Job Details

Join AIR as a Evidence and Learning Advisor with our International Development Division (IDD) and make a difference, improving the quality of life for individuals and communities in low and middle income countries. AIR’s IDD work spans the globe with projects in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Central and Latin America, and the Middle East.

AIR’s International Development Division (IDD) is seeking a long-term Evidence and Learning (E&L) Advisor for the USAID-funded Foundational Learning Technical Assistance activity in Zambia. The purpose of this anticipated five-year activity in Zambia is to assist the Zambian Ministry of Education (MOE) in delivering foundational learning, with the goal of improving learning outcomes in lower primary grades (grades 1 – 3). Zambian nationals are encouraged to apply.

This position is contingent upon award and will be based in Lusaka, Zambia.

Our IDD team is committed and engaged because we drive positive change in the following areas:

• Agriculture, food, and nutrition
• Early childhood development and education
• Refugees and migration
• Social protection
• Water, sanitation, and infrastructure
• Women’s empowerment
• Workforce development

Use your experience, knowledge, and education to help us deliver on our mission: to contribute to a better, more equitable world.

About AIR:

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world.

AIR’s commitment to diversity goes beyond legal compliance to its full integration in our strategy, operations, and work environment. At AIR, we define diversity broadly, considering everyone’s unique life and community experiences. We believe that embracing diverse perspectives, abilities/disabilities, racial/ethnic and cultural backgrounds, styles, ages, genders, gender identities and expressions, education backgrounds, and life stories drives innovation and employee engagement. Learn more about AIR’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy and hear from our staff by clicking here .

The responsibilities for the position include:

The E&L Advisor will contribute to the evidence and learning of the Foundational Learning Technical Assistance activity. In conjunction with the Monitoring and Evaluation team and the E&L Team – comprised of the Project Director (based in Washington, D.C.), the E&L Advisor will lead the design, implementation, and technical quality of research, evidence, monitoring, and CLA on the Activity. The selection of the final applicant is subject to USAID approval.

• Collaborate with AIR personnel, the prime organization, and the external evaluator to support the design of the activity’s research activities; lead efforts to identify key research questions and support the design of studies that provide evidence on best practices and lessons learned, provide evidence to make programmatic decisions and/or adaptations, contribute to the larger body of evidence related to improvement in children’s learning outcomes.
• Develop the Activity’s learning agenda in collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation lead.
• Devise and implement the Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) approaches for continuous CLA for Activity staff, partners, donors, host country government counterparts and other stakeholders
• Facilitate internal stock-taking exercises such as pause-and-reflect sessions, before action reviews, after action reviews, and opportunities to give and receive stakeholder feedback
• Oversee the compilation and dissemination of information from M&E data and stakeholder feedback on successful and promising approaches, lessons learned and other program results to local, national and regional-level intergovernmental bodies, donors, partners, and other stakeholders. Promote forums which facilitate collaboration, learning and action because of this information among these actors
• Build capacity of staff, implementing partners, government counterparts, and other stakeholders in program monitoring and evaluation, data collection and management, and CLA methods as necessary
• Coordinate CLA activities with local and international partners, including annual surveys, case studies, stakeholder workshop to refine approaches
• Lead ongoing adaptation of Activity design and interventions using M&E data and stakeholder feedback
• Lead qualitative data collection, transcription, analysis, and report writing
• Oversee operational and formative research design, implementation, and data use
• Participate in the development of project monitoring tools, data collection procedures, and train project staff on use of tools for data collection
• Participate in tools for data quality assessments (DQA) and conducting periodic Data Quality Assessment, field monitoring activities and provide feedback to the program team
• Support the M&E Officer in defining and implementing the key project performance indicators (KPI) as well as monitoring them throughout the duration of the projects
• Assist the M&E Lead in proposing strategies to increase data use and demand amongst Activity staff
• Carry out other duties assigned by the supervisors.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

• At minimum Master’s Degree in international development, quantitative research, statistics or other areas clearly relevant to data analysis and impact analysis preferred.
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in international monitoring, evaluation, CLA, knowledge management, and research efforts for large USAID-funded programs
• Proven track record of work monitoring and evaluation, data quality assessments, data validation, data audits, data collection, with particular focus on supervising and monitoring data collection activities
• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with host country government personnel, stakeholders, NGO partners, and international donor agencies
• Demonstrated expertise in qualitative data collection, in-depth knowledge about qualitative sampling, and experienced in using interviews, focus groups, and interactive tools to generate qualitative information and analysis.
• Demonstrated knowledge of USAID reporting requirements
• Demonstrated knowledge of USAID foundational learning activities and approaches.

Skills:

• Excellent organizational and administrative skills and ability to multitask under tight time constraints/deadlines
• Proficient in English
• Proficient in Zambian language preferred but not required