Project Summary
In May 2015, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded a five-year contract to Management Systems International (MSI) to provide performance management support to USAID-sponsored development programs throughout Pakistan. The Performance Management Support Contract (PERFORM) will serve as a centralized management support mechanism supporting USAID/Pakistan’s mission to increase stability, democracy, and prosperity for the men and women of Pakistan through the implementation of the Mission Strategic Framework (MSF). PERFORM will provide data and information to help project managers improve project results through better implementation and design, as well as services that support the Mission’s learning and adaptive process, enabling it to better target its programming and achieve its goals and objectives. The performance components will include: (1) Monitoring Services; (2) Evaluation Services; (3) Assessment Services; and (4) Learning Support Services.
Position Summary
MSI is seeking a local Team Leader with significant evaluation experience primarily in the agriculture sector to lead a final evaluation of the USAID-funded Balochistan Agriculture Project (BAP). The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) began implementing the project as a pilot in 2005 and has since received two extensions and expanded the project scope from three districts to eight. The project focuses on community development and capacity building; improving agricultural and livestock productivity through interventions in water management and improved crop and livestock technologies and practices; and building sustainable market linkages. The evaluation will focus on the relevance of project interventions to the needs of beneficiaries, the effectiveness of the project in achieving objectives, the prospects for sustainable results, and the project’s contribution to women’s empowerment.
The evaluation will begin on or about July 01, 2016 and finish by the end of September 2016. Anticipated level of effort for the Team Leader is approximately 70-80 days. The team will include an Agriculture Sector Expert, an expat Evaluation Expert, a Researcher, and Data Analysts. Depending on the scope of field work, a sub-contractor might be engaged to collect survey data, while the experts and Team Leader will conduct most of the qualitative interviews.
Responsibilities
- The Team Leader will manage the activities of the team, drawing on the strengths of individual team members to produce the best possible evaluation report.
- In collaboration with MSI staff and team members, the Team Leader will take the lead in:
- Refining the evaluation design and methods and leading the team planning workshop.
- Developing data collection instruments, a data collection plan, and a data analysis plan.
- Leading a briefing with USAID staff prior to field work.
- Guiding the fieldwork and ensuring quality of the information collected.
- Conducting qualitative interviews with project stakeholders and documenting notes from interviews conducted.
- Reviewing the work of assignment team members and ensuring quality of interim work products.
- Coordinating between team members and MSI/PERFORM.
- Providing key inputs in qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
- Presenting results to USAID and implementing partners.
- Contributing in writing the main evaluation report and briefing papers.
- The Team Leader is ultimately responsible for completing a high quality evaluation within the stipulated timeframe and meeting key milestones during the course of the assignment.
Qualifications
- At least a Master’s degree in agricultural economics or another relevant field and 15 years of professional experience or a Ph.D. with at least 10 years of experience.
- Demonstrated experience evaluating USAID projects and project/team management.
- Familiarity with USAID and USAID evaluation policy.
- Excellent analytical and personal communication skills.
- Excellent English writing skills.
- Fluent in quantitative and/or qualitative research methods.
- Ability/willingness to conduct field work in Quetta and northern Balochistan.
Candidates that have a real or potential conflict of interest in this evaluation will not be considered for this assignment. MSI will require a written statement to this effect before formal engagement on this assignment. Conflict of interest in this context includes, but is not limited to: close and/or family relations with the individuals that are related to the project, financial interest in the implementing organization(s) or grantees, current or previous experience with the project being evaluated or the USAID requesting office, etc.
Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
“Position will be filled on a rolling basis”
MSI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer.