Consultant, ASAP Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) Advisor

Summary of Job

ASAP is seeking qualified and experienced MERL advisor, s/he, under the guidance and supervision of ASAP M&L Director, will be responsible for supporting  ASAP’s MERL activities, including  preparation of all routine and special reports, managing project data and providing technical guidance and capacity building support to USAID Local Implementing Partners (LIPs) in project performance monitoring and evaluation and delivery of results and quality. S/he will develop standard templates and reporting guideline to support LIPs in meeting USAID requirement and expectation.. S/he will  play active role in ensuring  interim and final deadlines for key project deliverables are established and adhered to. S/he  will manage distribution of  materials developed by ASAP to share lessons learned, success stories, and best practices.  The Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL)Advisor will report to the Director of Measurement and Learning.

Position Location

Lesotho

Scope of Work

Specifically, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL)Advisor will be responsible for the following tasks;

• Provide technical leadership for MERL for all project activities
• Participate in developing a Memorandum of Understanding with LIP and ASAP to outline roles, responsibilities and
• Design and establish a project monitoring and evaluation system, including defining project indicators and sources of data and developing the project performance monitoring plan
• Develop Capacity Development Plan (CDP) for LIP; provide TA as indicated in the CDP, and monitor progress of CDP
• Take part in reviewing NUPAS Plus and other technical reports prepared by ASAP Capacity Building Advisors and Consultants
• Conduct NUPAS Plus reviews
• Developing a M&E strengthening plan including identifying process and outcome indicators.
• Developing a QA/QI processes and supportive supervision tools to strengthen the M&E team  
• Implement capacity-building activities to increase the ability of key LIP staff to identify, collect, analyze and report on high quality data in support of the malaria program’s indicators
• Take the lead for compiling data and preparing various performance and technical reports including monthly updates, quarterly reports, routine project indicators to PEPFAR and USAID
• Update and oversee proper functioning of procedures, instruments, and systems for managing ASAP project’s monitoring and evaluation data.
• Training the M&E teams on PEPFAR reporting requirements including High Frequency Reporting (HFR) and quarterly progress reports such as DATIM and MER indicators.  
• Maintain databases of all key project data
• Provide technical leadership ASAP project efforts to improve strategic use of data including data for decision-making both internally and with partners and consortium members.

Minimum Qualifications/Experience Requirements

• Graduate degree in public health, demography, statistics or other public health relevant field and a minimum five years working in area of M&E, ideally for a USAID funded project
• 10+ years’ experience and knowledge of M&E for public health programs preferably in HIV/AIDS
• Demonstrated expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Minimum of 5 years’ practical experience setting up and managing project monitoring and evaluation plans and systems, for USAID-supported projects preferred
• Substantial experience in building capacity of government and/or local partner staff in data collection, analysis and/or use
• Ability to independently plan and execute complex tasks while addressing daily management details and remaining organized and focused on long-term deadlines and strategy Proven experience in data analysis techniques of both quantitative and qualitative methods
• Knowledge of statistical software such as Microsoft Excel, Access, SPSS or STATA or SAS is essential and database systems such as Microsoft Access an advantage
• Excellent communication skills – experience in communications for public health an advantage; willingness to learn a requirement
• Excellent interpersonal and team skills–demonstrated ability to interact professionally with diverse staff, local partners, and consultants.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required

Qualifications