Officer, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL)

Job ID

2026-7541

Location

TZ-Zanzibar

Category

Local

Employment Status

Full-Time

The Reaching Impact, Saturation and Epidemic Control (RISE) project is funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) to support malaria prevention, diagnosis, treatment, surveillance, and monitoring and evaluation activities across Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Implemented in close collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme (ZAMEP), and Regional Administration and Local Government (RALG) structures, the project strengthens alignment with national malaria strategies, improves service delivery quality, and enhances health system performance and resilience.

The current implementation period (December 2025 to September 2026) requires intensive, time-bound, multi-region field execution supported by strong implementation management, effective stakeholder coordination, and consistent follow-through.

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) Officer provides field-level monitoring, evaluation, routine surveillance, and learning support under the RISE Tanzania Malaria Program. The role focuses on strengthening data quality, timely reporting, and routine use of malaria service delivery and surveillance data to inform micro-stratification, case-based management, and emergency preparedness and response. Supervised by the Field Team Leader with technical oversight from the MERL Advisor, the MERL Officer works closely with the Digital Health Officer to support data collection, verification, analysis, and use at facility and district levels, and contributes to learning and evidence generation to promote data-driven decision-making across malaria prevention, case management, and vector control interventions.

This position will be closed on January 23, 2026.

1. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Routine Surveillance

• Support implementation of approved MERL plans, indicators, and reporting requirements at regional, council, and facility levels.
• Support routine malaria data collection, compilation, and reporting through national systems (e.g., DHIS2, eIDSR, UCS and other approved platforms).
• Support timely, complete, and accurate reporting to strengthen early warning, outbreak detection, and emergency preparedness and response.

2. Data Quality Assurance and Verification

• Conduct routine data quality checks, verification visits, and supportive supervision at health facilities and councils.
• Identify data discrepancies, support corrective actions, and document resolutions in collaboration with facility and council teams.
• Support adherence to national, Jhpiego and donor data quality and reporting standards.

3. Data Use and Performance Monitoring

• Support analysis and review of routine service delivery and surveillance data to identify trends, gaps, and performance issues.
• Support regional and council teams to use data for planning, targeting, micro-stratification, and quality improvement.
• Contribute to updating routine tracking tools, dashboards, and performance summaries.

4. Research and Learning Support

• Support implementation of approved operational or applied research activities, including data collection and documentation.
• Contribute to identification of field-level learning questions and documentation of implementation experiences.
• Support ethical data collection and compliance with approved protocols and national requirements.

5. Documentation and Reporting

• Prepare routine MERL reports, data summaries, and field updates for submission via required digital reporting and visualization platforms.
• Contribute inputs to progress reports, learning briefs, success stories, and presentations.
• Maintain organized and accurate MERL documentation and records.

6. Coordination and Capacity Building

• Work closely with facility, council, and regional health teams to strengthen capacity for data collection, reporting, and use.
• Support data review meetings, mentorship sessions, and learning forums as assigned.
• Coordinate with field teams to align MERL activities with implementation plans.

• Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Biostatistics, Health Informatics, Data Science, Public Health, or a related field required; additional MERL or digital health training is an advantage.
• At least 5-6 years of relevant experience supporting monitoring, evaluation, routine surveillance, or data management in donor-funded health programs.
• Practical experience working with health information and surveillance systems (e.g., DHIS2, eIDSR, UCS or similar platforms).
• Experience conducting data quality checks, verification, and supportive supervision at facility and facilitating structured mentorship.
• Demonstrated ability to support routine data analysis and use for planning, performance monitoring, and decision-making.
• Experience supporting operational or applied research activities is an advantage.
• Familiarity with Tanzania’s health system and malaria reporting structures is preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and fluency in Kiswahili required.
• Willingness to live in any location in Kagera and Pwani regions in Mainland Tanzania or Pemba and Unguja in Zanzibar.
• Ability to undertake regular travel within the assigned region and provide periodic support to other project-supported areas, as required.

• Strong coordination, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to support routine data analysis and use for planning, performance monitoring, and decision-making.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and fluency in Kiswahili required.

Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

Please apply at www.jhpiego.org/careers

Applicants must submit a single document for upload to include cover letters, resume, and references.

For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org

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Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

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