Mid Term Evaluation of
USAID Civil Society and Media
Evaluation Team Lead
Practice: Data – MEL
Work type: Part-time/Consultant
Location: This position is based in Kathmandu and may require travel to USAID Civil Society and Media working districts of Nepal. You must be legally authorized to work in Nepal; Bixal does not provide sponsorship.
Background
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Learning for Development Activity is a 5-year award led by Bixal Solutions, Inc. that provides USAID/Nepal with technical and advisory services in planning, designing, conducting, and learning from the monitoring and evaluation of the Mission’s strategies, projects, and activities in an efficient manner. USAID Learning for Development supports USAID/Nepal by providing services including a) learning and knowledge management; b) evaluations, study and other studies; c) performance monitoring technical support; d) capacity building; and e) development outreach and communications support.
Purpose
USAID Learning for Development seeks to hire a Team Lead evaluation consultant to lead and conduct a Midterm performance evaluation of USAID’s Civil Society and Media (CSM) program in Nepal. The purpose of this midterm evaluation of the CSM project is to determine whether the activity is on track to accomplish its intended goals and objectives focusing on its interventions and approaches to reach nascent local organizations and marginalized communities and recommend course corrections if this is not the case and/or if adjustments. The evaluation will also assess the degree to which there is evidence of sustainability of project results.
The evaluation should provide actionable insights to strengthen the remainder of the current CSM program as well as provide insights on the current challenges of the civic space. Findings for the evaluation will be used to strengthen current CSM activities, plan for future activities, and provide evidence of good practices to the broader civil society in Nepal. By leveraging lessons learned and best practices, the evaluation endeavors to strengthen the current program and ultimately provide support to independent civil society and media led by and for women, youth and marginalized (WYM) communities in Nepal so they can reach their full capacity by advancing public interest, fundamental freedoms, and accountability.
Objectives of the assignment
· Assess the progress that has been made in the CSM program
· Determine the continued relevance of the program’s interventions towards achieving the project’s objectives
· Document lessons learned and suggest any important or necessary modifications or course corrections to ensure achievement of the shared objectives within the lifetime of the project
· Provide evidence-based findings to contribute to ongoing and future activities of USAID/Nepal and share good practices with stakeholders in Nepal
· Provide perspectives on how the Mission is making progress towards the following Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) 2020–2025 learning agenda questions with specificity to civil society
Roles and Responsibilities
The Team Leader will be the leader of a broader consultancy team with whom they will work in close coordination. The Team Lead will conduct the evaluation as part of a team, including Civil Society and Media expert, an Inclusive Partnership/Gender Equality and Social Inclusion expert, and local staff that will assist in the evaluation and logistics support, including Enumerators/Field Researchers. They will have the overall responsibility of leading the study including study design and methodology, preparation of the inception report, and tool finalization. They will also lead and oversee the evaluation implementation, including data collection, analysis, and report writing. They will serve as the team manager and provide direction to ensure expertise of all consultants is fully included into the design, implementation, and deliverables of the project. The Team Lead will provide high-level technical support, including supporting the development and customization of evaluation documentation that includes the questionnaire and technical manuals; managing translation activities; and coordinating logistical support, data collection and analysis. The Team Leader will be responsible for ensuring all deliverables are met in a timely manner and submitted with high-quality.
Specific Responsibilities of the Team Leader
· Provide oversight and leadership for the team consultants, ensuring all expertise is incorporated into the project design, implementation, and deliverables.
· Develop a project timeline and oversee direction and time management.
· Review USAID CSM activity documents and other relevant documents.
· Draft an inception report detailing the evaluation design and work plan, including the evaluation tools, methodology and schedule for data collection.
· Prepare data collection tools – including translation - and schedule to ensure a smooth deployment of data collection.
· Conduct FGDs and KIIs with relevant stakeholders, program participants, Local Government contact points and USAID staff, which requires travel to field locations.
· Conduct field data collection and observations.
· Prepare a preliminary finding report and presentation.
· Draft a consolidated evaluation report and deliver a presentation of the overall evaluation to the mission.
· Coordinate with the USAID Learning for Development team to ensure high-quality products.
· Attending regular check-in meetings with the USAID Learning for Development team.
Deliverables
· Weekly or bi-weekly check-in meeting with the USAID Learning for Development team
· Draft and final inception report including evaluation tools and workplan.
· Draft initial findings report and presentation slide deck for the Mission.
· Conduct a presentation and workshop with USAID and Learning for Development on initial findings
· Final Evaluation report and presentation slide deck
Knowledge and Qualifications
· At least 10 years of experience leading and/or evaluating development activities for USAID or other donor agencies, preferably with experience in South or South East Asia.
· Prior experience of leading similar evaluations or assessments required, preferably in Asia
· Demonstrated knowledge of Democracy, Human Rights and Governance (DRG) transitions
· Prior technical experience with the function and operation of civil society and media and their advocacy work, empowerment of nascent organizations, capacity development and sustainability
· Demonstrated skills in facilitating participatory processes to interpret and develop recommendations from research
· Strong communication skills, management, and writing skills required
· The ideal candidate will have excellent oral and written communication skills in English
· Master's or PhD in a related field
Timeline, Location, and Level of Effort (LoE)
The assignment will last from approximately September through April 2025, with an estimated total 50 days of LoE. The assignment will be fully or nearly fully remote, with a possible trip required to collect data in Nepal.