Local Expert, Market Systems and Resilience Activity (MSR)

Job Description

The Cloudburst Group frequently develops and implements evaluations, assessments, and other learning tools for USAID/Ghana. Cloudburst is currently seeking a Local Expert with subject matter expertise in rural or agricultural economics and economic growth to conduct a rigorous mid-term program performance evaluation of the Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience Activity (MSR). MSR seeks to strengthen the commercial relationships between market actors, improve the rural entrepreneurship ecosystem to enable greater market participation, particularly for women and youth, expand the availability of agribusiness services, and link targeted policy initiatives to improve local economic governance.

Part-time Consultancy

Illustrative Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Support a team of international and Ghana-based experts through each stage of the evaluation.
• Contribute to a desk review, potentially including analysis of existing datasets in addition to document review.
• Assist with the development of a mixed-methods evaluation methodology, including defining evaluation questions, developing sampling frameworks and KII lists, and creating survey instruments.
• Conduct fieldwork to support evaluation, including inbriefs and outbriefs with USAID.
• Contribute to an evaluation report, responding to USAID’s questions and criteria, with an emphasis on analysis-based, actionable, and operational recommendations that can assist with strategic decision-making and programmatic decisions.
• Contribute to dissemination of results, potentially including presentations, workshops, infographics, or a post-evaluation action plan.

Minimum Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Technical subject matter expertise - technical competence in economic growth, as applied to rural and agricultural livelihoods.
• Experience supporting rural and smallholder farmers in developing market linkages and economic growth. Knowledge of applicable programming.
• Knowledge of USAID/Ghana Economic Growth Programs, most of which are in the Zone of Influence (ZOI) comprising 17 districts in four (4) Northern regions of Ghana.
• Knowledge of the predecessor USAID-funded ADVANCE II preferred.
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, surveys, and data analysis using quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools.
• Experience in evaluation design, methods, management, and implementation.
• Experience in similar mid-term performance evaluations in the sub-region, preferably in Ghana.
• Ghana national strongly preferred.
• Must have experience in drafting high-quality reports.
• English fluency required, proficiency in Twi or other local languages required.

About the Organization

COMPANY INFORMATION

The Cloudburst Group is a small consulting business with its main office in Landover, MD. Cloudburst is considered a leader in optimizing the effectiveness and sustainability of public/private programs that target underserved populations and support communities domestically and internationally. Our services include research, evaluation, planning, management consulting and technical assistance, communications and performance measurement.

The work that Cloudburst engages in is guided by a Mission to improve economic, social, and environmental resilience. To this end, many of the populations and communities we work with focus on addressing structural and institutional racism that disproportionately impacts Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Cloudburst believes that effective services and solutions are created with communities historically impacted by the systems we are attempting to transform. We strongly encourage applications from people who are representative of the culturally and ethnically diverse communities we work with.

The Cloudburst Group is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or genetics, or any other protected class. Cloudburst will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled