Pathfinder Overview:

Pathfinder International is a global leader in sexual and reproductive health. We place reproductive health care at the center of all that we do—believing that it is not only a fundamental human right, but is critical for expanding life opportunities for women, families, communities, and nations, and paving the way for transformations in environmental stewardship, decreases in population pressures, and innovations in poverty reduction. Pathfinder provides women, men, and adolescents with a range of quality health services—from contraception and maternal care to HIV prevention and AIDS care and treatment. Pathfinder strives to strengthen access to family planning, advocate for sound reproductive health policies, and, through all of our work, improve the rights and lives of the people we serve.

Project Overview:

The Building Healthy Families (BHF), funded by the US Agency for International Development, seeks to improve health outcomes in Pakistan by strengthening primary health care systems to encourage use of voluntary family planning (FP) and reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) services. The project works closely with Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial governments and private-sector providers to assist the Government of Pakistan with achieving its FP2030 goals. BHF contributes to a higher-performing health system that is prepared to handle pandemics, and is more responsive to the needs of Pakistanis, especially women, children, and youth, disadvantaged and marginalized populations.

The project expands the delivery of FP/MNCH products and services through private and public community-based providers. It tests new and existing high-impact practices, working with the government to scale up those that are most effective. 

Beyond the project’s focus on women and girls, BHF reaches married men and youth so that they can knowledgably communicate about, demand, and use essential services. This includes working with health providers to test, refine, and scale up youth engagement and counselling models. Additionally, BHF applies innovative, evidence-based social and behaviour change interventions with young individuals and couples, and men. 

Job Purpose:

Building Healthy Families (BHF) is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Expert to lead the MEL agenda for the USAID Integrated Reproductive Health and Family Planning Activity in Pakistan. The Senior MEL Advisor will develop and improve the project MEL system, including frameworks, plans, and indicators, ensuring accurate and timely monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. They will manage the performance monitoring database, support strategic learning, and oversee research activities, ensuring lessons learned are integrated into project implementation. The Sr. MEL Advisor will also mentor the MEL team and coordinate with partners to enhance the program’s impact.

Key Job Outcomes:

MEL Systems, Practices, and Design

• Develops/Improves and implements the project’s MEL system according to Pathfinder & USAID standards and practices.
• Ensures that the MEL system is a cost-effective, results-orientated system that provides USAID and BHF with necessary information to assess the progress, effectiveness, and outcome of activities.
• Develops/adapts tools for data collection; designs and oversees implementation of surveys and other data collection tasks.
• Designs/adapts project performance monitoring database to report national and global indicator and performance indicator data quarterly to senior managers and  ensures this data is regularly entered into Pathfinder’s DHIS2 instance.
• Designs and oversees the implementation of project specific field researches and surveys.
• Documents project achievements against targets using monitoring data and works with project staff to document the factors behind gaps and over achievements.
• Institutes regular use of performance monitoring data among project managers and other relevant Pathfinder staff to ensure knowledge transfer and learning.
• Coordinates internal and external evaluations and disseminates evaluation findings through written reports, conference presentations, and publications, and assists project staff to do likewise.
• Leads the development of the project knowledge management strategy and ensures systematic use of data to consistently document and disseminate achievements, success stories, and best practices.
• Oversees production of data to meet reporting requirements.
• Ensures the accuracy of all reported data by overseeing the preparation of quarterly, annual, technical and research reports, as well as presentations, etc.
• Provides technical support to strengthening MEL systems at national and community levels.
• Any other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party.

MEL Training and Tools

• Oversees the development and implementation of MEL training and other MEL resources and tools

Impact Studies

• Directs or oversees the development of evaluations to assess the progress, effectiveness and impact of BHF’s activities. Identifies programmatic success, challenges and lessons learned and ensures appropriate flow of information to the project’s leadership

Database Management and Analysis

• Develops/improves a database and system to monitor project performance and progress.
• Oversees the compilation, analysis and reporting of programmatic data annually for use by senior management and in programmatic reports. 

Technical Assistance

• Oversees the delivery and quality of technical assistance and training in monitoring, evaluation and learning to BHF and its partners.

Project and Program Updates

• Works with the Communication team to disseminate information and data on BHF activities.

Reports

• Creates or directs the development of project status reports. Writes and prepares conference presentations and publications.

Required Education and Work Experience:

• Master’s degree in demography, epidemiology, statistics, or a related field, or a combination of education and experience that yields the required competencies. Doctorate degree preferred. 
• 15 years of progressively responsible experience in MEL/ health/development and quality assurance.
• 5 years’ of management and leadership experience.
• 5 years’ experience of leading the Monitoring & Evaluation component of a USAID-funded program.
• Excellent understanding and working experience of USAID’s monitoring & evaluation tools and requirements.
• Preferred: Certification in Quality Assurance or Continuous Improvement

Minimally Required Job-Specific Competencies:

• Country Specific Public Health System: Deep knowledge of the countries’ public health systems.
• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Services: Deep knowledge of family planning and reproductive health principles, practices and services of programs, including program strategies and indicators, and the latest professional developments in SRHR, including special challenges faced in the developing world.
• Thought Leadership: Proven ability to link M&E, research, knowledge management, learning, documentation and information systems in providing enterprise-wide strategic direction for MEL.
• Quality Assurance: Deep knowledge of quality improvement and assurance principles and practices in SRHR.
• Proposal Development: Mastery of skills in proposal development from concept to full proposal, resource mobilization, and proven ability to raise substantial research/development funds.
• Research Methods: Mastery of knowledge and ability to apply quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Data Collection Methods: Mastery of knowledge in data integrity and collection methods.
• PC Applications: Proven ability to apply statistical software applications.
• Program and Project Planning and Management: Deep skills in program and project management and planning to fulfill performance objectives, including the timely implementation and reporting of donor-funded program activities.
• Change Leadership: Ability to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility in managing change across a broad group of stakeholders in an inclusive manner.
• Presentation Skills: Proven ability to make presentations on results to small and large groups.
• Community Relations: Mastery of skills in facilitating working relationships with key constituents

Preferrable Competencies:

• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Services: Foundational knowledge of family planning and reproductive health principles, practices, and services including strategies and indicators.
• Passion for Sexual and Reproductive Health: Commitment to family planning, reproductive health services, gender, maternal, child health services, and eradication of harmful traditional practices.

Minimally Required Organizational Competencies:

• Software Applications: Advanced knowledge of MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook.
• Languages: Proven writing and speaking skills using local languages and English language
• Communication and Influencing Skills: Proven ability to influence others, including donor agencies and local partners, through diplomacy and proven oral and written communication skills.
• Passion for Sexual and Reproductive Health: Demonstrated commitment to family planning, reproductive health services, gender, maternal, child health services, and eradication of harmful traditional practices.
• Self-Management and Teamwork: Ability to work independently or as a member of the team, ability to work with people from different cultures, ability thrive in a matrix organization, ability to be detailed-oriented, and ability to manage stress effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Matrix Management: Ability to thrive in a matrixed organization.
• Confidentiality: Ability to maintain confidentiality on work-related matters

Other Information:

• Travel required (20% or less).
• Uses cellular and office phone, laptop or desktop computer.
• This job description format focuses on the main duties of the position and is not intended to list every potential task or assignment.
• Duties can and will change to meet the changing priorities of the department and organization.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Statement:

Pathfinder International provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Safeguarding and Protection Statement:

Pathfinder is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the people we serve and our staff. We have zero tolerance for any type of behavior that inflicts harm on children, young people, adults, our staff, and partners including sexual abuse, harassment, bullying, and exploitation. We do everything possible to ensure that we recruit only those who are suitable to work with us. We expect that everyone we hire will abide by our safeguarding and related policies and will report any suspected or known violations. This job is subject to a range of vetting checks as legally permitted in the country where they are being hired. By applying, the job applicant acknowledges they understand our intent to verify suitability to work with us.