MERL, data science, research

Dr. Todd A. Nitkin, DPM, FACFAS, MPH

(301-****-**** *******@*****.*** N. Potomac, MD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-todd-nitkin/

Public Health Analyst

Proven capacity for leading and conducting complex surveys and program analysis in international development programs to extract meaningful insights and guide project management decisions. Expertise in quantitative and qualitative data capture and data analysis. Leader in ME system design, database design, and data collection methods and tools. Proven leader in M&E and research, specializing in MCH, education, gender issues, and CPP initiatives across diverse global contexts. Skilled in developing and implementing comprehensive M&E frameworks, ensuring data-driven decision-making and program effectiveness. Expertise in evaluating complex MCH programs, providing guidance and oversight for maternal and child health initiatives, utilizing USAID's PIRS and GPF for performance assessment, and performing advanced data analytics using PowerBI, Python, Epi Info and SPSS.

Expertise

Quantitative and Qualitative Survey Methods, including MCH and educational system strengthening assessments

MERLA of MCH, education programs, child protection and participation, and gender equity and inclusion

MERLA frameworks, including AMEL plans and systems, tailored for educational settings

Data Aggregation, Analysis, & Visualization

Experienced author (see publications listed below), including "Listening to Child Brides," focusing on education and agency among AGYW.

Expert in guiding and supporting MCH initiatives, providing effective grant management and MOU oversight

Experienced in public speaking with excellent written and oral communication skills.

Performance Assessment

Experience working in multi-country and/or regional contexts

Research Design

Leadership, Staff Training & Supervision

Proficiency in PowerBI, SPSS, Epi

Collaboration to integrate MERL into Program Design & Improvement

USAID CLA principles

HMIS and mobile data collection-KOBO, Epi Info

Proposal development and Grant writing

Career Highlights

Leadership: Co-founder and Vice Chair of Inspire Ethiopia, dedicated to improving access to quality education in rural Ethiopia. Lead M&E initiatives and drive grant management and oversight for program success and impact in education systems.

Innovation: Recognized innovator of MEL methods and tools, including Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS), creating the first correct guidance in this methodology, enhancing data accuracy in collection and analysis. Assisted with the original guidance for Barrier Analysis.

Expertise: Expert in quantitative and qualitative research, published extensively on MCH, education, child protection and participation, gender equity and social inclusion, nutrition, and environment (see below under Publications).

Professional Experience

Director - Monitoring and Evaluation, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence

INSPIRE ETHIOPIA - North Potomac, MD 2018-present

Co-founder and Vice Chair of Inspire Ethiopia, dedicated to improving access to quality education in rural Ethiopia. Lead in Program Management, Monitoring, Evaluation, Analysis, and Training.

Co-founded Inspire Ethiopia, championing educational access and leadership development in rural communities.

Defining the organization's mission of providing access to education for children in rural Ethiopia, cultivating leaders, and empowering youth, and the organizations vision, and values, ensuring alignment with its goals and objectives.

Designing and implementing AMEL plans including ToC, survey methodologies, and USAID’s PIRS and Global Proficiency Framework (GPF) to measure educational outcomes for program improvement.

Developing long-term strategic plans, and program management and technical assistance to achieve IE's goals and objectives.

Global Senior Advisor –Monitoring, Evaluation, & Research (DMER)

World Vision International, -Washington, DC November 2018 – October 2023

Led global M&E strategies for MCH, education, CPP, and gender equity initiatives, driving evidence-based decision-making and program adaptation. Provided technical support for maternal and child health projects

Authored research in several areas, including MNCH, education, nutrition, WASH, CPP, child marriage, gender equity, and climate and conflict.

Developed and implemented health system assessments and educational evaluations, contributing to organizational learning agendas.

Utilized USAID’s educational PIRS and GPF to measure minimum proficiency levels in primary and secondary students in reading and mathematics.

Formulated survey methodologies and sampling frames, enhancing data analysis, aggregation, and presentation.

Utilized data analysis and visualization to provide clear, actionable recommendations to improve programmatic outcomes.

Provided strategic guidance, improving data analysis, accuracy, and elevating the capacity of international M&E staff.

Authored LQAS methodology guidance materials, presenting them in various forums, contributing to collective MERL knowledge (see publications, below).

Director – Monitoring, Evaluation, & Research (DMER), and Data Analytics

Medical Teams International -Portland, OR November 2005 – October 2018

Pioneered a Program Information System (PIS) using PowerBI for real-time data analytic to analyze and display data from worldwide MTI country programs.

Developed and disseminated field-based M&E processes and procedures to assess the impact of life saving MCH programs for people in crisis across more than 58 countries.

Conducted a range of monitoring activities, including site visits, pre- and post-surveys, verification studies, and data quality assessments (DQAs) in the education and health sectors.

Implemented ME strategies including MCH and Health Facility Assessments to measure and provide technical assistance to programs. Facilitated data input into the USAID Development Information Solution (DIS) system for 3 USAID CSHGP 5-year programs.

Worked with the CORE Group on the KPC for MCH and the Health Facility Assessment tool for use in HSS initiatives.

Provided technical input and guidance for MERL to support program quality within MNCH, FP/RH, education, nutrition, WASH, and CPP programming in fragile settings.

Coordinated the design and implementation of baseline, midterm, and end-of-project assessments, evaluations, surveys, special studies, and other components of M&E systems.

Led processes for using program data to drive quality improvement and measure progress at field, country, and core levels.

Education

Master of Public Health (MPH), Monitoring and Evaluation, Data Analysis, and Humanitarian Assistance Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, MD

Fellow, American College of Foot & Ankle Surgery, Foot and Ankle Surgery

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/Inova Fairfax Hospital Washington, DC

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)

Temple Medical School Philadelphia, PA

Bachelors (BS), Mathematics and Statistics

University of Vermont Burlington, VT

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MIT Professional Education Applied Data Science Program Certificate in Advanced Data Science

Python and Statistical Science, PowerBI, Generative AI, AI, and Statistical Modeling and Data Analysis.

Targeted Technology Institute Certificate in Power BI, SQL, SSIS, and SSRS

PowerBI, SQL, SSIS, and SSRS

Publications & Presentations

Listening to Child Brides: Young and Married: Understanding the experiences, needs, and agency of married adolescent girls and young women (12-17 years) compared to unmarried girls in Bangladesh, Mauritania, Nepal, and Tanzania. https://www.wvi.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/Young%20and%20Married.pdf

It Takes Community Health Workers to End Violence Against Children, Summary of new research findings in four countries by World Vision, Relief Web, https://reliefweb.int/report/world/it-takes-community-health-workers-end-violence-against-children

Effects of a Nurturing Care Group Behavior Change Program on Child Protection Outcomes in Ghana: A Controlled Before and After Trial, Child Abuse and Neglect International Journal, Article 106067, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213423000480

Addressing Child Wellbeing among ‘Skip-Generation’ Households in Cambodia, Field Exchange Journal of the Emergency Nutrition Network, April 2022, Issue 67, (PDF) Addressing Child Well-Being Among Skip Generation Households in Cambodia (researchgate.net)

Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS), Frequently Asked Questions, CORE Group Publication

LQAS_FAQ.pdf (coregroup.org)

Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS), Protocol for Parallel Sampling, CORE Group Publication, https://coregroup.org/wp-content/uploads/media-backup/documents/Workingpapers/LQAS_FAQ.pdf

The Use of Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) to Determine Inequities in Project Programming in Crisis Affected Contexts (LQASE), USAID Child Survival & Health Grants Program CORE Group Publication, https://coregroup.org/wp-content/uploads/media-backup/documents/Workingpapers/LQAS_FAQ.pdf

Rising Storms: Climate Impacts on Conflict, Community Tensions, and Hunger; https://www.wvi.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/WV_ClimateConflictHunger_compressed5.pdf

Volunteer Experience

Chair, Member of the Board of Directors, and Member of the M&E WG at the CORE Group

CORE Group 2005-present

Facilitated several projects, including:

oRevamping the Knowledge, Practices, and Coverage (KPC) surveys to be more accurate and easier to program.

oWrote all the guidance for the CORE Group regarding Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS).

oCreated one of the first comprehensive Health Facility Assessments (HFAs)

oPresented several technical presentations with findings from USAID CSGHP projects for which I led the MERL.

Past President (six terms) and Present Member

Rotary International, Potomac-Bethesda Club 2003 - present

Developed and Implemented Rotary Global Grants:

oInspire Ethiopia, Creating access to education in rural Ethiopia

oBelieve and Belize, providing for community needs and education infrastructure in Belize

oJoshua House, helping to furnish and supply an orphanage and school in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Facilitated local projects

oServed dinners at Sophia House shelter for women

oPacked food for distribution and Mana Food

oProvided scholarships to Montgomery College

LANGUAGES

English-native

Spanish-advanced proficiency

Amharic- intermediate proficiency

Contact this candidate