Early Childhood & Primary Education Specialist, USAID/Liberia TESTS Midterm Evaluation

Social Impact (SI) is a global development management consulting firm. We provide monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity building services to advance development effectiveness. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. Since 1997 we have worked in over 100 countries for clients such as US government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits.

In Liberia, SI is a sub-implementer on the USAID-funded Liberia Data, Evaluation, Learning and Technical Assistance (DELTA) Activity with the goal to provide an innovative degree of analytical and advisory services to USAID/Liberia’s Office of Program and Project Development (PPD) and Development Objective (DO) teams in support of the Mission’s project design, performance monitoring and evaluation, and operational learning and adapting.

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Project Objective:

USAID has requested DELTA to conduct a mid-term evaluation of the Transforming the Education System for Teachers and Students in Liberia (TESTS) Activity. The TESTS mid-term evaluation is intended to provide an independent and in-depth examination of the results of the TESTS activity so far toward improving the instructional delivery quality and management support of the TESTS Activity to partners institutions. The evaluation will measure how well the TESTS approach is working to achieve the intended objectives and Intermediate Results (IR) and whether the approach should be modified to be more effective. The evaluation will assess the effectiveness, contextual relevance, and gender equity and social inclusion efforts of the TESTS activity so far and generate knowledge to inform USAID’s future education investment and programming. Additionally, the evaluation will also provide evidence on how TESTS is promoting local ownership of improved instructional quality.

The TESTS Activity is a $24.1 million activity that is being implemented by Research Triangle Institute (RTI) from September 2021 to September 2026, with focus aimed at increasing the ability of teacher training institutions, the Commission on Higher Education to create flexible programs that address teacher needs for both improved pedagogical skills and content knowledge. TESTS is implemented in Bong, Grand Bassa, Lofa, Margibi, Montserrado, and Nimba counties, where it supports the Government of Liberia (GOL) to improve the quality of teachers’ instruction in early childhood education and primary grades.

Position Description:

SI is seeking an Early Childhood & Primary Education Specialist (EC&PES) to support the USAID/Liberia TESTS mid-term evaluation as a team member with a focus on early childhood & primary education. The EC&PES will receive technical leadership from the Team Leader (TL) alongside a Higher Education Teacher Training Specialist (HETTS), The assessment team will receive research and logistical support from the DELTA Activity Manager, while the DELTA Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will provide overall guidance and coordination.

The EC&PES will ensure quality assurance and timeliness of all deliverables, including adherence to SI’s quality assurance standards. The EC&PES is expected to support the planning of primary and secondary data collection that efficiently engages international and local experts so that the research is complementary. This is a short-term consultancy with an estimated level of effort (LOE) of 35 days, over a period of performance from June to November 2024.

Responsibilities:

• Support the development of the evaluation design including methodology, instruments, and workplan.
• Support the desk review and identify additional information required for analysis.
• Support the design of data collection tools and conduct data collection for the evaluation.
• Contribute to the evaluation team’s ongoing analysis of qualitative and quantitative data.
• Support the preparation and presentation of the evaluation design, key findings, and recommendations to USAID together with the evaluation team.
• Contribute to the drafting of the inception and evaluation reports with support from the team members, taking into consideration feedback from presentations, consultations, and workshops.
• Respond to comments on the draft report and prepare final report.
• Work collaboratively with team members throughout the design, implementation, analysis, and report writing process to complement each other’s areas of expertise.

Qualifications:

• At least two years of experience in conducting evaluation, preferably, early childhood and primary education programs or teacher interventions in developing countries,
• Be knowledgeable of curriculum development, instructional designs and practices and the support systems required for success (including organizational governance).
• An understanding of the curriculum being institutionalized by the Liberian Ministry of Education for teacher training.
• Experience multi-disciplinary teams, skills in developing and conducting evaluations with mixed qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, and experience working in Liberia.
• Ability to conduct interviews and focus group discussions and analyze the resulting data.
• Liberian professionals who are resident in Liberia are strongly encouraged to apply. Strong American English speaking and writing skills are required.
• Experience facilitating participatory analysis and utilization of evaluation results preferred.
• An advanced degree in education administration, management, planning, research, or a similar field is required.
• No relations with TESTS, RTI, or other interests that may compromise the EC&PES actual or apparent impartiality.

Come join our energetic and innovative team! We offer you the opportunity to play a leading role in the growth of our company, work as part of a creative and committed team, and make a difference in the well-being of our world.

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, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

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