Senior Learning Specialist, USAID/Mali Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Platform

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.

Proposal Objective:

The purpose of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Platform is to provide technical and advisory services to design and carry out various monitoring, evaluation and learning activities for USAID/Mali. This contract will have three major components: 1) USAID/Mali monitoring support through a Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) mechanism; 2) Evaluation Services and Surveys; and 3) Collaborating, Learning and Adaptive Management and Communication Services.

The MEL Platform will assist USAID/Mali and its partners to generate empirical data and to foster learning and knowledge management through a participatory process to support stronger results and improve evidence-based programming. These efforts will facilitate informed program management decisions, shape the longer-term strategic direction of programs and decision-making within the Mission, and enable USAID/Mali to comply with USAID’s monitoring and evaluation guidance as mandated in the Automated Directives System (ADS), especially in ADS 201.

The principal customers for this MEL Platform contract will be USAID/Mali staff, other USG agencies, USAID implementing partners, Malian Government counterparts, and relevant offices in USAID/Washington.

Position Description:

SI is seeking a Senior Learning Specialist to lead and manage the learning, adaptive management, and communication activities under this contract. This is a full-time position to be based in Bamako for the duration of the five-year project, contingent upon contract award.

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate strong CLA management practices in USAID/Mali business processes and throughout the program cycle.
• Foster strong, collaborative relationships with key Mission stakeholders; serve as a convener for dialogue and learning around emerging issues; assist in identifying and responding to key learning issues; and coordinate efforts amongst implementing partners (IPs) working on common Development Objectives (DOs).
• Develop and implement a learning plan for the Mission and IPs that outlines key learning questions, stakeholders and their roles, and broad stakeholder engagement at multiple levels.
• Support strategic communications, including producing publications and organizing public events with partners and other stakeholders.
• Conduct business process re-engineering, including assisting in negotiating change management around monitoring, evaluation, and learning related issues.
• Lead facilitation, including facilitating processes and workshops; facilitating learning, collaboration, and coordination among implementing partners and other collaborators with the greatest impact on results; producing reflections on the implications of new learning; developing product plans for adapting programs accordingly; and establishing a network of key stakeholders.
• Support USAID/Mali’s CLA Community of Practice in identifying needs and providing evidence-based MEL solutions.
• Ensure that monitoring and evaluation information is shared and fully utilized through knowledge sharing and strategic learning processes to speed innovation and improve upon and bring new innovations to the Mission’s programmatic work.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in development or a related development field, such as economics, evaluation sciences, political science, public administration, business administration, or other discipline related to development assistance required.
• A minimum of eight years of progressive professional experience in communication, action learning, and knowledge management, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience designing and facilitating tailored learning activities.
• In-depth knowledge of development theory, systems thinking, and organizational change management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of USAID Evaluation Policy; the Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Framework; and other initiatives.
• Previous experience working on USAID-funded projects preferred.
• General professional proficiency in English and French.