Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist

NPI EXPAND Overview

The New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) Expanding Health Partnerships (NPI EXPAND) project is a global five-year (2019-2024) U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project that supports locally driven efforts to increase the availability and utilization of high-quality health and education services. In line with USAID's localization agenda, NPI EXPAND invests in new and underutilized local partners (NUPs) and strengthens their capacity to strategize, plan, and implement programs with USAID funds. Enhanced participation of capable local organizations to increase demand for and to deliver high-quality, high impact services will enable governments to meet crucial goals equitably and sustainably. NPI EXPAND also catalyzes opportunities to scale up innovative interventions by strengthening the capacity of NUPs with varying levels of capabilities and exposure to USAID.

NPI EXPAND in Pakistan

In Pakistan, NPI EXPAND is implementing USAID Pakistan's Human Development Activity (HDA) to advance development, education, and health including family planning aims in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. Pressing issues in these areas include low access to and use of high-quality education and health services, limited qualified personnel, equipment and supply shortages, security-related restrictions, and gender inequity. Through HDA, NPI EXPAND will support creative, locally driven solutions to improve education and health (FP/MNCH) in the border areas. The primary beneficiaries include the most disadvantaged women, girls, children, and newborns living in these areas. The project will provide grants and tailored assistance to local organizations in line with the following results:

• Intermediate Result 1: Access to and utilization of basic health and education services increased
• Intermediate Result 2: Quality of basic health and education services improved

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist will be responsible for monitoring, evaluating, analyzing, and responding to NPI EXPAND HDA project indicators, in addition to mandatory USAID indicators such as CBLD-9. The Specialist will implement the MEL Plan that will measure the project’s performance and impact as well as progress towards achieving expected results with guidance from the home office MEL team based in Washington, DC. The Specialist will be responsible for coordinating with the project team, key stakeholders, and partners to organize and document project information including intervention activities and learning experiences. The Specialist will also document and disseminate monitoring, evaluation and/or research findings. The Specialist will  lead internal and external information sharing to strengthen reporting and data utilization functions. S/he will work closely with the Country Team Lead, the Education and Health Program Managers and the Technical Coordinator as well as with the global MEL team and the Country Activity Manager based at Palladium headquarters in Washington, DC. The position reports to the Country Team Lead. 

Required Qualifications:

• Lead all MEL activities for the NPI EXPAND HDA project at the field level.
• Serve as the primary point of communication for all MEL activities between the Pakistan office and Palladium HQ.
• Support the development of tools required to carry out annual and baseline project evaluations.
• Update and complete the MEL section in the quarterly and annual reports and ensure that the project MEL plan is kept updated at all times.
• Update the NPI EXPAND HDAMEL and capacity strengthening trackers on a monthly basis.
• Collect and analyze data from primary and secondary sources that may be useful for the achievement of project objectives.
• Support internal and external data quality assessments (DQAs) in coordination with the global MEL team.
• Coordinate with relevant individuals and teams to collect data and input all required information into USAID’s online MEL reporting system.
• Monitor and evaluate grantees’ activity implementation according to the workplan.
• Support grantees with completion of the grantee reporting template and reporting of relevant MEL indicators for their respective projects.
• Verify the information reported in the monitoring and evaluation system through field visits and comparison with other databases.
• Support exit surveys for grantees at the time of grant close out.
• Support virtual monitoring of activities as and when needed.
• Share every grantee’s MEL data monthly, quarterly, or as needed with the Program Managers and Technical Coordinator to ensure M&E obligations are completed on time and ensure that M&E reporting is completed in all required forms.
• Other work as assigned.

Qualifications:

• BS/BA in Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Health, or Social Sciences is required.
• Demonstrated experience with monitoring and evaluation for health, especially family planning and maternal, newborn and child health, and/or education projects, especially with USAID.
• Demonstrated experience in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data.
• Experience working in KP province.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and presentation skills.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Urdu; fluency in Pashto will be an added asset.
• Experience working with government departments in KP, especially Health, Education and Population Welfare desirable.
• Ability to present complex information to diverse audiences. Clear and effective written, oral communication and presentation skills, as well as demonstrated experience with report development and delivering oral presentations supported by PowerPoint slides.
• Demonstrated problem solving, analytic, and evaluative skills.
• Attention to detail, ability to effectively perform multiple tasks, and balance competing priorities.
• Ability to take initiative and/or respond independently to situations.
• Ability and willingness to travel within KP province as needed to collect data and monitor and evaluate activities.
• Must be a team player.
• Experience with using USAID’s Pak Info system for online data entry desirable.

Period and Location of Performance:

The period of performance is 1 year with the possibility of renewal depending on performance and availability of funding.

NOTE:  This position is based in the project’s Peshawar office. Only Pakistani nationals living in Pakistan will be considered for this position. 

Company Overview:

About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibilit[email protected] and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.

Application Instructions: Please visit https://palladium.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home/requisition/17798?c=palladium

Follow instructions to apply, including the submission of a CV. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.