Background
SoCha, LLC is contracted to provide technical and advisory services to the United States Agency for International Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (USAID/DRC) on the 5-year Mission Strategic Support Program (MSSP). The purpose of MSSP is to provide these services in planning, designing, conducting, disseminating, and learning from monitoring and evaluation of the Mission’s portfolios, assisting the mission with strategy and activity-level performance monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), including conducting data gathering and verification, data visualization (including Geographic Information Systems), data quality assessments, impact and performance evaluations, assessments, organizational learning, and collaboration among USAID’s implementing partners. The activity will also implement a capacity-building agenda for the Mission and implementing partners, developing a baseline of M&E knowledge within the Mission and tailoring a curriculum to provide skills development to Mission staff.
Capacity building for Mission staff and partners is part of MSSP’s Objective 5, “Capacity Building and Coordination”. To contribute to this component of its support to the USAID Mission, MSSP is looking for training consultants with experience in providing instruction on USAID project cycle management and USAID MEL guidelines in addition to ensuring learning outcomes. This SOW covers the conduct of training courses for both Mission staff and partners (implementing partners and local firms). The MSSP MEL course comprises several topics linked to the USAID program cycle. Course modules are tailored to USAID requests and partners needs. Training workshops will be organized based on a schedule agreed upon with MSSP, the Mission, and partners. These workshops may include short sessions focusing on specific topics.
Objectives of the Consultancy
- Adapt the existing MSSP MEL course(s) to different audiences as needed.
- Develop new MEL training materials as needed.
- Conduct the training sessions according to the schedule established by MSSP and the Mission.
- Help MSSP to meet the Federal Acquisition Certification (FAC) requirements for course(s) certification from the Bureau of Acquisition and Assistance.
- Measure and ensure learning outcomes.
Specific tasks
- Identify the sections of the courses that should be adapted to each target audience.
- Prepare materials for hands-on sessions.
- Frame the modules to meet the CLP requirements from the Bureau of Acquisition and Assistance.
- Prepare materials for site visits.
- Facilitate the training sessions according to the agreed schedule.
- Measure pre-and post-learning results.
- Identify lessons learned from training courses in terms of best practices, areas of improvement, participants’ suggestions and trainers’ recommendations.
- Draft the training reports and ensure their finalization based on MSSP’s feedback.
- Based on the evaluation of the completed sessions, include in the training reports recommendations on how to improve the training content and approach. These recommendations will be discussed with MSSP and considered for the following training sessions.
Timeline
The consultants’ assignment will span a duration of ten (10) months, from December 2024 to September 2025.
Location
To strengthen the MEL capacity of USAID implementing partners, MSSP will organize the training sessions in Kinshasa, Goma, Lubumbashi, Bukavu, and other cities as needed.
Level of effort
The average estimated LOE for each consultant is fifteen (15) days per month, including the preparation and running of training sessions and the drafting of training reports.
Practical arrangements
The training sessions will be organized in Kinshasa and in the provinces based on the request from the Mission and partners. For training outside their place of residence, the trainers will be covered for travel, accommodation, and per diem costs in accordance with MSSP policy.
Eligibility
Qualified consultants are eligible to apply, regardless of their nationality or place of residence.
Selection Criteria
- Minimum of a master’s degree in a relevant social science field. PhD degrees are preferred.
- At least five to ten (5 to 10) years of professional experience in teaching at a university level.
- At least five to ten (5 to 10) years of professional experience in adult education, particularly related to MEL.
- Previous experience working with USAID programs is required.
- At least five to seven (5 to 7) years of experience in developing training modules.
- At least five to seven (5 to 7) years of experience working with international cooperation agencies and donors.
- At least five to seven (5 to 7) years of experience writing reports for development and humanitarian projects and programs.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French.
Evaluation of Applications:
Applications will be first screened and only candidates meeting the minimum criteria will progress to the pool for short listing. Shortlisted candidates will then be assessed and scored against the technical evaluation criteria and interviews will be conducted accordingly.
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In your cover letter, please note your minimum proposed daily LOE rate for this consultancy and be prepared to provide justifications if requested. LOE must be fully burdened with a fixed daily rate in U.S. Dollars.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The position will remain open for applications until it is filled.
