Regional Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Advisor for Asia Pacific

Co-founded in 1915 by Helen Keller, Helen Keller International is dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the world’s vulnerable. We combat the causes and consequences of preventable blindness, malnutrition and diseases of poverty with more than 120 programs in 20 African and Asian countries, as well as in the United States. Renowned for its reliability, efficiency and high level of technical expertise, Helen Keller International promotes the development of large-scale, sustainable solutions to some of the most pressing issues in public health. We deliver scientific rigor and effectively leverage donor dollars with our hallmark characteristics of grit, compassion and integrity. If you share these characteristics, we invite you to apply to open positions at Helen Keller International (HKI).

Our Regional Office for Asia Pacific (APRO) is located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and currently supports 7 countries in the region. In order to continue improving the quality of our programs and undertake operations research to improve program design and advance program impact knowledge for both nutrition and eye health, HKI is recruiting a Regional Monitoring, Evaluation and Research (MER) Advisor.

Background

Over the past 30 years, HKI has established itself as a leader in control of micronutrient malnutrition and undernutrition in the Asia Pacific region. HKI has also implemented large scale programs in emergency situations including the delivery of micronutrient powders and fortified products. HKI conducts feasibility and effectiveness studies to expand and enhance the delivery of micronutrient powders in a number of countries and pioneered a model homestead food production system that uses agriculture as a platform to improve nutrition, health and livelihoods of disadvantaged, food insecure families. The program is currently implemented in five countries in the region and has operations research embedded therein. Relatedly, HKI is also conducting other agriculture-nutrition related research in a number of countries. Globally, HKI has integrated its nutrition-related interventions within an Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) programming framework, a package of nutrition support that encompasses infant and young child feeding, the control of micronutrient deficiencies, as well as support to women’s nutrition.

HKI has also developed comprehensive public health models for eye health programming for over 40 years in the region. Capacity building of eye health professionals has been a focus, coupled with comprehensive (from screening to treatment to follow-up) systems delivery model design and testing in the areas of cataract, refractive error, retinopathy of prematurity (RoP) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Currently, our RoP and DR models are being tested in two countries, the school and community-based refractive error program is implemented in two countries and our cataract program is supporting surgeries in one country in the region.

Scope of the Position

The Regional MER Advisor will lead the development and implementation of a harmonized M&E and operations research approach for the region that conforms to HKI’s global standards. The Advisor will be responsible to ensure high rigor and consistency in quality design and implementation of HKI’s MER work in Asia Pacific.

The position does not currently have direct supervisory responsibility, however assists the line managers throughout the region with technical supervision of program staff; interviewing applicants, appraising performance; providing training and development and the guidance and mentoring of national colleagues necessary to strengthen their capacity to deliver quality M&E and related research work. S/he will lead the Community of Practise for all MER staff in the Asia Pacific region.

The position will be based in the APRO office in Phnom Penh and requires up to 40% travel, primarily in the region.

Functional Relationships

Reporting to the Regional Director for Programs, the Advisor is considered as a member of the global management function at HKI. The position serves on the Regional Management Team (RMT) for Asia Pacific as well as the Strategic Opportunities Team for the global organization, and may be called upon to lead or participate in a variety of working groups. The Advisor works closely with all colleagues in the regional office, Country Directors and their program staff, as well as with other experts in the US and Africa, especially the technical VPs for Nutrition and Eye Health, and the Regional M&E Advisor for Africa.

HKI has a matrixed reporting structure that respects both the line management and authority within country office and regional hierarchies; and the accountability and oversight duties of subject matter experts and multi-country program managers wherever they are located. Strong communication skills and a spirit of teamwork among colleagues, both hierarchically and laterally, are essential to thrive within this structure.

HKI’s programs require close relations with governments, partner NGOs, private industry, donors, and UN agencies. The MER Advisor will represent HKI at relevant regional and global meetings.

Key Responsibilities

Harmonization and coordination of M&E systems and tools

· Coordinate with MER and technical area leads across HKI to develop and implement new tools, standards and guidance for use by country offices, and support the roll out of these across the APRO region.

· Contribute, to the ongoing development and implementation of global knowledge management systems for M&E and operations research.

· Encourage an M&E culture of ‘*data for decision-making*’ with regional and country colleagues to foster the use of information generated for program management, quality and performance improvement, and advocacy.

Program development, program quality and technical assistance

· Assist in the identification and puruit of new program initiatives, including operations research, that are innovative, evidence-based and in line with HKI’s mission and organizational Strategic Plan, and develop MER components for all new business proposals in the region

· Provide technical assistance to support country and regional programs in design of programs/projects, their related M&E aspects, and operations research and ensure that the quality, impact, scale and cost-effectiveness of these programs meet HKI standards.

· Support regional and country program teams to adopt program/project management formats consistent with Minimum Program Standards. Specifically, this includes:

o development of program impact pathways and theories of change;

o design of overall MER system that meets the information needs of program managers, donors and other stakeholders;

o design of quality assurance procedures and tools; formative supervision tools; design of surveys including sampling and questionnaires; and

o ensuring that monitoring data is used by project managers to further strengthen implementation.

· Assist country offices and APRO to collect data and evaluate and analyze programs in order to develop innovative, evidence-based strategies that address the real problem.

· Assist program teams in the accurate and timely reporting of program results.

Dissemination and use of information

· Maintain and further HKI’s international role in Nutrition and Eye Health by assisting country offices to document and publish/present relevant programmatic findings and lessons learned.

· Take the lead to develop articles for peer-reviewed journals.

• Analyze and interpret data, provide guidance on data visualization for decision-making, assist in drafting reports and implementation briefs, and contribute to manuscript preparation for publication.

· Share information across countries and expand lessons learned to other countries where HKI has programs.

· Coordinate closely with colleagues to ensure that HKI is represented at key international and regional fora with donors, governments and other agencies.

Staff Development

· Collaborate with colleagues to ensure country program staff are capable of implementing rigorous monitoring and evaluation, quality assurance and operations designs.

· Develop a plan for capacity-building on M&E and for any computer-based support that may be required; when relevant, organize and undertake specific training in M&E skills at country or regional level.

· Promote integration of MER issues and lessons learned in all relevant meetings.

· Provide input to interviewing, hiring, training and performance management of MER program staff.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health or equivalent, (Doctoral degree preferred) plus at least eight years’ related work experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement complex monitoring and evaluation systems for public health programs (including for nutrition programs) in low and middle-income countries.
• Strong understanding of the principles of survey and research design and implementation within low and middle income countries.
• Demonstrated strong analytic skills and has a working knowledge of the Stata analytical package. Experience of using digital data collection technologies, such as ODK, Ona, CommCare and experience of working with the DHIS2 information system would be a benefit.
• Demonstrated ability to build MER capacity of staff in low and middle-income countries, and the range of ways in which this can be conducted and assessed.
• Demonstrated track record in undertaking and supporting data collection, analysis and report and article writing, including publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Technical knowledge of Nutrition programs in the developing world and technical knowledge of public health and eye health programs preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills in dealing with external contacts, as well as internal colleagues. Ability to mentor small technical teams.

• Excellent communication and language skills: Excellent oral and written English. Ability to read, analyze and interpret the most complex documents, and to write /deliver presentations and articles using original or innovative techniques or style.

• Ability and willingness to undertake extensive field travel (at least 40%).

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to HKI.Recruitment@hki.org noting the job title in the subject line.

Helen Keller International is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.