Employer: Dexis Consulting Group
Location: Somalia
Closing date: 16 Oct 2017
Dexis is seeking a Senior Transition Advisor (STA) to provide research and analysis (R&A) and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) services in support of USAID/OTI’s programming in South Central Somalia.
This is a short-term position with a period of performance from o/a October 16, 2017 – o/a April 13, 2018. The STA will split time between Mogadishu, Somalia and Nairobi, Kenya. Security permitting, the STA will also be expected to travel to Baidoa, Dollow, and/or Kismayo, Somalia, as needed.
Responsibilities
The USAID/OTI Somalia Stabilization Initiative (SSI) program supports stabilization activities in South Central Somalia. In order to further augment USAID/OTI’s programming platform, Dexis is seeking a Senior Transition Advisor (STA) to advise in the development, implementation, review, monitoring, and evaluation of program activities in support of the SSI program. Working directly with the USAID/OTI Country Representative (CR) and field team, the STA will:
Establish a research and analysis platform:
Review past R&A products that SSI has created and assess whether they have been effectively designed, implemented, and utilized. Based on this past experience and SSI’s ongoing program needs, outline a practical plan for how other R&A products are either contracted, created, or utilized to increase the impact of SSI’s work in a rapidly changing environment;
Provide feedback, quality control, and oversight of R&A products currently in development, and work closely with Implementing Partner staff to ensure that these products are fed into activity development and strategy design;
Recommend and develop, as needed, grants for future R&A products that can help inform, target, and tailor SSI programming;
Work with and mentor Implementing Partner research staff members and other program staff on how to incorporate R&A into their activity implementation plans and program cycle;
Develop and present informational products for a variety of different audiences, including USG officials, implementing partners, and humanitarian actors with involvement from USAID/OTI;
Once R&A Platform deliverable is developed approved, present and train USAID/OTI and Implementing Partner staff on the platform.
Build robust monitoring and evaluation systems:
Update and maintain SSI’s overall M&E framework, monitor progress towards the goals of this framework, and document successes and challenges;
Manage activities under a third-party output verification mechanism;
Working closely with the implementing partner, oversee the production of cluster evaluations and other program learning products and processes.
Enhance reporting products:
Review SSI’s reporting products, cycle, and capacity and recommend improvements;
Develop new products and revise existing templates that help shine a spotlight on SSI’s contextual analysis and programmatic responsiveness;
Work with Implementing Partner staff to streamline and strengthen grant writing;
Train and mentor Implementing Partner staff as needed;
Communicate regularly with other USAID project managers, the U.S. Embassy, bilateral donors, United Nations organizations, international organizations, and indigenous and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to share context analysis and program information;
Other tasks as assigned by the USAID/OTI CR, including:
Meeting with potential grantees, host government and other program counterparts in order to build relations and to develop activity ideas with Implementing Partner staff;
Representing USAID/OTI interests during meetings with USAID Mission personnel, U.S. Embassy staff, host-country government officials, international organizations, indigenous and international NGOs, international donors, and others interested in USAID/OTI activities;
In conjunction with the program’s Senior Management Team (SMT) as a “third party observer,” discuss staff performance; recognize good performance; identify performance improvement needs; and help resolve complaints or concerns.
Qualifications
A Bachelor’s level degree plus five (5) years or an advanced (Master’s or above) level degree plus three (3) years of recent and relevant experience in conducting R&A on complex political and conflict environments, implementing stabilization programs, and designing and managing M&E systems.
Strong research, analysis, and written communications skills with at least (two) 2 years of experience in R&A.
Experience within Somalia or the Horn of Africa desired, but not required;
A minimum of one (1) year of overseas field experience working in a developing country, of which six (6) months must include experience working in one or more countries undergoing political instability;
A minimum of six (6) months of supervisory experience (including, but not limited to mentoring, training, and guiding staff);
Familiarity with the Somalia context, current dynamics, key stakeholders, and evolution of the war over the past five years;
Ability to collaborate with and take guidance to ensure R&A and activity cycle guidance and products are meeting programmatic data collection, and analysis needs;
Strong ability to communicate and present complex analyses clearly to diverse stakeholders;
Experience managing teams of remote field staff in complex, high-speed and challenging conflict-affected environments strongly preferred;
Fluent English speaker is required;
Exceptionally organized and ability to work under pressure and respond to time sensitive requests.
Closing date: 16 Oct 2017
Dexis is seeking a Senior Transition Advisor (STA) to provide research and analysis (R&A) and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) services in support of USAID/OTI’s programming in South Central Somalia.
This is a short-term position with a period of performance from o/a October 16, 2017 – o/a April 13, 2018. The STA will split time between Mogadishu, Somalia and Nairobi, Kenya. Security permitting, the STA will also be expected to travel to Baidoa, Dollow, and/or Kismayo, Somalia, as needed.
Responsibilities
The USAID/OTI Somalia Stabilization Initiative (SSI) program supports stabilization activities in South Central Somalia. In order to further augment USAID/OTI’s programming platform, Dexis is seeking a Senior Transition Advisor (STA) to advise in the development, implementation, review, monitoring, and evaluation of program activities in support of the SSI program. Working directly with the USAID/OTI Country Representative (CR) and field team, the STA will:
Establish a research and analysis platform:
Review past R&A products that SSI has created and assess whether they have been effectively designed, implemented, and utilized. Based on this past experience and SSI’s ongoing program needs, outline a practical plan for how other R&A products are either contracted, created, or utilized to increase the impact of SSI’s work in a rapidly changing environment;
Provide feedback, quality control, and oversight of R&A products currently in development, and work closely with Implementing Partner staff to ensure that these products are fed into activity development and strategy design;
Recommend and develop, as needed, grants for future R&A products that can help inform, target, and tailor SSI programming;
Work with and mentor Implementing Partner research staff members and other program staff on how to incorporate R&A into their activity implementation plans and program cycle;
Develop and present informational products for a variety of different audiences, including USG officials, implementing partners, and humanitarian actors with involvement from USAID/OTI;
Once R&A Platform deliverable is developed approved, present and train USAID/OTI and Implementing Partner staff on the platform.
Build robust monitoring and evaluation systems:
Update and maintain SSI’s overall M&E framework, monitor progress towards the goals of this framework, and document successes and challenges;
Manage activities under a third-party output verification mechanism;
Working closely with the implementing partner, oversee the production of cluster evaluations and other program learning products and processes.
Enhance reporting products:
Review SSI’s reporting products, cycle, and capacity and recommend improvements;
Develop new products and revise existing templates that help shine a spotlight on SSI’s contextual analysis and programmatic responsiveness;
Work with Implementing Partner staff to streamline and strengthen grant writing;
Train and mentor Implementing Partner staff as needed;
Communicate regularly with other USAID project managers, the U.S. Embassy, bilateral donors, United Nations organizations, international organizations, and indigenous and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to share context analysis and program information;
Other tasks as assigned by the USAID/OTI CR, including:
Meeting with potential grantees, host government and other program counterparts in order to build relations and to develop activity ideas with Implementing Partner staff;
Representing USAID/OTI interests during meetings with USAID Mission personnel, U.S. Embassy staff, host-country government officials, international organizations, indigenous and international NGOs, international donors, and others interested in USAID/OTI activities;
In conjunction with the program’s Senior Management Team (SMT) as a “third party observer,” discuss staff performance; recognize good performance; identify performance improvement needs; and help resolve complaints or concerns.
Qualifications
A Bachelor’s level degree plus five (5) years or an advanced (Master’s or above) level degree plus three (3) years of recent and relevant experience in conducting R&A on complex political and conflict environments, implementing stabilization programs, and designing and managing M&E systems.
Strong research, analysis, and written communications skills with at least (two) 2 years of experience in R&A.
Experience within Somalia or the Horn of Africa desired, but not required;
A minimum of one (1) year of overseas field experience working in a developing country, of which six (6) months must include experience working in one or more countries undergoing political instability;
A minimum of six (6) months of supervisory experience (including, but not limited to mentoring, training, and guiding staff);
Familiarity with the Somalia context, current dynamics, key stakeholders, and evolution of the war over the past five years;
Ability to collaborate with and take guidance to ensure R&A and activity cycle guidance and products are meeting programmatic data collection, and analysis needs;
Strong ability to communicate and present complex analyses clearly to diverse stakeholders;
Experience managing teams of remote field staff in complex, high-speed and challenging conflict-affected environments strongly preferred;
Fluent English speaker is required;
Exceptionally organized and ability to work under pressure and respond to time sensitive requests.