MEL Director, Afghanistan Health Activity

Abt Global

Kabul, Afghanistan

The Opportunity

Abt Global is preparing for an upcoming USAID-funded health activity (project) in Afghanistan that aims to improve the quality of health and nutrition services, increase access to health services, improve healthy behavior and care-seeking practices, and strengthen the health system to enhance resilience. The future activity will focus on increasing equitable access to and utilization of quality health and nutrition services and adoption of health behaviors, especially for women and children, in both the public and private sectors.

As the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director, you will report to the Chief of Party and have primary responsibility for designing and implementing the project’s MEL plan and agenda. You will be responsible for creating systems to measure and document program progress, including outputs and outcomes, by routinely and systematically collecting, reporting, and analyzing data in collaboration with project partners and grantees. You will lead efforts to ensure data is used in real-time to inform project adaptation and continuous learning, including through dissemination efforts with project staff, partners, donors, and other external stakeholders. You will be responsible for tracking progress towards project goals through process monitoring. The position will be full-time for the duration of the program and based in Kabul, Afghanistan. The position is contingent upon the activity’s award and USAID approval.

Core Responsibilities

In coordination with project staff, lead the development of the project’s MEL plan and the design and implementation of robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems, identify and monitor key program activities to document results, and ensure integration of those results into program implementation.
Develop and define program indicators and sources of verification for the data in performance indicator reference sheets of the MEL plan and set targets, in collaboration with project technical staff.
Design data management and data quality assurance plans and processes to support the M&E system.
Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of baseline, midline, and/or endline data as well as routine monitoring data and other sources of data according to the project MEL plan.
Develop and maintain M&E databases, including select indicators in DHIS2.
Conduct data analysis and interpretation of collected data and prepare it for internal and external use, including routine reports as contractually required by USAID.
Act as technical advisor to partners and stakeholders on MEL methods and practices, conducting trainings and workshops on quality data collection in line with indicator definitions and/or evidence-based decision making and adaptive management.
Advise on the design of the data security, data management, and data storage plans.
Review all project assessments and ensure compliance and standardization of documents used for generalizable knowledge, publication, and presentation to USAID and outside stakeholders.
Support the training of data collectors, technical team, or individuals contributing to M&E reporting, as necessary.
Contribute to annual work plans, quarterly and annual reports, and other project documents.
Collaborate with project leadership, technical teams, and partners/stakeholders to develop a learning agenda and fully integrate collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) approaches, processes, and tools across activities. Ensure data, lessons learned, and CLA activities promote data use and inform adaptive management of project activities.
Present results, lessons, and program achievements in written reports and at conferences/meetings.
Prepare ad-hoc reports and/or data to respond to USAID or Abt Home Office requests.
Design data quality assurance plan.
Conduct periodic data quality assessments (DQAs) to ensure quality and accuracy of project-reported data.
Oversee the MEL team and directly supervise select senior MEL and CLA staff.

What We Value

Master’s Degree in public health, statistics, or another similar field. Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field required.
At least 12 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning of large health programs, with experience working in Afghanistan or other conflict settings highly preferred.
Experience working closely with program implementers in the design of health service delivery and/or health system strengthening project MEL plans, including the development of indicators, data collection systems, and data quality assurance processes.
Excellent knowledge of health data, logistics management, and health service delivery data systems, particularly health management information systems (HMIS); knowledge of these systems within Afghanistan preferred; strong experience with DHIS2 preferred.
Experience using complexity-aware monitoring methods and other approaches suitable for a highly dynamic setting such as Afghanistan preferred.
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing learning agendas to ensure monitoring and other data is used to inform real-time project adaptation.
Demonstrated expertise in quantitative research methods; experience in qualitative methods preferred.
Demonstrated strong management, coordination, and teamwork skills with proven ability to coordinate effectively with public and private stakeholders.
Experience in design and implementation of MEL systems on USAID projects desired.
Experience leading project baseline and endline research for health projects. Experience with operational research preferred.
Proficiency with statistical software packages used for data analysis such as STATA, SPSS, or other data software.
Knowledge of USAID and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with USAID, ministry officials, and other development partners.
Understanding of practices to integrate gender, equity, and social inclusion into MEL strategies.
Ability and willingness to travel frequently to program locations throughout Afghanistan.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing in English. Dari or Pashto skills preferred.