Consultant, MLE (Africa Safe Water)

Evidence Action•Washington, DC

1d•Remote

About The Position

At Evidence Action, we deliver data-driven interventions that transform lives at an unprecedented scale. We identify neglected global health issues and deploy proven solutions, forging healthier futures for generations. Our model operationalizes leading academic research (including from Nobel-winning economists). We measure progress and outcomes at every stage to ensure we’re making a real impact for people living in poverty and suffering from preventable or treatable health issues. Operating across 11 countries, our team of 900+ has reached over 500 million people, working closely with governments to scale these interventions. Our Deworm the World program has delivered over 2 billion treatments, significantly reducing worm prevalence and generating more than $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains. Through Safe Water Now, we’ve saved the lives of over 15,000 children. Our Accelerator explores untapped opportunities in global health, testing low-cost interventions with the greatest potential to save and improve lives. The MLE Strategy team optimizes Evidence Action’s programming through versatile and right-fit monitoring and evaluation solutions and insights. Working closely with other global and regional teams, we are responsible for developing MLE frameworks and strategies that improve programs and further our understanding of programmatic impact. With the work our team does, Evidence Action is uniquely able to adapt its programs based on the evidence we generate and share. This consultancy, supervised by the Senior Manager of MLE Strategy, will support ongoing MLE Strategy work across Africa Safe Water programs while helping to design, test, and integrate MLE redesign efforts into the broader MLE approach.

Requirements

3-5 years experience developing M&E frameworks and plans, conducting implementation research, and designing M&E activities including sampling design, survey protocols, and data collection tools.
Experience developing or piloting new approaches from scratch and can contribute effectively to iterative redesign processes.
Data analysis skills with experience in exploratory analysis, comfortable working with incomplete information to surface insights and inform decision-making.
Ability to manage complex and interdependent work plans and projects, prioritize effectively, and adapt plans as needed while managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
Collaborate effectively across teams and departments in a global, matrixed environment, and are able to work variable hours to overlap with colleagues across time zones.
Skilled at proactively synthesize inputs from multiple stakeholders to identify a path forward and can work independently to drive progress in ambiguous situations.
Must be based within the United States.
Available to meet and coordinate during agreed-upon windows with Evidence Action's country and global teams.

Nice To Haves

Some experience in WASH or water program monitoring and evaluation preferred.

Responsibilities

Support project management and execution for MLE Strategy activities for Africa Safe Water programs, including work plan development, milestone tracking, and documentation of findings to promote consistency across geographies.
Design and execute pilots to test MLE redesign approaches, in coordination with MLE strategy team members and regional MLE teams.
Track and synthesize learnings from pilots to assess what is working and inform decisions about broader integration.
Support the integration of successful redesign approaches into standard MLE practice across Africa Safe Water programs.
Coordinate with regional MLE, program, and country teams to ensure alignment and quality across MLE activities.
Support data quality and assurance processes, flagging issues and contributing to resolution.
Implement the redesigned DSW operational monitoring approach (waterpoint and dispenser checks) across the scale-up footprint for Q3 and Q4 monitoring in Uganda (and potentially Malawi), in close consultation with MLE-S team members on overall approach and design decisions.
Develop the sampling approach for DSW operational monitoring.
Coordinate closely with MLE-D on implementation of DSW operational monitoring.
Document learnings from DSW operational monitoring to inform ongoing redesign.
Support wrap-up of the ILC waterpoint monitoring pilot, including conducting exploratory analysis of collected data, gathering qualitative insight from the pilot, and synthesizing findings to inform next steps.
Implement the redesigned ILC waterpoint monitoring approach across the scale-up footprint in Q3 and Q4 for Uganda and Malawi, in close consultation with MLE-S team members on overall approach and design decisions.
Incorporate pilot learnings into sampling design for ILC waterpoint monitoring.
Coordinate with MLE-D on high-quality implementation of ILC waterpoint monitoring (contingent on pilot findings and timing).
Support development of a data structure map for East and Southern Africa safe water programs, identifying opportunities to streamline data flow within current EA systems, through structured engagement with program and MLE-D colleagues.
Conduct exploratory analysis of historical program-collected data for DSW and ILC programs to identify areas for improvement or optimization in data collection design.
Support ongoing project management for Africa Safe Water MLE strategy activities, including work plan tracking, milestone documentation, and coordination with regional MLE and program teams.