Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor.

Position Title: Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor.

Organization: Concern Worldwide

Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Duration: 5-year program

Programme Budget: $45M

Salary: €44,133 – €49,038 (Grade 4)

About the Program:

The Strengthening Integrated Health Services Activity (SIHSA) aims to contribute to the Government of Sierra Leone’s overarching goal of improving the health of adolescents, pregnant and postpartum women, and children under five years old. The program seeks to 1) enhance the quality of family planning, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (FP/RMNCAH), malaria services, 2) promote the adoption of crucial health behaviors and 3) strengthen the stewardship and governance of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation at central and district levels. SIHSA seeks to promote the integration of health services, including malaria services, to rapidly scale-up evidence-based interventions to address preventable causes of maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent morbidities and mortality. SIHSA seeks to demonstrate innovative models to catalyze community-driven solutions and show models to promote private sector engagement.

Role Overview:

The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor (MEAL) will be responsible for the overall monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability of the entire SIHSA programme. Reporting to the Chief of Party (COP), the MEAL Advisor will adhere to Concern’s programme quality standards and ensure compliance with Concern and donor MEAL requirements. S/he will maintain positive and productive relationships with the donor and local and international partner organizations throughout the programme lifecycle. A priority for the MEAL Adviser role extends to capacity building and knowledge transfer to high performing Sierra Leonean team members with a view to empowering their success during the life of the project.

Recruitment is contingent upon successful award and USAID approval.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide overall management, strategic direction, and technical leadership on MEAL to support the achievement of expected programme results within the budget and timeframe.
• Serve as principal liaison to the Chief of Party (COP) on learning and monitoring, ensuring high levels of coordination and engaging with key stakeholders (partner organizations, local government, civil society, etc.) on MEAL.
• Lead the MEAL team to ensure tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities are met and oversee their collaboration with the wider team to ensure compliance with USAID rules and regulations, providing capacity-building training where needed.
• Using an adaptive management approach, track performance-monitoring analysis and apply course correction in collaboration with the COP. Responsible for ensuring systematized use of data into learning systems to demonstrate data-driven decision-making.
• Liaise with USAID and other donors, as well as implementing partners and stakeholders, to ensure a collaborative, shared learning model that is responsive to their demands.
• Manage the relationship on MEAL between all consortium partners and ensure partner MEAL activities are adhering to the agreed work plan and budget.
• Represent the programme in all MEAL technical, policy, and programmatic fora at all levels (regional, national, and international)
• Support quality control for MEAL deliverables and fulfil all donor and Concern Worldwide reporting requirements, including the production of timely and accurate reports.
• Direct the preparation of MEAL annual work plans and learning products, review programme activities and ensure learning is integrated, and oversee use of data/analytics to evaluate program outreach.
• Oversee and contribute directly to production of communications products, including learning notes, reports, articles, videos, etc, as well as outreach via social media, ensuring products are well packaged for intended audiences.

Accountability

• Ensure that there is a robust Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) Improvement plan in place for the consortium, along with an accessible and inclusive Feedback Complaints Response Mechanism (FCRM).
• Ensure that all staff are familiar with the principles underpinning accountability, safeguarding and Concern’s FCRM and lead on ensuring that information about Concern’s commitments on accountability and safeguarding are disseminated among programme participants and communities.
• Ensure that the FCRM is functional, effectively implemented and accessible in all programme locations, enabling safe reporting of both programmatic and sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns.
• Ensure that complaints are welcomed, managed and responded to in a timely, fair and appropriate manner; ensure that sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns, are handled with utmost confidentiality and that the safety of the complainants and those affected is prioritized at all stages.
• Demonstrate leadership on workplace equality, diversity and inclusion, and role model a positive safeguarding ethos.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (equivalent) or higher in statistics, biostatistics, research methodologies, quantitative/qualitative data analysis, public health, social/behavioural sciences, or another relevant medical or health field.
• Demonstrated experience in a senior MEAL management position; with progressive responsibilities in a field related to the successful implementation of the programme, such as public health, nutrition or resilience programmes.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex multisector data, preferably for USAID awards.
• Familiarity with the U.S. Government administration, management and reporting procedures and systems.
• Experience with maternal, newborn and child health, family planning, reproductive health, adolescent health, and malaria is preferred.
• Demonstrated staff management experience leading teams in an environment conducive to learning and development.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities, including technical, management, and evaluation expertise for complex programmes in resource-constrained countries.
• Strong communication skills, including both written and oral presentation skills; proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse public and private partners.
• Experience collaborating and coordinating with local and national host government agencies and international agencies and aligning programme activities and results with strategies.
• Knowledge of Core Humanitarian Standards, Sphere and other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols
• Excellent written and spoken English language skills.
• Sierra Leonean and West African candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

Desired Qualities:

• Cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Commitment to capacity building, protection, and participation.
• Demonstrated experience of team building and participatory approaches.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a changing environment.