MNCH Research/ M&E Coordinator

Overall Description:

 This full-time Research/M and E Coordinator will coordinate the day-to-day activities of the

Canadian government funded research project “Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa (2015-2020)” project and support Monitoring and Evaluation for the PS-MNCH Mama na Mtoto Initiative (2016-2020). He/she will work with partners and investigators from the Catholic University of Health Allied Sciences (CUHAS-Bugando), University of Calgary (UC), Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and implementing teams from Agriteam, Save the Mothers, Canadian Paediatric Society and Mwanza Region and District Health Teams.

 The Research/M&E Coordinator will be responsible for strengthening and implementing a robust yet practical M&E framework for the Mama na Mtoto initiative, including overseeing process and endline data collection and evaluation as well as operational (systematic longitudinal) data collection, analysis, and reporting of routine data as per the overall project logic model.

 Main M and E objectives include informing and improving project implementation and management as well as providing quality, objective overall evaluation of a four year MNCH project (intervention). The role includes building capacity of project staff to apply data collection and evaluation tools, interpret findings, and work together towards integration of findings from the community through policy level (knowledge to action). The M&E Coordinator will lead interval collection as well as establishment and maintenance of a project management information system (MIS).

Qualifications:

A candidate should have at minimum, the following:

 A Master’s degree (MSc, MPH, nursing or allied health science, medicine, community health, development studies considered an asset);

 At least 3 years’ experience in a leadership position for a scientific field or clinical research project, preferably externally funded.

 Skills and training related to scientific research methodology, protocol and ethics compliance, and scientific reporting.

 Training and practical experience in monitoring and evaluation of programs/projects, including designing, establishing and implementing monitoring systems for tracking and reporting on project indicators;

 Training and practical experience with data collection, management and analysis for both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

 Experience in designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative data collection tools and processes.

 Experience in project coordination/management including planning (using work plans), report writing, financial management (and budgeting), general administration and human resource management are important.

 Fluency (written and spoken) in local dialects (i.e. Swahili) and English. Fluency in Sukuma language will be an added value. Flexibility for hours and work location. The position will be based in Mwanza city, however extended overnight field stays will be expected during data collection and the position will require regular (one day per week) and intermittent (during data collection periods) days based in the Misungwi field office.

In addition, the following are highly desirable:

 Past Experience/Expertise: Community work; Maternal, new-born and child health; Leadership and teamwork including collaboration involving many stakeholders; results-based management (RBM) including design, collection, analysis and reporting involving SMART indicators; experience reporting to research and/or development funding agencies.

 Personal traits/aptitude: Self-starter; Honesty, integrity, and commitment; sensitivity to vulnerable populations; Demonstrated willingness to stay and work in underserved, rural areas; ability to communicate technical issues effectively and persuasively.

 Professional: Academic interest as demonstrated by publications (manuscripts), study involvement, proposal-writing, presentations; demonstrated ability and interest to transfer knowledge through training, capacity building and mentoring.

Successful applicants must demonstrate excellent writing, logic/problem-solving and computer proficiency including in MS-Office and quantitative analysis skills in at least one statistical analysis package (SPSS, R or similar). Please indicate in your application, your specific computer and statistical software competency level as specifically as possible.

Remuneration: An attractive pay package will be offered to the successful candidate

How to apply: Interested candidates should send their applications by email to the Mama na Mtoto Research Project Principal Investigator (PI): magonza77@yahoo.co.uk, magonzadm@gmail.com

Please ensure your cover letter (hand written) and CV directly address each of the above qualifications.

Please note that, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Closing date is 10th February 2017.