Montrose Research and Learning Lead DFID Girls Education Jobs in South Sudan
Montrose Research and Learning Lead DFID Girls Education Jobs in South Sudan
Montrose is an international development project management and consultancy company providing support to clients operating in the developing world. Specialised in the sectors of health, education, rural livelihoods and private sector development, our clients include bilateral and multilateral development agencies, the private sector, Non-Governmental Organisations and other development stakeholders.
Montrose is part of the consortium led by Mott MacDonald, and also comprising BBC Media Action, Windle Trust, and Leonard Cheshire, that will be implementing the second phase of the Girls’ Education South Sudan (GESS 2) programme between 2019 and 2024. GESS 2, which is part of DFID South Sudan’s Essential Services Team portfolio, builds on the success of GESS 1 (2013-18).
The impact of GESS 2 will be to transform the life chances of a generation of South Sudanese children (particularly but not exclusively girls) through education, while stabilising priority areas of the education sector and concurrently seeking to deliver improved quality education.
At outcome level, the programme will seek to improve girls’ educational attainment from that already achieved during GESS 1; building further gains on school enrolment, reducing barriers to education, and promoting equity in access for all children.
Responsibilities
Monitoring
Lead and coordinate the periodic meeting of the RAG in country, including sharing meeting notes with the RAG and wider GESS 2 team/consortium members.
Attend and where necessary coordinate relevant technical working group (TWG) meetings with MoGEI. These should include but are not limited to Basic and Secondary Education TWG, learning assessment TWG, Data and Statistics TWG, and Research, Monitoring and Evaluation TWG.
Plan and lead capacity building sessions on research and learning evaluation with MoGEI – particularly with the newly appointed Director for Research in the Directorate of Planning and Budgeting.
Contribute to the development of the GESS 2 periodic progress reports submitted on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and annual basis to DFID as assigned by Mott MacDonald contracted GESS 2 Team Leader. Final list of reports will be communicated later. It is expected that the consultant and KERL Technical lead shall play a bigger role in the development of the annual progress reports.
As required, participate in other project monitoring activities such as field monitoring visits, trainings for Regional Anchors, and M&E training for GESS 2 project staff, among other duties
This task shall be implemented in close collaboration with other members of the Output 5 team, with whom the consultant will share an office, and who are contracted by GESS2 lead organisation, Mott MacDonald.
Research
Liaise with MoGEI Director for Research in the Directorate of Planning and Budgeting, RAG, the relevant TWG, and other GESS 2 output leads to ensure that the research is in line with MoGEI and education sector needs. This will also include collecting stakeholders’ inputs into research design and ensuring GESS 2 operational research is in line with MoGEI research agenda.
Based on the consultant’s country knowledge and various stakeholder inputs, develop research design for each of the research studies included in the coordination matrix2 and ensure alignment to the South Sudanese context. The research designs shall be documented in an inception report.
The consultant and the KERL technical lead shall draft inception reports that include introduction, methodology/technical approach, ethical considerations, limitation to the study and risk management.
All draft inception reports will be submitted to Montrose Senior Quality Assurance Adviser, for review and approved by the research technical working group before the study can be carried out
Revise inception report based on comments from Senior Quality Assurance Adviser
Lead sampling for research studies, learning assessments and
evaluation studies (using GESS2 beneficiary data as reported through SAMS).
Share data sets with KERL technical lead and Montrose project team in Kampala
Facilitate the random sampling of girls and schools to be followed during the longitudinal and cross-sectional studies
Sensitise other output leads of the benefit and need to use girls and schools that are part of the sample as participants for their independent research studies. This workshop or meeting should also include awareness on attribution and how this can be avoided
Ensure that MoGEI is aware of all research studies and evaluation studies being carried out under Output 5. This will include, where possible, presenting research study inception reports for all research studies to relevant MoGEI department to collect their input. The research studies shall include the 17 independent research studies3, two evaluation studies, and five annual learning assessments.
Where possible, lead research studies conducted under output 5, including managing/ supervising data collection
Coordinate logistics for research studies including enumerator mobilisation, contracting, enumerator trainings, flights, management of enumerators team leads, obtaining relevant letters of permissions, data collection plans etc. This will be done in collaboration with the Montrose project team and enumerator chief team leader
Coordinate data collection exercises for 12 independent research studies conducted by Montrose under Output 5
In collaboration with enumerator chief team leader and Montrose GESS 2 Project Manager for, coordinate payment of enumerators subsequent to successful completion of field work.
Data analysis and report writing
Conduct data analysis of data collected, where possible. If data analysis is done by an external data analysist, then the consultant must quality assure all analysis that is submitted prior to it being used in the report
Lead the writing of assigned research study reports and submit reports to Montrose GESS 2 project Manager for formatting and submission to the KERL Technical Lead and or the Senior Quality Assurance Adviser for review
Contribute to writing sections of research study reports where necessary and submit sections to the KERL Technical lead or other STTA technical lead for compilation and submission to Montrose GESS 2 project manager and the Senior Quality Assurance Adviser for review
Review study reports and or sections of study reports based on comments from Senior Quality Assurance Adviser, KERL lead or other STTA technical lead
Requirements
Proven experience in providing technical assistance to operational research in education for complex environments;
Knowledge and experience of working in South Sudan education sector or other fragile and conflict affected contexts;
Thorough familiarity with principles and current approaches to monitoring, evaluation and research methodologies using both quantitative and qualitative methods
Understanding of donor expectations and trends for monitoring, evaluation, research and learning
Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods
Excellent analytical and computer skills
Experience with statistical software and educations management information systems
Strong communication skills and cultural awareness
Ability to meet tight deadlines and work under pressure
Excellent written English and ability to lead research report writing, with exceptional attention to detail
A degree in the related field such as M&E, Statistics, Public Health, Operations Research, Quantitative Analysis etc.
10 years’ experience in education research and learning in a development context including the development of M&E frameworks, plans, and research strategies
A high degree of initiative, flexibility and creativity
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Fluency in English, knowledge of simple Arabic will be an asset
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online by 18th October 2019.
For more information and job application details, see; Montrose Research and Learning Lead DFID Girls Education Jobs in South Sudan
