Evaluation Team Lead, Justice, Human Rights, and Security Strengthening (Unidos) Activity

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Apply through SI’s Career Center, here: https://phg.tbe.taleo.net/phg02/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=SOCIIMPA2&cws=39&rid=4973 

About Social Impact:

Social Impact is a global development management consulting firm. We provide monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity building services to advance development effectiveness. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. Since 1997 we have worked in over 100 countries for clients such as US government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits.

We believe Social Impact is a great place to work and are passionate in our efforts to ensure that this endures. We are proud of our diversity and actively seek to expand it as a way of improving our employees’ experience, our collective professional breadth and the quality of the work we do. We promote equity and inclusion through our policies and practices and build a culture of belonging for everyone where differences and authenticity are honored and embraced. We work hard to create opportunities for growth and ensure that our staff are fulfilled and engaged. We believe we are better when we collaborate, learn from one another and have fun while working hard.     

About MESCLA 2.0:

Social Impact, together with partner IBI, is implementing the USAID/Honduras Monitoring and Evaluation Support for Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting (MESCLA 2.0) Activity. MESCLA 2.0 provides USAID with flexible and adaptive support, as well as reliable information to inform its programming in the face of demanding challenges in the Honduran context. MESCLA 2.0 is organized around three main components: (1) evaluations, studies, and assessments; (2) collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA); and (3) monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) capacity development. All tasks under MESCLA 2.0 are implemented with a focus on learning on USAID’s key priorities, including migration, youth, anti-corruption, gender-based violence, and gender and social inclusion (GESI).

Objective:

MESCLA 2.0 under intends to conduct the performance evaluation of the Justice, Human Rights, and Security Strengthening Activity (Unidos) USAID Honduras Mission, that is being implemented by DAI Global, LLC in two phases. The objectives of this external evaluation are to assess past experiences and key outcomes achieved during the two implementation phases: 1) the period of implementation from 2016 and 2023, and 2) the period of implementation from 2023 to 2026. The goal of Unidos is to promote more effective and accountable judicial, security sector, and human rights institutions to help reduce violence in target municipalities, reduce impunity, protect human rights, and discourage irregular migration.

Given that this Activity has been implemented in two phases, from 2016 to 2022, and from 2022 to 2026, this performance evaluation will also be carried out in two phases, mirroring the two implementation phases. More specifically, Phase I of this performance evaluation will assess the Unidos activity efforts to build institutional capacity through attention to key core institutional processes and functional areas with serious attempts to improve operational practice, whether as part of developing community policing, or improving the quality of prosecutions or the operations of judges and courts. As part of the assessment of Phase II activities, the evaluation team will also review the effectiveness of activities related to strengthening tertiary prevention services and the juvenile justice system in Honduras.

Mirroring the two phases of the project implementation, the evaluation will assess each phase through different learning questions and produce two separate final reports.

Position Description

MESCLA 2.0 is seeking an evaluation Team Leader (TL) to lead the USAID/Honduras MESCLA 2.0 Unidos performance evaluation. The TL will be responsible for leading the evaluation team, guiding activities, and ensuring the production and completion of all deliverables. In collaboration with MESCLA 2.0, the TL will guide the desk review, support the design of tools for data collection, provide oversight of data collection activities, lead selected qualitative interviews, support data analysis, coordinate technical inputs of team members, and lead the production of two final reports and two presentations/workshops.

The TL will ensure quality assurance and timeliness of all deliverables, including adherence to MESCLA 2.0’s quality assurance standards. The TL will plan primary and secondary data collection and will be expected to participate in two two-week trips in situ during the data collection and dissemination phases of the evaluation. SI will cover travel costs. This is a short-term consultancy with an estimated level of effort (LOE) of 60 days, and a period of performance from August 2024 through May 2026. 

Responsibilities

The TL will:

• Lead the evaluation team according to the SOW approved by USAID/Honduras under the ultimate direction of the MESCLA 2.0 Team.
• Work closely with the Violence Expert and the subject matter expert, when necessary
• Lead the design and oversight of a desk review of literature and program documents and identify any gaps in existing data, as needed. 
• Lead the development of a detailed evaluation Inception Report, including the evaluation design and draft data collection instruments, coordinating technical inputs from the team.
• Lead in-person qualitative interviews with selected key informants in Honduras, especially with the OSC or any other institutions 
• Oversee a local data collection subcontractor as they carry out focus group discussions and surveys.
• Provide oversight and leadership and ensure quality of data analysis.
• Lead the development and finalization of project deliverables, including: the inception report, desk review, and data collection tools; preliminary findings presentation and final evaluation presentations and workshops; draft and final reports; and learning and dissemination materials and events.
• Ensure quality work in all deliverables and implement quality assurance processes in coordination with MESCLA 2.0.
• Work closely with MESCLA 2.0 Team and communicate in a timely and effective manner with all evaluation team members.

Qualifications and Skills:

• At least five years of senior-level experience in research or evaluation in the development sector, with experience in evaluating law and justice systems in the Central American context. 
• At least one evaluation or research related to youth-at risk in hot-spot areas
• Experience in research related to judiciary process and gender-based violence cases
• Demonstrated experience leading evaluations and/or assessments and producing actionable recommendations. 
• Demonstrated experience in sampling design and the design of instruments.
• Demonstrated experience leading quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Excellent oral and written communication in English and Spanish.
• Demonstrated experience in communicating with local stakeholders at managerial and technical level.
• Well-versed in research methodology in the context of evaluation and have strong attention to detail.
• Strong analytical skills.

Preferably, the applicant will possess: 

• Experience working with international donors, especially USAID.
• Experience conducting research or evaluations in the governance sector in Honduras.

Level of Effort (LOE):       Up to 60 days 

Expected timeline:    August 2024 – May 2024

The closing date for application: July 31, 2024. Selection and interview will be performed on a rolling basis, and interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  

To apply, please merge both your CV and a cover letter into one pdf file and submit it through the online portal. 

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, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.  

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