Subject Matter Expert, IRiS 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.

Background:

SI is conducting a process evaluation for USAID/Somalia’s Inclusive Resilience in Somalia (IRiS) Activity. The IRiS activity is focused on efforts to support transformational change in Somalia by strengthening key market systems aimed at creating long-lasting economic opportunities for marginalized populations. The goal is ”to accelerate economic development for marginalized groups in the targeted areas of Somalia by increasing individual, household, business, community, and system-wide resilience through rural and urban livelihood diversification and promoting inclusive economic market systems to combat real and perceived grievances that contribute to violent extremism and conflict”. Thus, IRiS is focused on integrating people displaced by drought and marginalized communities into local economies and helping those economies grow. Under the IRiS activity, USAID promotes climate-smart agriculture practices for Somalia’s largely agro-pastoralist population and supports new livelihood opportunities through affordable training and access to financial services. SI will conduct a mid-term evaluation to measure the progress against the activity’s objectives.

Purpose:

SI is seeking a Subject Matter Expert to support the process of USAID’s IRiS activity midterm process evaluation. To ensure that the process of evaluation is rigorous, data are trustworthy, findings are significant, and recommendations are actionable, the SME shall be expected to work in close collaboration with the Team Leader while bringing their experience and skills in market systems, economic growth, and value chains to the table. They will act as advisors on design, supervision of implementation, quality assurance, analysis of outcomes, and expertise input with relevant recommendations throughout the course of the life of the assessment. The SME will also be called upon particularly to provide critical insights, oversee technical elements of data collection and analysis, and contribute to conclusions and recommendations.

Specific Tasks:

• Provide technical support in designing a robust evaluation framework and methodologies leveraging expert knowledge on market systems, value chains, economic growth, and livelihoods.
• Assist in reviewing data collection tools, i.e. questionnaires, interview guides, data collection protocols, etc., methodological approaches that are relevant to the subject matter.
• Assist in co-designing data analysis codebook and train the evaluation team on the coding process and analysis.
• Provide technical interpretation of the evaluation findings and contextualization in terms of subject area relevance to be communicated to the stakeholders.
• Participate in the development of evaluation reports, including detailed findings, conclusions, and actionable recommendations; provide an eye on subject matter areas.
• Review and provide expert recommendations from the evaluation findings and ensure they are actionable in the subject matter.
• Support field data collection staff training support in methods of data collection and quality assurance, sharing best practices, building capacities within the subject matter.

Deliverables:

• Validated questionnaires and interview guides with a focus on subject-matter accuracy
• Training program for field staff on data collection and quality assurance.
• Provide a contextual background and report on trends and patterns in the subject matter.
• Deliver a comprehensive final evaluation report with findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Document stakeholder feedback on the midterm evaluation during key sessions with stakeholders.

Please note, this is a national position based in Somalia. Only Kenyan and Somali citizens will be eligible to apply.

Period of Performance:

The assignment is from September 9, 2024 to January 31, 2025.

Travel within Mogadishu is required.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of master’s degree in agriculture, sociology, economics, development studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in supporting evaluations, with a focus on market systems, economic growth, and value chains.
• Extensive knowledge of market systems, value chains, economic growth and livelihoods.
• Experience USAID, UN Agencies, or other multilateral organizations.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, teamwork, and the ability to deliver results within dynamic and changing environments.

Level of Effort:

Approximately 30 – 40 days.

Reporting:

The SME will report to the ELMI Evaluation Director.