Local Evaluation Specialist

Local Evaluation Specialist, Midterm Evaluation of the USAID Laos Business Environment (LBE) Activity, Lao PDR

Social Impact is a global development management consulting firm. We provide monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity building services to advance development effectiveness. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. Since 1997 we have worked in over 100 countries for clients such as US government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits.

Objective:

The USAID Laos Business Environment (LBE) Activity is a 5-year Activity (2019 – 2024) that intends to strengthen national level facilitation, support improvement of the Laos business environment, and improve the competitiveness of the private sector. The LBE works in partnership with relevant Government of Laos (GOL) national and sub-national level stakeholders, including the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The LBE Activity targets geographic areas in Vientiane and Champasak province, and the key priority sectors include tourism (eco-tourism), handicraft and ICT.

The purpose of the USAID LBE mid-term evaluation is to review the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Activity’s approaches in meeting LBE’s objective and Intermediate Results (IRs) as well as to propose specific and practical recommendations for course corrections. The objective is to guide future strategic direction and to provide recommendations on how to focus, expand, or revise approaches depending on their effectiveness at contributing to LBE’s three IRs.

Position Description:

SI is seeking two individuals to fill the role of the Local Evaluation Specialists for this mid-term evaluation. The Local Evaluation Specialist will play a critical role in the implementation of the evaluation and the development of all client deliverables. The Local Evaluation Specialist will participate in the development of the desk review, direct data collection and compilation, conduct data analysis, and support the drafting of a final report under the direction of the Team Leader. The Evaluation Specialist will conduct interviews, facilitate meetings, and provide notetaking support as needed. When not interviewing, Local Specialist will be cleaning/finalizing notes.

The project will begin in January 2023 and is projected to be completed in May 2023. Depending on the location of the evaluation team members, some data collection may be conducted remotely. In-country team members may be expected to conduct in-person interviews depending on the COVID-19 restrictions at the time of data collection.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to a desk review of Activity documents
• Support the development of the evaluation design and data collection tools.
• Coordinate with implementing partner and logistician to collect appropriate Government approvals for research.
• Administer interviews with stakeholders in Lao PDR, produce typed English notes from the interviews.
• Upload notes daily and report data collection progress to Team Lead weekly or as directed by the Team Lead.
• Support data analysis and final report under direction of the Team Lead.
• Participate in workshop(s) with USAID Laos and implementing partners to validate the findings and discuss conclusions and recommendations.
• Work closely with SI HQ team and communicate in a timely and effective manner with all project personnel.

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a relevant field and at least five years of experience evaluating development programs (preferably in the micro enterprise and/or business facilitation sector).
• Experience working on development programs (in a management or M&E capacity) preferred.
• Familiarity with the economic and governance sector in the Laos context strongly desired.
• Advanced skills in qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Candidates must be based in Laos.
• Fluency and English and Lao required; candidates also fluent in Lao PDR minority languages are encouraged to apply.

Come join our energetic and innovative team! We offer you the opportunity to play a leading role in the growth of our company, work as part of a creative and committed team, and make a difference in the well-being of our world.

To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website: http://www.socialimpact.com.

SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.