*IMPORTANT* If you are interested in this position, please apply at the following link: https://phg.tbe.taleo.net/phg02/ats/requisitions/RequisitionView.jsp?act=show&id=4357
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Position Background
The position will lead the Evaluation Team for the evaluation of the Honduras Reading Activity (HRA). This evaluation is conducted through the USAID/ MESCLA 2.0 platform in Honduras. MESCLA 2.0 provides USAID with flexible and adaptive support, as well as reliable information to inform its programming in the face of demanding challenges in the Honduran context. MESCLA 2.0 is organized around three main components: (1) evaluations, studies, and assessments; (2) collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA); and (3) monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) capacity development. All tasks under MESCLA 2.0 are also implemented with a focus on learning on USAID’s key priorities, including migration, youth, anti-corruption, gender-based violence, and gender and social inclusion (GESI).
Objective
USAID/Honduras intends to conduct a final evaluation for the Honduras Reading Activity. HRA is a six-year project to support the efforts of the Government of Honduras (GOH), in collaboration with other activities and stakeholders (donors, civil society, and private sector), by providing technical assistance to improve reading instruction and outcomes for Honduran students from first to sixth grade of primary education. In addition, the project will bring attention to the enhancement of reading skills while addressing the critical problems of poverty and violence in Honduras. The project integrates diverse cross-cutting aspects such as gender equality, social inclusion, citizen security, citizenship, transparency, individual responsibility, community cohesion, migration, and positive interpersonal and family relationships.
The evaluation results will inform the USAID/Honduras Education Office to measure and judge the goal achievement and/or impacts from different levels of the Activity and determine whether the activity is sustainable beyond the intervention.
Position Description
The Evaluation Team Leader shall be a bilingual (English and Spanish speaker) evaluation expert with strong evaluation experience in the education sector. She/he will lead the evaluation team through all stages of the evaluation, responsible for leading the team in generating all key deliverables including a Design Report, Draft Evaluation Report and Final Evaluation Report. The Evaluation Team Leader will conduct data collection in Honduras along with a locally-based education expert and a data analyst. She/he will work under the guidance of the Senior Evaluation Advisor, in Washington DC.
Responsibilities
The Team Lead will: Line-manage the Evaluation Team collaboratively with the MESCLA 2.0 Component 1 Team Lead, Quantitative Analyst, GIS specialist according to the SOW approved by USAID/Honduras.
· Lead desk review, initial stakeholder consultation, and identify additional information/analyses required
· Lead the team to prepare and present an inception report that includes research design, methodologies, analysis strategies, work plan, and timelines to USAID and partners, including comments on a contingency plan to adapt the research considering limitations of context at schools’ level to control restrictions
· Lead and oversee data collection efforts, consultation with implementing partners based upon research/logistical needs
· Take responsibility for ongoing data analysis and iteratively develop findings, conclusions, and recommendations
· Write the evaluation report in coordination with team members, taking into consideration feedback from a preliminary-findings session
· Take the lead in preparation and presentation of the key findings, conclusions, and recommendations to USAID , key stakeholders, private sector, and research users following SI’s and USAID’s standards
· Take responsibility to lead the team to respond to USAID and USAID MESCLA 2.0 comments and feedback and deliver high-quality deliverables that meet USAID and SI’s standards
Deliverables
With support from USAID/MESCLA 2.0, and team members, the Team Lead will be expected to take overall responsibility for the production and management of the following:
Inception Report: A detailed, full body report following an initial consultation with USID featuring key definitions, evaluation design, [1] chosen methodologies, and data collection tools.
Kick off meeting/Inbrief: A PowerPoint/Google Slides presentation summarizing the Inception Report for USAID/Honduras MESCLA 2.0 and key partners prior to the launch of data collection.
Findings Conclusions and Recommendations (FCR) Matrix: An analysis tool through which data is triangulated and findings, conclusions, and recommendations specific to each research question are produced. Two FCR matrixes are expected, a preliminary document after the first full week of data collection, and a final matrix at the end of the data analysis period.
Outbrief: The team will present the key findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the wider USAID/Honduras Mission through a PowerPoint/google slides presentation.
Draft Report : A draft report with fully developed findings, conclusions, and recommendations, no longer than 30 pages excluding annexes, will be submitted to the MESCLA/COR activity. The format will include an executive summary, table of contents, methodology, findings, and recommendations. USAID/Honduras MESCLA 2.0 and key local stakeholders will provide comments on the draft report.
Final Report: The team will submit a final report that incorporates responses to USAID’s/partner’s comments and suggestions. The report will be submitted electronically in English. The report will be disseminated within USAID and key stakeholders.
Qualifications and skills The Evaluation Team Lead must have/hold:
· At least 10 years of senior-level experience working on evaluation is desirable, with extensive experience evaluating education interventions required
· A postgraduate degree in development, economics, education, or a suitably related field
· Extensive experience in leading research teams and preparing high-quality documents
· Experience in design of instruments for data collection for KIIs, Focus Groups using diverse technology.
· Excellent oral communication and written skills in English, and Spanish is desirable.
· Demonstrated experience in communicating with local stakeholders at managerial and technical level.
Preferably, the applicant will possess:
· Experience working with international donors, especially USAID.
· Experience conducting research or evaluation in the education sector in Honduras
Level of Effort (LOE ) : Up to 55 days. Only actual time spent is billable.
Expected timeline : February 2023 – August 202 3
The closing date for application: February 15 , 2022 . Selection and interview will be performed on a rolling basis, and interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
To apply, please merge both your CV and a cover letter into one pdf file and submit it through the online portal.
To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website: http://www.socialimpact.com
SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.
[1] Evaluation SOW will state the method approved by USAID AND demonstrated in a Research Design Matrix.
Social Impact, Inc. (SI) is a global development management consulting firm. We provide monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity-building services to advance development effectiveness. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. Since 1997 we have worked in over 100 countries for clients such as U.S. government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits.
