22-219 USAID Project Management Specialist (Strategic Information/Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning [SI/MEL])

GENERAL INFORMATION

USAID DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING) AND DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANT’S BANK ACCOUNTS.

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 22-219

2. ISSUANCE DATE: December 23, 2022

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: January 10, 2023 (4:30 PM East Africa Time).

4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID Kenya and East Africa Human Resources, e-mail at [email protected].

5. POSITION TITLE: USAID Project Management Specialist (Strategic Information/Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning [SI/MEL]).

6. MARKET VALUE: Equivalent to FSN-11 Step 1 (4,792,523 KSH per annum) to Step 13 (8,147,267 KSH per annum). In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Kenya and East Africa. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

​​​​​​​7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The services provided under this contract are expected to be of a continuing nature that will be executed by USAID through a series of sequential contracts, subject to the availability of funds, the continued need for services and successful performance. It is anticipated that the selection of the successful candidate will be completed within an estimated six-month period from the closing date of this solicitation. The base period will be for one year with the commencement date based upon successful medical clearance and security certification. Contingent on Agency needs, the Contracting Officer may exercise four additional option periods from the contract commencement date.

​​​​​​​8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya; with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.

​​​​​​​9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to qualified Kenyan Citizens, including current locally hired employees of the US Government in Kenya. Employees presently on probation are ineligible to apply.​​​​​​​

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Security certification issued by the US Embassy RSO.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The USAID Project Management Specialist (Strategic Information/Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning [SI/MEL]) is located in the Health Population & Nutrition Office, Health Analytics Team, and plays a lead role in the development of effective FP/RMNCAH, Nutrition and WASH strategic information and monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems in support of the full range of Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representative (C/AOR) managing Mission Family Health programs/projects/activities.

The Senior Specialist applies evaluation research to the monitoring of program/project/activity implementation in order to document results, and to translate SI and MEL and other data into meaningful policy and program improvements. The Senior Specialist serves as a subject matter expert and key contributor to strengthening the capacity of information systems, providing senior -level technical guidance to Health Office leaders, the broader USAID Mission, implementing partners (IPs) involved in the integrated PEPFAR and FP/RMNCAH, Nutrition and WASH program monitoring and evaluation, and within the host government. The Senior Specialist serves as a C/AOR or Activity Manager, responsible for providing technical and programmatic guidance to assigned activities.

Statement of Duties to be Performed

1. Program/Project/Activity Performance Management and Reporting 40%

• Provides senior/high level technical guidance to Health Office, Mission staff, IPs, and other USG agencies on MEL concepts, processes, design, training, and best practices.
• Provides expert direction and technical guidance in the implementation of the Health Office portions of the Mission Performance Management Plan (PMP), and Health Office responsibilities from Mission PMP; and SI and MEL services and support to IPs in the development and implementation of program/project/activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plans.
• Provides guidance to IPs in understanding of the Performance Monitoring Plan systems, and their role in the process, and advises on specific measurement techniques appropriate for their programs/projects/activities.
• Provides technical strategic information (SI) and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) expertise to the Program Office, USAID/Washington, and other USG agencies to in order to plan and manage Health Office responsibilities related to the PMP, including collection, assessment of validity, and improving data quality.
• Develops innovative and cross-cutting monitoring tools, including Data Quality Assessment and Improvement (DQA/I) tools in coordination with the Program Office and SI/MEL contractors; tracks and maintains multiple sets of key indicators, common indicators related to standard components in all USAID programs/projects/activities, indicators at the strategic objective level, and detailed indicators at the activity level; and, ensures proper collection of data, and that indicators serve is an appropriate measure of their corresponding result.
• Provides technical leadership to CORs/AORs and IPs to ensure activity work plans and monitoring plans include relevant and effective performance measures, which together provide greater results and more accurate measurements.
• Leads, designs, and performs assessments/studies/research requiring independent analysis and interpretation, on a regular and recurring basis; studies and research are cross-cutting and include substantive and often sensitive Mission and Health Office topics. Briefs Health Office and Mission leaders on findings and makes recommendations to impact strategic, operational, and programmatic direction.
• Provides expert guidance to Health Office technical staff on defining measurable indicators and targets for desired results addressed by their program/project/activity, and edits quarterly, semi-annual, and annual performance Reports.
• Leads USAID’s support to the host government for the development and management of a national information system, and a central repository (data warehouse) for Health data; and serves as USAID point of contact for Health data and information systems.

2. Evaluation and Organizational Learning 30%

• Provides technical guidance and leadership to ensure evaluations are properly planned and carried out in a high-quality and professional manner, by aiding Health Office CORs/AORs to draft appropriate Scopes of Work (SOWs) for evaluation Teams, by actual participation in and/or leading evaluation Teams, and by ensuring that Team comments on draft evaluation reports are reflected in final reports.
• Leads a team in the development and execution of an evaluation plan that ensures compliance with USAID Evaluation Policy. Advises thematic teams/working groups and technical specialists on planning, designing, and implementing appropriate Evaluation Plans.
• Provides technical guidance and leadership to other USG agencies in the development, preparation, and dissemination of results of Public Health evaluations, Demographic Health Surveys, etc.
• Leads cross-cutting evaluations, and supports prioritization and implementation of recommendations, as required.
• Manages the Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) component of Health Office activities.
• Organizes and leads roundtables and consultations with Health Office staff, IPs, and other stakeholders to develop a Learning Agenda for Health interventions; identifies mechanisms for implementing research; and manages implementation of research and evaluation activities and dissemination of results.
• Provides technical leadership and oversight to the Ministry of Health and other host-country government staff to ensure that national-level data is available and reliable and works with inter-agency Heads of Departments and senior technical staff to ensure that USG data contributes to an accurate picture of the situation on the ground, that double-counting is avoided, and that results are attributable to USAID (and USG) interventions.

3. Project Management 10%

• Serves as a C/AOR and/or Activity Manager for SI/MEL programs/projects/activities awarded through the Health Office, providing financial and programmatic oversight to ensure contracts and grants achieve anticipated results, and are linked to and enhance attainment of the Health Office, Mission, and USG objectives.
• Conducts site visits as required in order to monitor progress, and to provide technical and programmatic recommendations to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and judicious use of USG funding.

4. Representation 20%

• Represents the Health Office, Mission, and USG at national and/or international technical and programmatic meetings, and in consultations with other social sector donors, government officials, and IPs.
• Provides technical and strategic leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning reporting documents including the Country Operational Plan, Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justifications, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports.
• Drafts talking points and/or speeches for the Office Chief, Mission Director, Ambassador and others, as required, and prepares briefing papers, presentations, and coordinates site preparations for VIP site visits.

Supervisory Relationship

The Project Management Specialist (Strategic Information / Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning [SI/MEL]) works under the very general supervision of the Health Analytics Team Leader, and the closer but general supervision of the Center of Excellence Director for Family Health Programs. The supervisor makes assignments in terms of overall objectives and resources available. Completed work is reviewed in terms of achievement of program/project/activity goals, effectiveness in meeting host-country and USAID objectives, and integration with other initiatives in the Office and Mission portfolio. Some technical direction may come from other professionals in the Office; in general, however, the Senior Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable autonomy and best judgment in discharging the duties of the assignment.

Supervisory Controls

Continuing supervision of other Division and Office staff is not anticipated. The Senior Specialist may be assigned as a group/Team Leader but will not serve as a full supervisor. The Senior Specialist is expected to serve as mentor to C/AORs, Assistant-level staff, and others in SI and MEL systems and processes, and to provide other work guidance as assigned.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Any application that does not meet the minimum requirements stated below will not be evaluated.

1. Education: Completion of a US-style University Master’s Degree in a field related to social science, statistics, mathematics, mathematics, economics, computer science, epidemiology, health informatics, public health, infectious disease, zoonotic disease, biology or other quantitative discipline, or the local equivalent, is required.
2. Prior Work Experience: Five years of progressively responsible job-related professional-level experience in monitoring,evaluation, and learning (MEL) and other surveillance systems, evaluation of program/project/activity implementation, in direct program/project/activity management, or in a closely related activity is required. At least two years of this experience in a development-oriented workplace, or a related field, for USAID, other donor agencies, host-country organizations, or private-sector i11nstitutions, and which included project design, performance monitoring, and/or the analysis and interpretation of large amounts of data, is required.
3. Language Proficiency: Level IV (Fluent) English and Kiswahili is required.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

• Job Knowledge (55 points)

The Senior Specialist must have in depth, professional-level knowledge of development approaches and methods for performance analysis, data visualization, and program design, monitoring and evaluation. The Senior Specialist must have excellent knowledge of MEL systems, public health programming, and international donor operations in the sector. The Senior Specialist must have knowledge and understanding of the economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics of the host country; development problems in the health sector in the host country and the region; an understanding of the resources, resource constraints, and overall development prospects and priorities of the host country and the region. The Senior Specialist must have working knowledge of USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and of USAID programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation, and of the objectives, methodology, and status of assigned activities.

• Skills and abilities (45 points)

The Senior Specialist must have the ability to plan, organize and execute complex SI/MEL activities, including the ability to provide technical leadership and apply this ability to programming in the host country and the region. The Senior Specialist must have the ability to issue precise and accurate factual reports using rigorous analytical and interpretive skills. Excellent communication skills both writing and speaking, especially in being able to communicate technical subjects to individuals with nontechnical background. This role requires the ability to respond professionally and adjust in fluid situations in order to meet deadlines in the face of competing priorities and time pressures. Excellent computer and software skills including ability in excel, SPSS, STATA, R and/or other analytical databases.

Total possible points: 100