POSITION: Innovation, Evidence and Learning (IEL) Lead

PROJECT: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Samartha

LOCATION: Kathmandu, Nepal (with travel to Madhesh and Lumbini provinces)

Family Health International (FHI 360) is a global organization that mobilizes research, resources and relationships so people everywhere have access to the opportunities they need to lead full and healthy lives. With more than 4,000 staff and collaborations in more than 60 countries, we work directly with local leaders to advance social and economic equity, improve health and well-being, respond to humanitarian crises, and strengthen community resilience. Our work is grounded in research and science, reinforced by partnerships, and characterized by a commitment to local ownership, capacity, and sustainability. FHI 360 has been working in Nepal since 1993. Together with the Government of Nepal (GoN), civil society, and the private sector, FHI 360 works collaboratively in the areas of HIV, family planning (FP)/reproductive health (RH), health security and one health, nutrition, COVID-19 response, procurement, and supply chain management, local capacity strengthening, civil society and media strengthening, governance reform and the environment and climate change.

FHI 360 is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Innovation, Evidence and Learning Lead for the anticipated FCDO-funded Samartha programme. The program will contribute to sustainable and equitable delivery of human development commitments and constitutional mandates for social services by the Government (across the three tiers of federalised Nepal). This will be done by promoting more inclusive and accountable institutions that respond to Nepal’s interrelated governance challenges, with a focus on social sectors. This objective shall be achieved through: a. improving systems and capacity of provincial and local governments to deliver their new constitutional mandates; b. enhancing the Nepal’s trajectory towards an inclusive, stable and prosperous middle income country by boosting its human capital; c. expanding access to quality social services, especially for women, girls and excluded groups (such as Dalits and other minorities); d. supporting Government of Nepal (GON) at federal-level to ensure national sectoral policies and resources allocations are responsive to local needs and promote resilient social systems which improve health, education and gender outcomes; and e. develop and disseminate relevant social sectors’ policy in consultation GoN.

This position will be based in Kathmandu, Nepal and is contingent upon award.

Position Description

The IEL Lead is responsible for establishing and managing the project’s overall monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEL) system and leading MEL staff to track all data, progress, results and learning from across the programme in a way that informs decision-making and enables adaptive programming. This includes traditional monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning functions, as well as overseeing evidence generation and use including Political Economy Analysis (PEA), Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), climate and other analysis to support the programme’s implementation in a way that is innovative and responsive to changes and opportunities.

The IEL Lead will be required to track data and progress towards meeting programme/contract results, indicators, and targets, including impacts on access, retention, learning outcomes, community engagement, gender, and disability-inclusive measures, ensuring that they are being consistently and systematically documented, tracked and reported. They will collaborate with and assist team members, TA, and counterparts to collect and provide feedback on data collection and indicators; and support training of programmepersonnel in quality assurance methods. They will collaborate with the programme team to design operations research to support learning, evaluation, and planning, and oversee the implementation, analysis, dissemination, and use of research products. The IEL Lead shares MEAL data and improvement plans and collaborates with staff and stakeholders on strategies for programme improvements for greater programme effects.

The IEL Lead will work closely with technical experts in PEA, GEDSI, climate, service delivery sectors (including health and education) to develop evidence and learning to support and inform programme decisions.

Job Summary/Responsibilities

• Designs and oversees the implementation of M&E, evidence generation and learning activities of the project; leads the design, development, planning, annual revisions, and implementation of the M&E plan and project evaluation activities, including the development and dissemination of tools, materials, reports, papers, and intervention-linked research
• Develops systems for the timely collection, management, analysis, and reporting of valid and reliable data that meet donor reporting requirements
• Works closely with the technical team to co-design monitoring tools, select indicators, and determine field monitoring responsibilities
• Ensures tool compatibility and coordination within the M&E framework, and consistency with national and donor requirements
• Leads the development of the project learning agenda, designs and implements learning activities and research studies
• Ensures the generation of learning and evidence products that contribute to innovative implementation
• Contributes to learning and evidence generation where appropriate
• Focuses on strengthening the the M&E and learning (MEL) system, building capacity of partners and staff, and improving alignment and support to host-country MEL systems
• Undertakes periodic reviews of programme and/or country MEL systems, and participates in planning MEAL system strengthening actions
• Provides ongoing oversight and technical assistance to consortium partners in implementing monitoring and evaluation system, ensuring data and analysis are of high quality. Coordinates knowledge sharing with the technical team
• Provides guidance on information systems for quality assurance, as well as best practices for documentation and reporting
• Ensures submission of datasets and other relevant reports and data to FCDO knowledge management systems
• Provides high quality and timely submission of all required project reports, including documentation of success stories, analysis of data for indicator calculation, summary of qualitative findings, etc
• Oversees the publication and dissemination of information on successful and promising approaches, lessons learned, and other programme results to ministry counterparts, donors, programme partners, and other key stakeholders

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in governance, evaluation, demography, social science, economics, anthropology, or other relevant discipline
• At least 15 years of experience related to working on governance, health, education or other social sector programmes; at least 10 years experience in research, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting preferred
• Experience
• Proficiency with relevant software (e.g., Excel, ODK/Kobo, PowerBi, Stata, SAS, SPSS, Epi Info, Atlas)
• Demonstrated expertise in rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods, research, management information systems, reporting, data quality analysis and data analysis
• Experience in design and implementation of MELsystems; with UK FCDO-funded projects.
• Expertise in governance, health and/or education research and/or integrating gender equality disability and social inclusion into MEL systems
• Experience in developing MEL systems for “adaptive” programme managment and delivery
• Experience working with PEA, including design, scoping, conducting andor overseeing them
• Experienced in designing MEL approaches to fill evidence gaps.
• Experienced in designing MEL plans that support scaling and adapting interventions in response to changes in external context.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with stakeholder counterparts, partners and FHI 360 HQ counterparts
• Solid report writing, analytical, and communication skills, including oral presentation skills; ability to articulate technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Solid facilitation skills for training enumerators, counterparts and project and partner staff; additional experience building the capacity of local partners preferred
• Ability to collaborate effectively with programme staff and supervise and develop junior staff
• Experience in the health and education sector in Nepal strongly preferred

Employment is contingent upon successful award of the project to FHI 360, as well as FCDO approval of the finalist.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programmes, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programmes and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks .

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

FHI 360 will never ask you for your career site username or password, and we will never request money, goods or services during the application, recruitment or employment process. If you have questions or concerns about correspondence from us, please email [email protected].

FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programmes that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

FHI 360 will never ask you for your career site username or password, and we will never request money, goods or services during the application, recruitment or employment process. If you have questions or concerns about correspondence from us, please email [email protected].

FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.

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