deploy COVID–19 vaccines and strengthen relevant health systems that are necessary for a successful deployment, and to prepare for future pandemics.

The Project has three strategic components: (i) Emergency Public Health Response to COVID–19; (ii) Resilient Health Service Delivery; and, (iii) Project Management, Operational Research, and Governance and Accountability. Each component has complementary actions defined under sub–components for each implementing entity.

The Project is being implemented through the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) housed in the ZNPHI. Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced candidates to fill the following positions under the (ZCERHSP).

2. POSITION: MONITORING AND EVALUATION OFFICER

c. Duty Station: Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Lusaka
d. Reports to: Sub PIU Coordinator administratively and M&E Specialist at PIU, technically

JOB OBJECTIVES

Objective of the Assignment

The M&E Officer shall be part of the Sub–PIU at the Ministry of Health. He/She shall support
the planning, coordination and implementation of all project M&E activities as defined in the
project monitoring and evaluation framework and plan under the Zambia COVID–19
Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project. S/he will provide support to
the Sub–PIU and coordinate the technical teams and stakeholders assigned to implement the
project sub–components of the overall implementation on the M&E related activities and avail timely and relevant M&E information to the ZNPHI and the World Bank. The M&E Officer will, working closely with the sub–PIU Coordinator and the M&E Specialist at the PIU, ensure timely implementation and monitoring and evaluation of the project activities related to the COVID–19 vaccine introduction and maintenance of essential RMNCAH–N services within the Department of Public Health of MoH.

SCOPE OF WORK, DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

(a) Assist in the development of the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan and guidelines

• Support the M&E Specialist in the development of a project specific monitoring and
  evaluation framework in consultation with relevant implementing departments in MOH.
• Identify sources of data, collection methods, agencies responsible for data collection,
  frequency of data collection and who is responsible for data collection
• Develop and implement M&E plan effectively and efficiently to ensure regular
  generation of information related to monitoring the progress of the project.
• Develop M&E guidelines and provide technical support to project staff on implementing M&E plan and theory of change.

b) Participate in the design and set up a project M&E system for planning, regular
monitoring and evaluation of the project

• Coordinate the planning function of the Project at the Sub–PIU to ensure that planned
  activities correspond to the desired deliverables in the results framework, are aligned with project M&E framework, there is agreement on annual targets and M&E activities are included and costed in the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB)
• Based on the AWPB, develop a field monitoring plan for the physical and process
  monitoring of Project activities
• Liaise with the M&E Specialist and consultant to develop and operationalize
  management information system for data storage, processing and report generation.
• Provideinputs to the technical team by developing database(s) and providing monitoring data to inform the decisions on performance of activities and future direction to the activities.
• Convene and participate in learning fora where Project staff and/or beneficiaries can
  generate, share, and apply lessons from within the project– these can range from simple meetings to more structured review and sense–making sessions, where different stakeholders come together to make sense of existing information and agree on appropriate action.
• Assist in the preparation of terms of reference and actively participate in the End Term
  evaluations to ensure robust data for the project.
• Support performance reviews in line with the project implementation manual.

(c) Contribute to the Development of Recording and Reporting Forms and Formats for the
project

• Participate in the development of data collection tools that meet the reporting requirement of project.
• Provide support to the routine data collection, data quality assurance, data analysis, and aggregation of data from district to national level as may be required.

(d) Capacity Building of Sub–national Level staff

• Working with the M&E Specialist, conduct M&E needs identification survey among staff (including that of district level) and identify M&E capacity gaps
• Put in place a M&E capacity building and training plan, peer support and mentorship for subnational level staff and train the staff in M&E concepts, skills and tools.
• Clarify M&E responsibilities of different project personnel, implementing partners and
  stakeholders.
• Provide technical support to sub–PIU staff members for all M&E related activities.

(e) Prepare Periodic Progress Reports and Documentation based on agreed

• Develop and compile periodic progress data (i.e. monthly, quarterly, bi–Annual and Annual progress reports) using project data collection tools, to record formal and informal statistical data and information on an ongoing basis including templates to recording qualitative information such as perceptions, opinions, and observations over the course of a project.
• Lead the preparation of documentation of best practices and lessons learnt through
  collaboration with the technical and management teams to identify essential activities, processes, and outcomes.

(f) Field Monitoring and Reporting

• Provide guidance to implementers on the use of monitoring techniques and preparation of field monitoring reports and assist them to disseminate for feedback.
• Undertake regular monitoring visits to key health facilities, including their catchment areas, to obtain first–hand beneficiary feedback, provide supportive supervision on M&E, and to cross validate data reporting and field observations.

(g) Perform other Works Assigned by sub–PIU Coordinator and M&E Specialist
Contract Duration:

This is a full time position for a period of 7 months.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in social science preferably in development planning,
  statistics, economics, management, epidemiology, project management, or other related field.
• At least five (5) years of experience in monitoring and evaluation and results–based
  management
• Knowledge and experience in designing M&E systems and conducting evaluations,
  especially in a decentralized facility and community–based set–up.
• Experience in designing and delivering training and capacity building in
  project/programme M&E systems.
• Experience managing Management Information Systems (MIS) and experience working with the Health Management Information System is an added advantage.
• Ability to plan and conduct structured and supportive field monitoring, including formal partner performance assessments, stakeholder reviews, etc.
• Excellent writing and analytical skill in drafting concept notes including capacity in
  formulation and production of high–quality written material, such as research studies,
  impact assessment reports, stories from the field, media publications, among others.
• Experience working within the Development agencies or Government system is an added advantage.

REQUIRED COMPETENCES

• Demonstrates commitment and dedication towards achieving the Project Development Objective.
• Proven organizational and inter–personal skills including support and encouragement of open communication in the team and facilitating teamwork, and ability to work in a multi–cultural team environment.
• Ability to work under pressure and according to tight deadlines.
• Essential computer skills in particular competency in the use of Windows MS Office programs (Word, Excel, Power Point etc.) and database management.
• Proven ability and expertise in working with statistical and data management software and web–based applications for use in M&E management such as STATA, R, Epi data, SPSS, etc.
• Ability to identify data trends and communicate this information for strategic decision–making in program implementation.
• Experience in establishing and managing robust M&E performance reporting across a diverse range and volume of implementing partners.
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders from a wide range of disciplines and fields, from the PIU, Centre, provincial and districts, and having diverse and competing views and interests.