MEAL & Research Coordinator

Purpose of the Position:

The MEAL & Research Coordinator will support DKT Ethiopia's programs through monitoring, evaluation, research, data analysis, reporting, learning, and evidence generation. The Coordinator will lead the supply needs assessment of public health facilities, initially focusing on East Hararghe, West Hararghe, and selected zones of Afar Region. The position will work closely with donors, the Ministry of Health (MOH), Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs), zonal and woreda health offices, implementing partners, and other stakeholders to develop assessment tools, coordinate data collection, ensure data quality, analyze findings, and produce actionable reports and recommendations. The position holder will also lead SABA Partner Clinic data collection and analysis, support monitoring of public-sector interventions and provider training, contribute to market research, and conduct targeted mini-surveys and analysis using DKT's internal program data.

This position is filled for a period of one year with possible extension.

Key Responsibilities

A. Supply Needs Assessment

• Lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of supply needs assessments at selected public health facilities.

• Coordinate assessments in East Hararghe, West Hararghe, and selected zones of Afar Region.

• Work with MOH, RHBs, zonal/woreda health offices, donors, and partners to define assessment objectives, indicators, methodology, and implementation arrangements.

• Develop and digitalize assessment tools, questionnaires, checklists, and data collection forms using KoboToolbox or similar platforms.

• Coordinate and/or participate in field data collection and provide technical guidance to data collectors.

• Conduct data quality checks, cleaning, validation, and analysis.

• Assess commodity availability, stock status, consumption, service readiness, provider capacity, equipment, infrastructure, and other relevant service delivery gaps.

• Analyze findings by region, zone, woreda, facility, and other relevant variables.

• Prepare assessment reports, analytical briefs, presentations, and data visualizations.

• Develop evidence-based recommendations to inform program design, procurement, commodity distribution, training, supportive supervision, and resource allocation.

• Present findings to DKT management, donors, MOH, and partners.

B.SABA Partner Clinic MEAL and Reporting

• Lead collection, compilation, validation, analysis, and reporting of routine data from SABA Partner Clinics.

• Ensure timely, complete, and accurate submission of partner data.

• Maintain standardized SABA reporting tools and databases.

• Conduct routine data quality checks and provide feedback to partner facilities.

• Analyze SABA performance against targets and identify trends, gaps, and areas for improvement.

• Prepare routine performance summaries, dashboards, reports, and presentations.

• Support alignment of SABA reporting with relevant MOH systems, including DHIS2 where applicable.

• Document key achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and good practices.

C. Research, Surveys and Market Intelligence

• Support the design and implementation of market research, operational research, facility assessments, client/provider surveys, KAP surveys, rapid assessments, and mini-surveys.

• Conduct periodic market and outlet audits covering pharmacies, drug stores, clinics and wholesalers.

• Conduct targeted mini-surveys and rapid analyses using DKT's internal program data to address emerging program questions.

• Analyze routine and secondary data to identify trends, gaps, opportunities, and areas requiring further investigation.

• Support market research related to reproductive health products, services, clients, providers, and market dynamics.

• Prepare research reports, analytical briefs, presentations, and evidence summaries.

D. Training and Program Monitoring Support

• Support training and capacity-building activities for SABA Partner Clinic and public-sector health providers.

• Support development of training monitoring tools, pre/post-tests, participant assessments, and training evaluation tools.

• Support monitoring of DKT-supported interventions at public health facilities.

• Conduct monitoring/data review visits when required and provide evidence-based recommendations.

• Support program teams to use monitoring findings to improve implementation.

E. Data Management, Reporting and Learning

• Maintain organized databases for program monitoring, assessments, surveys, and research.

• Ensure data is accurately collected, cleaned, validated, analyzed, and securely stored.

• Conduct routine data quality assessments and support improvement of data quality.

• Develop tables, graphs, dashboards, and other data visualization products.

• Contribute to monthly, quarterly, donor, and other program reports.

• Provide data and analytical inputs for proposals, concept notes, donor reports, presentations, and program reviews.

• Identify lessons learned and emerging issues and support learning and reflection sessions.

• Track recommendations from assessments, monitoring visits, surveys, and research and support their use for program improvement.

• Promote data use, learning, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making within DKT Ethiopia.

1. Key Deliverables

• The MEAL & Research Coordinator will be expected to deliver or contribute to:

• Supply needs assessment protocol, tools, and implementation plan.

• Clean and validated assessment dataset and analysis.

• Supply needs assessment report and recommendations.

• SABA Partner Clinic reporting database and performance analysis.

• SABA data quality and reporting summaries.

• Routine program performance dashboards and analytical reports.

• Training monitoring and evaluation outputs.

• Market research and mini-survey reports.

• Research and assessment presentations and analytical briefs.

• Donor and management reporting inputs.

• Lessons learned and program improvement recommendations.

Job Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, Epidemiology, Monitoring and Evaluation, Health Informatics, or a related field. Master's degree in a relevant field is an advantage.

• 3–5 years of relevant experience in MEAL, monitoring and evaluation, research, health information management, data analysis, or related work.

• Demonstrated experience in health facility assessments, supply needs assessments, surveys, or operational research.

• Experience working with public-sector health facilities and health systems in Ethiopia.

• Experience in routine program monitoring, reporting, and data analysis.

• Experience working with government institutions, donors, NGOs, and/or development partners.

• Experience in market research or reproductive health programming is an advantage.

Technical and Core Competencies

• Strong knowledge of MEAL and research methodologies.

• Strong quantitative data collection, management, and analysis skills.

• Experience with Kobo Toolbox or similar digital data collection platforms.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and at least one statistical package such as SPSS, Stata, or R.

• Knowledge of DHIS2 is an advantage.

• Strong data visualization and report-writing skills.

• Ability to translate data into clear, actionable program recommendations.

• Strong communication, coordination, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data quality.

• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.

• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to project implementation areas.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance will be assessed based on:

• Timely completion and quality of planned assessments and research activities.

• Quality and reliability of collected and analyzed data.

• Timeliness and quality of SABA Partner Clinic reporting.

• Improvement in data completeness and quality.

• Quality and usefulness of analytical reports and recommendations.

• Timely support to donor and management reporting.

• Successful completion of mini-surveys and market research assignments.

• Effective coordination with MOH, donors, partners, and DKT program teams.

• Evidence that MEAL and research findings are used to improve program implementation.

Safeguarding and Data Protection

The MEAL & Research Coordinator shall comply with DKT Ethiopia's safeguarding, ethical, confidentiality, and data protection policies and procedures. The coordinator will ensure that information collected from clients, providers, facilities, partners, and other stakeholders is handled confidentially and used only for legitimate monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, and program improvement purposes.

How To Apply

Interested candidates can their applications that comprise of a non-returnable CV and a cover letter with “MEAL & Research Coordinator” written on the subject line to the following email address: recruitment@dktethiopia.org.

Please note due to the volume of applications we receive, we will contact only shortlisted candidates.