Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research (MERL) Officer

About the MiracleFeet Clubfoot Programme

• HANDS, in partnership with MiracleFeet, supports expansion of access to quality clubfoot treatment and management in Nigeria.
• The programme supports health facilities, clinical capacity, community awareness and referral, supportive supervision, monitoring and evaluation, and data-driven programme improvement.
• HANDS' clubfoot programme uses the Ponseti method and has trained clinical and programme personnel in the CAST/CommCare digital system.
• The MERL Officer will therefore be responsible for ensuring that programme data are accurate, complete, timely, securely managed, analysed and used to improve service delivery and demonstrate programme performance.

The Opportunity

• HANDS is seeking a highly competent, analytical and results-oriented Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer to support implementation of the MiracleFeet-funded Clubfoot Programme in Supported States.
• The officer will work closely with the Project Manager, outreach personnel, clinic teams, healthcare providers, HANDS' MERL Unit and relevant MiracleFeet technical teams.
• The role will monitor the patient and programme pathway from identification and referral through enrolment, treatment, bracing, follow-up, retention and completion.

Key Responsibilities
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Systems:

• Support implementation and review of the programme MERL framework, indicators, monitoring plans and reporting schedules.
• Translate programme objectives and donor requirements into measurable indicators, data sources, collection methods and targets.
• Maintain indicator tracking systems and monitor progress against monthly, quarterly and annual targets.
• Identify performance gaps and recommend corrective actions.
• Participate in programme review meetings and contribute evidence-based insights.
• Document lessons learned, promising practices, challenges and innovations.

Clubfoot Programme Data Management:

• Coordinate collection, collation, cleaning, validation, analysis and reporting of data from supported clinics and outreach activities.
• Monitor identification, referral, enrolment, serial casting, tenotomy where applicable, bracing, follow-up, retention, defaulting and treatment completion.
• Reconcile facility records, source documents, CAST/CommCare and other approved reporting systems.
• Maintain accurate databases and well-organized M&E records.
• Track agreed MiracleFeet programme indicators and identify anomalies or gaps.

CAST/CommCare and Digital Data Systems:

• Support effective use of CAST/CommCare and other approved digital data systems.
• Monitor data-entry completeness, timeliness and consistency.
• Identify and resolve data-quality issues with clinic teams.
• Support users with routine digital reporting and data-management challenges.
• Support training and refresher sessions on digital data collection and reporting.

Data Quality Assurance:

• Implement routine Data Quality Assurance (DQA) processes.
• Conduct data verification, validation and source-document checks.
• Assess accuracy, completeness, consistency, timeliness, integrity and reliability.
• Document DQA findings and track corrective actions to closure.
• Strengthen clinic and programme staff capacity in data quality.

Monitoring Visits and Supportive Supervision:

• Participate in monitoring and supportive supervision visits to supported facilities.
• Use approved monitoring tools and checklists.
• Verify reported achievements against source documentation.
• Provide constructive feedback and follow up on agreed action points.
• Support facility assessments and programme verification exercises.

Data Analysis, Visualization and Interpretation:

• Analyse programme data to identify trends, patterns, gaps and performance variations.
• Generate routine descriptive statistics and indicator analyses.
• Prepare tables, graphs, dashboards and visualizations.
• Develop or maintain dashboards using Excel, Power BI, Looker Studio and the CAST Community and other approved tools.
• Disaggregate data appropriately by facility, LGA, age, sex, treatment stage and other relevant variables.
• Translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Prepare accurate and timely weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual M&E reports as required.
• Contribute verified data and analysis to donor and programme reports.
• Prepare indicator tracking tables, analytical briefs and presentations.
• Maintain organized electronic and physical M&E documentation.

Programme Learning and Adaptive Management:

• Promote routine use of data for programme decision-making.
• Identify and document lessons from implementation.
• Support learning and reflection sessions.
• Contribute to evidence-based case studies, learning briefs and success stories.

Capacity Strengthening:

• Assess M&E and data-management capacity gaps among clinic and programme staff.
• Support practical M&E and data-management training and mentoring.
• Promote accountability, evidence-based management and continuous improvement.

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Work closely with the Project Manager and programme team.
• Maintain effective relationships with supported health facilities and government stakeholders.
• Participate in relevant technical meetings and coordination platforms.
• Collaborate with HANDS' MERLA/M&E Unit and MiracleFeet technical teams.

Key Performance Areas

• Timeliness and accuracy of programme reporting.
• Completeness and quality of clinic and programme data.
• Timely completion of DQA and monitoring activities.
• Accuracy of indicator tracking.
• Quality of dashboards and analytical outputs.
• Timely identification and resolution of data-quality issues.
• Quality of technical support to clinic teams.
• Quality of analysis and recommendations.
• Evidence of data use for programme improvement.
• Compliance with HANDS, donor and programme data-management requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Epidemiology, Public Health, Health Information Management, Demography, Economics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Data Science, Mathematics or another relevant discipline.

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in monitoring, evaluation, research, data management or programme performance monitoring.
• Experience in health, public health, disability, rehabilitation, community health or development programmes.
• Experience with NGOs, international development organizations, government health programmes or donor-funded projects is highly desirable.
• Experience in facility-level monitoring and DQA is strongly preferred.
• Experience with digital systems such as CommCare, CAST, KoboToolbox/ODK, DHIS2, REDCap or similar platforms is an advantage.
• Experience in health programme reporting, indicator tracking and donor reporting is desirable.

Technical Skills:

• Strong Microsoft Excel and quantitative data-analysis skills.
• Competence in data cleaning, validation, reconciliation and database management.
• Experience with Salesforce, Power BI, Tableau, Looker Studio or comparable visualization tools is desirable.
• Experience with digital data-collection platforms such as CommCare, CAST, KoboToolbox/ODK, DHIS2, SurveyCTO or REDCap.
• Strong technical report-writing and presentation skills.

Clubfoot Programme Knowledge:

• Knowledge of clubfoot programming is highly desirable, including familiarity with identification and referral, Ponseti treatment, serial casting, tenotomy, bracing, follow-up, retention, loss to follow-up and treatment outcomes. Formal clinical training in the Ponseti method is not required; however, the successful candidate must be able to quickly understand the treatment pathway and programme indicators.
• Experience with MiracleFeet-supported programmes or CAST/CommCare will be a significant advantage.

Core Competencies:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong data-quality mindset.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and facilitation skills.
• Ability to train, coach and mentor programme staff.
• Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to confidentiality and responsible handling of patient information.
• Commitment to disability inclusion, safeguarding and equitable access to healthcare.
• High integrity, professionalism and accountability.
• Ability to translate data into practical programme decisions.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent written and spoken English is required.
• Fluency in Hausa is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of other local languages spoken in Northern Nigeria is an advantage.

Travel Requirement:

• The position requires regular travel to supported states, clubfoot clinics, health facilities and LGAs.
• The successful candidate must be willing and able to undertake frequent field travel and occasional extended field assignments.
• Safeguarding, Data Protection and Ethical Responsibility
• Maintain strict confidentiality of patient and programme data.
• Comply with HANDS safeguarding, data protection and information-security policies.
• Ensure responsible handling, storage and transmission of programme data.
• Respect the rights, dignity and privacy of children and families receiving clubfoot services.
• Promote an inclusive, child-safe and disability-sensitive programme environment.
• Report safeguarding or data-protection concerns through established organizational channels.

Desirable Advantages:

• Previous experience with MiracleFeet-supported programmes.
• Experience using CAST/CommCare.
• Experience in disability-inclusive health or rehabilitation programmes.
• Experience monitoring patient-level health programmes.
• Experience conducting facility-based DQA.
• Experience developing interactive Power BI or similar dashboards.
• Experience working with government health facilities and donor-funded health programmes.
• Knowledge of the Nigerian health system.
• Fluency in Hausa.
• Experience working in Northern Nigeria.

Equal Opportunity:

• HANDS is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining an inclusive workplace. Women, persons with disabilities and qualified candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Selection will be based on qualifications, competence, relevant experience and demonstrated suitability for the position.

Application Closing Date
10th September, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their current CV/Resume highlighting relevant M&E, health-programme, data-management and digital-systems experience and a concise Cover Letter explaining suitability for the position and interest in supporting the MiracleFeet Clubfoot Programmeto: using "Application – MELR Officer, MiracleFeet Clubfoot Programme" as subject of mail.

Note

• Applicants should clearly demonstrate experience with health programme M&E, data quality assurance, digital data systems, facility monitoring, data analysis and reporting.
• HANDS do not charge applicants any fee at any stage of its recruitment process.
• Applicants should not pay money, provide favors or engage intermediaries in exchange for employment.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• HANDS reserves the right to conduct appropriate reference, safeguarding and background checks as part of its recruitment process.

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