Monitoring and Evaluation/Research Advisor

Job Summary:

In year one, the HCI Afghanistan project has launched an improvement initiative in three demonstration provinces to improve quality of maternal newborn services at community (health post) and facility levels (BHC, CHC, DH, RH, NH) in the Kabul, Kundoz and Balkh provinces. The initiative works through Provincial QI and site-level QI teams to achieve a common set of high-impact maternal newborn objectives within a shared-learning QI model called an “Improvement Collaborative.” Regular monitoring of targeted quality indicators in all participating sites is an essential element of the project’s quality improvement approach, supported by Operations Research.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Job Description:
The Afghanistan HCI project seeks a Monitoring and Evaluation/Research (M and E/R) Advisor to support monitoring and evaluation (M and E) and Operations Research (OR) activities for the HCI project country-wide. The M and E/R advisor reports to the HCI Chief of Party, and works closely with the Afghanistan HCI technical team (Kabul and provinces) and with a designated M and E/R specialist from URC HQ (Bethesda, U.S.) in two primaries focus areas:

1) Operations Research
2) Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring and evaluation activities will support quality data collection, management and analysis as an integral part of site-level maternal newborn improvement work in the three demonstration provinces. Example of Operations Research topics include among other topics cost-effectiveness studies; application of QI methods for community-based maternal newborn services; and mechanisms of shared learning between site QI teams participating in the Maternal Newborn Collaborative.

Specific duties will include:

• Support HCI Chief of Party; National Improvement Coordinator and technical team in monitoring of maternal newborn program improvement activities and results, including: selection of indicators; development and testing of monitoring tools; training and supervision of site QI teams to manage and analyze data; aggregating and reporting on site-specific, provincial and nationally aggregated data (from standard excel tools.)
• Support Provincial QI teams, HCI Provincial Improvement Coordinators and site QI teams (as necessary) to ensure availability of necessary data, through simple adaptation of established medical records as necessary to collect program quality indicators (which will often not be found in the record.)
• Assist in population survey focused on specific maternal newborn program objectives at facility and community levels, including:
o a) assessment of quality of care via record review, provider interview and direct observation and
o b) Assessment of client practices and knowledge via clinical encounter exit interviews and household survey.
• Participation in ongoing provincial capacity-building (site teams, Provincial QI team) in data collection and management skills, including training, supportive supervision, review of submitted data reports (by site teams and Provincial QI team), participation in quarterly provincial workshops (“learning sessions.”)
• Work closely with provincial QI teams to support documentation of site level QI activities, using a standard documentation tool (“Standard Evaluation System”); synthesize QI team changes across sites for internal and external dissemination.
• Establish and implement data validation system for M and E data.
• Assist in preparation of internal and external reporting and communication materials, including summary results tables, data run charts (synthesizing data at sub-provincial, provincial, and national levels) and synthesis of QI learning across site QI teams.
• Oversee all project Operations Research activities working in close collaboration with Country Technical team and HCI R and E Unit (Bethesda), including participation in development of concept papers; research tool design; identification and training of data collectors; oversight of data entry and cleaning; analysis of data; write up of final report
• Monitor every aspect of the research work being performed to ensure that the methodology is correctly applied, the work is performed to a high standard, and the analysis of data is valid.
• Support reporting on the use of funds allocated for research and the progress of the research activities.
• Support further development of research activities, including targeting of research towards project support, and coordination with relevant partners.
• Provide support to research and analytical requests from HQ’s relevant sections/units.
• Any other duties assigned by Chief of Party and management.

Job Requirement:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates should bring a minimum of five years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation and/or formal research, preferably in a health related field, including experience in design of research tools, leadership of data collection, data entry, and analysis skills.
• Good research, analytical and problem-solving skills, including ability to identify and participate in the resolution of issues/problems; ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given.
• A graduate degree in an applied research field, public health, biostatistics, or epidemiology is an advantage.
• Strong data collection and management skills are essential, including mastery of Excel.
• Knowledge of HIS/MIS and measurement is required, including preferably strong familiarity with Afghanistan national HMIS indicators and reporting.
• Strong data analysis skills highly desirable. Candidates should have experience with at least one research database and/or statistical software (EpiInfo, EpiData, Access, SPSS, STATA).


Other desirable qualifications:

• Experience supporting USAID-funded programs strongly preferred
• Experience training health professionals in data collection and management is highly desirable.
• Preference for candidates with a background in maternal, newborn and child health.
• Knowledge of quality improvement and management techniques and tools desirable.
• Proficiency in English is desired.
• Strong writing skills and proven skills in documenting work and efficient, prompt preparation of required written materials.
• Excellent organization skills, ability to work independently, team player, flexible to adapt to changing working conditions required
• Candidates must be willing and able to travel 30% time to field sites in provinces throughout the country

Job Location: