Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.
Project Summary
The USAID El Salvador Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) project provides monitoring, evaluation, learning, and knowledge management support services to USAID operating units (OUs) in the Central America region, including USAID/El Salvador, Central America and Mexico (ES-CAM) regional Mission; regional bilateral Missions in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Mexico; and USAID/Washington-based bureaus and offices operating in Central America. These services will enhance USAID’s regional MEL capacity and evidence base to guide activity design; facilitate learning and adaptive management for USAID and its partners. This project will play a pivotal role in measuring and understanding the effectiveness and impact of USAID’s programming on the drivers and overall reduction of irregular migration to the United States. For this task under the project, this work will consist of a consultancy to conduct an analysis of USAID/El Salvador’s MEL system (including indicators, MEL Plan, tools, higher-level objectives, TOC) and recommend changes to improve their MEL system. This analysis will include facilitating workshop(s) with the Regional Program Office (RPO) and Mission technical office teams to arrive at outcome-level measures and go beyond output measurement. This will also involve providing recommendations and proposed steps to enhance USAID/El Salvador’s MEL system, focusing on integrating outcome-level measures alongside production-level metrics .
- Please note: All citizenships are eligible for this position.**
Position Summary
The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Team Lead will serve as the project’s primary representative for this task with the client and report to the project Task Manager. The task is expected to begin in late June or July with an initial kick-off in El Salvador with RPO representatives, followed by remote work reviewing MEL documents, meeting with, and facilitating small group meetings with USAID staff to discuss and assess the organization’s MEL system. The MEL Team Lead will present the results of the evaluation and recommendations to RPO, front office, and other USAID stakeholders to improve its MEL system to begin to integrate outcome-level measures that spans the entire organization across activities. The task is expected to last approximately three months, ending October of 2024.
Responsibilities
- Conduct an in-depth desk review of pertinent documents and data to gain a comprehensive understanding of the context and specific challenges within USAID/El Salvador’s MEL system.
- Manage the project kickoff meeting involving RPO, front office, and other crucial stakeholders to align expectations, objectives, and roles, ensuring effective communication from the task's outset.
- Conduct a detailed evaluation of pertinent MEL information systems to understand the specific challenges for USAID/El Salvador’s MEL system in consultation with the RPO point of contact and Mission Information Systems Specialists.
- Direct and coordinate an exhaustive evaluation of USAID/El Salvador’s MEL system within the Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and framework of USAID's Development Policy (ADS 201) to encompass indicators, the Performance Management Plan (PMP), tools employed, strategic goals, and the Theory of Change (TOC).
- Conduct working sessions with RPO, technical office teams, and other pertinent groups utilizing participatory methodologies to foster collaboration, innovation, and attainment of results.
- Prepare a report sharing the results of the MEL system evaluation and detailing the team’s recommendations and proposed steps to enhance USAID/El Salvador’s MEL system, focusing on integrating outcome-level measures alongside production-level metrics and including the new or modified metrics/indicators proposed as well as its related PIRS and guidance as applicable.
- Conduct weekly meetings with Task Manager to coordinate and discuss progress and challenges .
- Prepare weekly one-pager, bullet-point progress reports that will communicate progress on activity implementation to the MEL Activity team and USAID.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field with minimum seven years of relevant experience required. Master’s degree in international development, political science, education, economics, quantitative and qualitative research methods, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum five years of experience working in the Latin America region required.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in monitoring and evaluating programs required.
- Minimum 10 years of experience conducting USAID project monitoring and reporting processes required. Knowledge of USAID ADS 201, the Project Cycle, the Foreign Assistance (FA) Standard Structure Definitions and related FA indicators, as well as USAID theory and practices of CLA and Non-Permissive Environments preferred.
- Strong communication, collaboration, interpersonal, and management skills required.
- Fluency in English and Spanish is required.
MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work.
We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.
MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer.
Reasonable Accommodations
MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Tech’s Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates.
Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
Additional Information
