Position: Zonal Developmental Evaluator - TZ, Dar es Salaam
Overview
Social Solutions International, Inc. (Social Solutions) is a woman-owned
business based in the U.S. that emphasizes quality research and
evaluation, training and technical assistance, and institutional support
services in the development context. We are a mission-driven
organization that believes that superior science can improve the world.
Social Solutions is dedicated to the creation of social and health
solutions to improve the welfare of underserved populations worldwide.
Background
Social Solutions leads the Coordinating Implementation Research to
Communicate Learning and Evidence (CIRCLE) Project, which implements a
four-year Developmental Evaluation (DE) of USAID Boresha Afya Project in
Tanzania. The Developmental Evaluation of USAID Boresha Afya is now in
its second year. The Boresha
Afya project aims to support the Government of Tanzania to increase
access to high quality, comprehensive, and integrated health services,
particularly for women and youth. The project is implemented in three
zones of Tanzania, namely Lake/Western Zone, North/Central Zone, and
Southern Zone.
Developmental Evaluation practice involves (1) embedding an evaluation
team with project implementers, (2) providing real-time feedback to
intended evaluation users, (3) using systems- and complexity thinking,
and (4) supporting inclusive learning and timely decision making for
program improvement toward meeting its objectives.
Flexible evaluation design along with strong stakeholder engagement and
knowledge management are essentials to the success of DE.
The CIRCLE Project seeks an experienced Zonal Developmental Evaluator
for coordinating and implementing the DE activities in the Western and
Lake Zone Boresha Afya project. The primary responsibilities include
implementing data collection and analysis activities per the DE design,
providing continuous feedback to intended evaluation users to support
timely decision making, and tracking learning and adaptation milestones
in the project.
Job Locations:
Zonal Developmental Evaluator will be embedded with Boresha Afya
partners in Lake/Western Zone (Mara). The specific location within Zone
may change based on emerging evaluation priorities. Candidates’
flexibility regarding site for embedding is highly desired. Zonal
Developmental Evaluators can expect up to 30-50% time for domestic
travel, primarily within the respective zone, but also to include Dar es
Salaam and other locations.
Responsibilities
• Under guidance of the Principal Investigator (PI), manage the
implementation of the DE activities in the assigned zone and provide
regular reporting to the PI.
• Participate in the development, review, and refining of annual developmental evaluation plan.
• Work closely with respective Boresha Afya zonal teams over the course
of the DE to prioritize focus areas, formulate evaluation questions, and
update evaluation plans.
• Collaborate within the DE team to design data collection instruments,
and data management systems and processes that are both zone-specific
and cross-cutting with other zones.
• Lead the implementation of zone-specific data collection, analysis, and reporting activities.
• Participate in recruitment and oversight of additional data collection and analysis support staff, as needed.
• Ensure the quality and timely completion of DE activities (including
data collection, management, and analyses) and development of knowledge
products from assigned zone.
• Collaborate with PI and a Knowledge Management and Communications
Specialist in drafting, packaging, and sharing DE knowledge products and
deliverables including progress and dissemination reports.
• Track implementation of DE recommendations and actions and assist in the development of a DE learning framework.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with Boresha Afya
stakeholders including local government authorities, implementing
partners and other stakeholders.
• Participate in planning DE stakeholder meetings and workshops.
• Help build capacity of Boresha Afya stakeholders around the use of evaluation findings and adaptive program management.
• Contribute to a DE Community of Practice.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Anthropology, or related Social Science discipline.
• Master’s degree or higher in a Social Sciences discipline or in Public health is highly desirable.
• Five to seven years’ experience in implementation research and/or monitoring & evaluation in the global health and development contexts.
• 3-4 years of experience with participatory research and/or evaluation methods, including process evaluation and action planning.
• 3-5 years of experience working with diverse health or development stakeholders, spanning research and evaluation, donors, program implementers, and government.
• Excellent knowledge and technical skills in qualitative and mixed methods for data collection and analysis, including the ability to adapt different kinds of methods to local context.
• Desire to learn and use new evaluation methods.
• Proven experience with data analysis software, both qualitative (e.g., MAXQDA, NVivo, Atlas Ti) and quantitative (e.g., STATA, SPSS).
• Experience using public health monitoring and surveillance databases such as DHIS2.
• Understanding of and experience with data-driven storytelling, including creation of briefs, and infographics, blogs and other compelling knowledge products.
• Experience collaborating on digital project and document management platforms.
• Knowledge of public health priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa, notably maternal and child health, HIV, malaria, reproductive health, and family planning.
• Familiarity with the Tanzanian public health landscape including but not limited to HIV, maternal and child health, family planning, malaria service delivery.
• Familiarity with principles of complex systems science is a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, including ability to empathize and cultivate strong stakeholder relations, comport oneself diplomatically, and build stakeholder consensus.
• Proven capacity to work at a quick pace, to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, and quickly synthesize different streams of evidence.
• A self-starter willing to take ownership of tasks and provide recommendations to colleagues.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a small inter-disciplinary team.
• Tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity in evaluation findings and ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities.
• Proficiency with English is mandatory; additional proficiency with Swahili is desired.
How to apply:
Interested and qualified applicants should submit by March 15, 2019 the following materials: (1) a one-page cover letter indicating interest and fit for the position; and (2) a résumé or CV, including 2-3 references. Please apply to this position online at www.socialsolutions.biz . Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
