Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Strategic Purchasing for Primary Healthcare at ThinkWell

Overview

The SP4PHC Kenya team is recruiting a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist. The Specialist will be based in the Council of Governors in Nairobi, supporting the Health Committee, with frequent travel to the counties. Apart from supporting the Health Committee, the candidate will provide support to the Council of Governors (CoG) Project Management Team (PMT) responsible for supporting the implementation of the Transforming Health Systems for Universal Coverage (THS-UHC) Health Programme (funded through the Global Financing Facility). The successful candidate will support CoG in the areas of monitoring & evaluation, tracking program implementation, documenting best practices, and sharing lessons to inform policy formulation at the national and c

ThinkWell is a health sector development organization with deep experience in designing, implementing, evaluating, and diffusing new solutions to persistent health system challenges. Using approaches rooted in analytics, we have supported health financing reforms in over 30 countries.

ThinkWell is implementing the Strategic Partnership for Primary Health Care (SP4PHC) project, a five-year program focused on improving how pooled government resources are used to pay for primary healthcare services – especially family planning (FP) and maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) in the context of pro-poor health financing schemes. The project is operating in six countries of which Kenya is one.

ounty level. The Specialist will also be responsible for tracking indicators from the project’s results framework. The successful candidate will also be responsible for preparing regular (annual, semiannual and annual) progress reports.

The successful candidate will have experience in monitoring and evaluation of complex projects and the political skills necessary to manage a range of national- and county-level partnerships. The candidate should be prepared to work independently, in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with stringent timelines and as part of a small, highly distributed team. Open, frank, routine communication will be a priority, using calls as well as project team software to build a collaborative environment with the wider SP4PHC team.

Job Location: This is a full-time position based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Reports to: SP4PHC Country Director and Head of Health Committee Secretariat at the CoG

Responsibilities

M&E and Policy Support for the THS-UHC Secretariat at the Council of Governors

• Provide support developing and implementing an M&E system for the Health Committee and THS-UC programme, including dissemination of M&E guidelines.
• Provide support creating, managing and maintaining a data repository of the THS-UHC programme related Health Committee information and data from the Counties as implementing entities to support decision-making.
• Provide support consolidating reports on performance tracking of programme implementation and follow up with implementing entities to secure completeness, timeliness and validity of the reporting.
• Participate in planning, development of requisite tools and conduct of audit missions by the CoG Health Committee and Project Management Team (PMT) for THS-UHC.
• In collaboration with CoG PMT for THS-UHC, coordinate cross-county verification.
• Participate in planning and conduction of quarterly PMT support supervision and bi-annual implementation missions.
• Assist in the coordination of development of minimum data sets and data requirements, including reporting tools and templates.
• Support the PMT Project Manager in programme implementation and reporting.
• Assist with the preparation and dissemination of quarterly and annual performance review and reports.
• Shape THS-UHC guidelines to counties on using GFF funds strategically
• Dissemination of best practices from counties in the context of the THS-UHC program.

SP4PHC project M&E

• Tailor and implement the project’s performance monitoring and evaluation plan, including collecting and cleaning relevant data, checking for quality, and synthesizing reports.
• Provide technical leadership in carrying out baseline assessments, mid-point and end of project review across the five counties.
• Based at the CoG, work proactively with key partners and stakeholderse. Ministry of Health Track 20, PMA 2020 to report progress, impact and best practices.
• Develop a Mechanism for providing regular capacity building of County M&E Officers to enable them to complete their monitoring and evaluation tasks effectively.
• Through the Health Committee and the CECMs Forum, maintain close collaboration with the Country Directors of Health to support data-driven decision making.
• Produce high quality reporting content and documents as stipulated in the project’s document for Country Director and donors.
• Conduct quarterly and ad hoc field monitoring to each project County to verify data and program activities reported by partners
• Develop and implement a data quality assurance plan and provide technical support to improve quality of data and reporting systems among partners.
• Coordinate and facilitate all evidence gathering activities including program evaluations andresearch activities.
• Coordinate project reflection and learning sessions in conjunction with project partners.
• Perform any other related duties that may be assigned by the immediate supervisor at the CoG.

Qualifications

• Master level qualification in public health/ biostatistics/ M&E/
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant health systems work experience, for example in an academic institution, management consulting firm, bilateral or multilateral development agency, or development NGO;
• Ability to travel frequently to the Counties.
• Previous experience and proven track record in managing M&E for large donor-funded programs.
• Comprehensive M & E system development and management experience.
• Proficiency in statistical software, health management systems, MS Excel and other MS Office products.
• Expert level written and verbal communication skills.
• Fluent command of English and Kiswahili.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Technical expertise in in M & E, research design and analysis.
• Detailed understanding of the current health financing environment in Kenya, and specifically of the Ministry of Health, County Governments and National Hospital Insurance Fund.
• Programmatic experience in a wide variety of public health programming.
• Experience with DHIS2.
• Excellent quantitative analysis skills including multi-variate analysis of health survey data (Stata preferred).
• Significant experience with electronic data collection.
• Experience on learning projects or structured learning and dissemination activities.
• Ability to work under pressure, independently and with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in both office and field settings.
• Team player with positive attitude.
• Demonstrated ability in facilitating evidence use for programmatic decision making.
• Demonstrated experience in leading teams to successfully achieve results.