Background

SoCha (meaning social change) is a U.S. small business focused on monitoring, evaluation, and learning in international development. We are preparing a proposal in response to USAID’s call for an evaluation of community gardens programming in Zimbabwe. We are seeking a highly experienced evaluator with quantitative and qualitative research skills to lead the evaluation, which is expected to launch in August 2024 after a contract is awarded to the successful bidder.

Zimbabwe is an agriculture-based economy with the majority of rural communities relying on rainfed agriculture. Community gardens and water supply infrastructure are the most common types of assets created by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)’s Early Recovery, Risk Reduction and Resilience (ER4) awards in Zimbabwe. Most community gardens are established to promote access to nutritious foods and increase household income. The gardens have had mixed success with some continuing to function after activities end, while some are abandoned after activities end.

USAID has commissioned this evaluation to assess the contribution of community gardens to household nutrition and income. This evaluation will look at three aspects related to community gardens: 1) Assess if community gardens are making any meaningful contribution to nutrition, particularly focusing on dietary diversity of women of reproductive age and children 6-23 months old and household income. 2) assess different sizes of plots per participant and establish the minimum plot size necessary for gardens to be effective in improving nutrition and/or income. 3) Assess the functionality and sustainability of gardens focusing on governance, water supply, production, and marketing. The evaluation results will inform BHA on investment in gardens and related infrastructure. It will enable BHA to develop technical guidelines on minimum standards for investment in community gardens and related infrastructure.

SoCha seeks a highly skilled and qualified Team Leader to lead the Community Gardens Contribution to Household Income and Nutrition evaluation in Zimbabwe. The period of performance for this evaluation is approximately 6 months. The Team Leader will report to SoCha’s Technical Director.

This position is open to local and international consultants.

Scope of Work

The Team Leader responsibilities include:

• Serve as the evaluation leader responsible for managing the day-to-day implementation of the evaluation.
• Ensure the quality and timely submission of key evaluation deliverables, including the desk review, evaluation work plan, evaluation design (including data collection instruments and analysis plan), qualitative and quantitative data, presentations of preliminary findings, draft and final evaluation report.
• Undertake field visits to conduct primary data collection, including key informant interviews, focus group discussions and household interviews.
• Lead data analysis and data triangulation.
• Serve as the main point of contact for providing regular briefings and updates including potential challenges, emerging opportunities and team’s findings to the USAID COR.
• Lead the presentation of preliminary findings, with USAID and a final presentation with internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee the dissemination of the recommendations and best practices briefer and the submission of the evaluation report on the Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC) and the datasets to the Data Development Library (DDL).
• Serve as the evaluation teams’ main point of contact for SoCha.

The tasks outlined above are subject to change and are indicative but not exhaustive for the role. Other tasks may be assigned by USAID and/or the SoCha Technical Director.

Minimum qualifications and experience

• An advanced degree in a relevant field such as monitoring and evaluation, social science, or international affairs.
• More than ten (10+) years of demonstrated professional experience in the design, methods, management, and implementation of evaluations of international development projects.
• Demonstrated experience in leading evaluation teams and providing successful leadership under similar circumstances.
• Proven experience in evaluating similar development programs in agriculture, nutrition, and food security.
• Proven skills and experience in developing quantitative and qualitative tools and instruments for evaluations such as interview protocols and questionnaires.
• Proven skills in analysis of quantitative survey data, qualitative research and report writing.
• Econometric analysis skills highly desired.
• Experience in Zimbabwe highly desired.
• Experience and familiarity of USAID policies and procedures, including the ADS 201 series is highly desired.
• Strong communication and writing skills in English are required.

Location

Zimbabwe 50% and remote 50%.