USAID Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) Evaluation Team Lead

Description

Location

This work will be primarily remote

Background

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Learning for Development Activity is a 5-year award led by Bixal Solutions, Inc. that provides USAID/Nepal with technical and advisory services in planning, designing, conducting, and learning from the monitoring and evaluation of the Mission’s strategies, projects, and activities in an efficient manner. USAID Learning for Development supports USAID/Nepal by providing services including a) learning and knowledge management; b) evaluations, study and other studies; c) performance monitoring technical support; d) capacity building; and e) development outreach and communications support.

Purpose

USAID Learning for Development seeks to hire a Team Lead evaluation consultant to lead and conduct a Midterm performance evaluation of USAID’s Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) program in Nepal. The evaluation should provide actionable insights to strengthen the remainder of the current ARH program as well as provide insights on future adolescent reproductive health initiatives. Findings for the evaluation will be used to strengthen current ARH activities, plan for future activities, and provide evidence of good practices to the broader health stakeholder network in Nepal. By leveraging lessons learned and best practices, the evaluation endeavors to strengthen the current program and ultimately provide support to adolescents in Nepal so they can reach their full capacity by choosing and practicing healthy reproductive behaviors.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Team Leader will be the leader of a broader consultancy team with whom they will work in close coordination. The Team Lead will conduct the evaluation as part of a team, including an Adolescent Family Planning and Reproductive Health expert, a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion expert, and local staff that will assist in the evaluation and logistics support. They will have the overall responsibility of leading the study including study design and methodology, preparation of the inception report, and tool finalization. They will also lead and oversee the evaluation implementation, including data collection, analysis, and report writing. They will serve as the team manager and provide direction to ensure expertise of all consultants is fully included into the design, implementation, and deliverables of the project. The Team Lead will provide high-level technical support, including supporting the development and customization of evaluation documentation that includes the questionnaire and technical manuals; managing translation activities; and coordinating logistical support, data collection and analysis. The Team Leader will be responsible for ensuring all deliverables are met in a timely manner and submitted with high-quality.

Location

This work will be primarily remote

Background

Purpose

Roles and Responsibilities

Objectives of the Assignment

Assess the progress that has been made in the ARH program

Determine the continued relevance of the program’s interventions towards achieving the project’s objectives

Document lessons learned and suggest any important or necessary modifications or course corrections to ensure achievement of the shared objectives within the lifetime of the project

Provide evidence-based findings to contribute to ongoing and future activities of USAID/Nepal and share good practices with stakeholders in Nepal

Provide perspectives on how the Mission is making progress towards the following Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) 2020–2025 learning agenda questions with specificity to adolescent reproductive health

Specific Responsibilities of the Team Leader

Provide oversight and leadership for the team consultants, ensuring all expertise is incorporated into the project design, implementation, and deliverables.

Develop a project timeline and oversee direction and time management.

Review USAID ARH activity documents and other relevant documents.

Draft an inception report detailing the evaluation design and work plan, including the evaluation tools, methodology and schedule for data collection.

Prepare data collection tools – including translation - and schedule to ensure a smooth deployment of data collection.

Conduct FGDs and KIIs with relevant stakeholders, program participants, Local Government contact points and USAID staff, which requires travel to field locations.

Conduct field data collection and observations.

Prepare a preliminary finding report and presentation.

Draft a consolidated evaluation report and deliver a presentation of the overall evaluation to the mission.

Coordinate with the USAID Learning for Development team to ensure high-quality products.

Attending regular check-in meetings with the USAID Learning for Development team.

Deliverables

Weekly or bi-weekly check-in meeting with the USAID Learning for Development team

Draft and final inception report including evaluation tools and workplan.

Draft initial findings report and presentation slide deck for the Mission.

Conduct a presentation and workshop with USAID and Learning for Development on initial findings

Final Evaluation report and presentation slide deck

Knowledge and Qualifications

At least seven years’ experience of working on designing and implementing mixed-methods evaluations of adolescent and reproductive health focused projects of a similar scale in developing countries

Prior experience of leading similar evaluations or assessments required, preferably in Asia

Demonstrated skills in facilitating participatory processes to interpret and develop recommendations from research

Strong communication skills, management, and writing skills required

Master's or PhD in health or social sciences

Timeline, Location, and Level of Effort (LoE)

The assignment will last from approximately July/August through February 2025, with an estimated total 50 days of LoE. The assignment will be fully or nearly fully remote, with a possible trip required to collect data in Nepal.