Quality Control Officer (QCO) for USAID Education Assessment

Project Summary: 

MSI is a key partner in the Quality Instruction Towards Access and Basic education Improvement (QITABI)-2 Project, which is led by World Learning. QITABI-2 combines a crisis response and development approach to expand equitable access to education and improve learning outcomes for children. MSI will collect and analyze data on students’ performance levels in reading, writing, math and social emotional learning (SEL) in Arabic, French and English; develop performance benchmarks in reading, writing and math; conduct surveys and observations of teachers’ instructional knowledge and practices; and design and implement a comprehensive capacity building plan for CRDP and DOPS in national assessment and data for decision-making.

MSI will conduct a literacy and numeracy baseline assessment for the QITAB 2 project. The baseline will be carried out in around 270 schools throughout Lebanon and will target students in Grades 2, 3 and 6. 

Position Summary:

MSI will contract Quality Control Officers (QCOs) to oversee and ensure the quality of the data collection during this baseline. Prior to data collection, the QCO will provide ongoing support to organize and facilitate the training of assessors, in addition to coordinating data collection plans. During data collection, the QCOs will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of tools and management of activities by locally subcontracted assessors and field supervisors, and ensure the standard administration of the EGRA tools and survey instruments throughout Lebanon. This will include organizing assessment materials, keeping materials safe and secure, tracking assessors in the field, liaising with school personnel, and submitting materials to MSI upon completion of fieldwork. The QCOs will also provide and implement recommendations for improvements in data collection activities, and lead briefing sessions with MSI and subcontractor technical staff. The QCOs will be required to travel across all of Lebanon during the data collection period (transportation to the schools across Lebanon will be provided by MSI).

The QCOs are expected to be contracted for approximately 60 working days (from January to April 2022).

Responsibilities:

• Co-lead training sessions in Beirut on the administration of surveys and standardized assessments including early grade reading assessment (EGRA), early grade math assessment (EGMA), and curriculum-based assessment (CBA) prior to the start of data collection
• Oversee and organize the data collection, including schedule of visits and communication with school officials
• Ensure compliance with standard procedures and protocols for administering EGRA, EGMA and CBA tools and surveys by conducting observation of assessors during testing activities
• Provide additional training to assessors and supervisors as needed during field activities
• Ensure assessors meet established targets, and document instances where targets are not met
• Collect information related to the field activities, and provide regular field updates
• Make recommendations on improving the assessment activities

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree required
• Academic background in education, psychology, social sciences, research and relevant field is preferred
• Managerial experience with data collection and monitoring/evaluation activities required
• Experience with EGRA or EGMA data collection or monitoring activities required 
• Reading and speaking fluency in Arabic and in English required
• Reading and speaking fluency in French preferred
• Experience with administration of surveys and/or assessments preferred
• Experience with the use of tablets for data collection preferred
• Experience in conducting trainings preferred
• Experience working with public schools and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education preferred
• Experience with development projects preferred