Local Political Economy Analyst (PEA) - Sierra Leone

Job Description

The Cloudburst Group is recruiting a Local Political Economy Analyst in anticipation of a PEA activity for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). The local expert may advise on aspects of the report(s), including questionnaire design, interview guides, and subsequent interview analysis. The consultant may also participate in research and analytical activities and may be assigned specific tasks by the Team Leader as appropriate, to include designing and conducting surveys, key informant interviews and guides, and focus group discussions and discussion guides with diverse types of respondents across Sierra Leone, including Government of Sierra Leone officials and local government actors, civil society actors, private sector representatives, media, and implementers.

Essential Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Work with an International PEA expert to conduct various PEA assessments and activities in Lesotho.
• Contribute to a desk review, potentially including analysis of existing datasets in addition to document review.
• Develop a mixed-methods assessment methodology, including defining research questions, developing sampling frameworks and KII lists, and creating survey instruments.
• Conduct remote fieldwork to support assessment, including in briefs and out briefs with MCC.
• Contribute to one or more PEA reports, responding to MCC’s questions and criteria, with an emphasis on analysis-based, actionable, and operational recommendations that can assist with strategic decision-making and programmatic decisions. This may include serving as lead author on a report or collaborating with another assessment team member to draft a report.
• Contribute to dissemination of results, potentially including presentations, workshops, infographics, or a post-evaluation action plan.

Minimum Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• 10 years’ experience in designing, managing, researching, evaluating, or other engagement with the political economy dimension in Sierra Leone.
• Detailed knowledge of Sierra Leone’s political, private sector, and CSO landscape, including key stakeholders and actors.
• Proven experience in conducting evaluations in Sierra Leone or in the areas of the political economy dimension.
• Familiarity with the power sector strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent related to the political economy dimension (political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, etc.)
• Sierra Leone national strongly preferred.
• Must have experience in drafting high quality reports.
• Fluency in spoken and written English required, knowledge of Krio or other local languages preferred.

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 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.

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