Background

SoCha is contracted to provide Monitoring, Reporting, and Capacity Strengthening (MRCS) support to complement and augment USAID’s Sahel Regional Office (SRO) performance management activities within its portfolio. Over a period of five years (2022-2027), MRCS is providing this technical assistance to the Sahel Regional Technical Office (SRTO), Sahel Regional Program Office (SRPO), the Niger Mission, the Burkina Faso Country Office, the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) Resilience Food Security Activities (RFSAs) in Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as limited support to other SRO-supported countries

SoCha seeks a highly qualified Context Monitoring Expert to work on SoCha’s MRCS team. The position will be a short-term consultancy with a combination of in-person and remote work. Consultant will be required to conduct up to two in-country visits to MRCS’s country office in Niamey, Niger, of approximately three weeks.

Scope of Work

The Context Monitoring Expert will be responsible for developing and launching a context monitoring system, which will be maintained by MRCS throughout its life cycle. Responsibilities of the Context Monitoring Expert will include:

• Leading a desk review of existing relevant sources of contextual data that can inform a robust context monitoring system. The desk review will include developing a bibliography of indices and data sets, mapping a network of relevant known sources, and scoping with SoCha’s partners to identify additional networks and methods for sourcing context data in Niger.
• Facilitating a co-creation workshop with stakeholder from USAID/Niger and MEL specialists from other select partners to identify informational and geographic priorities for the monitoring system, develop indicators for monitoring the desired information, and designing reporting and other dissemination formats and products for sharing contextual information derived from the system.
• Designing the initial context monitoring system to effectively inform learning and decision making for adaptive management.
• Facilitating review of the initial design to obtain feedback and suggested revisions to the system to best meet the needs of USAID/Niger and its stakeholders.
• Producing a final context monitoring system design and supporting its operationalization.
• Provide coaching/training to MRCS staff on the context monitoring system design and how to manage and maintain it.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in international development, statistics, economics, or a related field.
• At least six (6) years of experience in context monitoring and/or evaluation and analysis of conflict environments and drivers with international development projects.
• Strong presentation skills with experience designing and delivering co-creation events, meetings, and trainings.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively interact with local professionals, international donor organizations, civil society and private sector, host country government counterparts, and other implementing partners in developing countries.
• Knowledge of USAID reporting requirements.
• Professional communication skills and strong proficiency in written and spoken English and French.

Location

Niamey, Niger

Expected LOE

Approximately 50 days combined remote / in-country work (up to two, 15-day trips in-country will be required).