Bangladesh MEL/Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Specialist, USAID/Bangladesh At EnCompass

Position Description

EnCompass LLC is seeking a MEL/GESI Specialist local resident in Bangladesh (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning/ Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) to join our awarded four-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bangladesh Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (UPOMA) contract, based in Dhaka. This contract is a central Mission-wide platform that provides a range of analytical and advisory services to the USAID Mission in Bangladesh, including project and activity design, performance monitoring, evaluation, and operational learning and adapting efforts.

The MEL/GESI specialist will provide technical and management support to all analytical activities under the contract, including assessments, analyses, evaluations, and performance monitoring. The MEL/GESI specialist will also support learning and capacity development initiatives. While the primary focus of the role is to ensure that all work under the UPOMA contract is implemented through a GESI lens, the role will also include general technical engagement in the areas noted above. The MEL/GESI Specialist will play a management and support role in various efforts including design, data collection, reporting, and dissemination, collaborating with consultants and vendors to ensure rigorous, high quality, and useful evaluations, analyses, and studies. They may participate in data collection to ensure quality and consistency. The MEL/GESI specialist will also provide direct technical MEL support to the USAID Education office and therefore the successful candidate will have evaluation/research experience in the Education sector in Bangladesh.

The ideal candidate (Bangladeshi or legal resident) has experience participating in evaluations and gender analyses, is solution-oriented, highly organized, and resourceful, and can effectively engage the client throughout the various MEL and GESI efforts.

The position is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The MEL/GESI Specialist will be expected to travel throughout Bangladesh, as needed.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions:

Ensure GESI good practice and USAID GESI requirements are integrated throughout all UPOMA work, products and services.
In collaboration with the MEL Advisor, support the planning and scheduling of evaluations/ analyses/studies, including those related to GESI, given client need and available resources. This includes leading planning sessions with USAID technical offices to determine study characteristics and scope.
- Support recruitment of evaluation/assessment/study teams and then coordinate with, and oversee, those teams. Manage implementation calendars to ensure activities include best practices, are within budget, and within agreed upon timeframes.
- Review technical MEL and GESI products developed by partners or teams of consultants to ensure alignment to requirements and good practice.
- Provide training to teams of consultants and vendors regarding EnCompass MEL and GESI good practices.
- In collaboration with the evaluation/GESI analysis/study team lead, lead preparation of materials for ethical review by the EnCompass home office Institutional Review Board
- Provide early review of draft evaluation designs, data collection tools, coding/analysis plans and reports, ensuring alignment to EnCompass evaluation standards and good practices.
Design, implement evaluative activities that address gender equality and inclusive development, female empowerment, male engagement, and gender/inclusion-based violence prevention and response.
Provide technical assistance in the design and implementation of performance monitoring systems, including indicator development, data collection methods and tools, monitoring system buildout, data quality assessments, and other requirements as specified by ADS 201 and ADS 205.
Collaborate with the MEL Advisor to support performance and context monitoring, data management, activity monitoring plan reviews, and third-party monitoring with a focus on GESI integration and education projects or activities.
Provide technical guidance, resources, and tools on best practices and donor requirements on gender equality and inclusive development integration in program design and MEL, female empowerment, male engagement, and gender/inclusion-based violence prevention and response, particularly for education projects or activities.
Prepare high quality reports, technical resources, and other products and deliverables on topics related to gender and inclusive development, and MEL.
Coordinate with implementing partners, consultants, and country-based staff on design, implementation, and monitoring of project/activity gender integration activities and strategies.
Lead and/or support GESI capacity development efforts for USAID, implementing partners, and others.
Regularly engage with USAID technical office staff (with a focus on the Education) while supporting a wide range of MEL tasks.

Other:

Engage fully as a member of the Bangladesh MEL Activity team, including participating in staff meetings and other team events.
Provide support to other MEL and GESI tasks as required by the Bangladesh MEL Activity team.

Position Requirements

Qualifications

Academic qualifications

Master’s Degree in an education related field, or in international relations, economics, statistics, public policy, research methods, program assessment, evaluation/measurement or another relevant field. A PhD is highly preferred.

Experience and skills

Required

Minimum of 7 years of experience, with increasing responsibility designing and implementing evaluations and/or GESI analyses and/or studies. Much of this experience must be in the education sector
Significant experience being part of an evaluation/GESI analysis/study team
Ability to travel within Bangladesh, as necessary
The MEL/GESI specialist needs to have expertise, experience and track record in research, analytical work and MEL
Expertise in GESI integration into International Development project activities
Previous experience supporting the development of evaluation/GESI analysis/study designs, data collection tools, and participating in qualitative and quantitative sampling and data analysis, including use of analysis software preferred
Strong teamwork, interpersonal and oral communications skills
Strong written and spoken English skills and fluency in Bangla
Demonstrated ability to write strong and concise evaluation reports

Preferred

Familiarity with USAID/Bangladesh
Experience directly implementing education programs a plus
Familiarity with USAID guidance and policy related to MEL and GESI highly desirable

How to Apply

Please submit CV and cover letter, and complete the application process

EnCompass LLC is a progressive Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote, celebrate, and support a diverse and inclusive organizational culture and workforce. We are committed to providing all of our employees with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, where all are treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate, and explicitly prohibit, discrimination or harassment of any kind, at any time, in all aspects of employment. This includes recruitment, hiring, promotions, disciplinary measures, terminations, compensation, benefits, social and recreational programs, and training. EnCompass also does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who report discrimination or harassment. Our continuing commitment to the principle of Equal Opportunity Employment for all means all employment decisions are based only on the job requirements, the candidate’s qualifications, and the needs of EnCompass as a business—not on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, HIV status, family/marital/parental status, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we work.