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 a Team Lead with strong experience in conducting evaluations using Qualitative methodology to lead a team of evaluators to conduct this mid-term evaluation. 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 Senior Assessment and Evaluation Specialist/Deputy Chief of Party.

Responsibilities:
The Team Lead will be responsible for steering the direction of the mid-term evaluation, ensuring that all objectives are met in a timely and effective manner. They will liaise with key stakeholders, manage the evaluation team, and deliver comprehensive reports detailing the findings, insights, and recommendations for the Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity.
• Provide leadership and direction to the evaluation team, ensuring that all objectives are met, and tasks are executed efficiently.
• Engage with key stakeholders to gather insights and feedback regarding the Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity.
• Oversee the data collection, analysis, and interpretation processes, ensuring accuracy and comprehensiveness.
• Provide leadership in conducting desk review and identify additional information required for analysis.
• Coordinate the Qualitative Data Analysis using Dedoose or similar software.
• Lead in the development of codebook and synthesize findings into actionable recommendations to inform new designs.
• Collaborate with the team to compile and present detailed evaluation reports, highlighting key findings, insights, and actionable recommendations.
• Identify potential risks associated with the evaluation process and develop mitigation strategies to address them proactively.
• Work collaboratively with USAID and other stakeholders to understand and address any concerns or challenges that may arise during the evaluation process.
• Ensure that the evaluation is conducted in accordance with USAID's policies and standards, maintaining the highest levels of quality and integrity.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to the evaluation team, fostering a conducive environment for learning and growth.
• Lead the development and refinement of the evaluation design and methodology, ensuring alignment with project objectives and USAID expectations.
• Facilitate regular communication and consultation sessions with USAID, local authorities, community leaders, and other relevant entities to keep them updated on the progress and findings of the evaluation.
• Implement and oversee rigorous quality control measures throughout the evaluation process, from data collection to report drafting, to ensure the highest standards are met.
• Continuously assess the evaluation's progress and make necessary adjustments in response to challenges or changing circumstances on the ground.
• Where possible, systematically gather and incorporate feedback from all stakeholders to enhance the relevance and utility of the evaluation findings.
• Organize and lead dry runs before presentations, and serve as the lead presenter during presentation, to share the findings, insights, and best practices derived from the evaluation with a broader audience.
• Ensure that all processes, methodologies, and key decisions are thoroughly documented for future reference and for building institutional memory.
• Ensure that the evaluation is conducted in an ethical manner, respecting local customs, traditions, and values, and ensuring the safety and confidentiality of all participants.

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 Team Lead must have/hold:
• Minimum of Masters in Natural Resource Management (NRM) or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in conducting and leading NRM evaluations.
• Extensive experience in leading evaluations, especially in the environmental conservation and biodiversity sectors.
• Proven record of managing diverse teams and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality reports.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to liaise effectively with stakeholders at various levels.
• Familiarity with USAID's evaluation policies and procedures would be advantageous.
• Prior experience working in Tanzania, or a similar context would be an added advantage.
• Strong background in qualitative data collection methods, including focus group discussions (FGD), key informants/ in-depth interviews (KII/IDI).
• Strong background in quantitative data collection methods such as surveys.
• Significant experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative data analysis is recommended.
• Experience in conducting Quantitative data analysis, especially for surveys would be an added advantage.
• 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; additional language proficiency in relevant languages (e.g., Kiswahili) would be an asset.