Job Opportunities at TA Connect

This job description (JD)/scope of work (SOW) sets forth the services to be provided by the Technical Specialist to Technical Advice Connect LTD/GTE (TAConnect), a non-profit organization registered in 2021 and based in Nigeria to bring innovative solutions to the provision of Technical Assistance (TA) services to states in Nigeria.

Background: TAConnect was established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to deliver tailored and cohesive support to states in Nigeria by strengthening their PHC systems and enhancing PHC service delivery. As an innovative platform, we respond to state TA priorities to promote sustainable improvements in state Primary Healthcare (PHC) systems’ performance and increase uptake of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) services. We value trust and transparency, excellence, teamwork, respect, innovation, and sustainability, in all our program operations and stakeholder engagement.

The Technical Specialist will be responsible for providing technical support to strengthen TAConnect’ technical portfolio of RMNCH+N and PHC systems strengthening investments in Nigeria. The Technical Specialist will provide technical support to the State/LGA RMNCH+N Technical Working Groups and TA providers across priority states on the quality of care along the RMNCH continuum and PHC system strengthening initiatives.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

• Working with the technical director, provide technical support and expertise on high-impact reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCAEH+N) and PHC systems strengthening interventions that are evidence-based, data-driven, and contextualized to the needs of states and at the National level as identified.
• Provide technical assistance on the integration of these services into established service delivery systems at different levels of care in the State.
• Provide technical support to TA providers and States to apply lessons learned, innovations, and qualitative methods to ensure evidence-based practices are translated to improved implementation of RMNCH+N quality-of-care interventions.
• Provide technical support to the building of local capacity using proven training approaches and quality improvement methodologies.
• Provide technical assistance to TA providers and States on capacity building as well as follow-up support and clinical mentoring as necessary for RMNCH+N.
• Provide technical assistance and support to TA providers and States on PHC Systems Strengthening
• Coordinate closely with TA providers, MNH TWG, and SEMCHIC at the state level to foster a community of practice on G-ANC/PNC.
• Contribute to and coordinate with the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) team to ensure that program objectives are attained in accordance with national and donor standards.
• Represent TAConnect at technical meetings in relation to RMNCH+N and related technical areas as required.
• Management
• Contribute to annual work planning, annual reports, and other required technical reports.
• Provide support on the timely, accurate, and appropriate reporting of technical activities and results.
• Advocate and ensure strong technical implementation consistent with FMOH RMNCH and WHO Guidelines, strategic directions, and global best practices.
• Coordinate with the other members of the technical team to develop and implement feasible, evidenced-based, and contextualized state-led approaches.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the technical director.

Job Qualifications

• A Medical doctor, Experienced Nurse, Midwife, or any other closely related health care professional; specialization in Public Health and other health-related courses will be an advantage.
• 9-10 years of work experience in the areas of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RMNCH), Health System Strengthening (HSS), Family Planning, and Nutrition.
• Familiar with the implementation of health projects and program management in Nigeria and have in-country experience managing or supporting donor programs. Experience working on international donor-funded RMNCH & HSS projects will be an added advantage.
• Extensive relationship with the RMNCH community and Primary Healthcare (PHC) system in Nigeria.
• Broad understanding of the FMOH, SMOH structures, and functions especially as it relates to MNCH and HSS is highly desirable. Demonstrated expertise in working directly with government officials and policymakers in RMNCH, Nutrition, family planning, and/or HSS.
• Experience working with partners, organizations, and institutions.
• Strong verbal, listening, writing, and intrapersonal skills essential for effective coordination among several institutions and staff involved in a broad range of activities and projects.
• Strong ability to multi-task and be a great team player will be highly desirable.
• Fluent in English, (written and oral communication) and any local language.
• Willingness to travel throughout Nigeria as necessary.

Supervision

The Technical Specialist will report directly to Technical Director.

Working Conditions/Duration of Assignment

This is a long-term position for the life of the contract based in Abuja, Nigeria.

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This job description (JD)/scope of work (SOW) sets forth the services to be provided by the Specialist, Monitoring and Evaluation to Technical Advice Connect LTD/GTE (TAConnect), a non-profit organization registered in 2021 and based in Nigeria to bring innovative solutions to the provision of Technical Assistance (TA) services to states in Nigeria.
Background: TAConnect was established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to deliver tailored and cohesive support to states in Nigeria by strengthening their PHC systems and enhancing PHC service delivery. As an innovative platform, we respond to state TA priorities to promote sustainable improvements in state Primary Healthcare (PHC) systems’ performance and increase uptake of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) services. We value trust and transparency, excellence, teamwork, respect, innovation, and sustainability, in all our program operations and stakeholder engagement.

The role of the M&E Specialist at TAConnect requires a distinctive analytic skillset to deliver results unsupervised and to provide capacity building and problem-solving for sub-grantees. The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will support oversight of the performance monitoring and evaluation for TAConnect and monitor progress with the achievement of the program objectives using quantitative and qualitative research tools. The role will also make recommendations on how to adjust and adapt the project's activities based on past performance as measured and evaluated over time. He/she will ensure adherence to TAConnects’ corporate and field office policies and donor regulations.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

• Coordinate timely compilation, routine reporting, and monitoring of indicators, update the results framework tracker, and support learning and evaluation on targeted outcomes for TAConnect.
• Provide a key role in the adoption of new and adaptation of existing technologies required to enhance the data quality, data visibility, and empirical insights for TAConnect and TA partners.
• Support TAConnect, State Government, and Technical Assistance (TA) partners to interpret, understand, and make use of the program and related national data from programs and surveys through comparative analytical reporting tools to enhance decision support.
• Contribute to the regular review of the TAConnect MEL plan, performance monitoring and verification systems, update of data management SOPs, and other relevant technical internal documents.
• Support the development and implementation of strategies to improve the capability of TA partners to deliver technical assistance on sustainable and institutional capacity building to State Governments of Nigeria
• Collaborate with other implementing partners on methodology, alignment of data collection, analysis, results reporting, and utilization of findings on complementary investment opportunities.
• Support the MEL Manager, and program management unit in the development of periodic project reports to donors as specified in the contract, and other audiences on demand.
• Support the generation and dissemination of robust evidence for the project and programmatic learning that leads to action, decision-making, and influence best practices.
• Support the MEL Manager through TA partners in the conduct of field visits not limited to Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) and implementation of improvement plans.
• Support training processes and regularly enhance the knowledge and skillsets of TAConnect staff and technical partners on a range of performance management subjects, MEL, and data quality.
• Conduct data inputting and verification for the purpose of monitoring and evaluation and is the chief person responsible for providing routine input into the project activity tracking system to ensure that all project M&E activities run smoothly and are well-coordinated across all sub-awardees.
• Collaborate with the Knowledge Management and Communications Specialist and TAConnect's Implementation Research Partner to synthesize data generated through TAConnect and its deployments, develop knowledge products, and disseminate these through various channels.
• Other tasks as assigned to help deliver the goals set in the overall strategy of TAConnect.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Demography/Statistics, Public Health, or any Science/Social Science related discipline, or field.
• Minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience, 4 of which must be in an M&E position, where responsible for implementing M&E activities for international donor-funded development/health-related projects. Detailed familiarity and expertise with NHMIS/DHIS2 are required.
• Proven experience in supporting the designing and implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation systems for public health programs/projects in Nigeria.
• Knowledge of evaluation methodologies (e.g., qualitative/quantitative), data collection and analysis; experience with mobile and electronic data collection platforms/CAPI tool, is required.
• Strong technical skills, including the ability to process, automate, and analyze data using one or more of the following statistical software packages SPSS, Epi-Info, Stata, SAS. Knowledge of SQL and Power query will be an added advantage.
• High proficiency in the use and optimization of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Microsoft VBA macros, and data visualization platforms/software is required.
• Ability to facilitate training/workshops and present technical and strategic Information data in a clear and concise manner to audiences with varying degrees of knowledge/experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as be self-managing. Willingness to travel in the field.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills in English.

Supervision

The Specialist, Monitoring, and Evaluation will report directly to MEL Manager.

Working Conditions/Duration of Assignment

This is a long-term position for the life of the contract based in Abuja, Nigeria