short-term technical assistance for evaluation advisor - Team LeaderPanagora Group

Job Description:
Background
The United States Agency for International Development/Philippines (USAID/PH) will commission, through the Collaborating, Learning and Adapting for Improved Development (CLAimDev) activity, a third party, final evaluation of the Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development (STRIDE) activity. Through this evaluation, USAID/PH can gauge the extent by which STRIDE is meeting its objectives of strengthening capacity in science, technology, and innovation of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines and contributing to USAID/PH's Development Objective of "Broad-based and Inclusive Growth Accelerated and Sustained" of the earlier Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) as well as the Development Objective of the new CDCS (2020-2024) of "Inclusive, Market-Driven Growth Expanded."
STRIDE supports the Philippine government's Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR), the Government of the Philippines (GOP) Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap included in its 2017-2022 Development Plan, and the new framework on higher education. Results of the evaluation will inform the design of the Mission's next-generation, higher education activities. The evaluation will focus on the three-year extension period, which was granted to allow STRIDE to build on its initiatives during the five-year base period, the lessons learned during implementation, and the strong partnerships between government, academe, and industry. The three-year extension, until July 16, 2021, maintained the overall goal of STRIDE to "Strengthened Science, Technology, and Innovation Capacity for Inclusive Growth in the Philippines." To deliver this goal, STRIDE will seek to achieve improvements in three intermediate results (IRs) re-defined for the three-year extension, namely: (a) IR1: Improved higher education capacity for innovation; (b) IR2: Improved regulatory environment for innovation; and (c) IR3: Improved government capacity for innovation.
Panagora Group, a woman-owned small business providing novel and integrated solutions in global health and international development, serving as the Contractor of the CLAimDev activity, seeks an Evaluation Advisor - Team Leader to oversee all aspects of the evaluation of the eight-year STRIDE activity. This position is contractual and based in Manila, Philippines with possible travel to STRIDE project sites located in select regions of the country.
The members of the consultant team are to work together and complement each other in exploring the synergies of the three IRs of STRIDE and its contribution to the goal of "Strengthened Science, Technology, and Innovation Capacity for Inclusive Growth in the Philippines." The consultant team is composed of the following: (a) Evaluation Advisor - Team Leader; (b) Science, Technology, and Innovation Specialist; (c) Partnership and Collaboration Specialist; (d) Field Regional Evaluation Assistants; and (e) Project Assistant.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Serve as the Team Leader and oversee all aspects of the evaluation under the supervision of the evaluation Principal Investigator and CLAimDev's Chief of Party (COP)
Serve as the primary coordinator and work with the other members of the evaluation team
Manage the evaluation team's activities and ensure that the work plan is implemented in a timely manner
Lead the evaluation team at all stages of the evaluation process and in addressing technical concerns of the evaluation
Lead the design of evaluation tools e.g., focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), surveys
Lead the pilot-testing of the evaluation tools, selection of respondents to KIIs, FGDs, and surveys; and enhancement of the tools based on the feedback during pilot testing
Lead the evaluation and provide feedback on its progress
Lead data analysis of the overall capacity building performance and outcome of the project and ensure the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of received and generated information and data
Ensure triangulation and cross-sectional analysis of internal and external quantitative and qualitative data/information sources with those from the field (stakeholders and beneficiaries)
Draft and finalize all evaluation deliverables
Requirements
At least a Master's degree in the social sciences or related disciplines
Evaluation professional with at least 10 years of experience of conducting evaluation studies, having served as a team leader on at least two USAID program or activity evaluations, and participated as a team member on at least five USAID program or activity evaluations
Ability to write message-driven evaluation reports
Relevant professional experience in various quantitative and qualitative methods for research on economics, social, and technical aspects of development projects (with leading-edge experience in the higher education and/or science, technology and innovation preferred)
Proven ability to lead and manage project evaluation teams
Willingness and ability to work together as part of a team
Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral
Three references
Open to Filipino nationals only
Evaluation reports drafted by candidates may be requested
Reporting
During the assignment, the consultant will report to the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist of CLAimDev, with the guidance of the Chief of Party (COP). The consultant will also liaise with a team of CLAimDev technical specialists and with the USAID/Philippines Office of Program Resources Management.
Period of Performance
The estimated level of effort for the STTA for Evaluation Advisor - Team Leader will be 102 days. The duration of the assignment would intermittently cover the period November 9, 2020 to July 16, 2021.
Panagora Group

Manila City, Metro Manila
Temporary
Full-time