Regional Technical Advisor, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning at FHI 360 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Regional Technical Advisor, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning at FHI 360 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Job Summary:

The goal of the USAID’s Medicines, Technologies and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS), a global five year (2018–2023) Program, is to help low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) strengthen their pharmaceutical systems to ensure sustainable access to and appropriate use of safe, effective, quality-assured, and affordable essential medicines and pharmaceutical services. The program is implemented by Management Sciences for Health (MSH) and its partners including FHI 360 as a core partner. Its main target results include strengthening pharmaceutical-sector governance; increasing institutional and human resource capacity for pharmaceutical management and services, including regulation of medical products; increasing availability and use of pharmaceutical information for decision making and advancing the global learning agenda; optimizing pharmaceutical-sector financing, including resource allocation and use; and improving pharmaceutical services, including product availability and patient-centered care, to achieve desired health outcomes.

Accountabilities:

•  Conducts MEL activities in countries located in regions of MTaPS support.
• Provide high-level technical leadership and regular support to the MTaPS country program offices to ensure that MEL plans are well designed and implemented based on robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems that align with the MTaPS global MEL system.
• Build the capacity of MTaPS-supported countries’ staff and local partners in the region and work hand in hand with these staff/partners to develop and implement MEL systems in line with donor requirements and best practices, through formal training and regular mentoring.
• In collaboration with the HQ MEL team, regularly analyze project performance data datasets, produce custom data visuals to better understand performance and guide progress towards targets at a granular level, and identify quality gaps.
• Guide data quality assurance system development, implementation, and analysis at the country level, and provide support in developing data quality improvement plans.
• Support the development of country learning and M&E work plans, and advise on the implementation/ development of appropriate systems and tools, ensuring that MEL system implementation adheres to the appropriate global strategy and remains technically sound.
• Further program learning and adaptation through analysis and triangulation of data, documentation of program successes and contribution to the production of analytical and technical reports, presentations and related publications.
• Design, conduct and/or advise on appropriate evaluation and learning designs and strategies in line with MTaPS agenda, which may include special quantitative and qualitative studies.
• Provide technical support to the planning and implementation of regular in-country MEL review sessions and the implementation and monitoring of follow up actions to ensure progress toward targets.
• Operationalize procedures and instruments for planning, monitoring and evaluating project activities based on the results framework and the activity timeline.
• Promote collaborative tools to facilitate the sharing of ideas and work among MTaPS technical teams and external partners.
• Conduct field visits in supported countries to monitor progress, assess the quality of data collection mechanism and data collection and observe actual results against expected results, collaboratively address shortcomings with the field team and set action plans.
• Advise on and help design innovative data collection systems that make appropriate use of ICT and contribute to real-time data being available for analysis.
• Collaborate with MTaPS staff and partners to present and publish MEL articles at relevant conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.
• As needed, maintain a constructive dialogue and technical exchange with field counterparts, technical staff, and stakeholders at implementation and strategic partner level.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with donor/client organizations, professional networks, relevant government agencies, bilateral and other NGOs and participate in meetings with outside partners as needed.
• The regional advisors will also serve as a backstop to country offices and other regional technical needs.
• They will prioritize and focus on countries with limited or no direct MEL support and serve as a conduit for facilitating MTaPS MEL guidelines, SOPs, and tools.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Flexible, self-starter, patient, dedicated, and creative.
• Ability to manage work independently, set realistic priorities, problem-solve, and plan for the successful implementation of activities.
• High-level communication including drafting reports, collaboration and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent language skills, both written and spoken in English and French.
• Excellent training, facilitation, and coaching skills for diverse audiences particularly in monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated skills in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as google doc.
• Excellent written / verbal communication skills, including in cross-cultural settings.
• Ability to undertake additional responsibilities and to work effectively under pressure and to organize and prioritize competing activities with diverse teams in developing country locations and to produce results within specific timeframes.
• Desire to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Ability to provide broad global technical leadership to multiple components for moderate to complex programs.
• Defines and develops solutions for major business or functional challenges.
• Is sought out to provide advice or solutions in the area of M&E technical area.
• Is informed about current developments in the area of M&E technical area.
• Works under broad direction with considerable latitude for independent action.
• Specific actions are guided primarily by professional standards and expected outcomes of the program/project.
• Decisions and actions have an impact on the smooth operation and timeframes of the unit programs/projects; impact on the broader organization is generally indirect.
• Problems encountered are complex and may involve unprecedented circumstances; resolution requires investigation, analysis, and review of professional/organizational standards.
• Faulty decisions or recommendations will normally result in critical delays and modifications to projects or operations, cause substantial expenditure of additional time, resources, and funds; and jeopardize future business activity. Supervision Given / Received:
• May supervise junior level, staff members.
• Work is reviewed in terms of meeting the organization’s objectives and schedules.
• Accomplishes results through managers or senior members of the team.
• Manages a technical area staff and function area within the organization.
• Plays a coaching and mentoring role for others; may assist in team management as necessary, although it has no formal people management responsibility.

Supervision Given/Received:

• May supervise junior level staff members.
• Work is reviewed in terms of meeting the organization’s objectives and schedules.
• Accomplishes results through managers or senior members of team.
• Manages a technical area staff and function area within the organization.
• Plays a coaching and mentoring role for others; may assist in team management as necessary, although has no formal people management responsibility.

Education:

• Master’s Degree or its International Equivalent in Knowledge/Information Services, Communications, Education, Environment, Health, Behavioral, Life/Social Sciences International Development, Human Development or Related Field.

Experience:

• At least 8+ years of experience providing Strategic Information/Monitoring and Evaluation technical assistance or senior program-level M&E leadership, especially in international settings.
• Experience with health program datasets, databases or electronic medical records platforms like DHIS 2, and Open MRS, ODK, etc.
• Experience with technical assistance in pharmaceutical or health systems programs strengthening, including pharmaceutical services strengthening related to MNCH,TB, HIV/AID, Malaria, in developing countries.
• Strong statistical data analysis skills, proficiency with STATA, Power BI, R or SAS a plus.
• Experience designing or overseeing roll-out of mobile data collection systems a plus.
• Experience with business development a plus.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift 5-50 lbs.

Technology to be Used:

• Personal Computer, Microsoft Office (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), e-mail, telephone, printer, calculator, copier, cell phones, PDAs and other handheld devices.

Travel Requirements:

• Less than 10%

This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.

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FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. FHI 360 is an equal employment and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected under applicable law.