EVALUATION TEAM LEADER, USAID MONITORING AND EVALUATION PROGRAM FOR LEBANON (MEPL)

MSI seeks a Team Leader for the final evaluation of the USAID Lebanon Enterprise Development (LED) Activity. The candidate will demonstrate experience leading the design and implementation of mixed-methods performance evaluations for USAID or similar donors and evaluating small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) business development projects or similar activities. The evaluation is expected to start in May 2022 and should be completed by September 2022. The anticipated level of effort during this period of performance for the evaluation team leader is approximately 40-50 days. The Team Leader will be responsible for overseeing the evaluation team’s efforts to effectively design, implement, and report on the evaluation and ensuring high-quality and time performance throughout the evaluation.

Responsibilities:

Specific tasks for the team leader are as follows:

• Evaluation design: Lead the desk review, design the evaluation, and write the Evaluation Inception Report
• Lead and oversee data collection activities. (Note: if the team leader is not based in Lebanon, travel is not expected/required)
• Lead and oversee data analysis activities (e.g. coding, data summaries/memos, data analysis and interpretation session(s))
• Design and facilitate the Findings Validation and Recommendations Co-creation Workshop with USAID.
• Conduct dissemination activities for the evaluation results.

As part of these tasks, the Evaluation Team Leader will:

• Lead the LED evaluation team in implementing the evaluation tasks;
• Lead the evaluation team in developing the methodology that will answer the evaluation questions;
• Lead the evaluation team in developing and finalizing the inception report, data collection tools and interview guides, and data analysis plan;
• Lead the evaluation team in the interview process, including interviews with key stakeholders and/or focus group discussions, and provide the analytical framework needed for data processing and data analysis;
• Provide the evaluation team with the necessary guidance for conducting field work and providing quality assurance for the collection of high-quality data according to the evaluation plan;
• Lead the evaluation team in analyzing data, facilitating the Findings Validation and Recommendations Co-Creation Workshop, and presenting the findings to USAID/Lebanon;
• Lead the preparation of the evaluation report with the support of other team members;
• Lead the evaluation team in responding to MEPL’s and USAID/Lebanon’s comments on the draft report and in submitting a final report.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in business administration, economics, data analytics, or a relevant field; Ph.D. preferred.
• At least ten (10) years of experience in designing and conducting evaluations, assessments, and/or similar studies for USAID or other foreign assistance programs.
• Expertise in business development services, strengthening business processes and SME diagnosis.
• Demonstrated knowledge of USAID guidance and regulations related to program evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in the design and application of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods.
• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and communications skills and a demonstrated ability to effectively manage teams in collecting and analyzing data.
• Exceptional analytical, writing, and presentation skills (writing samples will be requested).
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Arabic not required. 
• Previous work experience in Lebanon or the region, preferred.

The daily rate for this consultancy will be discussed during the interview and onboarding process, if chosen.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY THROUGH THE PROVIDED LINK TO THE MSI CAREER WEBSITE HERE.