USAID Tanzania Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Support Platform –Senior Learning Specialist at NORC

Background

NORC at the University of Chicago is one of the largest and most highly respected social research organizations pursuing high quality social science research both in the U.S. and internationally.

NORC is seeking a Senior Learning Specialist for the anticipated USAID Tanzania monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) Support Platform. The Senior Learning Specialist will work full-time over a 5-year period based in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The MEL Support Platform activity aims to assist the USAID mission with strategy- and activity-level performance monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including conducting data gathering and verification, data visualization (including Geographic Information Systems), data quality assessments, impact and performance evaluations, assessments, organizational learning, and collaboration among USAID’s implementing partners and Development Objectives teams. The MEL Support Platform will also implement a capacity building agenda for the mission, developing a baseline of M&E knowledge within the mission and tailoring a curriculum to provide skills development to mission staff. All individuals should have strong English reading and writing skills. Tanzanian nationals are preferred. These are full-time positions contingent on funding.

Responsibilities

The Senior Learning Specialist will lead Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) efforts for the Mission, its implementing partners, and other stakeholders. The Senior Learning Specialist will work to ensure that data collected and evidence generated are disseminated to and applied by MEL project stakeholders for more effective development programming.

• Oversee collaborative dialogue and learning among USAID, implementing partners, and
  other stakeholders around emerging issues;

• Work closely with the USAID Tanzania team to develop and maintain a knowledge
  management system for learning and adapting of development programs;

• Ensure program information is shared and effectively used through knowledge sharing
  and strategic learning processes to adapt and improve programming as well as
  bring new innovations to the Mission’s work;

• Facilitate development of learning agenda, with activities and best practices that promote
  learning, to meet USAID/Tanzania’s goals and manage the promotion and use of the learning agenda;

• Develop learning products and tools for USAID/Tanzania staff and implementing partners,
  in line with USAID’s CLA practices;

• Advise COP and DCOP on strategies and tactics for maximizing uptake of findings and
  recommendations from monitoring, evaluations, and assessments;

• Advise USAID/Tanzania on strategies and processes for incorporating CLA throughout the
  Program Cycle;

• Design and facilitate MEL capacity building initiatives for USAID/Tanzania staff and
  implementing partners; and

• Other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social science, organizational development, development studies or a related field;

• Minimum of 8 years of demonstrated experience leading organizational learning, change management, and/or M&E;

• Demonstrated experience with USAID’s CLA practices;

• Understanding of knowledge management as it relates to USAID programs;

• Expertise in strategic planning, project design, and learning including in applying
  learning to improve development programs;

• Experience building capacity to implement CLA tools; and facilitating trainings in large
  formal settings;

• Experience with one or more of the following sectors: health, economic growth, education;
  democracy, rights and governance;

• Strong communication, supervision, and management skills;

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with USAID/Tanzania Mission;

• Previous experience serving as a learning specialist is highly desirable.

• Experience preferred working strategically with USAID Missions and Implementing Partners in direct learning activities (e.g., Performance Management Plan (PMP), MEL plan development, learning agendas, Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), portfolio reviews, annual performance reviews, after-action reviews).

How to Apply

If interested, please send your CV to TanzaniaMEL@norc.org with Learning Specialist in the subject line.