MERL Intern

VACANCY ADVERTISEMENT – MERL INTERN

 Family Health Services (FHS), has partnered with the government of Malawi through the Ministry of Health (MoH) in safeguarding the health of Malawians by using private sector approaches to reconfigure healthcare delivery – (i) through directly delivering innovative social and behaviour change communications, social marketing, and social franchising across a wide range of health areas including Reproductive Health, HIV, Malaria and water-borne disease prevention (ii) by playing a market facilitation role, approaching market challenges and opportunities with a system-wide lens that unlocks a self-sustaining market with multiple players that can prioritize, adapt and ultimately thrive without external assistance and funds.

FHS continues to leverage capacities, learnings, and best practice to enhance activities in Malawi. To accomplish its mission, FHS is inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of MERL INTERN.

Job Summary

 This role will support the MERL Assistant in managing routine MERL activities, with a strong emphasis on timely and accurate data entry into DHIS2 for the Projects.

The role holder will be responsible for assisting with the compilation, entry, and verification of service delivery data generated by outreach teams. He or she will help ensure data quality and completeness in line with reporting deadlines and MERL standards. Additionally, the intern will support documentation, filing, and other routine MERL tasks as required.

Reporting to the MERL Coordinator, the MERL Intern will carry out the following duties and responsibilities.

 SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Working under the daily supervision of the M&E Officer, The MERL Intern will support the implementation of M&E Systems, Research and participate in the implementation of MERL activities as stipulated in the work plan.

Establish data entry priorities.

• Implementing and maintaining high data quality standards and M&E SOP guidelines at site level
• Strengthening M&E systems and functional areas of the data management and reporting system at site level
• Verifies integrity of data by comparing it to source documents.
• Maintains a filing system and protects confidential client information.

 Key Result Areas:

• Data quality assurance (completeness, timeliness, validity, accuracy, consistency)

Main duties and Responsibilities:

• Resolves deficiencies by using standard procedures or returning incomplete documents to the team leader for resolution before entry.
• Maintains the database by entering new and updated client information.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Reviewing client intake forms for data deficiencies.
• Maintains data entry requirements by following data SOPs.
• Ensuring teams have sufficient tools for data collection.
• Purges files to eliminate duplication of data.
• Secures information by completing database backups.
• Maintains operations by following policies and procedures and reporting needed changes.
• Maintains client confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.

Quality improvement and accountability

• With lead from the MERL Officer, perform regular grams. data quality assessments.
• Facilitate and identify site level data challenges and provide necessary solutions.

 QUALIFICATIONS (i.e. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS)

• Recent (2024-2025) graduate in Statistics, Public health, Mathematics, M&E, Social Sciences or other relevant qualifications.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to multitask effectively.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks with a high degree of accuracy.
• Comfortable working independently with minimal supervision.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS 

• Ability to work in a team environment is preferred.
• Proficiency in standard Microsoft software.
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision and willing to take initiative to support team members.
• Fluency in English required.
• Ability to work efficiently and quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel approximately 50% of the time.
•  Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organise a workload comprised of varying and changing tasks and responsibilities.

Mode of Application

Qualified candidates with the specified qualifications and experience should submit their electronic application letters and updated CVs with names and contact details of three traceable referees through jobs@fhs.org.mw By 13:30 pm on Friday, 8^th August 2025.  Indicate the job title for the position you are applying for “MERL INTERN” in the email subject line.

Family Health Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, political affiliation, family status or responsibilities, gender identity, or expression, pregnancy, or related medical conditions. Family Health Services maintains zero tolerance for child abuse, sexual abuse, or exploitative acts or threats by our employees, consultants, volunteers, contractors, or anyone associated with the delivery of our programs and services and takes seriously all complaints of misconduct brought to our attention.

 Disclaimer!

Family Health Service has become aware of scams involving false job offers. Please be advised: Family Health Services will never ask for a fee during any stage of the recruitment process. All active jobs are advertised directly in the newspapers or on vetted career websites. Official FHS emails will always arrive from a @fhs.org email address.

 Please report any suspicious communications to safeguarding@fhs.org.mw If you are suspicious of anything, please report through  email to safeguarding@fhs.org.mw or  reportsqm@tip-offs.com;  or write a letter to Tip-Offs anonymous, P.O. Box 1726, Blantyre; or call/send SMS using Airtel/TNM/Access to 847