Position Description

EnCompass LLC is in partnership with Management Systems International (MSI) is implementing the four-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Upoma Activity in Bangladesh, providing a range of analytical and advisory services in support of USAID’s design, performance monitoring, evaluation, and operational learning and adapting efforts.

During the contract, we anticipate conducting approximately 15 evaluations, studies, and assessments annually across a range of sectors that USAID Bangladesh supports. We also anticipate providing general analytical support to USAID throughout the design and implementation of their project portfolio.

In support of the work noted above, we anticipate needing consultants with evaluation, research, and subject expertise in the following sectors:

1) Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance

2) Economic Growth (including food security, agriculture, value chains, private sector engagement, environment/climate change, Feed the Future)

3) Health (including health system strengthening, maternal and child health, family planning, nutrition and infectious diseases)

4) Education (including primary, secondary, higher education, youth workforce development),

5) Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Risk Reduction

6) Rohingya Refugee Assistance and Host community Development

7) Gender Equality and Social Inclusion.

To ensure timely recruitment, EnCompass is developing a database of qualified consultants at this early stage in the contract. All consulting positions will be posted publicly as they become available, and all potential consultants will need to formally apply. However, this consultant database will enable us to proactively contact potential qualified consultants to apply as opportunities emerge.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions:

• Conduct and support a wide range of research studies, evaluations, assessments, as well as monitoring learning efforts to support the USAID Bangladesh Mission. Support could include facilitating program design conversations; supporting and/or leading evaluations; leading research initiatives such as rapid studies, desk reviews, and other qualitative/quantitative analytical work; supporting data quality assessment exercises for the portfolio; and other MEL tasks as needed.
• Provide oversight and quality assurance to ensure that research, evaluation, and other MEL products and services under this contract for the USAID Bangladesh Mission are of high quality, timely, useful, aligned to USAID guidance, and within budget.
• Conduct relevant training/workshops for Mission staff, implementing partners and other stakeholders.

Position Requirements

Qualifications

Academic Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in one or more of the following sectors: Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, Economic Growth, Health, Education, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Risk Reduction, Rohingya Refugee Assistance and Host Community Development, Gender Equity and Social Inclusion.
• Non-PhD candidates must have significant analytical experience in one or more of the areas noted above.

Experience and Skills

Required:

• Must have at least 8 years of work experience leading or supporting high-quality evaluations and/or research (applied or academic) in one of the above sectors in Bangladesh or other countries in the South Asia region (Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)
• Superior written and oral communication and presentation skills in English. Experience communicating evidence effectively for practitioner audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills.

Preferred:

• Previous experience leading MEL efforts in any of the above sectors for USAID/Bangladesh or other Donor organizations.
• Publications in peer reviewed journals.
• Understanding of USAID MEL and CLA regulations, policies, and guidance.
• Experience identifying and using diverse evidence sources to encourage robust decision making.