REFS - Center for Resilience; Adaptation

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist

Background and Introduction:

Jefferson Solutions was awarded a five-year contract to provide technical, administrative, and programmatic support to the Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS). REFS coordinates across USAID Missions, Bureaus, and independent offices to advance inclusive agriculture-led growth, resilience, nutrition, environmental sustainability, infrastructure and energy, and water security, sanitation and hygiene initiatives in priority countries around the world to help accelerate and protect development progress. The Bureau's overarching goal is to strengthen USG's global leadership for achieving inclusive agriculture-led growth, resilience, nutrition, environment, and water security, sanitation, and hygiene.

The Adaptation Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist will lead the interagency monitoring, evaluation and learning process for the President's Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), consistent with the goals of USAID's Climate Strategy. The Adaptation MEL Specialist will conduct global analysis to support USAID, State Department, U.S. interagency, and National Security Council/White House counterparts to understand, communicate, and use progress monitoring and performance monitoring data on PREPARE. The MEL Specialist will provide all functions needed to support Agency and Bureau leadership and teams to implement the PREPARE Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Plan.

Position Summary:

The Adaptation MEL Specialist will support day-to-day functions of the Technical Supervisor to which they are assigned for day-to-day work assignments. Daily activities will include coordination, knowledge management, communications and outreach, analysis, data synthesis, and program management.

Description of Role:

This role will sit within the REFS Center for Resilience, report to the Director of PREPARE and the Center for Resilience Division Chief for Resilient Communities and Systems (RCS) and collaborate with the Division Chief for the Feed the Future Office of Policy, Analysis and Engagement Analytics and Learning Division. This role will consult with State Department and other USG agencies that are engaged on PREPARE. In person support required a minimum of 3x a week (Washington, DC) and up to 5% travel.

Key Responsibilities:

Coordination & Consultation

• Lead a staff-level interagency community of practice with 20 Federal agencies on climate adaptation reporting to implement the PREPARE MEL Plan
• Collaborate closely with REFS/Policy, Analysis, and Engagement (PAE), Analytics and Learning Division (ALD) to incorporate design features and lessons learned from the Feed the Future MEL system into the PREPARE MEL system; work with other MEL specialists in REFS/Center for Resilience (CR) to align with Mission and OU reporting on adaptation
• Regularly engage MEL specialists and program managers across the U.S. Federal agency to align reporting outputs
• Design and implement consultations with interagency partners to socialize and gather feedback on USAID approaches to climate adaptation monitoring for PREPARE
• Coordinate with REFS and interagency communication staff to ensure accurate representation of the data within high-level, public-facing communications products and senior-level engagements on PREPARE and USAID's Climate Strategy

Research and Analysis

• Contribute to the collection, aggregation, synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of data.
• Coordinate the collection and aggregation of data, including on USAID's work on econometric modeling on climate adaptation
• Conduct review of data from USAID's Performance Plan and Report (PPR), and may include data review in the Development Information Solution (DIS) system
• Produce and coordinate global analysis of programming effectiveness and impact for PREPARE, including data analysis to support annual reports to the White House and public on PREPARE

Strengthening MEL Systems

• Improve clarity of indicator descriptions within USAID's reporting processes and roll out those updates with the interagency
• Advise REFS and State Department leadership on interpretation of climate adaptation data to support communication
• Contribute to the synthesis of evaluations and monitoring results and their presentation through written documents and oral presentations
• Provide input to and assist in the preparation of evaluation findings, reports, and articles for appropriate audiences

Technical Assistance

• Ensure complementarity of the MEL approaches under PREPARE with USAID Climate Strategy Monitoring approach

• Provide guidance to program and Mission staff to guide the use and application of standard indicators for climate adaptation that support PREPARE, in collaboration with other USAID MEL specialists on adaptation
• Develop and deploy guidance to the agency and interagency on performance monitoring indicators and methods
• Developing indicators and metrics on climate adaptation as necessary
• Develop new materials, review key documents, provide input and suggestions on key processes
• Support development and management of data collection and aggregation systems
• Remain up-to-date on Bureau, Agency, and Federal policies affecting REFS programs and MEL activities

Administration

• Develop templates and support preparation of PowerPoint slide decks, fact sheets, briefers, talking points, blog posts, newsletters and other communications materials in support of the PREPARE MEL Plan
• Provide logistical support to organize meetings, schedule conference rooms as necessary and ensure proper equipment and materials are available for meetings at least one day prior
• Capture and distribute meeting minutes, summaries of conclusions, and action items

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree and a minimum of seven years' experience or a MA and five years' relevant experience
• In lieu of a Bachelor's degree may substitute an Associate's degree plus a minimum of 11 years' experience or a High School Diploma and 13 years' experience can be substituted for a BA/BS
• Ability to obtain a USAID facility access (Public Trust) clearance
• Experience with program measurement approaches related to climate change required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of key climate adaptation concepts and issues with measuring and reporting on climate adaptation is required.
• Experience synthesizing basic data on indicator reporting, developing data management platforms and protocols in international development is desired.
• Knowledge of USAID indicators, data reporting procedures and protocols is also desirable.
• Excellent oral, interpersonal, and written communications skills to effectively interact with government clients, high-ranking officials, and other stakeholders
• Strong prioritization and organization skills with keen attention to deadlines
• Understanding of metrics, indicators, data, data integrity
• Excellent anticipatory skills and proactive approach to work
• Positive and professional attitude and demeanor
• Detail-oriented and interested in producing quality work products
• Proficiency in Google Suite of products
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite of products including excel, word, and PowerPoint
• Experience with USAID, USG or other related organizations is a plus

Jefferson Consulting Group is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, genetic data, veteran status, or any category protected by law.

Jefferson Consulting Group is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, JCG will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Department at (202) 626-8550 via email: HR@jeffersonconsulting.com