Program Management Consultant

Purpose of the Consultancy

There are two consultancies for this project: i) management of the entire pilot project to use the SMC platform to improve RI outcomes; and ii) to provide high-quality monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) support for the SMC–RI intervention, ensuring systematic data collection, analysis and documentation of findings to inform programme optimization and future policy and scale-up discussions.

The consultancy is explicitly monitoring, evaluation and learning focused. The consultants will work within an approved protocol and will not be responsible for programme implementation or protocol design.

Objective of the assignment

Specific Objectives – Programme Management:

• Support the entire project cycle - initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, and closing, to meet specific project goals and objectives within approved of time, cost and scope.
• Support activity budgeting, rollout, payment and retirement for completed activities.
• Work with the MEL consultant to submit quarterly and final activity finance and narrative reports.
• Manage dissemination events and closure of project.

Scope

The scope of work for this consultancy covers project management, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities required to assess the implementation of the SMC–RI intervention under routine programme conditions. The work will be implemented across selected LGAs in Plateau, Kogi and Sokoto states and will include baseline assessment, monitoring during SMC cycles, and endline assessment and synthesis.

Specifically, the scope of work includes the following:

Baseline and Formative Assessment:

• Support the conduct of a baseline and formative assessment prior to commencement of SMC delivery.
• Collect data on caregiver knowledge and perceptions of routine immunisation, community engagement structures, and contextual factors relevant to RI uptake.
• Establish baseline values for selected RI-related indicators to support subsequent comparison over time.
• Conduct a health facility readiness assessment in selected facilities within intervention and comparator LGAs to assess preparedness to absorb potential increases in RI demand. This will include assessment of vaccine availability, cold-chain functionality, staffing, RI session scheduling, basic data tools, and referral management processes.

Monitoring During SMC Implementation Cycles:

• Support per cycle and end of cycle monitoring of SMC–RI activities during each SMC cycle.
• Document any operational challenges, adaptations or unintended effects on SMC delivery.

Endline Assessment:

• Conduct an endline assessment following completion of SMC cycles to measure changes in key indicators relative to baseline.
• Support comparative analysis across the three SMC–RI approaches and across different implementation contexts.

Data Management, Analysis and Learning:

• Ensure high-quality data collection, validation and secure data management throughout the consultancy period.
• Analyse quantitative and qualitative data generated through baseline, per-cycle and endline activities.
• Synthesize findings to generate actionable learning on feasibility, acceptability, scalability and cost considerations.

Reporting and Dissemination:

• Prepare high-quality technical reports, briefs and presentations summarising findings and learning.
• Participate in debriefs and learning discussions with Malaria Consortium and relevant stakeholders.

Roles and Responsibilities

• The Project Management Consultant who would be the lead consultant will provide overall project management support.

Methodology

The consultancy will employ mixed methods aligned with the approved MEL framework, including:

• Baseline and endline surveys.
• Per-cycle end-of-cycle survey modules integrated into SMC monitoring activities.
• Review of routine administrative and digital data sources (e.g., DHIS2, SMC campaign data).
• Brief qualitative check-ins with caregivers, community distributors, supervisors and RI staff.

Deliverables

Deliverables for Lead Consultant:

• Conduct a high-level technical briefing with the Lead Program Team on evaluation protocols and reporting standards.
• Train State M&E Officers on quality control processes, data management, and reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with the Malaria Consortium Technical Team to ensure adherence to required templates, reporting formats, and quality benchmarks.
• Draft, submit, and finalize:
  • Finalised baseline and formative assessment report, including findings from the health facility readiness assessment.
  • Per-cycle analytical briefs synthesising monitoring data and emerging operational learning across states.
  • Endline assessment report with comparative analysis across SMC–RI approaches and contexts.
  • A consolidated Technical Report (narrative format) following the Malaria Consortium standard reporting template summarising feasibility, acceptability, early outcome signals, and implications for scale-up.

Profile Requirements

• Post-graduate degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Economics or related field.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation of public health programmes.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale surveys and analytical reports.
• Demonstrable experience in systems assessment/evaluation.
• Experience in report writing and communicating with stakeholders.
• Good understanding of what is feasible in highly resource-constrained environments.