The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Adapting (MERLA) Officer will work closely with Act to End NTDs | East and ARISE (Accelerating Resilient innovative, Sustainable Elimination of NTDs) Program and in-country MERLA staff to ensure quality data collection, analysis, and reporting. This requires reviewing data in detail and providing feedback on data quality and program performance. This person will also support the in-country MERLA staff, primarily through coaching and providing on-the-job training, to support in-country staff who are able to effectively strengthen the MERLA capacity of the RHBs. Furthermore, the MERLA Officer will also assist the MERLA Manager with cross-project data analysis to promote learning and programmatic adaptation.

Responsibilities

Technical assistance for country MERLA activitiesData management for project monitoring (40%): Responsible for ensuring high quality project monitoring and data reporting.Review data multiple times/year, with a heavy emphasis during work planning and two semi-annual reporting (SAR) periods. Ensure regular, high-quality data collection and analysis, and timely, strategic response to reporting.Ensure data are uploaded to database in line with MERLA system and project reporting requirements.Provide feedback to project staff, in-country teams and sub-partners on data quality and program performance.Correspond with country teams to gather information about redistricting; incorporate redistricting events into historical workbooks and ensure uploaded into database.Provide high-level quality control checks on country data for project work plan, SAR, Quarterly ARISE report and ad hoc requests.Support MERLA and Program team in responding to immediate requests for data from project leadership.Promote in-country and project learning and adaptation (30%): Responsible for promoting in-country and project learning and programmatic adaptation in 2-6 countries, thereby facilitating data interpretation and use.Ensure country-level work plans, Quarterly, semi-annual, and Annual reports appropriately incorporate data.Provide data reports and information for country bi-monthly and ad-hoc meetings.Analyze/use project M&E data to identify trends/patterns/outliers (e.g., low-performing districts), and generate results in easy-to-understand visual formats.Conduct coaching and on-the-job training for key MERLA activities, including operationalizing the Data for Action Guide, using the Integrated NTD Database, submitting high quality data to RTI and End Fund, etc.Conduct key informant interviews with in-country staff to identify challenges, lessons learned and best practices, and communicate findings with RTI/END FUND and in-country teams.Collaborate with in-country staff to identify opportunities for in-country learning and program adaptation.Conduct in-depth analyses of capacity strengthening needs across countries, synthesize learnings, develop data visualizations, and develop and operationalize capacity strengthening strategies to promote in-country learning and adaptation.Strengthen national capacity for conducting and learning from evaluations (15%): Provide technical support to in-country teams in 2-6 countries to enable effective implementation of evaluation activities and facilitate associated learning.In collaboration with RTI and END Fund focal points, build in-country capacity to conduct coverage evaluation surveys and data quality assessments, through providing training (remote or in-person), reviewing protocols and reports, and ensuring application of findings and learning.In collaboration with Program Managers, review protocols and reports for disease-specific impact assessments, analyze data to inform action-oriented conclusions (including the development of data visualizations of DSA results), provide technical assistance for outcome investigation, ensure application of learning.In collaboration with RTI and End Fund and in-country staff, conduct in-depth analyses of survey results across countries, synthesize learnings, develop data visualizations, and develop and operationalize strategy to promote in-country learning and adaptation.Technical inputs for global project (15%)Support MERLA Manager, and Program Staff with cross-project data analysis to promote learning and programmatic adaptation.Contribute to the development of technical publications, including conducting literature reviews; analyzing and interpreting data; formatting manuscripts, tables and figures; assistance with submitting to journals, etc.Ensure tracking, documentation, visualization and publication (where appropriate) of project MERLA best practices and lessons learned.Manage meeting agendas, meetings, notes, and other administrative tasks as needed.Assist MERLA Manager with special projects as necessary.

Job Requirements

• Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, or other analytics field, plus 1 year of experience; or bachelor’s degree plus 3 years of experience in health/ governance/ nutrition/ environment programs

• Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation, research, learning and adaptation (MERLA) methods and approaches, as learned through coursework, internship, or work experience. 

• Experience in quantitatively analyzing M&E data and synthesizing findings for programmatic use.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and statistical Packages

• Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Experience in designing and implementing qualitative studies, analyzing qualitative data and generating learning for programmatic use.

• Prior USAID experience

• Technical content experience in one or more of the following areas: health systems strengthening, infectious diseases, NTDs, HIV, maternal and child health, nutrition, gender.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines under pressure.

• Capacity to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.

• Strong organizational skills

• Proven ability to work effectively in a team-oriented setting while also taking initiative to complete assigned tasks with high quality and within tight timelines.

• High level of integrity

• Ability to communicate respectfully in a multi-cultural environment.

How to Apply

Send your non-returnable CV and a cover letter via email: recruitment.ethiopia@light-for-the-world.org

Note: Please mention your expected salary in your application letter and include 3 professional references into your CV. We strongly encourage people with disabilities and or women to apply for this position.