Ethiopia: International Livelihoods and Food Security Specialist, Final Performance Evaluation of the USAID GRAD Activity, Ethiopia

International Livelihoods and Food Security Specialist, Final Performance Evaluation of the USAID Graduation with Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Development (GRAD) Activity, Ethiopia

Social Impact (SI) is a Washington, DC-area international development management consulting firm. SI’s mission is to improve the effectiveness of international development programs in improving people’s lives. We provide a full range of management consulting, technical assistance, and training services to strengthen international development programs, organizations, and policies. We provide services globally in the areas of monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning, project and program design, organizational capacity building, and gender and social analysis. SI services cross-cut all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. SI’s clients include US government agencies such as USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the US Department of State, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and non-profits.

Project Objective:

Social Impact, Inc., through Ethiopia Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Services (EPMES) activity, will conduct the final performance evaluation of the Graduation with Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Development (GRAD) activity to assess program results and document lessons learned. The evaluation will focus on assessing the activity’s five year performance in achieving its program goal, objectives, and results.

GRAD was designed to support and enhance livelihood options of the chronically food insecure households by promoting and supporting on-and off-farm income generating activities, facilitating output and input market linkages, and increasing access to microfinance services. The activity is meant to support the Government of Ethiopia’s safety net and food security programming. GRAD complements Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) to accelerate the graduation of targeted beneficiaries from PSNP by supporting selected commodity value chains. The activity promotes alternative livelihood options through greater access to inputs and credit and saving services, while reducing transaction costs and strengthening market linkages in chronically food insecure areas.

The main purpose of this final performance evaluation of GRAD is to examine its development outcomes or results at higher and intermediate levels and the extent to which GRAD has met its goals, and determine the overall effectiveness of the partnerships, and any strengths and challenges in the courses of implementation.

Specifically, the evaluation will assess or identify:

i. The key components of GRAD with regard to achieving the objectives and targets, including the cross-cutting gender objective;

ii. The effectiveness of the livelihood diversification (on and off-farms), nutrition, climate change adaptation and gender related activities promoted by GRAD

iii. The major types and values of assets developed by the GRAD beneficiaries and their level of access to financial services and markets.

iv. The strengths and weaknesses in project management (planning, implementation and monitoring) and effectiveness in delivery of the desired services and inputs to the targeted beneficiaries and communities.

The ultimate purpose of this evaluation is to make use of the evaluation results to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program, disseminate results and lessons learned to similar type of programs and share with a broader development community. The recommendations from this evaluation would help to improve the USAID’s programming of livelihoods and food security oriented programs.

Position Description: SI is seeking two short-term international experts in Livelihoods and Food Security to participant on a 5-member, multidisciplinary evaluation team comprised of both international and Ethiopian experts. These experts will provide technical guidance related to livelihoods and food security.

The estimated time period for undertaking this evaluation is approximately 56 calendar days, of which approximately 50 days should be spent in Ethiopia. Fieldwork in Ethiopia will occur in Addis Ababa and the team is required to travel to select Woredas in each region where program activities are being implemented. The proposed timeframe for the evaluation is September 25-November 30, 2016, however, the exact dates and LOE are subject to finalization by USAID and Social Impact.

Compensation for this short-term assignment will be determined by a candidate’s past employment history and USAID contract regulations.

Responsibilities:

· These international experts will provide technical guidance related to livelihoods and food security.

· S/he will work under the direction of the Team Leader USAID and contribute as needed to all deliverables.

Qualifications:

· Possesses a Master’s or PhD degree in a field of study related to agricultural economics, livelihoods and/or food security or agriculture;

· Has at least eight (8) year work experience in managing and evaluating food security projects in Ethiopia and/or other African countries.

· Expertise in Value Chain/Agribusiness highly desired.

· Has strong knowledge of livelihoods and food security indicators, agricultural extension, and the Productive Safety Nets and Household Assets Building Programs in Ethiopia;

· Must be fluent in English and have strong writing and organization skills;

· Possesses excellent oral communication, presentation, and inter-personal skills;

· Possesses excellent analytical and technical skills;

· Strong knowledge of USAID’s programming, experience on past food security and livelihoods baseline surveys or final evaluations highly preferred.

Come join our energetic and innovative team! We offer you the opportunity to play a leading role in the growth of our company, work as part of a creative and committed team, and make a difference in the well-being of our world.

To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website: http://www.socialimpact.com

SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.

To apply, use the link here and follow instructions to submit an application