Background: As part of USAID/Kenya East Africa’s (KEA’s) efforts to align programming towards promoting self-reliance outcomes, SoCha LLC implements the Mission Support for the Journey to Self Reliance Pivot (MSP). To support this journey, MSP collaborates with USAID/KEA to understand context, align programs, collect data, understand complexity, and apply learning to program adaptation.

Scope of Work: The MSP program seeks a Data Quality Assessment (DQA) lead consultant to provide overall technical guidance and support to DQAs of indicators reported by USAID/BHA that are due for assessment in 2022, per ADS 201 requirements. The consultant will be contracted by SoCha and will report directly to the designated Monitoring and Verification Coordinator.

Roles and Responsibilities: The consultant will support the MSP team in the following tasks:

• Provide technical guidance, support and oversight of the activity, including coordinating DQA planning with MSP and the relevant technical offices, organizing and executing site visits, leading stakeholder interviews, and developing summary reports.
• Update / develop as necessary data collection tools (including for site visits, collecting beneficiary feedback) and SOPs to guide the data collection process.
• Develop / update reporting templates (including for findings by Implementing Partner (IP), indicators, and/or summary reports by technical office.
• Take lead in undertaking desk review of implementing partner reports, activity briefs, and other relevant documents related to data collection and management.
• Support USAID A/CORs, Activity Managers and MEL POCs with interviews with stakeholders, site-level data collection, and beneficiary spot-checks.
• Lead analysis and writing findings reports by IP and summary reports of DQAs per technical office.
• Support presentations of findings / key take-aways and recommendations to the Mission/ stakeholders, as requested.
• Participate in regular check-in calls and debriefs with the Mission and MSP staff.
• Other activities as agreed upon with MSP staff.

Required skills:

• Have a graduate degree in Statistics, Evaluation, or related field from a recognized university;
• At least five years experience working in monitoring and evaluation in the USAID context;
• A firm grasp of USAID ADS 201 policy and requirements on DQAs;
• Extensive, demonstrated experience planning and conducting rigorous DQAs of USAID indicators;
• Ability to diplomatically communicate and work effectively with a wide range of USAID implementing partners and stakeholders; and
• Strong analytical and writing skills, with proven experience in synthesizing and analyzing data into summary and findings reports.

Deliverables: The following will be required:

• Review and analysis of relevant IP and stakeholder documents;
• Developed/updated and approved data collection tools;
• Developed and approved DQA implementation plan per technical office;
• Final report(s) and presentation(s), inclusive of complete DQA checklist for each indicator and summary report of findings and recommendations per IP; and
• Other items as required by the designated M&V Coordinators.

Location: Based in Nairobi with some travels to neighbouring countries to conduct site visits for assessment and verification.

LOE or Contract Length: The consultant is expected to work for a period of approximately 45 days, from November 2022 to January 2023.