Mid Term Evaluation of USAID Civil Society and Media Inclusive Partnership and Gender and Inclusive Development (GID) Expert

Mid Term Evaluation of USAID Civil Society and Media Inclusive Partnership and Gender and Inclusive Development (GID) Expert Practice: Data – MELWork type: Part-time/ConsultantLocation: This position is based in Kathmandu and may require travel to USAID Civil Society and Media working districts of Nepal. You must be legally authorized to work in Nepal; Bixal does not provide sponsorship. Background The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Learning for Development Activity is a 5-year award led by Bixal Solutions, Inc. that provides USAID/Nepal with technical and advisory services in planning, designing, conducting, and learning from the monitoring and evaluation of the Mission's strategies, projects, and activities in an efficient manner. USAID Learning for Development supports USAID/Nepal by providing services including a) learning and knowledge management; b) evaluations, study, and other studies; c) performance monitoring technical support; d) capacity building; and e) development outreach and communications support. What will you do?USAID Learning for Development seeks a Nepali consultant with proven expertise in Inclusive Governance, Gender Equality, and Social Inclusion, particularly within governance, civil society, and media.The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of how to work with and strengthen the capacity of local organizations in an inclusive way, with a strong understanding of what it means to promote inclusive partnerships. . The consultant will provide technical support throughout the evaluation process, offering specialized expertise in GID issues and inclusive partnerships within the civil society and media sectors in Nepal. They will collaborate closely with the Team Leader and the Civil Society and Media Expert to ensure a comprehensive evaluation and analysis. Roles and Responsibilities:The Inclusive Partnership/GID Expert will be a member of a broader consultancy team, collaborating closely with other consultants to ensure the project team has the necessary expertise in civil society and media in Nepal. Their responsibilities will include contributing to a detailed inception report for the evaluation, supporting the design of data collection methods and tools, and providing inclusive partnership and GIDexpertise to assist team members in the analysis and preparation of the final report. The specific responsibilities of Inclusive Partnership and GID Expert are as follows: ● Review the USAID Civil Society and Media Activity's documents and other relevant materials focusing on inclusive partnership and GID considerations.● Support the development of the design report, including the evaluation design, work plan, methodology, tools, and data collection schedule, ensuring that inclusive partnership and GESI issues are well captured.● Assist in determining and implementing the most appropriate qualitative data collection methods, including document reviews, FGDs, KIIs, and observations.● Conduct FGDs and KIIs with relevant stakeholders, program participants, local government contacts, and USAID staff, ensuring thorough field engagement and travel as required.● Support field data collection, including travel to various sites.● Assist the team leader in preparing and presenting preliminary findings report to USAID, ensuring that inclusive partnership and GID issues are well integrated into the report.● Contribute to drafting the consolidated evaluation report and delivering the final presentation of the evaluation findings to the Mission, providing subject-area expertise.● Ensure high-quality deliverables by coordinating closely with the USAID Learning for Development team.● Participate in regular check-in meetings with the USAID Learning for Development team. Deliverables:● Bi-weekly check-in meetings with the USAID Learning for Development team.● Support to draft and finalize the design report, including evaluation tools and work plan.● Support to draft initial findings report and prepare a presentation slide deck for the Mission.● Support to conduct a presentation and workshop with USAID and USAID Learning for Development to discuss initial findings.● Submit the final evaluation report and accompanying presentation slide deck. Knowledge and Qualification: ● Master's degree in social sciences or a relevant field.● At least seven years of experience as a member of an evaluation team.● Extensive knowledge of GID issues in Nepal, particularly regarding the development of inclusive partnerships with and within local organizations.● A deeper understanding of a methodology for assessing the project's impact on the access and capacity of local organizations to address issues affecting women, youth, and marginalized communities.● Strong understanding of local governance and development sustainability.● Significant experience in conducting evaluations with a focus on qualitative research.● Preferred experience working with civil society, local governments, and non-governmental organizations. Timeline and Level of Effort (LoE)The assignment will span from approximately October 2024 to April 2025, with an estimated total of 30-40 days of Level of Effort (LoE).