JOB DETAILS:
Evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity-building services. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, 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.

Project Description:
On January 19, 2023, USAID/Tanzania awarded International Business Initiatives (IBI) and SI a four-year contract for the Tanzania Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation (T-MELA) Activity. This activity is to assist the USAID/Tanzania Mission with strategy- and activity-level performance monitoring, evaluation, and learning. This activity will also provide 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 DO 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. USAID/Tanzania has commissioned SI to conduct a mid-term evaluation of the Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity.

Background of Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity
The overall 5-year goal of Tuhifadhi Maliasili is addressing dynamics that hinder habitat connectivity and the long-term persistence of biodiversity in Tanzania. This Activity incorporates a series of interventions that support and strengthen government and civil society capacity for biodiversity conservation in a manner that:
• builds the capacity of the public sector and civil society.

• increases private sector engagement in conservation and natural resource management (NRM); and

• strengthens the policy and regulatory framework for conservation and NRM.

These interventions together are expected to reduce threats to biodiversity in Tanzania while moving Tanzanian institutions further on their Journey to Self-reliance. The Activity focuses on seven selected wildlife corridors in Tanzania: 1) Kwakuchinja, 2) Amani-Nilo, 3) Nyerere Udzungwa-Selous, 4) Kigosi Moyowosi – Burigi Chato, 5) Mahale – Katavi, 6) Ruaha Rungwa – Inyonga, and 7) Ruaha Rungwa – Katavi1.

Purpose and use of Tuhifadhi Maliasili Midterm Evaluation:

This mid-term evaluation aims to assess the performance of the USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity, with a particular focus on reviewing the efficiency, effectiveness, relevance and sustainability of the intervention as it relates to host-country, development partner, and other stakeholder interests. To the extent possible, the Evaluation team will assess what interventions are working well and what interventions require adaptive management or course correction. To the extent practicable, the mid-term evaluation will support USAID strategic programming needs to better understand and validate the threats and drivers to biodiversity loss in Tanzania and the strategic-level opportunities for leveraging change as relates back to the Activity goal.

Evaluation Questions:
EQ1 Effectiveness: To what extent has the Activity been effective in achieving planned outputs and outcomes to date?

Theory of Change - Which Strategic Approaches has the Activity identified within each of the seven corridors (as well as those that relate to policy-level interventions) and how effective are they in reaching intended results? To what extent has the TM activity meet its intended objectives?

Theory of Change - Has resource allocation been effective (such as direct implementation and sub-awards) in ensuring the expected outcomes within these Strategic Approaches are achieved by the project's conclusion?

Integrated Government Management - How do these different governance systems interact within the Activity’s interventions, and how has the Activity been successful (or not) in bringing them together towards mutually agreed upon goals or outcomes?

Integrated Government Management - To what extent does Tuhifadhi Maliasili effectively strengthen local governance (as identified in corridor-scale stakeholder engagement meetings)?

Integrated Government Management - How effective is the Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity in strengthening policy frameworks, particularly within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism?

EQ2 Relevance: Do Activity interventions continue to be relevant, addressing key threats and opportunities in the sector (and what are those threats and opportunities), or are revisions needed to meet the Activity’s objectives?

Theory of Change - To what extent does the Theory of Change (including Assumptions) remain valid? How might it be improved?

Sustainability and Local Capacity - Is this approach to strengthen the capacity of local systems (government, local NGOs, private sector, and others) to implement conservation programs in each of the selected wildlife corridors realistic given the capacity of these institutions and organizations?

Integrated Governance Management - Using USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity selected wildlife corridors, what are the key communities’ perceptions regarding wildlife corridors restoration and management in Tanzania? How should USAID and USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity support governance and policy to ensure wildlife corridor work is a success amid these communities’ perceptions?

EQ3 Sustainability: Which interventions are likely to produce sustained corridor conservation efforts by government, communities, and the private sector, and which interventions are likely to be less efficient and should be modified?

Theory of Change - At what state within the theory of change is each corridor likely to be in at the end of the Activity and what aspects might need continued or additional support to be sustainable?

Sustainability and Local Capacity - Is the approach to strengthen the capacity of local systems (government, local NGOs, private sector, and others) to implement conservation programs in each of the selected wildlife corridors more/less sustainable to achieve the desired biodiversity and wildlife outcomes compared to direct implementation support?

Sustainability and Local Capacity - What’s working well and sustainable beyond the 5-year project life (to be replicated/scaled)? What’s insufficient/unsustainable (to be graduated/released)?
Integrated Governance Management - How can corridor work be effectively scaled with the Government of Tanzania and other donors, and where do USAID and USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili have the most added value moving forward?

Position Description:
Social Impact is seeking an Environmental Conservation Specialist with strong experience in conducting evaluations using Qualitative methodology to support a team of evaluators to conduct this mid-term evaluation alongside the Team Leader and other ET members. This is a consulting position with an estimated start date of December 2023. The estimated level of effort (LOE) for the Specialist will be 52 days with expected travel of up to 21 days in Tanzania. The Specialist will report directly to the evaluation Team Leader.

Responsibilities:
The Environmental Conservation Specialist will be responsible for contributing to all aspects of the technical support including supporting the development of the assessment’s methodology, data collection, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and writing the draft and final reports. The specialist will provide key support to the evaluation in completing the following duties alongside the TL and other ET members:
• Document key Tuhifadhi Maliasili interventions and results through a comprehensive desk review and contribute expertise and technical inputs to the work plan.
• Support the design of the evaluation, methodology, development of instruments, data collection, synthesis of data, presentations, and reports. In particular, play a key role in the development and analysis of qualitative data collection tools and resulting data.
• Participate in scheduling and interviewing key stakeholders and beneficiaries.
• Provide technical support in the area of qualitative data collection methodology and data management.
• Travel within selected regions and conduct in-person and remote interviews and/or group discussions.
• Conduct Qualitative Data Analysis using Dedoose or similar software.
• Develop codebook under the guidance of the Team Lead and synthesize findings into actionable recommendations to inform new designs.
• Contribute to the consultant team’s collaborative production of the following high-quality deliverables:
• Work plan with methodology and interview protocols
• PowerPoint presentations to USAID/Tanzania

Deliverables:
With support from USAID/T-MELA and team members, the Team Lead will be expected to take overall responsibility for the production and management of the following:

Final Evaluation Design: A detailed, full evaluation design and work plan following an initial consultation with USAID that will include chosen methodologies and data collection tools.

Kick-off meeting/In brief: A PowerPoint/Google Slides presentation summarizing the Inception Report for USAID/T-MELA and key partners prior to the launch of data collection.

Findings Conclusions and Recommendations (FCR) Matrix: An analysis tool through which data is triangulated and findings, conclusions, and recommendations specific to each evaluation question are produced. Two FCR matrixes are expected, a preliminary document after the first full week of data collection, and a final matrix at the end of the data analysis period.

Preliminary Findings PPT: The team will present the key findings to the wider USAID/Tanzania Mission through a PowerPoint/Google Slides presentation. The TL is expected to update this PowerPoint after the final report.

Draft Report: A draft report with fully developed findings, conclusions, and recommendations, no longer than 30 pages excluding annexes, will be submitted to the T-MELA COP who will submit to the USAID COR for T-MELA activity. The format will include an executive summary, table of contents, methodology, findings, and recommendations. USAID/T-MELA and key local stakeholders will provide comments on the draft report.

Final Report: The team will submit a final report that incorporates responses to USAID's/partner's comments and suggestions. The report will be submitted electronically in English. The report will be disseminated within USAID and key stakeholders.

Qualifications and Skills:
The Environmental Conservation Specialist must have/hold:
• At least Master’s degree in Environmental science, Conservation Biology or related field.
• More than 7 years’ experience in using qualitative methods in evaluating environmental conservation related project.
• Knowledge of Natural Resource Management and biodiversity programs and indicators is an added advantage.
• Proven expertise in conducting operational research (qualitative data collection), monitoring and evaluation in NRM.
• Strong background in qualitative data collection methods, including focus group discussions (FGD), key informants/ in-depth interviews (KII/IDI).
• Significant experience in conducting qualitative and qualitative data analysis is recommended.
• Advanced skills in data analysis with the use of software such as Dedoose.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with USAID, local organizations, other program partners, and counterparts.
• Must be fluent (writing and speaking) in English and Kiswahili.

Level of Effort (LOE)
Up to 52 days. Only actual time spent is billable. Please see the table below for a sample breakdown of suggested LOE by project task.