Hello, Science!:
holiday

Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package including: medical and dental plans; paid vacation, holidays
and sick leave; personal accident insurance; 403(b) retirement plan; life and disability insurance; travel insurance;
education assistance plan and more.
Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Job Tittle; Sr. Monitoring & Evaluation Advisor

Job Type; Full Time

Qualification; MBA/MSc/MA PhD/Fellowship

Experience; 7 years

Location; Abuja

Job Field; Administration / Secretarial NGO/Non-Profit

Overview:
Sr. Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor needed to lead monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities for a new USAID-funded project in USA which will contribute to state-level reduction in under-five child and maternal mortality, and to increased capacity of health systems (public and private) to sustainably support access to primary health care. Advisor will design, implement and supervise project M&E activities, frameworks, plans and indicators to capture project performance results and provide effective, accurate and timely monitoring, evaluation and reporting of all project activities. Advisor will also be responsible for documenting and disseminating program successes and challenges to USAID, as well as designing and conducting operations research. This position is contingent upon an award from USAID.

Responsibilities:
Oversee the development and implementation of the Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) to capture project performance and results, including routine service delivery data reporting, baseline and endline assessments if needed, and all monitoring for process and outcome evaluations
Work with Technical Advisors to ensure that program activities are implemented and directed to meeting desired goal and objectives
Lead results reporting to USAID by providing written documentation on M&E activities and indicator results for progress and annual reports, as appropriate.
Provide leadership and direction on M&E to ensure the project’s technical and financial integrity to achieve project goals and corresponding objectives and targets
Ensure high-quality implementation, consistent with USA’s national health guidelines, protocols, information and reporting systems
Conduct targeted evaluations and operations research, including design, data collection, management and analysis
Develop and oversee data flow pattern for the project, to ensure timely data collection and reporting
Lead efforts to monitor and evaluate project interventions, document results and provide feedback to stakeholders to guide decision-making
Lead efforts to utilize training monitoring systems to track and monitor trainers and participants at training events to facilitate follow-up and recordkeeping. Utilize the training data collected to inform strategic decision-making and project planning
Ensure quality of data through data verification procedures, including routine data quality audits
Cultivate strategic M&E relationships and alliances with other USAID projects and represent M&E activities in public and professional circles through meetings, conferences, and presentations
Ensure relevant data is entered into J-RISE, Jhpiego’s organization-wide performance management system designed to capture, analyze, and disseminate project data
Plan and implement M&E related capacity-building activities for relevant stakeholders in order to improve state-wide M&E related practices
Promote and support the dissemination of project information among the project team
Ensure that resources for project implementation are available
Work with project and financial staff to prepare and track progress of project and activity budgets
Supervise a team of M&E professionals
Coordinate all M&E capacity-building activities with project staff, implementing partners and facility staff

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in public health, demography, statistics, social sciences or related field
• 7 years senior iM&E experience in the international health sector
• Proven expertise in quantitative and qualitative methodologies, operations research, health management information systems, reporting, data quality assessments, data analysis and presentation
• Demonstrated expertise working in a leadership capacity with international donors, senior government officials and policymakers
• Demonstrated strong management, coordination, teamwork and planning skills with proven ability to function effectively with multiple host-country counterparts in both the public and NGO sectors
• M&E experience in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health
• Familiarity with USA’s health management information system and other national M&E systems including the use of DHIS2
• Experience and understanding of USAID frameworks and eporting systems
• Excellent writing and communications skills, including demonstrated technical writing skills for publication
• Ability to work effectively with diverse international teams
• Ability to work in a complex environment with multiple tasks, short deadlines and intense pressure to perform
• Strong technical skills, including ability to process and analyze data using one or more statistical software packages, including at least one of the following: SPSS, Epi-Info, Stata, MS Access
• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Excellent facilitation, oral and written communications skills
• Ability to travel up to 30 % nationally and internationally
• USA nationals strongly encouraged to apply

Job Type; Full Time

Qualification; MBA/MSc/MA PhD/Fellowship

Experience; 10 years

Location; Abuja

Job Field; Administration / Secretarial Finance / Accounting / Audit

Overview:
Finance and Administration Manager will be responsible for providing the financial and administrative management for a new USAID-funded project in USA which will contribute to state-level reduction in under-five child and maternal mortality, and to increased capacity of health systems (public and private) to sustainably support access to primary health care. This includes oversight of all financial and contractual aspects of the project and work closely with project staff to ensure accurate financial, contractual and administrative reporting of the project. The Director will ensure that the financial reports are compatible with standard accounting practices and follow Jhpiego and USAID rules and regulations. Manager will also be responsible for ensuring cost consciousness, efficient spending and for implementing and maintaining an on-site financial accounting and bookkeeping system required to assure the integrity and effective performance of project financial operations

Responsibilities:

• Oversee all financial planning, budgeting and reporting for the project
• Provide guidance to Chief of Party regarding the financial requirements of the project and office operations
• Prepare accurate budgets, track expenses, ensure that required financial controls and cost-performance monitoring mechanisms are in place and adhered to, prevent over or under expenditure of budgets, ensure proper safeguards of funds and ensure compliance with established USG and headquarters’ financial, accounting and administrative procedures
• Review, reconcile and monitor all project accounts, including major program operating accounts and petty cash operations involving cash advances
• Determine updated monthly project accruals and projections to support forecasting accuracy and program completion, as required
• Provide guidance, monitoring and support to project team, including procurement for goods and services, logistical support for local and international travel for staff and consultants, financial oversight of local sub-grantees (as needed) and maintenance of office inventory
• Provide guidance and support for contracts development and management
• Provide financial capacity-building for local grantees
• Maintain and administer project financial accounting system
• Prepare the monthly financial report by using adapted finance software (Quick Books)
• Use various software applications such as spreadsheets, relational databases, statistical packages, and graphic packages to assemble, manipulate, and format data and/or reports
• Implement and oversee a detailed financial reporting and reimbursement process in accordance with Jhpiego's established financial system
• Make in-country budget adjustments and other cost improvement measures, as required
• Direct and oversee the monitoring and annual auditing of cost-share requirements, tracking and reporting
• Work collaboratively with the project team and headquarters staff to ensure proper project and financial reporting, spending and compliance with project terms and conditions
• Provide financial reports, including pipeline analysis, quarterly project reports, or as requested by the donor
• Ensure that USAID resources are appropriately directed to program priorities and are in line with program work plans
• Contribute to program team in developing work plans and annual budgets for program activities and local office costs
• Manage all sub-grants to local grantees ensuring awardees’ compliance and reporting
• Ensure that Jhpiego personal files for project staff have all the relevant records including employment agreement and job description
• Work loosely with auditors during audit of the program
• Serve as a resource person for non-finance staff on USAID, JHU and Jhpiego rules and policy
• Provide financial oversight to finance officers
• Ensure that proper human resources administration procedures are in place for project staff, including tracking of leave, sick days, absence and other human resources actions
• Ensure compliance by all assigned staff to the JHU and Jhpiego timekeeping requirements, as well as, the staff’s timely approval of timesheets

• Advanced degree in finance, accounting, business or relevant field
• 10 years' financial and cost management experinee in international development program operations, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa
• 5 years' senior-level finance and administrative experience for international health programs with annual budget over $5 million
• Knowledge of USG cooperative agreements and grant/contract management regulations
• In depth knowledge of USG cost principles, including USAID regulations, GAAP accounting rules and grants contract management
• Knowledge of global operations and ability to determine and assign priorities with respect to field office support requirements and issues
• Experience must include financial analysis and reporting, cash flow analysis, budget development and forecasting
• In-country field experience, including supporting implementation of national/provincial/district-level programs
• Ability to develop and implement new procedures and work processes to more effectively support the coordinated implementation of global programs and offices
• Strong time management skills and ability to work in an unstructured environment
• Results-oriented but with the ability to understand the need for flexible processes
• Strong knowledge of federal cost principles, administrative requirements, and other applicable rules and regulations regarding implementation of federal awards
• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English
• Proficiency in QuickBooks and MS Office (Word, Excel, Access and Power Point)
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally up to 30% of time

‘Tis the season to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) for the next school year. And considering that the price of a 4-year college education has increased more than 15% since 2008, students and their families are looking for every available source for funding. As you begin the process, use these tips to get the most financial aid coming to you.
Find out the deadlines —Each college and university has its own deadlines for various types of financial aid. Make sure to find out what those are so that you don’t miss your chance to apply for scholarships, grants, fellowships and the like. Also be aware of different dates for filing the FASFA at your college.
File early —Even if you or your parents need to estimate taxed earnings, it’s a good idea to get the FASFA in as early as possible. Many schools are moving to a “first come, first served” policy for financial aid, so the sooner you can get the FASFA filed, the better. If necessary, you can always make changes to it later once your taxes are completed.
Change your FASFA —If your family’s financial situation changes during the year, you can modify your FASFA to reflect those. Many families don’t do this because the loss of a job or a divorce is embarrassing. But if it makes a difference between having student loans or not it is worth the awkwardness.
Spend down your savings —If you or your parents have large savings accounts, it is wise to spend some of it before filing the FASFA. Since savings account figures are considered assets, these numbers must be disclosed. If your family has been planning to make a large purchase anyway, take advantage of lowering your bottom line by buying it now.
Bargain for better aid— If your first-choice school doesn’t offer you what you need to accept their offer to attend there, and especially if other schools have offered you a much larger financial aid package, talk to your assigned financial aid administrator at your first-choice college. You may be able to get more aid if they know that the cash on the table is a deal-breaker.
Be honest —It’s smart to take advantage of strategies to improve your financial situation on paper, but it is dumb to lie on the FASFA. This holds stiff penalties. And you don’t want to start your life off with a huge lie hanging over your head.
Apply for scholarships — Scholarships are easier than ever to locate with the use of the Internet. There are all types of scholarships out there for students of different descents, hobbies and skills. There are several trustworthy sites that outline scholarships that individual students are qualified for, and they will even email you when a new one has been added. Many scholarships get very few applications, so it is a great idea to increase your chances by applying for as many as possible.
Ask Gramps to open a 529 —Since savings plans for parents and students will usually be included as assets on the FASFA, ask your grandparents to open a 529 College Savings Plan for you. Then, when holidays and birthdays come around, ask that family and friends donate the bucks they would normally spend on a present to the 529. There is no better gift than getting an education without a mountain of debt at the end of it.
Take advantage of Federal Work Study (FWS) —Many college students find that their grades are higher when they work part-time as well as go to school. This is because they must manage their time better and there is less down time to spend money. It’s also harder to spend cash frivolously when you have worked hard for it. Check out the choices of jobs you can apply for if FWS is an option for you. You may be able to find one that is related to the degree program that you are in, which is another plus.

Comparison shop —If you must take out a private loan to fill in the financial gaps to pay for tuition, books and housing, keep in mind that not all private loans are the same. There are always a few companies targeting the college market by offering lower interest rates and varying repayment options. Look at many different banks and other lending institutions before deciding on which to apply for. If you have a student account with a bank, check with them to see if they have offers for long-time customers. Many colleges have comparison charts on their financial aid website to assist students and parents find the best deal for them.

You may be one of the many college students who are working at least part-time during their winter break. Since most students have up to five weeks off between fall and spring semesters, many use this time to put bucks in the bank.
It’s easy to go a little nuts spending when you finally have a healthy bank balance again after living on Raman for the last few weeks. But you can make sure that your hard-earned cash and college fundslast for the whole upcoming semester if you plan ahead.
Don’t Impulse Shop
This is tough not to do, especially when every store is having pre and post-holiday sales! But impulse shopping gets many people, not just college students, in trouble. If possible, when you see an item you think you can’t live without, wait a week to see if you really still think it is important to own. You may be surprised at how many “got to have that” items you totally forget about within a week’s time.

Do Stash your Cash
Open a new savings account—one that is not connected to your checkingand that pays interest. It’s so easy now to transfer funds from savings to checking that even the most thrifty college student can find themselves totally broke by week 10. Consider getting a savings account set up through a different bank than the one you use for your checking or debt access. This makes transferring funds just difficult enough to make you stop and rethink a desired purchase.

Even though you probably won’t begin the new semester with thousands and thousands of dollars, every little bit helps. There are several trustworthy online banks that offer better interest rates on savings accounts than your average brick and mortar bank because of their low overhead. Let your cash work for you by investing some time into setting up a new higher-interest savings account.
Do Make a Budget
Yeah, I hear you. This is boring, right? But deciding on a budget before you get back to school is a big step towards your financial independence during the college semester. Determine how much money you can spend each week and still have your funds last the whole semester. If you overspend one week, just make sure to spend less the next. There are lots of great free apps out there that can help you keep track of your spending.

Do Take it with You
Sometimes it’s worth it to pay for convenient, but grabbing a coffee, water bottle and snack several times each day can easily send you running back to mom and dad for a loan before midterms. Consider investing in a small coffeemaker, reusable to-go cups and on-the-go snacks. It will only take a few minutes in the morning to prepare these things so that you don’t give into temptation later. Then, when your schedule is crammed with studying for midterms and finals, you will still have some extra cash stashed to pay for the convenience of grabbing food and drink on the go…the higher price you pay for accessibility will be worth it then.

Jacqueline Myers has been guiding college students through the murky waters of writing and research for many years. And she can be your personal English instructor if you visit her on her blog Nitty-Gritty English: The complete site for tips, tricks and techniques for the UN-enthusiastic English student. Jacqueline is a proud member of the AEGC writing staff.