Evaluation Team Leader/Workforce Development Specialist Mid-Term Evaluation of USAID/Djiboutis Workforce Development Program 75 views0 applications

Evaluation Team Leader/Workforce Development Specialist

Mid-Term Evaluation of USAID/Djiboutis Workforce Development Program

Project Summary:

MSI implements USAIDs E3 Analytics and Evaluation Project, which supports the design and implementation of rigorous evaluations for USAIDs Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment (E3). Under this Project, the MSI team will conduct a mid-term performance evaluation of USAID/Djiboutis Workforce Development Program (WFD), which is implemented by the Education Development Center and runs from December 2016 through December 2021.

WFD aims to help reduce the high unemployment rate in Djibouti by better preparing the Djiboutian workforce to meet private sector needs. These needs include technical skills in specific sectors (e.g., heavy transport operators for the Ethiopia/Djibouti corridor; shipping and port operations; hospitality and tourism), as well as soft skills (e.g., timeliness, strong work ethic, ability to communicate and work effectively with others) required by enterprises operating in Djibouti.

The evaluation will assess the relevance and effectiveness of WFDs approach and implementation, the performance of the implementing partners in meeting project objectives, and unintended effects of WFD activities. The evaluation will assess WFDs performance on three project intermediate results: 1) expanding quality workforce readiness programs (particularly technical and vocational education training institutions; 2) developing sustainable, productive linkages between the public sector and the private sector; and 3) strengthening job placement, retention, and advancement services. The evaluation will also explore how the WFD relates to and interacts with larger efforts of USAID, the Government of Djibouti, and other partners, in contributing to the development of the countrys human capital. USAID/Djibouti will use the evaluation results to determine any adjustments to WFD for the remainder of its implementation and/or its broader portfolio to more effectively achieve the U.S. government strategic objectives in Djibouti.

The evaluation will take a mixed-methods approach that is likely to include desk research, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, an online survey of beneficiaries, and process analysis. The evaluation team will spend three to four weeks in Djibouti around March-April 2020 conducting field research.

Position Summary:

MSI is seeking a team leader/workforce development specialist (team leader hereafter) to oversee design, implementation, and reporting activities for the WFD mid-term 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 a capacity development/organizational development specialist and a local employment specialist throughout the evaluation and will receive support from the MSI home office team.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the drafting and finalization of the evaluation design proposal including: evaluation framework, data collection instruments, data collection and analysis plans, work plans, and other relevant sections.
• Oversee and conduct desk research and provide inputs to inform required evaluation design documents.
• Oversee the implementation of all evaluation activities and work plan, including the organization of the schedule, travel, and meetings.
• Provide guidance to evaluation team members in carrying out required design, data collection, and analysis tasks.
• Carry out and oversee data collection and analysis based on the approved evaluation design and methodology. This may include reviewing and analyzing secondary documents, conducting key informant interviews and focus group discussions in Djibouti (and remotely as needed), supervising development and implementation of the online survey, and other approaches to collect and analyze data, including ensuring necessary mechanisms for data quality assurance.
• Lead in-brief and out-brief presentations to the USAID/Djibouti Mission.
• Lead a findings/conclusions/recommendations workshop with the USAID/Djibouti Mission and/or other key project stakeholders, as required, prior to drafting the evaluation report.
• Serve as lead author for preparing and finalizing the draft and final evaluation report; including responding to comments from the MSI team and USAID.
• Lead presentations to USAID regarding findings, conclusions, and recommendations from the evaluation as required.
• Provide input on dissemination materials, such as briefs and one-pagers, including text, photos, and diagrams.
• Ensure that all evaluation processes and products meet the requirements and quality standards of MSI and USAID.

Qualifications:

The team leader will have extensive experience leading evaluation teams and designing and implementing mixed-methods evaluations for USAID. They will have direct knowledge and/or experience working with USAID rules, evaluation policy, regulations, and procedures. The team leader should also have demonstrated experience with the design, implementation, and/or evaluation of workforce development programs Additional requirements include:

• Must have at least a masters degree in a relevant social science field
• Must have at least ten (10) years experience designing and delivering evaluations of economic growth projects, preferably on topics such as workforce and the labor market
• Must have experience conducting evaluations/assessments of donor-funded projects in Africa;
• Demonstrated experience as a successful team leader of evaluations of complex international technical assistance projects;
• Demonstrated experience leading the drafting/finalization of evaluation reports (writing samples will be requested)
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing mixed research methods for data collection and analysis, including qualitative methods and survey research.
• Demonstrated experience using qualitative analysis software (e.g., MAXQDA, NVIVO)
• Fluent in English and French including demonstrated ability to collect data and conduct interviews in French and write the evaluation report in English.

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

MSI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer.