Background
SoCha is contracted to deliver the USAID/Kenya and East Africa (KEA) Localization, Inclusion, and Sustainability Activity (LISA) with the aim of assisting USAID staff and stakeholders to be more efficient, effective, transparent, inclusive, and skilled in achieving development outcomes. To achieve this, LISA seeks to enhance USAID/KEA’s organizational project design; programming; Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) practices; and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) objectives in addition to mission-wide localization efforts by elevating local voices and co-developing and co-creating USAID/KEA programs with local partners, including marginalized populations, girls and women, and youth.
Activity Background
SoCha is seeking a Learning Agenda Expert to support USAID/KEA’s local implementing partners and their sub-awardees in developing their organizational learning agendas that are aligned to the overall Democracy, Governance, Peace, and Security (DGPS) priorities and learning agenda. This systematic and intentional approach to continuous learning will ensure:
- Operationalization of the DGPS learning agenda by incorporating a learning framework and adaptive management approach for partners while outlining key areas of focus for continuous improvement and knowledge enhancement.
- Ensure that evidence and insights derived from monitoring and evaluation efforts are systematically integrated into program implementation.
- Enhance capacity of partners in designing, implementing, and reviewing learning agendas.
- Foster a culture of adaptive management where lessons learned are applied to enhance the effectiveness of ongoing activities.
Scope of Work
The Learning Agenda Expert will:
- Undertake a needs assessment to assess partners’ capacity gaps in development and implementation of learning agendas.
- Conduct desk reviews of existing learning agendas to identify gaps and opportunities.
- Design and execute structured consultative meetings with partners to gain insights on the challenges faced in designing theories of change and learning agendas.
- Based on the findings of the meetings and reviews, develop an approach to engage each partner in the development and finalization of their learning agendas.
- Develop learning agenda templates in line with USAID guidelines.
- Develop, plan, and execute a capacity building workshop on the development of learning agendas to empower local partners with the knowledge to develop comprehensive learning agendas.
- Clearly outline the workshop’s specific objectives, such as understanding the concept of learning agendas, developing skills in designing and implementing them, and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
- Determine the target audience for the workshop, considering their roles, responsibilities, and current knowledge levels related to learning agendas.
- Create a detailed agenda and facilitation plans ensuring hands-on learning approaches.
- Develop presentation slides, handouts, case studies, and any other materials needed for the sessions. Ensure that materials are accessible and engaging.
- Work with each IP individually to develop and/or refine their Learning Agenda.
- Development and prioritization of learning questions within thematic areas.
- Development of plans with learning activities, outputs, and knowledge/ learning dissemination plans.
- Articulate and document how and at what frequency partners will update their learning agendas.
- Develop, plan, and execute a learning and sharing event for the local implementing partners to share their Learning Agendas.
- Draft agenda and develop a facilitation plan for the learning sessions.
- Facilitate the learning sessions.
- Provide pre-workshop support to get participants ready for the learning event required (e.g. preparation of presentations).
- Facilitate an After-Action Review Meeting and document learnings.
Minimum Qualifications and Experience
- Master’s degree in social sciences, such as international relations, political science, or related subject, with technical training in MEL.
- A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in MEL roles.
- Strong qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis skills, including knowledge of data management, analysis, and visualization software.
- Excellent verbal communication and writing skills.
- Proven experience in development and implementation of learning agendas within the context of Democracy, Governance, Peace and Security is an added advantage.
- Proven experience in conducting comprehensive needs assessments to identify capacity gaps in development and implementation of learning agendas.
- Demonstrated ability to plan and execute capacity-building workshops, including outlining objectives, identifying target audiences, creating engaging materials, and facilitating interactive sessions.
Period of Performance
6 months (March 2024 – March 2025)
Location
Nairobi, Kenya
