Re-Advertised: Collaboration, Learning and Adapting (CLA) Specialist

 Project Summary:

The purpose of the Performance Management and Support Program for Lebanon (PMSPL II) is to supplement the monitoring and program management efforts of USAID Lebanon staff; and to verify, monitor and support USAID program performance in Lebanon ensuring the achievement of CDCS objectives.  Information gathered and program support services provided by PMSPL II assist the Mission to make informed decisions and better manage Mission awards. Each award is the responsibility of an Implementing Mechanism (IM) that designs activities aimed at achieving intended results. IM activities are performed throughout the country.  PMSPL II provides consistent, relevant and frequent performance monitoring and reporting on IM activities and projects, day-to-day information needed to make management decisions, and most importantly, field monitoring support to USAID Lebanon staff, especially for activities located outside of greater Beirut.

Position Summary

The CLA Specialist will serve as technical specialist to support USAID Lebanon in the CLA implementation and will provide necessary support for the monitoring and evaluation services. Interfaces with senior level Mission and Implementing Partner organizations, representatives of government, public and private and institutions in Lebanon, including Municipal authorities and beneficiaries of USAID funded projects.   The CLA specialist will work in collaboration with PMSPL MEL team of specialists. He/she may be asked to work in collaboration with visiting STTA experts to provide logistical support, carry out special studies, assessments, performance monitoring and evaluations. He/she may be asked to assist with the design and delivery of training on performance monitoring, statistical survey methods and performance evaluation.  The position reports to the DCOP and the COP.”

The position is located in Beirut, and requires frequent travel throughout Lebanon to visit Mission funded project sites.  This position is full-time with a 40-hour workweek approved. No overtime or premium pay is authorized. This technical position will be accompanied by an appropriately competitive salary for an individual matching the desired experience and skills.

Responsibilities:

The CLA specialist will be responsible for performing the following tasks:

·         Tracks Mission Performance Management Plan (PMP) indicators, and Implementing Mechanisms (IM) indicators, analyzing and reporting on them to the Mission.  The primary mechanism for reporting indicators will be AIDTracker+, or an equivalent system.

·         Liaises with Mission AT+ POC and with IMs to ensure that AT+ data are error free, in compliance with PIRS or CIRS and uploaded according to the established schedule and available for USAID’s annual Performance Progress Report.

·         Mentors the IM on how to use the AT+ and how to report data required for the PPR.  The CLA specialist liaises with the GIS Specialist to facilitate the use of performance data geospatially. 

·         Support for the Mission in the CLA implementation. The CLA specialist works with USAID Lebanon to Develop a CLA plan and initiatives supported by the expert CLA STTA.  Facilitates CLA activities at the Mission as needed.

·         Keeps abreast of ongoing and completed monitoring and evaluation and strategic secondary reports produced in Lebanon by other donors and Rich Site Summary (RSS) agencies; as well as materials generated by IM activities, assessments, monitoring and evaluation. 

·         Contributes to specific and brief research on best practices, lessons learned, or innovative partnership models as may be requested by the Program Office, the DO teams and/or the PDS to support project implementation and new project design activities.

·         Supports the development of implementing partner activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Plans. Facilitates CLA at the IM as needed.

·         Supports IMs indicator development, data collection and analysis, data quality assessments, and developing methodologies for performance reporting.

·         Supports PMSPL II MEL team and short-term consultants in projects evaluations and assessments.

·         Tracks PMSPL II performance indicators and reports PMSPL II indicator status quarterly and annually for inclusion is quarterly and annual progress reports.

·         Compiles recommendations and findings generated from PMSPL II monitoring and evaluations reports, and track the implementation progress of the corrective actions approved by USAID and adopted by the IMs.

The CLA specialist reports to the DCOP.

Qualifications:

Minimum of five years of experience in Monitoring and Evaluation, Data collection, institutional learning and/or knowledge management.

Strong background in evaluation and analysis of development programs, preferably initiatives funded by USAID.

·         Familiarity with one or more of the following development activities:  local government and civil society strengthening; income generating activities; educational strengthening; promoting citizen advocacy through CSOs, and/or improvement of water and wastewater services;

·         Experience in the development of evaluation and assessment scopes of work;

·         Experience in facilitating assessments, analytical reports and evaluations, including testing of the validity of results frameworks and other program logic models;

·         Experience in identifying best practices and the preparation of lessons learned and success stories;

·         Field monitoring, social surveys, rapid assessment techniques, and statistical analysis.

·         Knowledge of Lebanon’s development challenges.

·         Able to work comfortably with many types of people, from USAID representatives and senior-level officials to NGO representatives, to community service organizations and beneficiaries.

·         Fluent English and Arabic strongly desired.

·         Demonstrated excellent report writing skills.

·         A Master’s degree or higher in relevant subject areas.

To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website: http://www.socialimpact.com

SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.