Position Title: Technical Advisor – Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL)

Reports to: Project Director

Project: FHI 360 -USAID GH SBC Activity, Zambia

Location: Lusaka Zambia

The Global Health Social and Behavior Change (GH SBC) Activity is a five-year initiative funded by USAID, focused on improving global health and development outcomes by increasing the use of theory-informed, evidence-based, and locally led SBC programming. The Activity works to empower local communities and systems to take ownership of designing, implementing, and evaluating high-quality SBC programs. GH SBC is implemented by FHI 360 as prime, along with its partners, the African Society for Social and Behavior Change (AS-SBC), Centre for Behaviour Change and Communication (CBCC), Data Science Nigeria (DSN), Fraym, IPE Global, N’weti, ONG RAES, Save the Children Federation, and YUX. In Zambia, GH SBC will work in partnership with key stakeholders to design and implement SBC interventions that improve HIV case finding, testing, treatment and ensure viral load suppression among intended beneficiaries.

Job Summary:

Collaborate with the Project Director to ensure monitoring and evaluation (M&E), research, and learning strategies are sound and support the goals and objectives of the GH SBC Activity in Zambia. Collaborate with other Activity staff members and key stakeholders to monitor Activity results and ensure the quality and accuracy of technical data and reporting. Strengthen the capacity of implementing partners and other key stakeholders to collect, analyze, and apply monitoring and evaluation data.

Accountabilities:

• Lead the design and implementation of the GH SBC Activity’s MERL portfolio in Zambia, including 1) the development of the Activity M&E Plan; 2) development and monitoring of Activity indicators; 3) design and implementation of research studies; 4) oversight of data collection and analysis; 5) synthesis of data and research reports; and 6) quality assurance and auditing of data.
• Ensure data is collected, analyzed and used by key stakeholders for learning and on-going adjustments to relevant activities.
• Lead the design and implementation of the Activity’s research agenda, which may include operations research, performance evaluations, , and rapid/special studies.
• Ensure research implementation adheres to FHI 360 and international policies and standards and remains technically and ethically sound.
• Provide technical leadership in the design and implementation of the Activity’s evaluation.
• Contribute to the design, delivery and monitoring of technical assistance to strengthen partners’ abilities in M&E, data collection and management, and research and learning methods.
• Oversee the dissemination of information on successful and promising approaches, lessons learned, and other Activity results to local, national, and regional-level intergovernmental bodies, donors, partners and other stakeholders.
• Promote forums that facilitate collaboration, learning, and data to action efforts.
• Contribute to work plans, quarterly and annual reports, financial reports, and other reports and papers summarizing Activity results and evidence.
• Serve as the technical lead and key MERL technical point of contact for implementing partners, including participation in technical meetings and coordination platforms.
• Liase with GHSBC core MERL team and feed into project-wide MERL priorities
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, practices, and processes for MERL technical development in Zambia.
• Excellent and demonstrated organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence, motivate, negotiate and work well with others.
• Ability to exercise judgment within generally defined practices and policies in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Proven ability to ensure that budgets, schedules, and performance requirements are met.
• Excellent and demonstrated leadership skills.
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent oral and written English communication and analytical skills.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Demonstrates the ability to assess needs within agreed upon duties and considers course of action best to meet those needs.
• Effectively applies knowledge of technical area to solve a range of problems. Demonstrates the ability to develop solutions to problems that cannot be solved using existing methods or approaches.
• Faulty decisions/ recommendations /failures to complete assignments will normally result in serious delays to assigned projects resulting in considerable expenditure of additional time, resources, and funds.
• Decisions and actions impact primarily workflow, project processes and timeframes. Problems encountered are varied, requiring review of practices and precedents to resolve. Problem solving involves evaluating and resolving discrepancies with data, analyses, processes, etc. within prescribed guidelines.
• Policies or guidelines exist for most problems; others must be referred to by a supervisor or more senior professional.

Supervision Given/Received:

• May supervise consultants, interns, or junior technical staff members.
• Coordinates own workflow and sets individual priorities.
• Works under general guidelines for completion and accuracy as determined by the supervisor.
• Reports to GH SBC Activity’s Project Director in Zambia.

Education:

• Master’s Degree or its International Equivalent in public health, demography, sociology, epidemiology, biostatistics, psychology, or a related field.
• Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.

Must be verified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA).

Experience:

• 8+ years of relevant experience in M&E, research, and learning related to SBC programs.
• Experience providing M&E technical support for PEPFAR-funded HIV/AIDS programs.
• Demonstrated understanding of social and behavioral theory and models.
• Strong experience in developing, implementing, and disseminating a learning agenda.
• Excellent knowledge of data collection protocols for quality data collection and verification.
• Exceptional ability to analyze multiple sources of data to identify data trends and provide recommendations on project implementation.
• Demonstrated experience and familiarity with behavioral surveillance surveys, research methodologies, qualitative and quantitative research methods, data analysis, sampling methods, and establishment of M&E systems.
• Demonstrated experience and success in strengthening the capacity of individuals or institutions to design and implement high quality MERL activities.
• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with national and sub-national government personnel, stakeholders, and implementing partners.
• Proven ability to work as an effective team member.
• Ability to set priorities while multi-tasking and meet deadlines.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at a computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time. Ability to lift 5 – 25 lbs.

Technology to be Used:

Personal Computer, Microsoft Office 365 (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype/TEAMS, e- mail), office telephone and printer/copier.

Travel Requirements:

10% – 25%

The last day of receiving applications is 16 December 2024.

This job posting 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 is an equal opportunity 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, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements