Evaluation Assistant (Local Expert) – STTA

Job Description

Position Title: Evaluation Assistants (Local Experts) – STTA

Reports to: Evaluation Team lead, MEL Activity, DevTech Systems Inc.

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Background:

DevTech Systems, Inc. (DevTech) is an international consulting firm dedicated to development, with 35 years of experience providing advisory services and technical assistance to government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders in more than 100 countries. DevTech core practice areas include: Economic and Data analysis, Monitoring and Evaluation, Education and Youth Development, Gender and Inclusive Development, and Public Financial Management. DevTech Systems, Inc. implements the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Activity. The Activity provides continuous, on-the-ground, on-demand and systematic support to USAID/Nigeria and implementing partners on performance monitoring, data verification, impact and performance evaluations, project and activity level monitoring, evaluation planning and management, organizational learning, capacity building, and knowledge management. DevTech is supporting USAID/Nigeria to conduct an endline evaluation of the Northern Nigeria Initiative Plus (NEI Plus) Activity, hence seeking a highly qualified Team Leader/Senior Evaluation Expert (International) with the requisite experience to be part of the evaluation team.

The endline evaluation is expected to build on the NEI Plus Midline Evaluation and use appropriate methods in order to analyze progress over the life of the activity. The endline evaluation is intended to deepen USAID’s understanding of what was achieved and how it was achieved. The Government of Nigeria, USAID, and its implementing partners will use the evaluation findings to make decisions for possible follow-on activities.

The audience of the evaluation report will be USAID/Nigeria, specifically the Education Office, implementing partners, key officials from the federal, state and local government levels, and other development partners. An Executive Summary narrative with recommendations and a PowerPoint presentation will be provided to USAID/Nigeria in advance of the full report completion. These documents will synthesize findings and recommendations for future programming. The effectiveness of the Education Office’s strategy of investing in systems strengthening at the state and local levels to improve the quality of education should be explored.

Position Requirements:

Period of Performance Tentative: March 2, 2020 – May 22, 2020

Level of Effort: 20 Days Local LOE:

• 3 days (Preliminary data collection in Abuja),
• 11 days (Field Data collection) and
• 6 days (Consolidation of notes).

Experience: The Evaluation Assistants (Local) must have:

• At least 3 years’ experience in in planning and organizing field site visits; knowledge of Nigerian context essential.
• Have knowledge and comprehensive understanding of the education sector and previous experience in evaluating USAID-supported programs is an added advantage.
• Proven ability to capture and produce detailed and clearly presented reports (rapporteur/note taking).
• Familiarity with early grading reading assessment (EGRA) in English and Hausa languages
• Able to work effectively as part of a team/ great team player.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• High attention to detail and ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Excellent oral, written, presentation and communications skills in English and Hausa (both written and oral).

Job Description: The Evaluation Assistants (Local) will:

• Meet and become familiar with the evaluators, and understand the plan or strategy to be used to support the evaluators.
• Become familiar with the evaluation objectives and SOW.
• Attend briefing in Abuja on the data collection tools and instrument;
• Participate in the field testing of the tools;
• Arrange for group meeting and location in collaboration with DevTech Nigeria staff
• Take detailed notes during interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), and meetings with respondents;
• Conduct phone interviews with respondents when applicable;
• Assist in conducting individual interviews with NEI Plus activity stakeholders who are identified in the target areas and groups section of this SOW;
• Assist with conducting FGDs (roundtable discussions) to answer the evaluation questions and bring together stakeholders involved with the project.
• Support data cleaning after data collection in Abuja;
• Upload/share interview notes to the MEL Activity’s SharePoint within 24 hours of completion of interview/discussion; and
• Remain flexible as unforeseen circumstances arise, manage focused and effective communications with the evaluation team to problem solve, lend subject matter expertise and guidance as necessary, and ensure issues are addressed in a timely manner.

About the Organization

NOTE: This job posting should not be construed to imply that the requirements are the exclusive standards of the position nor will it be the sole basis for any subsequent consultant evaluations. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required by their supervisor.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or other status protected by applicable law.