NATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH AUTHORITY (NHRA)

in collaboration with UNICEF

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Position: Provincial Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Contract Type: Consultancy

Contract Duration: One (1) Year, Renewable

Duty Station: Provincial Health Office – Mansa, Luapula Province

Background

The 2024 Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) results indicate that the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) decreased from 278/100,000 live births in 2018 to 187/100,000 live births in 2024. During the same period, the neonatal mortality rate (NMR) declined from 27/1000 live births to 17/1000 live births. However, the adolescent pregnancy rate remains high at 28%. Despite progress, many deaths continue to occur due to preventable causes such as infections, birth asphyxia, and complications related to preterm births for newborns, as well as bleeding in pregnancy and after birth, maternal hypertension, and preeclampsia for mothers. A substantial number of these deaths occur in facilities or during transit between facilities or from home to health facilities. Other contributing factors include low staffing levels, inadequate transportation, poor roads, inadequate infrastructure, and limited equipment. To address these challenges, there is a need to strengthen Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) programs in Luapula and Northwestern Provinces to improve critical health indicators. UNICEF, in collaboration with the EU-HD programme, is implementing RMNCAH+N interventions across 10 districts in these provinces. The consultant will work with Provincial and District Health Teams to strengthen planning, monitoring, and evaluation, contributing to improved service delivery and the reduction of maternal and child mortality while enhancing health system resilience.

Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to support the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of EU-HD programs, ensuring alignment with national priorities and organizational goals. The Provincial Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (PM&E; Officer) will work closely with District Health Offices (DHOs) in the UNICEF-European Union HD (EU-HD) project districts and the District Information Officers within the Provincial Health Team to strengthen data systems, enhance planning, monitoring, and review processes, and improve the use of evidence for decision-making to maximize program impact.

Key Responsibilities

1.  Planning Support

•  Support the development of Annual Work Plans (AWPs) in line with EU and UNICEF strategic objectives and national priorities.

•  Assist in planning and budgeting processes at national and sub-national levels.

•  Provide technical guidance to program teams on results-based planning.

2.  Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E;)

•  Design, develop, and implement M&E; frameworks and tools for program activities.

•  Conduct field visits to monitor implementation and verify progress.

•  Lead data collection, analysis, and interpretation to inform decision-making.

•  Provide meaningful data insights to managers and decision-makers.

•  Contribute to mid-term and annual program reviews.

3.  Reporting

•  Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reports.

•  Ensure data quality and accuracy for donor and government reporting.

•  Document best practices, lessons learned, and case studies.

4.  Capacity Building

•  Build capacity of UNICEF staff and partners in planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

•  Conduct training sessions on data collection, reporting, and results-based management.

5.  Coordination and Advocacy

•  Facilitate coordination between UNICEF, government counterparts, and partners.

•  Support advocacy efforts using data-driven insights.

6.  Strengthening Data Systems

•  Support rollout and management of data systems (DHIS2, community-based management systems, etc.).

•  Enhance data visualization and reporting tools.

•  Build capacity of government staff for data management and use across digital platforms.

7.  Other Duties

•  Perform any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor.

Minimum Requirements / Qualifications

•  Master’s Degree in Public Health, Health Systems, Hospital Administration, Data Sciences, Health Statistics, or related health sciences.

Knowledge, Expertise, and Skills

•  Minimum 5 years of demonstrated experience in planning, developing, and implementing M&E; Plans in RMNCAH+N (particularly for government programs).

•  Proven experience in programme design, planning, data collection, and analysis.

•  Experience in institutional and organizational capacity building in RMNCAH+N data handling.

•  Excellent interpersonal, communication, analytical, and report-writing skills.

•  Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (Excel, Power BI, Infogram, DHIS2).

•  Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders in government, civil society, and the private sector.

How to Apply

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are encouraged to submit:

•  An application letter

•  Copies of relevant academic and professional qualifications

•  A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) with traceable referees to: jobs@nhra.org.zm

Closing Date: Monday, 27th October 2025

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.