Nachela Chelwa
Summary
Nachela is a highly experienced public health advocate with a strong background in designing, implementing, and evaluating extensive health and development programs. With over 13 years of experience, she has excelled as a Principal Investigator, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor, and most recently as a Country Representative, leading diverse reproductive, maternal, and adolescent health projects. Her expertise includes strategic evaluation and research leadership, directing advanced implementation science projects such as identifying adolescent pregnancy hotspots and enhancing antenatal care using digital tools. She has also led evaluation efforts that significantly improved HIV testing and ART adherence among adolescents and pioneered innovative responses for child survivors of sexual violence. Additionally, she is an expert in leveraging research data to inform policy and programmatic decisions, collaborating with country governments, academic institutions, and civil society to optimize health outcomes. She has successfully facilitated knowledge transfer sessions with policymakers, including parliamentarians, to integrate research findings into national policy frameworks. Furthermore, her program management skills are exceptional, as demonstrated by her role as the Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Advisor for the $93 million USAID-funded STEPS OVC program in Zambia. Finally, she is committed to evaluation integrity and ensures objectivity and impartiality in her operational research and evaluation practices in accordance with best practices and ethical standards.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Acting Country Representative
Population Council
01.2023 - Current
- Facilitated capacity-building workshops for partners and beneficiaries, enhancing their skills and knowledge to effectively implement programs.
- Identified potential risks associated with program implementation proactively; devised mitigation strategies accordingly.
- Ensured compliance with local laws and regulations pertaining to non-profit operations within the country context.
- Enhanced partnership collaborations by establishing strong relationships with local stakeholders and organizations.
- Leveraged partnerships with governmental agencies for greater policy influence on issues relevant to the organization''s mission.
- Managed budgetary resources efficiently to ensure optimal allocation of funds for program activities and objectives.
- Coordinated closely with headquarters staff to provide timely updates on project progress, challenges, and successes.
- Conducted regular field visits to monitor project implementation firsthand, providing valuable insights for future improvements.
- Implemented comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems to measure program impact and identify areas for improvement.
Manager-Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation Research
Population Council
9 2015 - Current
- Overseeing resource mobilization and new business development effort for Country Office including programme design, budget development and human resource management for technical proposal documents
- Providing technical review of research outputs including policy briefs, manuscripts, evaluation reports and concept documents
- Serving as Principal Investigator for Zambia country program's with oversight for development of study protocols for ethical review, designing targeted Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) documents and reference manual
- Managing both technical and administrative staff within Country Office.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.
- Built high-performing teams through effective recruitment, onboarding, and talent development initiatives.
- Streamlined workflows by identifying bottlenecks in existing systems and implementing appropriate solutions.
- Developed a strong company culture focused on employee engagement, collaboration, and continuous learning opportunities.
Research Manager - New Ante-Natal Care Model for Africa and India (NAMAI Digital Study)
Population Council
08.2021 - Current
- Coordination with Ministry of Health at National, Provincial, District and Facility level to ensure optimal programme implementation
- Increased research efficiency by streamlining data collection and analysis processes.
- Developed project management tools for tracking progress, facilitating communication among team members, and ensuring timely completion of tasks.
- Led regular project update meetings providing detailed status updates on timelines deliverables risks/issues and action items.
- Implemented quality control measures to ensure data integrity and validity across all stages of the research process.
- Facilitated workshops aimed at improving researcher skills in areas such as project management, data analysis techniques, or presentation abilities.
- Supporting the development and capacity building efforts of field data collection activities including research protocol development, ethics training, development of SOPs and data collection forms
- Lead qualitative data collection activities to assess perceptions and acceptability of approaches used to increase uptake of ANC
- Manage regular partner, donor and government meetings to provide of implementation science approaches
- Lead routine analysis and synthesis of program monitoring data to assess performance against target and inform next steps in implementation.
Team Lead - Population Council partnership with United Nations Fund for Population Agency (UNFPA) Zambia Country Office
Population Council
08.2021 - Current
- Led technical team that evaluated adolescent integrated SRHR and family planning support to target provinces in Zambia
- Disseminated to parliamentary committees secondary data analysis for teenage pregnancy hotspots
- Advocated and led in the design of web-based monitoring tracker to track program performance of adolescent health programming
- Supported the development of policy briefs to synthesize large evaluation reports for decision makers uptake
- Focal point of contact for with UNFPA for development of evidence generation activities for ongoing Country programming.
Team Lead - Prevention and Treatment through a Comprehensive Care Continuum for HIV-affected Adolescents in Resource Constrained Settings (PATCH )Study
07.2019 - Current
- Managed all aspects of research initiation and implementation including protocol and tools development, revision and adherence to ethics and health research regulatory requirements, training of research teams, supervising field work and monitoring implementation progress, supporting analysis and manuscript development and dissemination
- Coordinate Youth and Community advisory boards to ensure buy-in of programs as well as ensure that community and youth voices are present throughout research implementation.
Study PI SIDA SGBV and Project Manager EVA PMDUP
09.2015 - 09.2020
- Overall project manager, overseeing budget and supervising all staff working on SIDA project and coordinator for the EVA-PMDUP and GirlsRead! Study
- Mapped various service points (medical abortion, legal and psychosocial support services) for comprehensive abortion care
- Lead investigator for Population Council Zambia SIDA project, responsible for developing training materials, standard operating procedures, data extraction form for survivor record reviews
- Ensured adherence to study protocol and supported the analysis of qualitative and quantitative study data including taking the lead in report-writing, and abstract, manuscript, and poster preparation
- Developed and maintained relationships with Zambia Police, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, Ministry of Gender, Marie Stopes International and Ipas
- Worked regularly with Zambia Police to troubleshoot any issues with intervention implementation
- Coordinated the recruitment of study personnel (Research Assistants and supervisors) and conducted training in data collection tools and study protocol review
- Coordinated field pretesting of study tools with regular reviews and feedback sessions with study teams as required
- Conducted monitoring visits to all study sites as required routinely
- Draft abstracts, reports, articles, posters as required.
Principal Investigator - Medical Abortion Study
06.2018 - 06.2020
- Developed study protocol as per the terms of reference by donor and the managed the development and refining of study tools including training and monitoring Pharmacies selected in study on adherence to research protocol
- Identified and recruited participants via health facilities with interviews been scheduled as phone interviews to allow participant confidentiality
- Secret codeword developed for participant recruitment and participant verification
- Mapped pharmacies with high volume sales of MA drugs as recruitment points for MA users in Lusaka.
Community Engagement Manager - PATCH Study
Population Council
10.2018 - 07.2019
- Supported formative assessment research work for the PATCH Study by coordinating recruitment and training of research staff, managing data for study and overseeing community engagement activities for intervention rollout
- Managed community engagement activities for successful project implementation
- Conducted trainings for relevant community stakeholders, research staff and other key players
- Conducted in-depth and key informant interviews and supervised Focus Group Discussion activities
- Oversaw the running of Youth Advisory and Community Advisory Boards and document lessons
- Analyzed all qualitative data for the study.
M&E Coordinator, GirlsRead! DREAMs Innovations Challenge
10.2016 - 01.2019
- Conducted routine project monitoring and evaluation activity including development of Performance Monitoring Plan and Indicator Reference Sheets
- Ensured key performance indicators were tracked and reported on as per donor requirement
- Supported Research and Evaluation work by preparing relevant field work material including Research Protocols, Field Manuals, data collection tools as well as training of field staff
- Supported the development of curricula for girl's specific safe space sessions
- Supported the training of mentors for girl groups.
M & E Technical Advisor
Futures Global Group
06.2012 - 08.2015
- Provided technical support to 13 local partners under the STEPS OVC $93million USAID-funded project; and ensured that monitoring and evaluation systems are working effectively; developed and managed reporting systems and processes that meet Government of Zambia and USAID reporting requirements
- Supported and managed and built capacity of 13 partner organizations and their M&E officers to develop and roll out their performance monitoring plan as well coordinated these plans with relevant line ministries
- Contributed to evaluation research on the effectiveness and/or cost-effectiveness of the STEPS OVC Program including secondary analysis of existing data as well as supporting the training of research staff and supervising data collection, analysis and reporting
- Supported local partners in the use and management of the STEPS OVC Project Community-based Prevention Information System (CoPIS) to ensure partners have timely data to use for program management
- Conducted data quality assessments routinely in line with USG requirements and according to project data quality
- Supported the training of 180 community caregivers in the piloting of the STEPS OVC Mobile Health (MHealth) referral scheme in Chongwe district including establishing a help line for caregivers.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
World Vision Zambia
12.2010 - 05.2012
- Provided Monitoring and Evaluation guidance to seven projects implemented by the Area development program
- Coordinated the preparation and finalization of program design documents and proposals for all new projects planned within the Area Development Program (ADP)
- Organized baseline planning and implementation processes and new projects under the ADP as well as coordinating the development of Annual Detailed Implementation plans
- Coordinated research proposal drafting from the Maternal Newborn Child Health Care Project as well as undertook Baseline study and analysis of findings.
- Enhanced data quality by implementing rigorous monitoring and evaluation processes.
- Developed comprehensive monitoring tools to track project progress and outcomes.
Education
Master of Public Health - Population Studies
University of Zambia
Lusaka12.2015
BSc Urban and Regional Planning -
Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia
Skills
Team Leadership
Area Of Expertise
- Programme Evaluation
- Stakeholder Coordination
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Implementation Research
- Assessments
- Strategy Development
- Report Writing
- Data Dissemination
- Public Health
- Qualitative and Quantitative Research Work
- Field Work
- Resource Mobilization
- Consulting
Publications
- Identifying Profiles of Support for Legal Abortion Services in Zambia: A Latent Class Analysis, Joseph G. Rosen, Michael T. Mbizvo, Nachela Chelwa, Lyson Phiri, Jenny A. Cresswell, Veronique Filippi, Nkomba Kayeyi, Studies in Family Planning, 55, 1, 45-59, https://doi.org/10.1111/sifp.12257, 2024
- Comprehensive sexuality education linked to sexual and reproductive health services reduces early and unintended pregnancies among in-school adolescent girls in Zambia, Michael T. Mbizvo, Kondwani Kasonda, Nelly-Claire Muntalima, Joseph G. Rosen, Sophie Inambwae, Edith S. Namukonda, Ronald Mungoni, Natasha Okpara, Chifundo Phiri, Nachela Chelwa and Chabu Kangale, BMC Public Health, 23, 348, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15023-0, 2023
- Health worker perceptions of stigma towards Zambian adolescent girls and young women: a qualitative study, Meek, C., Mulenga, D.M., Edwards, P. Inambwae, S., Chelwa, N., Mbizvo, T.M., Roberts, T.S., Subramanian, S., and Nyblade. L., BMC Health Serv Res, 22, 1253, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08636-5, 2022
- Developing and testing a chatbot to integrate HIV education into family planning clinic waiting areas in Lusaka, Zambia, Yam EA, Namukonda E, McClair T, Souidi, S., Chelwa, N., Muntalima, N., Mbizvo, M. and Bellows, B., Glob Health Sci Pract, 10, 5, https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-21-00721, 2022
- Perspectives of Adolescent Girls and Young Women on Optimizing Youth-Friendly HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health Care in Zambia, Edwards PV, Roberts ST, Chelwa N, Phiri L, Nyblade L, Mulenga D, Brander C, Musheke M, Mbizvo M and Subramanian S, Frontiers in Global Women's Health, 2, 10.3389/fgwh.2021.723620, 2021
- Burnt by the scorching sun: climate-induced livelihood transformations, reproductive health, and fertility trajectories in drought-affected communities of Zambia, Rosen, J.G., Mulenga, D., Phiri, L. Okpara, N., Brander, C., Chelwa, N., and Mbizvo, M., BMC Public Health, 21, 1501, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11560-8, 2021
- Treading the Thin Line: Pharmacy Workers' Perspectives on Medication Abortion Provision in Lusaka, Zambia, Katharine Footman, Nachela Chelwa, Megan Douthwaite, James Mdala, Drosin Mulenga, Caila Brander, Kathryn Church, Studies in Family Planning, 52, 2, https://doi.org/10.1111/sifp.12151, 2021
- Family Support for Adolescent Girls and Young Women Living With HIV in Zambia: Benefits, Challenges, and Recommendations for Intervention Development, Sarah T. Roberts, Patrick Edwards, Drosin Mulenga, Nachela Chelwa, Laura Nyblade, Caila Brander, Maurice Musheke, Michael Mbizvo and Sujha Subramanian, Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 32, 2, 160-173, 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000225, 2021
- Practice-based learning: Establishing simple monitoring systems to support SGBV programming in refugee settings, Undie, Chi-Chi, Josephine Ngebeh, Jane Harriet Namwebya, Michael Gaitho, George Odwe, Nachela Chelwa, Harriet Birungi, and Michael Mbizvo, Sauti/VOICE Program Brief Series, 7, UNHCR EHAGL Africa Bureau and Population Council, 2020
- A new approach to assess the capability of health facilities to provide clinical care for sexual violence against women: A pilot Study, Mardieh Dennis, Onikepe Owolabi, Jenny Cresswell, Nachela Chelwa, Manuela Colombini, Bellington Vwalika, Michael Mbizvo and Oona Campbell, Health Policy and Planning, czy106, 2019
- Does supportive legislation guarantee access to pregnancy termination and post abortion care services? Findings from a facility census in Central Province, Zambia, Cresswell JA, Owolabi OO, Chelwa N, et al., BMJ Glob Health, 3, e000897, 10.1136/bmjgh-2018000897, 2018
References
Available on request
Training
- Good Clinical Practice
- Human Subjects Ethics certification
- Quantitative Data Analysis with Stata-Short Course- University of Zambia
- Confronting Gender Based Violence: Global Lessons with India Case Studies (online course- Coursera)
- Qualitative data analysis and writing using NVIVO- University of Zambia
- MILEAD Fellows Program, Moremi Initiative, University of Ghana, Legon
- Project Management for Development Professionals Level 1 (PMD Pro 1), World Vision Zambia
- Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, University of Zambia
Timeline
Acting Country Representative
Population Council
01.2023 - Current
Research Manager - New Ante-Natal Care Model for Africa and India (NAMAI Digital Study)
Population Council
08.2021 - Current
Team Lead - Population Council partnership with United Nations Fund for Population Agency (UNFPA) Zambia Country Office
Population Council
08.2021 - Current
Team Lead - Prevention and Treatment through a Comprehensive Care Continuum for HIV-affected Adolescents in Resource Constrained Settings (PATCH )Study
07.2019 - Current
Community Engagement Manager - PATCH Study
Population Council
10.2018 - 07.2019
Principal Investigator - Medical Abortion Study
06.2018 - 06.2020
M&E Coordinator, GirlsRead! DREAMs Innovations Challenge
10.2016 - 01.2019
Study PI SIDA SGBV and Project Manager EVA PMDUP
09.2015 - 09.2020
M & E Technical Advisor
Futures Global Group
06.2012 - 08.2015
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
World Vision Zambia
12.2010 - 05.2012
Manager-Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation Research
Population Council
9 2015 - Current
Master of Public Health - Population Studies
University of Zambia
BSc Urban and Regional Planning -
Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia
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