Monitoring & Evaluation Advisor

JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) is a public health management consulting and research organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities throughout the world over the last forty years.

JSI is currently seeking an outstanding Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Advisor in Malawi for a portfolio of activities on the Country Health Information System and Data Use (CHISU) global cooperative agreement funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). CHISU is a 5-year program designed to enhance host country capacity to produce high-quality health information, to optimally manage this information, and to institutionalize evidence-based decision-making. The program works with USAID- supported host country health managers, health workers, and other stakeholders to strengthen the enabling environment of health information management and strategic planning in order to: improve harmonization of fragmented information systems, reduce duplication of data collection, and improve monitoring and tracking of a country’s own health trends and priorities.

The M&E Advisor will serve as the lead for monitoring and evaluating CHISU Malawi, ensuring strong documentation of program activities’ contributions to intended program outcomes. As the M&E Advisor for CHISU in Malawi, the candidate will be responsible for overseeing M&E efforts, including regular reporting and complementary M&E approaches. In addition, the M&E Advisor will work with CHISU Malawi staff and the Ministry of Health at the central, regional, district and city level to support the institutionalization of various assessment frameworks, measuring health information system (HIS) maturity and other key evaluation needs for systems strengthening. Overall, the M&E Advisor will demonstrate strong technical expertise in M&E activities to strengthen HIS and how these systems can contribute to equitable, quality and resource optimized health systems that lead to positive health outcomes.

The M&E Advisor will work closely with all CHISU staff as well as key stakeholders at the Ministry of Health. The M&E Advisor will also work with CHISU global monitoring, evaluation, and learning staff and ensure effective implementation of communications and knowledge management activities. This role will report to the CHISU Country Lead/Resident Advisor for CHISU in Malawi.

• Lead M&E efforts for Malawi, ensuring the AMELP is well implemented with strong inputs and documentation through coordination with technical specialists and other key stakeholders. Serve as mentor/coach staff on implementation of strong M&E practices to improve project performance in real time.
• Facilitate learning activities, including process documentation, synthesis of evidence and pause and reflect sessions both in-country as well as contributing to those at the global CHISU level.
• Develop MEL-related portions of annual work plans and lead the setting and monitoring of performance against annual targets.
• Provide in-depth technical assistance to relevant project technical areas such as the design and implementation of various assessments, data quality improvement, data standardization, and technical guidelines and documentation.
• Oversee in implementation of activities related to cross cutting areas such as healthcare data security and gender in HIS design and decision making, in particular around sex-disaggregated data and use of a gender lens for data analysis.
• Design and/or supervise implementation of complementary monitoring and evaluation approaches such as contribution analysis, including protocol and tool development, ethics submissions, data analysis, and manuscript/report drafting where relevant.
• With the technical specialist, serve as mentor/coach for HIS Specialists at the subnational level in monitoring and evaluation of HIS maturity and performance.
• Participate in routine project meetings, reviews and work planning, leading M&E efforts in these meetings to ensure effective reflection and learning.
• Analyze, prepare and disseminate data on progress and results for routine project reporting into CHISU’s management information system, and oversee the process of developing to USAID and Government of Malawi monthly, quarterly and annual reports. Contribute to the development of weekly reports and other activity reports as needed.
• Produce, package and publish CHISU Malawi achievements and deliverables including preparing technical briefs, peer-review journal articles, blogs and success stories for publication.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Science, or related field, with relevant work experience.
• At least 7 years of professional experience in monitoring and evaluation, with experience developing and/or implementing public health solutions in Malawi.
• Experience working with or knowledge of national health information systems and platforms in Malawi and/or digital public goods for health.
• Knowledge of project management principles to manage projects and work with multi-disciplinary teams. In addition, knowledge of IT and digital development principles, software development life cycles, is a plus.
• Demonstrated familiarity with quantitative and qualitative analysis software programs, and high proficiency with word processing, spreadsheet, database, and graphics software.
• Familiarity with the principles and current approaches, including USAID’s approach, to monitoring, evaluating and learning for public health programs.
• Experience designing and managing operational research activities including quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. In addition, experience with complexity-aware monitoring and evaluation methods is a plus.
• Relevant experience working with government counterparts at the national and sub-national level and excellent diplomatic and stakeholder management skills are required.
• Understanding of governmental policies, strategies, structures, and processes in Malawi and current digital health transformation initiatives preferred.
• Demonstrated experience strengthening individual and/or organizational capacity.
• Strong diplomatic, interpersonal, and networking skills, ability to work well with senior government counterparts, consultants, and within a cross-cultural and virtual team; experience working with USAID projects preferred.
• Ability to work well under pressure and skilled in change management, crisis management and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent writing and communications skills in English, including technical writing skills.
• Practical knowledge of English is required.