Performance Evaluation Specialist Consultant

Job Description

The Partners for Global Research and Development

This position is for an ongoing project.

Background:

The Partners for Global Research and Development (PGRD), a joint venture between CAMRIS International and Social Solutions International, is implementing the “USAID/Peru Evaluations” Project. The purpose of this contract is to provide USAID/Peru and USAID/South America Regional operating units with technical and advisory evaluation services. Additionally, this award will assist with the performance monitoring of objective, program, and activity levels in accordance with USAID’s January 2011 Evaluation Policy. Project activities include the design and implementation of rigorous evaluation studies (quantitative and qualitative) and assessments of USAID/Peru programs as well as strengthening the capacity of local evaluation institutions to design and implement evaluation studies and assessments according to international standards.

Project Description:

The performance evaluation seeks to evaluate a donor program supporting regional efforts to decentralize the management of public services that benefit underserved populations in select regions of Peru (Amazonas, Loreto, Madre de Dios, San Martin and Ucayali). The program focuses its efforts on the three levels of government, local participation and civil society to: i) improve policies and processes that directly affect decentralization and sub-national governance; ii) strengthen sub-national entities to provide effective public services and better management of social conflict; and iii) improve government accountability mechanisms to improve transparency. The project team has assembled a performance evaluation team to design and perform the evaluation.

Job Summary:

The Performance Evaluation Specialist Consultant is a single consultancy position. Under the supervision of the PGRD Lead Evaluation Expert, the consultant will provide in depth quality assurance and advisory support for the performance evaluation. The consultant will review, provide technical comments and recommend improvements to the evaluation design as well as key working and deliverable documents. The consultant will collaborate frequently with the evaluation team.

PGRD estimates a 20 day level of effort, including: five days during initial study implementation, five days during the analysis stage and ten days to strengthen the final report.

Illustrative Tasks/Responsibilities: Provide evaluation technical assistance according to scope of work agreed upon by PGRD Lead Evaluation Expert, approved by PGRD Chief of Party and USAID/Peru.

• Perform literature review of background documentation to frame the context of the project under evaluation;
• Collaborate with the evaluation team to discuss approaches to implementing the study;
• Review, comment and recommend improvements to the implementation approach, data collection methodology and tools, and plan of analysis;
• Meet (in person or via tele or online video conference) with the evaluation team to review the analysis to provide recommendations for the elaboration of the report;
• Provide substantive feedback and input to ensure a high quality evaluation report that reflects: the standards required by USAID Evaluation policy; ADS guidelines; the deliverables described in the study design; and, research standards applicable to the study approach.

Job Requirements/Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in social sciences required;
• Expertise in conducting quantitative and qualitative research;
• Leadership experience evaluating or implementing public decentralization programs;
• A minimum of seven years of demonstrated experience in international development, Peru country experience desirable;
• Fluent English and Spanish language skills, both written and spoken required;
• Availability to travel to Peru for one short-term assignment preferred.

Application Instructions:

To apply online, please visit the job posting at www.camris.com (click on our career opportunities page and search for Performance Evaluation Specialist Consultant. For additional information about PGRD, please visit our website at http://www.pgrd.org/. No phone calls please. PGRD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.