TITLE: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer

DEPARTMENT: International Partnerships & Programs

REPORTS TO: Programs Director- Americares, Liberia

ASSIGNMENT TYPE: Full-time

LOCATION: Grand Bassa, Liberia

LENGTH: 12 months with a possibility to extend based on performance and budget

ABOUT AMERICARES: Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster. Each year, Americares reaches more than 90 countries, including the United States, with life-changing health programs, medicine and medical supplies. Americares is the world’s leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies. For more information, visit americares.org.

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Liberia MEL Officer will oversee all aspects of the monitoring, evaluation and learning in Liberia to support Reproductive Maternal Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) and Thriving Local Health Centers (TLHC) activities and other programmatic or project activities that may arise during the MEL contract period. Under the supervision of the Liberia Programs Director, the MEL Officer will coordinate with HQ-based M&E and Project Teams, the Liberia Senior RMNCH and TLHC Officers and Liberia’s Social Behavior Change (SBC) consultant and partners M&E teams and activities, particularly during data collection and analysis. The Liberia MEL Officer will ensure the application of best practices for data collection, analysis, reporting, and learning within the project team and with a larger audience, including donors and Ministry of Health (MOH) stakeholders.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Monitoring Activities:

· Develop and maintain data collection and benchmark tracking systems for all indicators

· Ensure a database system is in place and accessible to everyone at any time

· Lead data entry and data analysis with partners

· Ensure completeness, accuracy, and validity of data collected in high quality and efficient manner

· Contribute toward continuous review of approaches used to implement activities and advice the RMCH and TLHC Officers, SBC consultant, and the Programs Director

· Conduct regular data quality checks and make necessary corrections

· Participate in routine monitoring of project activities in the field

· Participate in routine community and clinics data collection and analysis in the field

· Collect quantitative and qualitative data collection information on program activities

· Regularly monitor and update Americares Data tracker with relevant information

· Develop monitoring and impact indicators for the project’s success.

· Suggest strategies to the Project Management for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the project by identifying bottlenecks in completing project activities and developing plans to minimize or eliminate such bottlenecks

· Monitor the sustainability of the project’s results

Evaluation Activities:

· Lead RMNCH and TLHC during baseline and end line activities, with the support of the Programs Director

· Lead in-country assessments and annual project evaluations to track achievements and changes toward reaching the project’s overall goal in Liberia

· Under the guidance of the Programs Director, Senior Program Manager for Africa, and HQ

· Lead the development of terms of reference and methodology design for in-country program monitoring level reviews and evaluations to ensure that processes will generate relevant learning on RMNCH and TLHC activities in Liberia

· Provide data quality management with basic data analysis and provide technical advice on data for decision making

· Monitor and evaluate overall progress on achievement of results.

Learning:
Document lessons learned, best practices to inform program decision

· Inform and work with the Program Director in reviewing and where appropriate developing and testing complementary tools to ensure high-quality implementation, risk management, stakeholder analysis, root cause analysis, project status report, quality management, minimum program standard, and implementation checklist

· Support Liberia’s program team to develop bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly presentations in the health sector, quarterly reviews, and the Country’s performance review meeting

Reports and Updates:

· Contribute to the development and implementation of learning efforts, documentation and sharing of findings and best practices

· Submit monthly reports and weekly updates to the Program Director that monitor implementation and achievements

· Participate in annual project reviews, and planning workshops and assist the Project Officers and Program Director in preparing relevant reports;

· Conduct capacity assessment on existing monitoring and evaluation system

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· Triangulate program activities data to develop success stories on program milestone quarterly achievement reporting.

Coordination:

· Maintain contact with partners and stakeholders to ensure timely and regular flow of information and data

· Develop and roll-out capacity building and refresher training efforts to ensure full participation of MOH stakeholders, District Teams, and Health facilities staff in all MEL efforts, with a highly effective application process

· Develop on an annual-basis MEL Workplan adapted from the project global M&E plan

· Take full responsibility for the in-country MEL dashboard that present an overview of accomplishment, MEL needs, budget, and planning review

· Lead the Liberia MEL component during the regular project review

· Work with assistance from the Senior Program officers and Liberia Programs Director in conducting workshops, reviews, analyses, and reporting.

Other:

· Support RMNCH and TLHC project activities particularly in training and community activities (Trained Traditional Midwife networking meetings)

· Support RMNCH and TLHC project community engagement through TTM activities as well as social and behavioral change pilot interventions

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

*Bachelor’s Degree in epidemiology, social sciences, public health, or related disciplines required. A Master’s degree preferred.

*Additional studies in community development, M&E are highly desirable

*Minimum of 8 years’ experience working in M&E in Liberia required, experience implementing Projects

*Experience in setting-up M&E systems, design, implementation and Evaluation

*Experience working with and being accountable to multiple stakeholders and multilayers settings, a huge plus

*Excellent interpersonal skills and strong communications skills; ability to develop partnerships across sectors and cultures

*Strong organizational skills, capacity to think strategically and attention to detail

*Excellent English-language writing skills and demonstrated experience meeting Organization and other donors reporting requirements

*Proficiency in Office 365 including Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint and SharePoint

*Willingness and ability to travel as needed

*Unrestricted authorization to work in Liberia

**Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

As a global health organization, we are committed to ensuring a safe environment for our staff, partners, and visitors. All Americares staff and visitors who are on-site at any of our locations or will be traveling for work are required to be fully vaccinated (which includes a booster, when eligible) against COVID-19 unless an exemption required by law is applicable.

Americares is an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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