Local Expert Team Member

Project Objective:

Through PMSPL II, Social Impact supplements the monitoring and program management efforts of USAID/Lebanon staff and verifies monitors and supports USAID program performance in Lebanon. The period of performance of this project is September 2015 – September 2020.

Under this contract, Social Impact has been asked to perform a final performance evaluation of Building Alliance for Local Advancement, Development and Investment (BALADI) implemented by the René Moawad Foundation ( RMF ) . The evaluation will analyze the extent of achievement of RMF’s BALADI’s objectives, evaluating its outcomes, documenting successes, challenges, and lessons learned for future programs as well as analyzing its sustainability for future programming. Moreover, it will analyze the project’s impact on empowering municipalities to implement needed local development activities that improve the social and economic conditions in communities, with special focus on host community needs. This evaluation will also address the gender aspect as a crosscutting element of all activities, showing to what extent RMF BALADI has adhered to the USAID’s gender integration requirements.

Position Description:

The BALADI program is to achieve demonstrated long-term collaboration between municipalities or unions of municipalities, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and private-sector entities to implement and manage community projects and deliver services in a gender-balanced manner. Results shall be achieved throughout the life of the program. The BALADI Cooperative Agreement (CA) started September 30, 2012 and is expected to end on November 30, 2019.

BALADI’s expected outcomes are:

1. The provision of public services through local government support.

2. The development of social capital as a catalyst for participatory decentralized gender-balanced

governance.

3. The establishment of broad-based development through support of locally-championed plans and reforms.

Social Impact is recruiting a local expert Team Member for the BALADI final performance evaluation with a minimum of 7 years of experience in local governance, local development, and civil society programming. The Local expert will join an evaluation team including a Team Leader and a performance evaluation specialist from PMSPL II staff members. The period of performance is from May to August 2020. The expected Level of Effort is 35 days. 

The Team Member reports to the expat Team Leader consultant, and to the PMSPL II Chief of Party in Lebanon.

**Please note: Only candidates with (Lebanese) citizenship will be considered. **

Responsibilities:

• During the pre-field work period, the local expert will review the existing information on the activity and work with the evaluation team to develop a data collection strategy, design an interview and FGD guide, and prepare an outline for data analysis.
• During the Kick-off period, the local expert will work with the evaluation team to finalize the interview guides and finalize the logistics for the fieldwork
• During fieldwork, the expert will work with the evaluation team to interview key stakeholders and project beneficiaries, to carry out focus group discussions (if needed), and to prepare summaries of interviews and meetings for the evaluation report.
• At the post-field work level, the expert is expected to work with the evaluation team to analyze the data, write up sections of the report and assist in presenting the main findings for USAID.
• The expert is expected to support the evaluation team in responding to USAID comments on the draft report and support the team in submitting a final report to the USAID mission.

Qualifications:

• Professional background in local governance and local development and strong working knowledge of governance and evaluation methodologies, etc.
• Ph.D. or advanced degree in governance, public administration, law or related social/political science field.
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in the design, implementation or evaluation of Local Governance and local development projects within foreign assistance programs.
• Broad-based knowledge of constitutional, legislative and regulatory framework for local governance and local development in Lebanon.
• Good understanding of the current structure, strengths, and challenges facing the local governments in Lebanon.
• Strong knowledge of USAID regulations related to Democracy and Governance.
• Ability to work collaboratively and collegially with teams of varying skills in a cross-cultural environment.
• Experience working on issues related to gender in the context of local governance and local development is preferred.
• Experience within the Lebanese context is a must.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Fluent in Arabic and English