GAston Simbo
MOnitoring and Evaluation Specialist
Dar Es Salaam
Summary
An accomplished Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist with over 13 years of dedicated experience in the fields of nutrition, HIV/AIDS, and project management. Known for exceptional skills in designing, implementing, and managing robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure the effectiveness and impact of programs.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
Global Alliance For Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
07.2020 - Current
- Supported successful grant applications with detailed evaluations demonstrating positive outcomes from previous interventions.
- Facilitated stakeholder engagement by organising workshops, focus groups, and interviews to gather comprehensive feedback.
- Completed three market- and factory-level food fortification assessments, and reports uploaded to online platform FortifyMIS/FortiMapp and disseminated to donors and key stakeholders (Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, President's Office, Regional Administration, and Local Government Tanzania) (PO-RALG).
- Carried out Baseline survey for launch of commercialisation of bio-fortified food program in five regions (Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Iringa, Kagera, Mara) a five year program funded by the Dutch government.
- Contributed to the overall success of projects by providing constructive feedback and recommendations for future program iterations based on evaluation findings.
Short Term Consultancy
Cybergen Company
09.2019 - 06.2020
- 120 clients trained on M&E Data Management; Qualitative and Quantitative data collection methods; Routine Data Quality assessments, Introduction to Data Analysis Using Excel
Short Term Consultancy
Evaluation of a diploma in Health Information Sciences programme at Lake Zone Health Training Institute (LZHTI) Mwanza Tanzania The Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDEC)
06.2019 - 07.2019
- Data collection tools developed, led a team 10 for data collection at Lake Zone Health Training Institute (LZHTI) Mwanza Tanzania
- Evaluation report was completed and shared to Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDEC)
Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
Pathfinder International Tanzania
03.2016 - 12.2018
- Led Pathfinder team in Youth Economic Empowerment baseline assessment in collaboration with DAI (Development Alternatives, Inc.) in Iringa Tanzania
- Led the evaluation of Family Matters Program (SGBV program) including development of tools and report writing
- Developed logical framework for Violence Against Children program in Unguja north funded by OAK Foundation
- Led finalization of Zanzibar National Guidelines for Integrated Community Based Health Care in collaboration with revolutionary government of Zanzibar ministry of health HBC program
- Led the development and review of the Linking Initiatives for the Elimination of Paediatric HIV (LIFE) program M&E strategic plans for all Pathfinder supported components to ensure that selected indicators are used to measure and monitor program targets
- Oversaw quarterly program reviews and reports (monthly and quarterly), for review and approval by LIFE Community-based Programs Senior Technical Advisor/Pathfinder LIFE Program Lead and Director of Monitoring and Evaluation before their submission to EGPAF, NACP/MOHSW and USAID
- Led the LIFE team in reviewing and customizing the District Health Information Management System (DHIS2) for the HBC program running in Tabora, Mwanza, Pwani and Zanzibar regions.
Associate Evaluator
CCBRT’s progress towards achieving its goals as set out in its 2013-2017 Strategy
08.2015 - 10.2015
- Assessed CCBRT’s progress towards achieving its goals as set out in its 2013-2017 Strategy which included Development of data collection tools; carrying out interviews with CCBRT stakeholders including government officials; people living with disability groups; CCBRT staff Evaluation report produced after drafts and comments from CCBRT staff
- Provided a critical analysis of the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance and sustainability of the interventions and results achieved
Short Term Consultancy
Save the children International: Children and Youth Education and Livelihoods Tchibo Project Baseline Survey-Mbozi Mbeya
10.2015 - 10.2015
- Developed and pilot tested data collection tools on the school clubs and parenting knowledge on positive parenting, alternative discipline, early child marriage and encouraging girls to attend school
- Revised teacher competence tools and professional development indicators
- Led data collection in 5 schools
- Baseline report completed and handed over to Save the Children
- Tools and the excel databases Might be available courtesy of Save the Children Tanzania.
MEAL Coordinator- Consultant Position
Save the Children International Tanzania
07.2014 - 05.2015
- Carried out Child Rights Situation Analysis for Tanzania (CRSA) a joint assessment between Plan International and Save the Children as part of consultants’ team
- Led Save the children team for evaluation of the Morogoro Flood Emergency Response, Tanzania Project
- Led Breakthrough Strategic Investment Fund (BSIF) Project Internal Assessment in Lindi Region, report completed
- Developed Monitoring and Evaluation plans & output trackers for four projects under the Save the Children Tanzania
- Supervised the collection and management of Country Annual Report (CAR 2014) including reviewing and sending the final approved reports to Save the Children UK.
Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant
IntraHealth International Inc. – Tanzania Human Resource Capacity Project (THRP)
04.2013 - 12.2013
- Evaluated Most Vulnerable Children (MVC) program in Iringa region as a final follow-up before program closure and presented the findings to national stakeholders meeting conducted in Dar es salaam
- Reviewed and updated IntraHealth project’s Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP)
- Prepared and shared with keys stakeholders and USAID the PEPFAR semi-annual and annual and narrative reports and draft quarterly project
- Communicated M&E results to internal and external audiences orally and in writing.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric Aids Foundation (EGPAF)
01.2010 - 03.2013
- Led internal Data Quality Assessments (DQA) on the impact of the data quality assurances activities in more than 50% of EGPAF supported Care & Treatment sites in all supported regions
- Actively participated in assessments sponsored by the U.S Agency for International Development, MEASURE Evaluation in collaboration with JL Consultancy for implementing partners from previous DQAs
- Participated as EGPAF representative staff in evaluating service delivery points and EGPAF regional M&E units
- Complied and reviewed Quarterly, Semi-Annual, and Annual reports (SAPR&APR)
- Conducted training on District Health Information System (DHIS), an e-database for management of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) data for 17 Districts level in 4 regions
- Organized and run quarterly review meetings with sub grantee to assess the implementation of the program, identification of challenges and opportunities for improving quality of service delivery to the clients
- In collaboration with MEASURE evaluation developed six geographical regions maps (Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Mtwara, Lindi, Tabora and Shinyanga) using QGIS software clustering availability and access of PMTCT and CARE services as a part of Changes in PMTCT guidelines sensitization strategy.
Research Assistant
Rural Livelihood Development Corporation (RLDC) DODOMA
05.2006 - 07.2007
- Carried out three baseline Surveys in Kilombero Sugarcane plantations (Kilombero Community Trust), Mwaya-Mahenge (Morogoro Cotton growers Association) and Kahama Shinyanga (Honeycare Africa Tanzania Ltd) for Rural Livelihood Development Company of Dodoma
- Analysed the surveys using SPSS and presented the findings to the RLDC management.
Education
Advanced University Degree (Postgraduate level) in Monitoring and Evaluation Methods - Monitoring And Evaluation Methods
Stellenbosch University
South Africa02.2009
Master of Arts Degree in Information Studies -
University of Dar Es Salaam
Tanzania10.2006
Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences and management - Environmental Sciences
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Tanzania11.2003
Advanced Level School Certificate - Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education
Pugu Boys Secondary School
Tanzania05.1999
Ordinary Level School Certificate -
Magamba Boys Secondary School
Tanzania10.1996
Skills
- Data Analysis Packages: SPSS, Nvivo, MS Excel as tool for statistical analysis
Websites
Languages
English
Swahili
Professional Development
- 2013, Research Methodology in Social Sciences conducted by Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa. (OSSREA), Application of statistical software (SPSS and STATA), Planning quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research studies (e.g., selecting the sampling scheme; selecting the research design), Implementing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research studies (e.g., collecting data; analysing data, validating data, interpreting data)
- 2012, APR 2012 refresher Training on New Generation Indicator’s and PROMIS Database
- 2013, APR 2013 refresher Training on New Generation Indicator’s and PROMIS Database
- 2011, Use of PROMIS Database for United States Government Agencies Delivered by USG
- 2011, Refresher training on New Generation Indicators’ delivered by USG, Tanzania
- 2008, Use of SPSS in Statistical Analysis, Statistical Evaluation Methods in Qualitative Methods using Atlas Ti Software
- 2006, Provention Consortium Disaster Risk Reduction regional workshop: Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 05/10/77
- Nationality: Tanzanian
Publications
- 2008, Research on Monitoring and evaluation of Voluntary testing and Counselling centers in Kinondoni, Sinza Palestina HIV/VCT Centre, Dar es salaam Tanzania, September –December 2008
- 2006, The effects of natural disasters (specializing in floods) on the vulnerable local communities in Tanga region, Provention Consortium Of USA, September, 2006
- 2006, Influence of violent entertainment media (TV and Video games) on children’s behavior in Dar es Salaam Tanzania, Master of Arts, Dissertation, March 2006 Dept. Information Studies University of Dar es Salaam
- 2003, Rhizosphere effects of cassava roots: Case study Morogoro region Bachelor of Science, Dissertation, March, 2003 Faculty of science, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro.
References
- Obey Nkya, Senior Advisor, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), +255-756772852, onkya@gainhealth.org, www.gainhealth.org, Third Floor, Golden Heights Building, Chole Road, Msasani Peninsula, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Josaphat Mshighati, Director for Advocacy and PHE, Pathfinder International Tanzania, +255 767 997 778 / +255 785 670 560, +255 753 752806, pathfinder.mshighati.josaphat, jmshighati@pathfinder.org
- Yuda Joseph Msoffe, Director Monitoring, Evaluation and research, FHI 360, +255 767 780003 / +255 684 780003, jmsofe@fhi360.org
Timeline
Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
Global Alliance For Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
07.2020 - Current
Short Term Consultancy
Cybergen Company
09.2019 - 06.2020
Short Term Consultancy
Evaluation of a diploma in Health Information Sciences programme at Lake Zone Health Training Institute (LZHTI) Mwanza Tanzania The Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDEC)
06.2019 - 07.2019
Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
Pathfinder International Tanzania
03.2016 - 12.2018
Short Term Consultancy
Save the children International: Children and Youth Education and Livelihoods Tchibo Project Baseline Survey-Mbozi Mbeya
10.2015 - 10.2015
Associate Evaluator
CCBRT’s progress towards achieving its goals as set out in its 2013-2017 Strategy
08.2015 - 10.2015
MEAL Coordinator- Consultant Position
Save the Children International Tanzania
07.2014 - 05.2015
Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant
IntraHealth International Inc. – Tanzania Human Resource Capacity Project (THRP)
04.2013 - 12.2013
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric Aids Foundation (EGPAF)
01.2010 - 03.2013
Research Assistant
Rural Livelihood Development Corporation (RLDC) DODOMA
05.2006 - 07.2007
Advanced University Degree (Postgraduate level) in Monitoring and Evaluation Methods - Monitoring And Evaluation Methods
Stellenbosch University
Master of Arts Degree in Information Studies -
University of Dar Es Salaam
Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences and management - Environmental Sciences
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Advanced Level School Certificate - Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education
Pugu Boys Secondary School
Ordinary Level School Certificate -
Magamba Boys Secondary School
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