Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning Specialist

The SickKids Centre for Global Child Health provides a dedicated hub for global child health-focused activities and connects researchers and health-care professionals around the world. The Centre is dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families in resource-poor environments through collaboration in ground-breaking research, sustainable capacity building through education, and the active communication of results through knowledge translation, networks and advocacy.  More information on the CGCH can be found at www.sickkids.ca/globalchildhealth/.

Launched in 2023, Increase Gains in Nutrition by Integration, Education, Evaluation, Empowerment (IGNIT3) is a sustainable capacity-building project in Ghana, Malawi and Pakistan led by The Centre for Global Child Health at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), in collaboration with Nutrition International and WaterAid Canada. With funding from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, this project aims to improve nutrition for women, adolescent girls, and children in Ghana, Malawi and Pakistan over a span of five years (2023-2028) through targeted, integrated nutrition, health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programming. Local implementing partners include Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives (GCNM), Aga Khan University (AKU), Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) and WaterAid country offices in Ghana, Malawi and Pakistan and Nutrition International countries offices in Malawi and Pakistan. The project aims to directly impact beneficiaries in health facilities, communities and education institutions, click here for more information.

Position Description
Reporting to the Director of Capacity Building, the MEL Specialist will serve as the technical lead on capacity building through education projects focusing on the health of women, children adolescents and their families in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).  The MEL Specialist is a key member of the Increase Gains in Nutrition by Integration, Education, Evaluation, Empowerment (IGNITE) project team and will provide support to other SickKids Centre for Global Child Health capacity building projects as required. The MEL Specialist will use evidence-based knowledge to lead and facilitate Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) activities for IGNITE. Working closely with the IGNITE MEL Sub-Committee  and project teams in Canada, Ghana, Malawi and Pakistan the MEL Specialist will drive the development and implementation of the IGNITE MEL plan, monitor progress, evaluate effectiveness, and disseminate results.  The MEL Specialist will be required to coordinate and ensure the quality of all MEL activities; maintain strong working relationships with external project stakeholders, including in-country academic partners, funders, and government representatives; draft reports, manuscripts and other project outputs; and manage numerous knowledge translation activities.

Here’s What You’ll Get To Do:

• Provide leadership on M&E to ensure the project achieves its desired results and targets
• Refine and finalize the existing draft MEL plan and Performance  Measurement Framework (PMF) to track, use, and disseminate performance indicators and results over the life of the project, including routine monitoring of process and outcome indicators
• Develop and oversee implementation of robust context-appropriate systems and survey instruments for data collection, quality assurance, analysis and reporting, independently and in collaboration with IGNITE consortium partners and local implementing partners
• Drive the implementation of the IGNITE Sub-committee and associated events/workshops in collaboration with the IGNITE consortium partners and local implementing partners
• Support project teams to operationalize the MEL plan and become familiar with research and evaluation requirements for IGNITE
• Contribute to REB proposals where required at SickKids and in local project settings
• Develop Knowledge Translation strategies and materials
• Develop and write evaluation reports  using effective data visualization and reporting techniques
• Write and contribute to peer reviewed manuscripts
• Produce other technical documentation/reports as required
• Lead and maintain regular communication (e.g. teleconferences, team meetings) with the MEL Sub-committee and Project Teams in Canada and Ghana, Malawi and Pakistan
• Contribute to building capacity and mentorship in research and evaluation across project teams in Toronto and local geographies
• Participate in financial planning for MEL activities
• Capture monitoring and evaluation lessons learned and best practices
• Advocate for and facilitate  the appropriate use of evaluation and research data to inform decision making and program improvement
• Hire and manage external research and evaluation consultants as required
• Support new business development by providing MEL input into proposal design
• Attend Centre-related research rounds and seminars to increase knowledge and skills and promote knowledge translation of capacity building activities

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• PhD or Master’s degree in Public Health, Global Health, Health Administration, Epidemiology or related field
• Minimum 5 years work experience leading research and evaluation activities
• Proven expertise in quantitative and qualitative data collection (e.g. focus groups, interviews, and surveys) and data analysis
• Effective communication, interpersonal, facilitation and organizational skills, especially with regards to academic writing and study coordination
• Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office (i.e. Word, Project, Excel, Power Point)
• Ability to collect and analyze data using at least one of the following software: SPSS, Stata, R, Epi-info
• Understanding of the factors involved in the successful implementation of evaluation strategies in a cross-cultural context
• Ability to manage completing priorities, organize workload accordingly and work under pressure to meet tight deadlines
• Ability to work collaboratively with the project management and education teams, as well as a wide range of internal and external stakeholders on an international project, and remain adaptable to different cultural values and various working styles
• Approachable manner, proactive work ethic and drive to see tasks through from start to finish
• Self-directed and detail-oriented with a methodological approach to work
• Demonstrated commitment and actions in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion objectives

Assets:

• Experience with Global Affair’s Canada or other funders, M&E and reporting requirements
• Credentialed Evaluator status from Canadian Evaluation Society or equivalent (certificates or courses in monitoring and evaluation)
• Membership in professional evaluation associations such as American Evaluation Association or Canadian Evaluation Society

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