Location: Greater Accra Region
Description:
The Research & Evaluation (R&E) Advisor shall be responsible for leading the design and implementation of all the operations research and evaluations under the E4D, carried out by CPHDA, IRESCO and the recipient groups under the supervision of the Chief of Party (COP). He will work with the USAID COR and other USAID technical staff and IBTCI Project Manager to develop methodologies to carry out the Operational Research (OR) and evaluation activities. He will be based in Accra, Ghana with travel to monitor evaluations, OR, capacity building, and dissemination activities in the six non-presence countries. He is expected to provide technical expertise in research methodologies, protocols, analytical frameworks, instrument and tool development, data management, and other technical assistance as necessary. The R&E Advisor is the lead technical advisor for the E4D project. He will be the lead analyst for interpreting the results of operational research (OR), evaluations, surveys, assessments and other field data collection efforts, and be responsible for ensuring the quality of all E4D task order technical deliverables related to R&E.
Job Title: Senior Research and Evaluation Advisor
Job Location: Accra, Greater Accra
Job Description
Technical Responsibilities (General)
Serve as the project’s technical lead providing strategic direction for programming and planning purposes
Supervise consultant teams implementing project task orders focused on the implementation of operational research, evaluations, surveys, assessments, data quality assessments and other studies.
Review and edit technical deliverables of consultant teams. As needed, solicit assistance from IBTCI’s senior technical experts at the Home Office (HO)
Supervise the implementation of project operational research, evaluations, assessments, surveys, activities and related sector or policy studies
Design or provide assistance in the design of performance management systems and research and evaluation methodologies and tools.
Provide technical assistance to teams on the analysis plans for evaluation-related task orders
Develop, implement and periodically update the E4D Capacity Building Plan based on USAID’s needs and guidance
Assist with implementation of project-related Data Quality Assessments.
Provide R&E training services upon request from USAID. Trainings will follow a capacity building plan developed by the R&E Advisor which complies with conventional adult learning methodologies.
Performance Monitoring
Oversee the annual review of the Mission or USAID/Washington Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP); develop R&E Plan Guidelines; review (internal) project-level R&E plans (PMEPs), and provide R&E technical assistance to Mission and implementing partner staff.
Advises and train any Implementing Partners on effective R&E methodologies, approaches, and techniques.
Be responsible for the design and delivery of performance management training as needed for both Mission and implementing partner staff.
Provide independent verification of performance data reported by implementing partners through evaluation of USAID/West Africa programs.
Periodically review and offer recommendations for an improved USAID client performance management system that reflects Agency standards and best practices in areas such as data and indicator quality, baselines, targets, and performance reporting.
Evaluation
Be responsible for the design, quality, development and completion of all OR and evaluations and ensure they are compliant with USAID OR and Evaluation Policy and guidelines.
Review all technical deliverables of evaluation teams, specifically Inception Reports, OR, Evaluation Design and Workplans, Draft and Final OR, Evaluation reports. Be responsible for the technical integrity to ensure all deliverables meet the expectations of the client and are contractually compliant.
Ensure all evaluation reports produced by E4D follow the format delineated in the USAID Checklist for Reviewers of OR and evaluation reports.
Ensure that the short-term technical experts and evaluation team members recruited under this contract are of a high caliber and possess the required technical expertise. Make recommendations to replace hired consultants if they are unable to conduct high quality OR and evaluations per USAID OR and Evaluation Policy guidance.
Actively participate in evaluations and assessments throughout the life of the contract, as appropriate.
Lead and coordinate recruitment and oversee the selection and management of OR and evaluation teams.
Contribute substantively to the design and field testing of the OR and evaluation methodology, participatory data collection methods and protocols, data verification techniques, and other technical evaluation and analytical tasks conducted under this contract
Supervise Evaluation Team Leaders, and mentor as appropriate.
Ensure that project data collection methodologies are standardized and used effectively in the field; supervise data collection techniques, and perform data quality control.
General/Other Management
Serve as the R&E technical point of contact for USAID Mission and/or COR providing management and technical advice on the implementation of the performance monitoring plan, including periodic evaluations and assessments as required by the CoP.
Develop in conjunction with the USAID client a forward-looking annual R&E plan.
Use performance management best practices and the data collected through monitoring, assessments, and evaluations to develop and maintain a simple knowledge and performance management system that enhances the Mission’s capacity to respond in a timely fashion to diverse information requests from internal and external stakeholders, including Mission management, USAID/Washington, local host country government organizations and nationals, and audit agencies.
Provide R&E technical assistance and training to help raise the profile and understanding of USAID Evaluation Policy and the principle of “Managing for Results” to improve program implementation and programmatic and resource decision-making.
Manage technical resources during project implementation.
Monitor the timely submission of all project technical deliverables. Develop and routinely maintain an electronic system for monitoring these deliverables which is shared with the COP.
Develop and maintain databases for: 1) Consultant Database and 2) Collaborating Firms and Institutions. Solicit the support of software specialist(s) to develop an interactive, web-based Consultant Database. Once operational, be responsible for the routine review and maintenance of the Databases and/or solicit support needed.
Review and update E4D Standard Operating Procedures on a quarterly basis, such as the Evaluation & Special Studies Quality Management Guide, OR and Evaluations Processes, etc.
Continually recruit new talent for active and future TOs including reviewing CVs and interviewing prospective consultants.
Spearhead project efforts for knowledge sharing and dissemination through R&E Users Group or other type of project/program users’ group mechanism.
Ensure the on time delivery of high quality project technical deliverables related to R&E and performance management.
Supervise and mentor other R&E staff as assigned
Function as Officer in Charge (OIC) and project representative in the absence of the CoP or PD.
Qualification and Requirements
An advanced degree in public health, evaluation, research, statistics, or other relevant field is required
Prior Work Experience
Minimum of ten years of progressively more responsible experience in the following areas
Serving as a team leader on several USAID performance evaluations, specifically in public health
Indicator development, data collection and analysis, data quality assessments, and/or performance monitoring and reporting
Providing guidance to technical teams in the development and updating of performance management plans (PMPs)
Creation and management of performance tracking systems
Experience leveraging performance monitoring data for the improvement of ongoing project management
Technical expertise in the design and implementation of evaluations of development interventions
Participate in the design and field testing of surveys, questionnaires, and/or other data collection instruments; R&E training design and delivery
Technical expertise in evaluation design, including experimental and quasi-experimental methods
Supervise the work of a field OR and evaluation team
Previous experience working in West Africa is desirable
Project management skills are desirable
Familiarity with USAID policies related to OR and evaluation and performance management highly desirable. Familiarity with database management and statistical analysis, and a thorough understanding of R&E and direct experience with external evaluations and routine monitoring
Language: Professional written and oral fluency in American English is required
Proficiency in French is desirable
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