Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

HEALTH SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING FOR HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

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REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Title of Assignment: Position of Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Reference Number: SZ-MOH-431096-CS-INDV

• Background

The Government of Eswatini (GOE) through the Ministry of Health (MOH) is undertaking the COVID-19 Emergency Response Project (Eswatini COVID-19 ERP; P173883) and Health System Strengthening for Human Capital Development in Eswatini Project (HSS4HCDP; P168564) with support from the World Bank.

• Project Context

To meet the National Health Sector Strategic Plan’s (NHSSP II 2019-23) policy objective – “build an efficient, equitable, client-centered health system for accelerated attainment of the highest standard of health for all people in Eswatini” – the MOH recognizes the need to invest in health system strengthening to improve the coverage of essential services and the quality of care. Modernizing the foundations of the health system and applying evidence-based improvements are key to achieving better quality care and, through that, reduced child and adult mortality and stunting for human capital formation.

To address key sector challenges in the health sector, the MOH is implementing the HSS4HCDP with the aim of improving the coverage and quality of key reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH), nutrition and non-communicable disease (NCD) services (hypertension and diabetes) in Eswatini. The project focuses on strengthening the health system and ramping up investments in RMNCAH, nutrition and NCD services to address critical human capital challenges, including stunting and child and adult mortality, applying a life course approach. The project includes the following components: Component 1: Improve health service delivery to increase the coverage and quality of health services to build human capital; Component 2. Increase community demand for RMNCAH, nutrition and NCD services; Component 3. Strengthen the MOH’s stewardship capacity to manage essential health and nutrition services and project activities; and Component 4: Contingent Emergency Response Component.

The project is complementary to the Eswatini COVID-19 ERP and is designed to deepen and extend its investment impact through focusing on medium-term structural changes and the modernization of the health sector.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITY

To ensure timely implementation of project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities including the planning of data collection activities, managing project progress reviews, and reporting on progress including updating all indicators in the results framework (RF). The Senior M&E Officer will work closely with internal and external stakeholders in coordinating and supporting all data collection and reporting arrangements on project progress.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Specifically, under the supervision and guidance of the Project Coordinator, the Senior M&E Officer will perform the following duties and responsibilities:

Project M&E:

• Update/review project-level M&E plan, system and associated work plans for each component/activity (as reflected in the RF);

• Review and update, as needed, M&E system/mechanism, process and procedures of the project, and forms and formats for project activities under its various components;

• Update/refine an M&E database for the projects;

• Lead evaluations and assessments related to the overall project or project activities

• Attend, participate and provide necessary inputs for preparation of and during project meeting, workshops and trainings;

• Serve as focal point for providing M&E inputs on Implementation Status Reports;

• Prepare consolidate progress reports for project management to submit to the relevant stakeholders, in accordance with approved reporting formats and schedule;

• Coordinate the preparation and consolidation of annual work plans, as well as monthly and quarterly project reports and other deliverables;

• Review monitoring reports, analyze them for impact evaluation and to identify the causes of potential bottlenecks in project implementation and make recommendations;

• Ensure timely data compilation and M&E reporting for project implementation and completion reports, including the semi-annual Implementation Status Reports, annual reports, and the final Implementation Completion and Results Report (ICRR)

M&E technical assistance to the technical teams implementing the project activities and other PIU members:

• Develop TORs for M&E tasks to be carried out by consulting firms (e.g. the design of surveys, evaluations (mid-term and final evaluation), etc. using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods;

• Ensure quality control of M&E outputs (e.g. surveys etc.), including by contributing substantively to the design and field testing of the monitoring methodology, supervising design and implementation of the survey, participatory data collection methods and protocols, data verification techniques, and other technical evaluation and analytical tasks conducted;

• Support technical work such as reviewing M&E methods, carrying out training needs assessment, designing M&E tools, and providing M&E technical assistance to the PIU and technical teams.

• Ensure mentoring and training of project team to build M&E capacity.

• Monitor project progress through field visit as may be required, offer feedback and keep regular communication with related field and central level staff including World Bank project team.

• Support bi-annual implementation support missions commissioned by the World Bank on the project by providing project related information.

REPORTING:

The Senior M&E Officer will report directly to the Project Coordinators and ensure timely reporting for project implementation and completion. The Senior M&E Consultant will closely work with the Sr. M&E Officer.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• Post-graduate degree in public health, social sciences, statistics, (health) economics, data science.

• Eight years relevant work experience in M&E five of which must have been at a managerial level within government, international NGO, or development partners. Experience working in the health sector would be a plus;

• Experience in the design and/or implementation of an M&E system, preferably in the health/public sector;

• Experience in conducting training and facilitation of M&E activities.

• Proven experience of conducting socio-economic research and program and project performance assessment.

• Advanced and applied knowledge in data analytics using data analytical software

• Ability to write clearly and concisely, and have sound quantitative skills (managing, analyzing and interpreting data).

• Demonstrated experience in M&E of development project activities.

• Innovative and able to apply technology-based platforms, and adopt changing methods

• Broad knowledge and strategic use of data for evaluation and performance assessments;

• Very strong planning, system development and organizational skills including results-based management.

DURATION OF SERVICE

The Contract will be for a duration of 14 months from August 2024 to 30 September 2025.

REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will report to the Project Coordinator.

DUTY STATION

Mbabane, with field visits as required.

REMUNERATION AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

In accordance with relevant Kingdom of Eswatini guidelines as applicable.

APPLICATIONS:

Submit a detailed copy of updated curriculum vitae (duties inclusive), references and scanned copies of notarized academic or professional certifications.

Application should be addressed to:

The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Health; 2nd Floor Ministry of Justice Building, Mbabane. Postal address: The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Health P.O. Box 5; Mbabane, Eswatini.

Electronic applications should be sent to Project Coordinator; [email protected] & [email protected] copy to [email protected] and [email protected] no later than 11.00 hours on 28th June, 2024. All applications will be acknowledged but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Contacts: (00268) 24045514; (00268) 24042431.