Consultant, MLE Strategy (Kangaroo Mother Care Pilot)

About Evidence Action

At Evidence Action, we deliver data-driven interventions that transform lives at an unprecedented scale. We identify neglected global health issues and deploy proven solutions, forging healthier futures for generations.

Our model operationalizes leading academic research (including from Nobel-winning economists). We measure progress and outcomes at every stage to ensure we’re making a real impact for people living in poverty and suffering from preventable or treatable health issues. Operating across 11 countries, our team of 900+ has reached over 500 million people, working closely with governments to scale these interventions.

• Our Deworm the World program has delivered over 2 billion treatments, significantly reducing worm prevalence and generating more than $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains.
• Through Safe Water Now, we’ve saved the lives of over 15,000 children.
• Our Accelerator explores untapped opportunities in global health, testing low-cost interventions with the greatest potential to save and improve lives.

At Evidence Action, your colleagues are your greatest asset. You'll partner with high-caliber colleagues in an environment blending innovation, autonomy, and teamwork. Our team excels in disruptive thinking and believes in rolling up our sleeves to get things done. If you're looking to work flexibly and with purpose, join a team that delivers measurable change for millions.

About the MLE - Strategy Team

The MLE Strategy team optimizes Evidence Action’s programming through versatile and right-fit monitoring and evaluation solutions and insights. Working closely with other global and regional teams, we are responsible for developing MLE frameworks and strategies that improve programs and further our understanding of programmatic impact. With the work our team does, Evidence Action is uniquely able to adapt its programs based on the evidence we generate and share.

Evidence Action is developing a Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) pilot in either Liberia or Cameroon (country to be selected following scoping), focused on providing technical assistance to health systems to increase KMC coverage, improve KMC initiation timing, and minimize mother-infant separation during hospitalization. The pilot will span a maximum of 12 months between pilot preparation, execution, and analysis and scale evaluation. Reporting to the Global Director of MLE Strategy, you will design, develop, and implement the MLE system for the KMC pilot, with a focus on two primary functions: (1) MLE system design and tool development, and (2) data analysis and reporting, in close coordination with global and country teams.

Key Deliverables

• Phase 1: Preparation (from Country Selection through Program Design, roughly months 1 to 3 for the pilot)
  • Revised pilot MLE concept note - Review the existing MLE concept note, pilot proposal, and budget; identify gaps, outdated assumptions, and areas requiring alignment with the program team; produce a revised concept note signed off by the Global MLE-S team and program leads
  • Formative research report - Design in-country formative research, including development of data collection tools (structured observation guides, health worker, caregiver, and community health worker interview guides) to assess bedside log reliability and feasibility of proposed data systems; support or lead in-country data collection and analysis; document findings and implications in a formative research report
  • Evaluation framework - Finalize the evaluation framework in collaboration with the Global MLE-S team and in alignment with the Global program team and country team, including indicator definitions, sampling approach, sample size calculations, evaluation methodology, and data flow documentation
  • Process monitoring plan - Design a process monitoring approach to track implementation fidelity at pilot facilities, including a schedule of data quality spot-checks and structured check-ins with facility focal points; where feasible, support KMC indicator integration into DHIS2 as part of the broader TA model
  • Data collection instruments package - Develop all data collection instruments ready for piloting at the start of Phase 2: bedside log and neonatal register additions, daily ward summary templates, facility survey instruments (baseline, endline), and data validation tools; include community survey instruments if community-level coverage data is determined to be a priority during the framework design

• Phase 2: Pilot Execution (from Baseline through Endline, roughly months 4 to 9 for the pilot)
• End of Pilot (from Endline through Pilot Wrap-up, roughly months 10 to 12 for the pilot)

Through Pilot Work

• Participate in regular coordination meetings with the Global MLE-S team and country program team, including scheduled check-ins and ad hoc calls as needed
• Contribute MLE inputs to government partnership discussions and MOU development throughout the program
• Flag emerging issues, timeline risks, or scope changes proactively to the Global MLE Strategy Director
• Accommodate periodic meetings across West Africa and US Eastern time zones as agreed with the team