Social Impact (SI) is a global development management consulting firm. To advance development effectiveness, we provide monitoring, 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.
USAID Tanzania’s HRH Initiatives: Afya Endelevu and HRH Development and Retention Awards
USAID/Tanzania has commissioned SI to conduct a performance evaluation of USAID/Tanzania HRH Activities. USAID Tanzania’s HRH initiatives include the “Afya Endelevu” and the “HRH Development and Retention” awards. Afya Endelevu primarily targets the HCW shortage in Tanzania by adopting sustainable methods in recruitment, deployment, and management. It encompasses three core objectives: 1) Efficient allocation and deployment of qualified healthcare workers, 2) Ensuring HRH support aligns with the national policies and guidelines, and 3) Advocacy for robust HRH leadership and management systems. Concurrently, the HRH Development and Retention Activity focuses on two pivotal health system challenges. The first challenge relates to the utilization of data in HRH planning and allocation at the national level. While the WISN+POA data system has enhanced HRH data usage at the local government level, there’s a need to integrate it with national-level systems, especially within the Ministry of Health. The second challenge pertains to growth barriers faced by the private health sector, such as regulatory constraints and capital shortages. This activity offers technical support to private health entities, aiming to design and implement sustainable operational and financial models. In the long run, fostering growth in the private health sector can create more employment opportunities, accommodating HRH professionals who cannot find placement in the public health domain.
Purpose and use of Afya Endelevu and HRH Development and Retention Evaluation:
The intent of this evaluation is to conduct individual activity evaluations of USAID Tanzania’s HRH activities while also providing an overall picture of what the Mission’s HRH programming has achieved over the last 3-4 years and what potential investment opportunities remain unaddressed. This will provide the HSS Team with the information and learnings that it needs to inform the next round of HRH activity designs.
Overall evaluation questions and sub-questions are:
- To what extent are the interventions implemented by the Afya Endelevu and HRH Development and Retention activities relevant to the following:
a. The HRH needs of Tanzania.
b. USAID’s HSS vision - In what ways have these activities been effective at improving HRH outcomes in Tanzania’s healthcare system?
- In what ways have these two activities been effective at improving HRH outcomes in Tanzania’s healthcare system? How will the outcomes of these activities be sustained once they end? If they do not, what can be done to improve their sustainability?
- What are the most important learnings from these activities that can be used to inform future HRH programming?
- What potential lessons and HRH investment opportunities are there for USAID to consider in the future that have not already been addressed by Afya Endelevu and HRH Development and Retention from public and private sector perspectives and from facility-based and community-based HRH perspectives?
The primary users of this evaluation will be USAID Tanzania Health Office staff, as it will be directly used in the new activity design. However, the evaluation may also be shared with Government of Tanzania officials and other development partners who work in the HRH field, to share lessons learned and better improve the overall HRH sector in the country.
Position Description:
SI is seeking a Team leader to support T-MELA with the Performance Evaluation of USAID/Tanzania HRH Activities. This is a consulting position with an estimated period of performance of October 2023 – May 2024. The estimated level of effort (LOE) for the Specialist will be 56 days with expected travel of up to 4 weeks in Tanzania.
The Evaluation Team Leader shall be an English speaker evaluation expert with Extensive experience in health systems strengthening, particularly in HRH. Familiarity with USAID’s health initiatives and an understanding of Tanzania’s health sector. She/he will lead the evaluation team through all stages of the evaluation, including developing the evaluation Design, managing data collection, analysis and preliminary report writing, draft Evaluation Report, Final Evaluation Report, and other key knowledge products. The Evaluation Team Leader will conduct data collection in Tanzania along with an HRH expert, a Public-Private Partnership Expert, an evaluation specialist, and a data analyst. She/he will work under the guidance of the Senior Assessment and Evaluation Specialist in Tanzania and SI’s Project Director in Washington DC.
Responsibilities:
The Team Lead will:
- Line-manages the Evaluation Team collaboratively with the T-MELA’s Chief of Party and tasks 2 Team Lead.
- Lead desk review, initial stakeholder consultation, and identify additional information/analyses required.
- Lead the team to prepare and finalize evaluation design, methodologies, analysis strategies, work plan, and timelines for USAID and partners.
- Lead and oversee data collection efforts and consultation with implementing partners based on research/logistical needs.
- Take responsibility for ongoing data analysis and iteratively develop findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Write the evaluation report in coordination with team members, taking into consideration feedback from a preliminary finding session.
- Take the lead in the preparation and presentation of the key findings, conclusions, and recommendations to USAID, key stakeholders, and research users following SI’s and USAID’s standards.
- Take responsibility for leading the team to respond to USAID and USAID T-MELA’s comments and feedback and deliver high-quality deliverables that meet USAID and SI’s standards.
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 Evaluation Team Lead must have/hold:
- At least 10 years of senior-level experience working on evaluation is desirable, with extensive experience evaluating HRH and Health system strengthening interventions required.
- A postgraduate degree in education, and a PhD will be an added advantage.
- Extensive experience in leading evaluation teams and preparing high-quality documents.
- Experience in the design of instruments for data collection including qualitative tools such as KIIs and Focus Groups using diverse technology.
- Excellent oral communication and written skills in English is a must.
- Demonstrated experience in communicating with local stakeholders at managerial and technical levels.
- Experience working with international donors, especially USAID.
- Preferably, the applicant will possess experience conducting evaluations in the education sector in East Africa, Tanzania in particular.
Expected timeline: October 2023– May 2024
Level of Effort (LOE): Expected up to 56 days.
The selection and interview will be performed on a rolling basis, and interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
To apply, please merge both your CV and a cover letter into one PDF file and submit it through the online portal.
Come join our energetic and innovative team! We offer you the opportunity to play a leading role in the growth of our company, work as part of a creative and committed team, and make a difference in the well-being of our world.
To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website: http://www.socialimpact.com
SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.