Evaluation Team Lead

Evaluation Team Lead, Honduras Local Governance (HLG) Activity
Remote with in-person field work in Honduras

About Social Impact:
Social Impact 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.

We believe Social Impact is a great place to work and are passionate in our efforts to ensure that this endures. We are proud of our diversity and actively seek to expand it as a way of improving our employees' experience, our collective professional breadth and the quality of the work we do. We promote equity and inclusion through our policies and practices and build a culture of belonging for everyone where differences and authenticity are honored and embraced. We work hard to create opportunities for growth and ensure that our staff are fulfilled and engaged. We believe we are better when we collaborate, learn from one another and have fun while working hard.

About MESCLA 2.0:
Social Impact, together with partner IBI, is implementing the USAID/Honduras Monitoring and Evaluation Support for Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting (MESCLA 2.0) Activity. MESCLA 2.0 provides USAID with flexible and adaptive support, as well as reliable information to inform its programming in the face of demanding challenges in the Honduran context. MESCLA 2.0 is organized around three main components: (1) evaluations, studies, and assessments; (2) collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA); and (3) monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) capacity development. All tasks under MESCLA 2.0 are implemented with a focus on learning on USAID's key priorities, including migration, youth, anti-corruption, gender-based violence, and gender and social inclusion (GESI).

Project Objective
MESCLA 2.0 is conducting a performance evaluation of Phase 2 (2022-2025) of the Honduras Local Governance (HLG) Activity under the Democracy and Governance Office (DGO) in the USAID Honduras Mission. On November 14, 2016, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded the HLG Activity a five-year mechanism to enhance basic service delivery provision through increased citizen influence and governance in western Honduras. The Activity aims to ensure that USAID investments in nutrition, water, education, and other critical services are expanded, deepened, and more sustainable as part of a holistic effort to reduce extreme poverty in western Honduras. HLG focuses on governance actions at subnational levels, where basic services are delivered and where most citizens interact with the government. HLG Phase 2 began in October 2022. In Phase 2, HLG has pivoted to focus on 35 high-migration, high-crime, and high-violence municipalities and de-emphasize poverty reduction while prioritizing rootedness and service improvement in education, health, local economic development, and local government.

MESCLA 2.0 completed a case study of eight selected municipalities to examine and draw lessons learned from HLG's Phase 1 implementation period (2017-2022). MESCLA 2.0 is now carrying out an external performance evaluation of HLG's Phase 2 implementation period (2022-2025). Twelve municipalities were selected as the focus of the evaluation. The objectives of this external performance evaluation are to assess HLG Phase 2's effectiveness, the relevance of its outcomes over time, and its sustainability at the local level. This performance evaluation uses mixed methods including key informant interviews, group interviews, and two quantitative surveys. It includes three waves of data collection. The first wave, considered a baseline, took place in March-April 2024 and included qualitative and quantitative data collection. The second wave is occurring now (November-December 2024) and only includes follow-ups of the two quantitative surveys. The third wave, considered an endline, is planned for April-June 2025 and will include both qualitative and quantitative data collection (during an in-person field work trip).

With this performance evaluation, the DGO intends to capture emerging outcomes to inform decisions about the current and future programming. The DGO and USAID/Honduras in general, will use the evaluation findings to determine whether HLG has achieved its purpose according to the following criteria: 1) effectiveness: whether the intervention has achieved its expected outcomes; 2) relevance: whether the interventions remain relevant to the current USAID Honduras CDCS 2020-2025, which is focused on reducing migration; and 3) sustainability: the extent to which the interventions results might be sustainable in the future.

Position Description
SI is seeking an Evaluation Team Leader (TL) to lead the third wave of data collection of the HLG Phase 2 Performance Evaluation. The TL will be responsible for leading the evaluation team members, guiding evaluation activities, and ensuring the production and completion of all deliverables. In collaboration with MESCLA 2.0 and the evaluation team members, the TL will support the design of tools for data collection, guide the data collection planning and in-person field work, conduct data analysis, coordinate technical inputs of team members, and lead the production of a final report and learning workshop. Depending on when a TL is selected, the TL may also contribute to the analysis of wave 2 survey data and writing of a wave 2 findings brief.

The TL will ensure quality assurance and timeliness of all deliverables, including adherence to MESCLA 2.0's quality assurance standards. This is a short-term consultancy with an estimated level of effort (LOE) of 60 days, and a period of performance from December 2024 through August 2025.

Responsibilities
The Evaluation Team Lead will:

- Lead the Evaluation Team collaboratively with the MESCLA 2.0 HQ Team and fellow members of the Evaluation Team according to the SOW approved by USAID/Honduras.

- Review HLG program documents and the MESCLA 2.0-produced case study report and performance evaluation wave 1 report.

- Review existing data collection instruments, proposing revisions as needed.

- Conduct virtual and in-person data collection with stakeholders in Honduras.

- Lead on the analysis of quantitative survey data and qualitative KII and FGD data.

- Guide and oversee the development and finalization of project deliverables, including client in brief and out brief presentations; draft and final reports; and learning and dissemination materials and presentations.

- Ensure quality work in all deliverables; implement quality assurance processes.

- Work closely with MESCLA 2.0 team and communicate in a timely and effective manner with all project personnel.

Qualifications and skills:
The Consultant must have/hold:

At least 5 years of senior-level experience in research or evaluation in the development sector, with experience in evaluating governance interventions or citizen engagement in the Central American context. Experience in Honduras desired.
- Bachelor's Degree and 15 years of related experience, Master's degree in Social Science and 12 years of related experience, or PhD and 8 years of related experience, including substantial demonstrated experience in evaluations and assessments.
- Demonstrated experience leading evaluations and/or assessments and producing actionable recommendations.
- Demonstrated experience in sampling design and the design of instruments.
- Demonstrated experience leading both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
- Excellent oral communication and written skills in English and Spanish.
- Excellent analytical skills for both quantitative and qualitative data.
- Demonstrated experience in communicating with local stakeholders at managerial and technical level.
- Well-versed in evaluation and research methodology and strong attention to detail.

Preferably, the applicant will possess:
Experience working with international donors, especially USAID
Experience conducting research or evaluations in the governance sector in Honduras

Level of Effort (LOE): Approximately 60 days
Expected timeline: December 2024 -August 2025

The closing date for application:December 16,2023. The selection and interview will be performed on a rolling basis, and interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

To apply, please merge both your CVand a cover letterinto onepdf file and submit it through the online portal.

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, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.