EAII State Manager, Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MP)

This position is with EAII Advisors, Evidence Action's technical partner in India. 

About EAII Advisors

EAII Advisors, Evidence Action’s technical partner in India, supports state governments in delivering evidence-based public health programs, including safe drinking water initiatives and school and Anganwadi-based National Deworming Day and iron and folic acid supplementation. Operating across 11 states, EAII Advisors provides technical assistance to ministries of health, education, water, and women and child development, reducing health burdens in impoverished communities and improving the long-term wellbeing of children and families.

About Evidence Action

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 9 countries, our team of 800+ 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. 

At Evidence Action, your colleagues are your greatest asset. You'll partner with high-caliber colleagues in an environment blending innovation, autonomy, and teamwork. Our team excels in disruptive thinking and believes in rolling up our sleeves to get things done. If you're looking to work flexibly and with purpose, join a team that delivers measurable change for millions.

About India Safe Water Now 

Evidence Action’s Safe Water Now program provides safe drinking water to over 10 million people across rural Uganda, Malawi, and Kenya. Recent evidence highlights that water treatment may be among the most cost-effective interventions available to save young children's lives, reducing all-cause child mortality by about 25%. The Dispensers for Safe Water (DSW) program, based on research by a Nobel-winning economist, utilizes an innovative and human-centric design to deliver clean water at the source in rural settings, achieving usage rates which are 5x that of comparable interventions. Evidence Action recently launched a next generation technology, In-Line Chlorination (ILC) in Uganda and Malawi, targeting rural, peri-urban, and urban communities, which has the potential to be even more cost-effective. Over the past year, we’ve more than doubled our footprint in East Africa and are actively exploring opportunities for expansion into new countries.

In addition to its longstanding work in East Africa, Evidence Action, through its technical partner in India, EAII Advisors, is launching a major technical assistance program to help the government of India reach 17.5 million people across multiple states with safe water. This complements the Indian government’s effort to bring water access to every household in the country.  

The Role

The State Manager- Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) will report to the State Program Lead-SW, based at the state. The State Manager-Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) must have a commitment to working in the development sector in India, and a strong interest in and understanding of the role of monitoring learning and evaluation in ensuring program quality, improvement, and results. As the Evidence Action program portfolio expands, it will continue to find innovative ways of working at scale including use of technology. The State Manager-Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) will be responsible for assist the national MLE team in the successful design, rollout of new initiatives and in the management of the MLE function of Evidence Action India program in the state.   

The State Manager- Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) will be providing technical assistance to the state on situation analysis, preparing Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) plans including design and measurable indicators (output and outcome) using SMART principles, data collection protocols, strategies for data use, reporting, strengthen monitoring systems, results-based management and support in dissemination of program findings. State Manager- Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) will work closely with the state program team, MLE team at National Level, State Governments and partners to roll-out new initiatives and manage the process from design to roll-out. As for all staff, State Manager-Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) must possess a sense of collaboration and mutual understanding and a willingness to assist colleagues.  

Responsibilities

Technical Delivery

• Lead the development of MLE strategy, framework, key program performance indicators, plan and budgeting for the Safe Water Now program in consultation with the National/Global MLE and State/National/Global program team. 
• Lead implementation of Safe Water Now MLE activities in the state and other activities catering to organization priorities. 
• Support the NO and Global MLE team in designing research protocols, survey instruments and techniques and its administration, monitoring and quality control.
• Identify effective methodology for quantitative and qualitative data collection, management, robust analysis, data visualisation and dissemination of findings and recommendations to the intended audiences in user-friendly methods. 
• Lead in review of scientific papers and manage databases of research and evidence around Safe Water/WASH and other relevant issues for sharing with stakeholders.
• Stay current on technical knowledge, including Jal Jeevan Mission guidelines for rural drinking water supply and latest research and publications, and share latest developments with others team/s.
• Assist the team and coordinate with states and partners for appropriate planning and implementation of different surveys, evaluation tools and plans as recommended.
• Utilize critical inputs, feedbacks and assessment results from internal studies/ other studies to inform changes in program approaches and scale-up as appropriate.
• Use the quantitative and qualitative analysis approach in program assessments and reports including writing up field-notes and use different methods to improve program implementation, such as SWOT analysis, problem-solution tree, etc.
• Lead development of reports and visualizations from monitoring and evaluation data to drive decision-making/insights
• Ensure that MLE related KPIs are regularly met through robust systems for tracking, reporting and following up improvement actions.
• Undertake publications of reports, articles and other research material and ensure research publication in peer reviewed journals. 
• Prepare a Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) plan for SPM, in alignment with the program work plan, and strengthen monitoring and reporting systems in the state bot for Evidence Action and the state government.
• Capacity Building of EA field team and the State Government on ensuring good quality data, data review and analysis  
• Support the state team with data-related reporting by documenting program activities, best practices, and providing technical support related to MLE. 
• Oversee embedding Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) into the program and developing a system for tracking program activities using indicators, trackers, web portal/app, and dashboards 
• Ensure that all data collected is subjected to data quality assurance procedures.
• Lead the management of MIS at the state level

Program Management 

• Support in developing and managing partnerships, developing ToR, contracts and agreements for conducting research and survey activities. 
• Coordinate and support program team for advocacy with state governments, to ensure that MLE activities and strategic initiatives are rolled-out as planned.
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders to facilitate successful implementation of SW program initiatives in the states. This includes coordination with the concerned government stakeholders, contracted agencies and vendors, state teams, and other partners.
• Manage partner and vendor relationships relating to the new strategic initiatives, including development of budgets and costing, and monitoring actual expenditures.
• Provide support in disseminating the findings of MLE initiatives, studies and other relevant data analysis.
• Perform any other MLE related tasks and undertake other duties as required as necessary and assigned. 
• Attend meetings with donors, State level partners including State Government and other technical agencies and represent organisation in meeting, conferences and other events.
• Should be willing to travel at least 20% of the time, as required by program activities.
• Coordinating with the concerned Government officials to get updated and latest versions of all database (Contact number, MIS, etc) periodically. 

Team Management

• Manage the team of direct reports to ensure timeliness and quality of the output
• Strengthen technical and team management capabilities of direct reports and other team members
• Provide support to the HR team in recruitment of staff and consultants as necessary.

Essential

• Advance degree in statistics/biostatistics/population studies/economics/public health/ computer application or related field.
• Must have 7 + years of work experience in monitoring and evaluation with a reputed organization with a minimum of three years at managerial capacity. 
• Should understand Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) framework, Theory of change, log frame etc.
• Must have experience of developing and handling Public sector (Health/Water/WASH) IT applications and supply chain management.
• Prior experience of developing management information systems and/or technological platforms is highly essential.
• Experience in online data collection tools- ODK, Kobo collect and developing visualization reports and dashboards in Excel/Power BI/other software is preferred
• Prior experience with mobile or CAPI based surveys are highly preferred.
• Strong analytical skills having experience in using advanced levels of MS-Excel is required.
• Experience working in the public sector. 
• Experience in working with senior level government partners is desirable, with project management experience working with state governments to implement large projects.
• Highly motivated to achieve results and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent interpersonal skills, sound judgment, communication skills, training experience

• Willingness to travel as and when required, and often on short notice.
• Excellent team player with ability to work independently and in collaboration with colleagues at all levels across departments and external stakeholders

Desirables

• Knowledge of Stata or any other Statistical packages (SPSS etc.) is desirable.

Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and that additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time.

Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with the individual's credentials, experience, and previous pay scale.

All contracting arrangements will be made through EAII Advisors Private Limited. EAII is an equal opportunity employer. Employment at EAII is based solely on an individual's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. EAII does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, caste, creed, colour, religion, gender, origin, disability, marital status, or any other basis protected by law.

All candidates applying for the position should upload a resume along with cover letter mentioning current and expected salary.

We may end this search process earlier than the specified close date in case of exceptional candidates. Due to resource constraints, we will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.