Team Leader – PNG Electrification Partnership Performance Evaluation

Job Description

Background

Panagora provides technical and advisory services related to monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning to USAID under the USAID/Philippines, Pacific Islands, and Mongolia Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Activity (PIMMELA).

Under the PIMMELA Activity, Panagora will conduct a performance evaluation of the USAID-funded PNG Electrification Partnership project to be carried out from May to October 2024. USAID-PEP is a five-year project (2020-2025) that aims to strengthen the partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) in achieving its goal of connecting 70 percent of PNG’s population to electricity by 2030. Also, USAID-PEP contributes to the United States Government’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, particularly the Asia Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy (EDGE) Initiative, which supports market-based energy policy and reforms, the modernization of energy infrastructure, and expanded access to affordable, secure, and reliable energy supplies. USAID-PEP is also a part of the broader USAID-PEP initiative signed by the five partner countries – PNG, United States, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand – in 2018 that aims to encourage cooperation and accelerate achievement of PNG’s electrification goals.

USAID-PEP will facilitate 350,000 new on- and off-grid household electricity connections and institutionalize strategies that will enable PNG to achieve its target of connecting 70 percent of PNG’s population with access to quality electricity service by 2030. To achieve this target, USAID-PEP implements four interrelated objectives:

• · Objective 1: Strengthen Financial Viability and Operational Efficiency of PNG Power Limited
• · Objective 2: Develop Viable Off-Grid Electrification Models
• · Objective 3: Enhance PNG’s Energy Regulator
• · Objective 4: Catalyze Private Investment for Energy Projects

The objective of this performance evaluation is to identify the extent to which USAID-PEP has achieved its intended results and specifically to identify the approaches to build the capacity of PNG Power Limited (PPL) and the National Energy Authority (NEA) in implementing operational and policy reforms, expanding access of households to on- and off-grid connections, and improving access to private sector funds toward increasing opportunities and expanding these connections. The results of the performance evaluation will inform any adjustments to the interventions being delivered by USAID-PEP for the remainder of its implementation, and most importantly, inform the future strategic and programmatic decision-making in the energy sector of USAID/Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu in the country. The results of the performance evaluation will be able to clearly articulate the short- to medium term programmatic approach to the energy sector in PNG and how the Mission can support the PNG Government to achieve its energy priorities.

The evaluation will be carried out by a team of specialists, including the evaluation team leader and sectoral specialists with expertise in energy utilities capacity building, off-grid electrification, energy regulatory capacity building, and private sector engagement and funds mobilization.

Position Summary

Panagora Group seeks an evaluation team leader to oversee the design and implementation of the USAID-PEP performance evaluation. The team leader will be responsible for the overall implementation of the evaluation and ensuring that all expected tasks and deliverables are achieved on time and of high quality. To achieve this, the team leader will work closely with subject matter experts and will receive support from the Panagora home office team. The evaluation is expected to be carried out between May and October 2024. The position will report to the PIMMELA Evaluation Advisor.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the evaluation team in all evaluation planning, team coordination meetings, desk review, design and review of data collection instruments, supervise data collection, review work products from team members, and integrate work products of team members into a final report.
• Plan and perform a desk review of USAID and USAID-PEP program documents and other secondary sources. Oversee and contribute to the analysis of findings and conclusions from the desk review.
• Lead the development and drafting of a synthesis report resulting from the desk review to include a process tracing map and summary of key results, data gaps, and potential challenges for the evaluation.
• Lead the drafting and finalization of the evaluation design and implementation plan with methodology, data collection and analysis plan, data collection instruments, stakeholder list for interviews, and schedule of activities.
• In collaboration with the evaluation team members, design a complete set of structured interview guides (KIIs and FGDs) for primary data collection on different components of USAID-PEP to answer the evaluation questions.
• Provide guidance to evaluation team members in carrying out required design, data collection, and analysis tasks.
• Oversee and carry out data collection and analysis based on the approved evaluation design and methodology. Working with the evaluation team, conduct KIIs, FGDs, and group interviews with USAID staff, implementing partners, representatives from relevant or partner national and provincial government agencies, private sector and community organizations, and like-minded organizations working in PNG working in the energy and power sector, ensuring necessary mechanisms for data quality assurance.
• With support from the evaluation team members, analyze the collected data and draft preliminary findings, conclusions, and recommendations, in consultation with the PIMMELA Evaluation Advisor and Panagora Director.
• Present an initial findings report for discussion with USAID, USAID-PEP implementing partners and other stakeholders.
• Prepare and facilitate two findings and recommendations workshops with USAID, implementing partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Draft a final report incorporating USAID feedback, summarizing data collection, main findings and conclusions, and a set of prioritized recommendations.
• In collaboration with USAID, prepare and facilitate a Learning Event for Evaluation Utilization with USAID key stakeholders, PEP country partners, and other donors.

Qualifications:

The team leader will have extensive experience leading evaluation teams and designing and implementing mixed-methods evaluations for USAID or other donor-funded projects. It is preferred that the team leader also have relevant experience and knowledge of the energy and electricity sector in a developing country context, preferably Papua New Guinea. Additional qualifications include:

• Masters degree in a relevant field of study with a minimum 10 years of experience conducting similar, complex evaluations of donor-funded projects.
• Deep knowledge of evaluation methodologies and demonstrated expertise with mixed research methods for data collection and analysis required.
• Knowledge of methods and approaches to assess (i) the financial viability and operational efficiency of energy utilities; (ii) energy regulatory reforms and tariff structures; (iii) viability of off-grid electrification methods; (iv) measurement of households’ access to on- and off-grid connections; and (iv) private sector engagement and fund mobilizations.
• Prior experience conducting evaluations or assessments of energy and electricity related projects highly preferred.
• Proven qualitative and quantitative analysis capability through professional experience in an energy policy setting, consulting for private sector firms in the energy sector, and/or academic research in developing countries.
• Relevant publications, such as policy briefs, sector analyses, project evaluations and other consulting reports, academic papers, etc. on related topics such as power utilities, regulatory authorities, mobilizing funding support and investments from the private sector, and increasing access of households to on- and off-grid connections in developing countries.
• Experience working in developing countries. Prior work experience in PNG is preferred.
• Excellent English written and verbal communication skills.

About the Organization

Panagora Group is a social enterprise dedicated to providing high-quality, high-impact international health, development, and learning consulting. We are a dynamic woman- and employee-owned small business partner focused on market-based and integrated local solutions that strengthen country capacity and independence; and on learning, communications, and technology solutions to accelerate and heighten impact. As a small business, we are able to implement novel and innovative approaches using highly participatory approaches to mobilize community, civil society, and government energy in defining and owning solutions, and to promote inclusive development that benefits all groups.

More information