SCOPE OF WORK

USAID SCALING UP NUTRITION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (SUN TA)

MONITORING EVALUATION AND LEARNING OFFICER (GRADE 8)

1. Project Background:

The Scaling Up Nutrition Program is a cross-ministry and multi-donor program to reduce stunting in Zambia through implementation of the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) 1,000 Most Critical Days Program. SUN TA provides support and direct technical assistance to sub-national local government departments in target districts to plan, implement, coordinate, and monitor integrated nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific activities to reduce the rate of stunting among Zambian children under two and improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating mothers. USAID has identified two main objectives that address stunting, including (1) Adequate Quantity and Quality of Dietary Intake among Target Groups; and (2) Adequate Health Conditions for Biological Utilization of Nutrients. SUN TA interventions increase access and availability of safe, diverse, nutritious food; adoption of better child feeding and household hygiene practices; and access to improved health, water and sanitation services. The project prioritizes sustainability by improving intra-household joint decision making and building the capacity of local government and their stakeholders to ensure coordination, accountability, and learning, following the Scaling Up Nutrition model.

2. Purpose:

The Provincial Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will work directly with the MEL Team Lead to implement the SUN TA monitoring and evaluation function at the provincial level. S/he will be responsible for data collection, collation, data quality assurance, data entry and reporting. S/he will work in close coordination with the SUN TA district technical team and focal persons from the line ministries at the district level to ensure timeliness, effectiveness and efficiency in data collection and subsequent upload onto the online database management system. S/he will also be required to be in constant touch with the focal persons of the subdistrict structures to ensure smooth and timeous flow of data from the subdistrict, district through to the national level.

3. Place of Performance and Reporting:

The MEL Officer will report directly to the District Manager and will be supported by national level MEL Manager:

• The MEL Officer will be based in, Chibombo and cover both Mumbwa and Chibombo with frequent (more than 50% of time) travel throughout assigned districts.

4. Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Operationalize the project monitoring and evaluation system at the district level to support learning, decision making and accountability.
• Spearhead the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation activities at the district level and ensure MEL plan/strategy is implemented according to plan.
• Provide regular feedback and updates to the MEL Team Lead on MEL activities at the district level.
• Train and support community-based volunteers and sub-district structure in the collection of accurate and reliable data, and reporting.
• Manage the collection, storage and retrieval of project data at the district level to support learning and decision making.
• Ensure district data management is of the highest quality in line with project, DAI and USAID standards
• Support the district and subdistrict structures in the collection of monitoring data using the devised data collection forms and transpose it on the online database management system.
• Ensure the digital platform (dhis2) for data collection and reporting is operational and utilization by district stakeholders is optimal
• Support the SUN TA district team, District Nutrition Coordination Committee (DNCC) and Sub-district structures in the verification, and update of data, including ensuring data is accuracy and reliability.
• Support the DNCC (M&E Technical Working Group) and the subdistrict structure in conducting M&E activities including review meetings, data collection and joint monitoring visits.
• Facilitate learning and adaptive programming sessions with project staff to identify best practices, challenges, and district-context implementation approaches
• Conduct rapid quantitative and qualitative studies including review of existing district data to demonstrate outcome results such as knowledge/skills levels, sustainability, convergence etc
• Liaise with the key stakeholders in the district with the view of gathering feedback on the data collection tools for possible improvement.
• Undertake other monitoring and evaluation functions as needed.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

5. Supervisory Responsibilities:

The MEL Officer will supervise the Data Associate.

6. Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree, Development Studies, Economics, or any related social sciences.
• At least 3 years of working experience in Monitoring and Evaluation or other related field.
• Computer skills in spread sheets, database management, word processing, SPSS or other statistical packages.
• Competence in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Proven record of data and information collection, collation, review, analysis, presentation skills and data visualization.
• Previous experience working in the international development or humanitarian sector in in a MEL, data analytics or research capacity.
• Strong computer skills, including the ability operate management systems.
• Formal training in monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience with data collection using Open Data Kit, KoBoTool box or other online or offline data collection solutions.
• Fluency in English is required

7. Key Result Areas:

• Conduct/Facilitate the timely collection, entry, reporting and management of project data using DHIS2 to support learning and decision making.
• Generate monthly quarterly and annual statistical reports.
• Conduct Monthly and Quarterly Program/Data Review Meetings.
• Conduct joint monitoring visits with DNCC (MEL TWG) and PNCC (MEL TWG) to catchment areas.
• Train/orient staff responsible for data collection in district and sub-districts.