Senior Research, Evidence and Learning Manager (For Myanmar National Only)

ROLE PURPOSE: Save the Children International Myanmar aspires to advance its research, evidence and learning ambition within the Country Strategic Plan 2022-2024 and strengthen our learning culture. SC firmly believe that to achieve its breakthroughs, it is critical to learn and generate robust evidence, through Research Evaluations and Assessments, to know what work for children. SC wants to explore how its interventions are impacting children’s lives; how SC’s global tested models (common approaches) are localized and increasing the effectiveness of its program; what are the innovative solutions for child rights issue that are maximizing the impact and offer maximum social returns on investment; and how SC can scale up its piloted solutions for children at National level.

Looking at these learning needs, SC has developed an overarching country office Learning agenda that prioritize Key Learning questions for Education, H&N, Child Poverty, Child Protection and Child Rights Governance (CRG). This Learning agenda will provide a basis for all strategic Learning and Evidence Generation in Myanmar.

SC is now looking to hire a passionate Senior REL Manager, who will lead and drive this Research, Evidence Generation and Learning ambitions in the Country Office. This position will produce & utilize quality research and evaluations for measuring effectiveness and impact of our work, adopting programs, supporting new Business Development, producing evidence for advocating with the policy makers and developing quality publications for national and global audience. This position will take lead in developing strategic partnerships with national and international research stakeholders such as local and international research organization and institutions. The incumbent will also facilitate in improving the Learning culture within the country office and work closely with SMT to ensure thatLearning is the responsibility of everyone, and it is integrated within staff work and team’s objective. This position holder will also Lead a team of passionate REL specialists who will generate quality evidence through Research and Evaluation in different thematic areas. This position holder will closely work with NBD team to ensure sufficient allocation of resources for REL in the country office.

Candidate must have an in-depth Learning, Research and Evaluation experience, particularly in at least Three priority thematic areas of Save the Children including Education, Health, Nutrition, Child Poverty, Child Protection and Child Rights Governance.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :

Strategic research and evidence generation

• Lead on filling strategic evidence gaps and implementation of Myanmar Country Office Learning Agenda and ensure Collection of Demographic and outcomes data for priority marginalized and deprived groups (in accordance with the CO Learning Agenda)
• Lead on the implementation of Country Learning Action Plan and provide quarterly updates to Director PDQ and SMT.
• In coordination with PDQ team, identify programmatic areas on issues related to children, where CO can become a though leader; Develop a Plan of action for each selected areas – how country office will become a thought leader.
• Coordinate broad research initiatives linked to CSP priorities to generate evidence and ensure their uptake into policy domain, development discourse and new project/program design
• Orient TA and MEAL staff about ERC procedures, implementation and its importance.
• Review and expand strategic partnerships by mapping out potential academic and non- academic institutions to collaborate for research, exchange evidence and learning capacity building
• Undertake meta-analysis and systemic reviews of key evaluations and research to generate sectoral learning on trends, opportunities, risks etc. and strengthen analysis and communicate programmatic learning to the wider Country Office team
• Work with PDQ Director to develop a culture of learning that is driven by the Country Strategic Plan, initiatives, Program results frameworks, thematic/sector learning agendas whilst encouraging space for innovation and pioneering project design based on evidence and research
• Support Country Office to ensure the Theory of Change is at the centre of building and utilising evidence to inform innovations, scale up interventions, partnership, quality and advocacy.
• Ensure evaluation/baseline and targeted research studies include key variables to understand contextual dynamics of resilience, gender, disability, ethnicity, children centred and geographic remoteness.
• Ensure that participation of respondents( specially children) in different assessment and studies is safe, and did not pose any risks for their safety and wellbeing.
• Coordinate update of Global Assessment and Evaluation Tracker and ensure adoption of a strategic approach to baseline and evaluation studies to guarantee effectiveness and efficiency in measurements.

Evidence-based learning and reflection

• Tailor relevant technical research papers, reports, briefs and other publications for different national and international audiences including for journals, periodicals etc.
• Establish engaging forums for reflection, learning and evidence-sharing within the Country, Region and across CO teams. Build a culture of reflection and learning amongst the country office and provincial offices.
• Hold thematic round table each quarter/ Semi-annual to share best practices and learnings on defined topics linking CSP and CO learning agenda
• Ensure data is systematically and continuously used to identify gaps, emerging trends, and course correction and implementation decisions are guided by this data (within and across programs/functional areas)
• Conduct robust analysis of data generated through programming and research initiatives in a palatable manner to decision maker, program strategy development and ACCM team.
• Support the relevant Programme and MEAL team to develop an Action Plan based on the evaluation recommendations with clear responsibilities for actions and monitoring
• In collaboration with Asia Regional Office’s RELAM unit and researchers ensure that evidence generation and evaluations are of high quality and produce valid, reliable, and relevant outcomes towards learning objectives.
• Manage Country Office Learning Management system (LMS) for partners, Communities, and volunteers.

Capacity building and coordination

• Lead on implementing capacity building strategy of country office and partner teams to generate and use evidence in program design and project cycle management.
• Identify opportunities to leverage external engagement of research institutions, consultancies, SC Technical Assistance, and the global Analytic Capacity Initiative towards capacity building priorities.
• Maintain the networks and strategic partnerships and accordingly work with research and academic institutions, and think tanks

Knowledge Management

• Ensure effective and secure storage of assessments, surveys and evaluations and organizational knowledge, and to use this knowledge base to promote learning across the organization
• Develop a process to communicate and disseminate recommendations from final evaluations / research studies
• Keep a record of latest secondary data coming through authentic sources UNOCHA, INGOs etc. and use that data in NBD and also for updating CRSA accordingly.
• Champion the use of global and regional Knowledge Management guidelines and platforms.
• Support documentation of the CO program by sharing learnings nationally, at Regional and internal platforms.
• Support Technical Leads and Advisors/Specialists in the pro-active collection, analysis, storage and utilization of external evidence and research, including trends and reports, to inform program development and strategic direction of the CO.
• Facilitate the Evaluation Quality Scoring tools for all finalized assessment, baseline survey and evaluation report onto the Global Evaluation and Assessment Repository.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Master’s degree in Economics, Measurement, Evaluation, and Research Methodology, Statistics, Social Science, or relevant equivalent, with at least significant coursework in quantitative or qualitative research methods. PhD in Social Science discipline will be a plus point.
• At least 8 years’ experience in social research, impact evaluation studies, leading/overseeing Baselines/Endlines, knowledge management and knowledge translation.
• Experience in more than two of the Save the Children priority sectors: education, child protection, child rights governance, child poverty, health and nutrition
• Previous work experience in Myanmar or similar context or capacity to deliver quality research in low resource areas
• Excellent interpersonal communication and leadership skills
• Passion for evidence-driven development programming and interest in ongoing international research
• Demonstrated skills in designing and carrying out qualitative and quantitative research and using research to inform program design and advocacy.
• Demonstrated experience in developing or overseeing data management solutions, and familiar with technologies in social research.
• Excellent analytical skills and appreciation for the complexities of social research, especially as pertains to deprivations of children’s rights.
• Effective at collaborating and influencing across departments and sectors
• Excellent skills in training, capacity building, coaching, and mentoring
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming teams, in emergencies
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches
• Fluency in written and spoken English.