Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Communications Specialist 32 views

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Communications Specialist
Project Overview and Role:
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 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
Position Overview
The Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) and Communications Specialist will assist in monitoring, evaluating, analyzing, and responding to NPI EXPAND HDA project indicators, in addition to mandatory USAID indicators such as CBLD-9. The position will focus predominantly on MEL activities (estimated 80 percent of time) but will also include select communications functions, mostly focused on collecting lessons learned, photographs, developing short pieces for the website, helping with major stakeholder engagement activities, working with partners to ensure that USAID’s branding and marking requirements are adhered to, and ensuring that the Activity communications plan is followed and regularly updated. The Specialist, alongside the home office MEL team based in Washington, DC, will implement the MEL Plan that will measure the project’s performance and impact as well as progress towards achieving the expected results. The Specialist will be responsible for coordinating with USAID, the project team, key stakeholders, and partners to organize and document project information including intervention activities and learning experiences. The Specialist will also help document and disseminate monitoring, evaluation and/or research findings, lessons learned and innovative approaches using various communications technologies and tools. This may include, but is not limited to, writing short website articles or blog pieces that highlight important project experiences, lessons, and/or achievements, as well as helping the country team with select stakeholder engagement activities to inform and advance project efforts in local capacity development for improved health and education services. The Specialist will assist with 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, the Technical Coordinator, the global MEL team, the Field Support Director and the Country Activity Manager. The position reports to the Country Team Lead and will be based in the project’s Peshawar sub-office.
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 sub-office. Only Pakistani nationals living in Pakistan will be considered for this position.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Planning and implementing monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes for the NPI EXPAND HDA project.
Supporting grantees with completion of the grantee reporting template and reporting of relevant MEL indicators for their respective projects.
Verifying the information reported in the monitoring and evaluation system through field visits and comparison with other databases.
Supporting the development of tools required to carry out annual and baseline project evaluations.
Providing reports such as quarterly, annual, and others that are requested using the M&E System and other tools and office data sources if necessary.
Monitoring and evaluating grantees’ activity implementation according to the workplan.
Coordinating with relevant individuals and teams to collect data and input all required information into USAID’s online MEL reporting system.
Sharing 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 ensuring that M&E reporting is completed in all required forms.
Analyzing data from primary and secondary sources that may be useful for the achievement of project objectives.
Supporting internal and external data quality assessments (DQAs) in coordination with the global MEL team.
Writing and producing project dissemination materials and communications documents such as: newsletters, fact sheets, blogs, web articles, presentations, success stories, documentation of activities and other communication materials as requested.
Collecting project photos and managing the picture archive.
Reviewing grantee reports to ensure that USAID’s branding and marking guidelines for NPI EXPAND HDA are followed by all grantees and for all project documents.
Ensuring that the project communications plan is followed and updated as needed.
Supporting the planning of events such as workshops and meetings.
Other work as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
BS/BA in Monitoring and Evaluation, BS/BA in Public Health, or a BS/BA in 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, preferably with USAID.
Experience in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data.
Strong project management, organizational, and interpersonal skills required.
Experience working in KP province.
Working knowledge of MS Office required; photo and video-editing software is an asset.
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, 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.
Strong skills in copywriting and graphic editing a plus.
Ability and willingness to travel within KP province as needed to collect data and monitor and evaluate activities.
Must be a team player.
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 accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com 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.

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