M&E Director – CDC, Strengthening MOH Capacity in Eswatini

Pact seeks an experienced Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Strengthening the organizational capacity of the Ministry of Health to deliver a sustainable and resilient response to HIV/TB and related public health threats in the Kingdom of Eswatini under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This project aims to enhance the Eswatini Ministry of Health’s (MOH) capacity to strengthen internal systems, structures, and processes for a sustainable and resilient HIV/TB response. It focuses on improving leadership and governance, financial resource mobilization and management, and workforce planning and performance. This position is contingent upon award.  

The M&E Director will provide strategic guidance, vision, and management for successful monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning components of the program. The position will develop monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) systems that include appropriate performance and context-level indicators, electronic database and data management, baseline data, targets, a plan to evaluate performance, routine data reviews, and routine data quality assessments. The Director may develop a learning agenda for the activity (contingent on award and requirements) and ensure methodological rigor of; research (contingent on requirements), strategic learning and data use within the program. The position will also oversee the development and submission of timely, accurate, and complete reporting and supervise consultants as well as partnering organizations to work closely with the MOH, as well as ensure the strategic and functional integration of all MERL activities.

The Director will also ensure that the program aligns with industry quality standards, Ministry of Health needs and strategies and work in close coordination with Pact’s Global Learning Evidence and Impact team.

The specific duties to be carried out by the successful candidate includes:  

• Lead the design and implementation of the program’s MERL system in collaboration with Pact’s LEAP (Learning, Evidence, and Impact) Team to develop key HIV/TB response and health systems performance indicators, targets, tools, and appropriate MERL responsibilities across the project. 
• Oversee data collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data is of high quality and audit worthy. 
• Develop and implement a comprehensive data utilization framework that supports data-driven decision-making, adaptive management, and continuous quality improvement (CQI) for program activities and outcomes.
• Supervise team of consultants and partnering organizations, assuring that all team members are aligned with project objectives and deliverables. 
• Conduct and manage Routine Data Quality Assessments (RDQA) as needed; ensuring implementation of corrective actions to improve data quality and accountability of staff and partners. 
• Oversee the development and maintenance of a comprehensive strategic information management system roll-out and ensure accurate usage for timely program monitoring, performance tracking, learning and adaptation. 
• Ensure the incorporation of gender-sensitive indicators and disaggregated data collection to monitor the program’s impact on vulnerable and key populations, including adolescent girls, young women, and underserved communities.
• Lead the program team on routine reviews and interpretation of data for learning and adaptation; package and disseminate timely findings in a meaningful way, and make suggestions for adaption, using adaptive management tools and strategies. 
• Contribute to the development of knowledge-sharing products, including success stories, policy briefs, and presentations, to highlight program achievements and enhance thought leadership in HIV/TB response and global health systems.
• Liaise with Ministry of Health and CDC staff involved in related activities and collaborate in promoting high quality results and complementary efforts. 
• All other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Requirements Education and Experience: 

• Master’s degree in statistics, evaluation, public health, international development, social sciences, or other relevant field and a minimum of 9+’ years of relevant experience working in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning on public health programs in sub-Saharan Africa or other resource-limited settings.
• Bachelor’s degree and 11 years of experience may be substituted.
• Minimum of 5 years of management experience.  
• Experience working on CDC and PEPFAR programming in Eswatini.

Additional Qualifications: 

• Documented hands-on practical experience setting up and managing MER systems for donor-funded programs, including data quality assurance. 
• Demonstrated expertise in rigorous data management, data-driven decision making and experience in M&E capacity building. 
• Proven ability to produce professional quality English-language documents such as progress reports, case studies, and research protocols. 
• Proficiency in English (oral, writing, and reading). Proficiency in Siswati a plus.
• Swazi candidates are encouraged to apply.