Virtual Intern Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning At International Republican Institute

Job Details

Description

Job Summary:

Every employee of IRI is responsible for carrying out the Mission of IRI and demonstrating the Core Values in their day to day operations. The Core Values, which are IRI’s foundational building blocks include:

Excellence– We believe in quality results delivered by investing in people. Freedom– We believe in exploration and experimentation to be agile and responsive. Respect- We believe in trust, empathy and empowering people. Teamwork- We believe in diversity, inclusion and the power of global collaboration. Transparency– We believe in open communication and clear decision-making. Accountability- We believe in personal responsibility as the foundation of success.

ELP is responsible for providing technical support for IRI’s monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) efforts, led by two sub teams, the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Team and the Evaluation and Research (E&R) team. The M&E team advises and assists program staff with MEL related aspects of proposal development, project start up, project implementation (including monitoring, learning, and evaluations) and close out. The E&R Team leads thematic, cross-cutting or donor priority evaluation and research, produces thematic technical guidance to help teams understand sound program design principles, and tests program theories that result in more innovative and effective projects. Together, ELP helps program teams create and implement better projects informed by IRI’s evidence base across the Institute.

The MEL intern will provide ongoing support to ELP on a variety of tasks including development and implementation of MEL systems and policies, support on evaluations, database management, and administrative support.

This position will start in January 2022 for no more than sixteen (16) weeks and may not be extended. This is a paid position, at $15.20 per hour.

In-Person and Virtual applicants encouraged to apply.

Position Requirements:

• Current student in or recent graduate of an undergraduate or graduate program in Political Science, International Affairs,
• Experience with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint required. Experience with Microsoft Forms or other survey software preferred, but not required.
• Excellent writing, research, communication, and time management skills.
• An interest in research and program evaluation.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Be able to commit at least 20-25 hours a week.
• Foster and contribute to initiatives that build an equitable and inclusive workplace that embraces diverse identities, backgrounds and experiences
• Display cultural and gender sensitivity, engage with colleagues and partners in a respectful, welcoming manner and demonstrate integrity by modeling IRI’s values

Responsibilities:

• Database Support:
• At the direction of the relevant ELP database lead, support data quality efforts by reviewing IRI’s Institute-wide indicator database and the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) consortium database for data completeness, relevance, timeliness, and other standards in accordance with donor specifications and basic MEL principles.
• Support data entry deadlines to ensure that data is collected, checked and ready for entry through proactive follow up with field teams.
• At the direction of the relevant ELP database lead, add new indicators into the database,
• Monitoring and Evaluation Support:
  • Support ELP with coordination and process management of upcoming program evaluations.
  • Provide desk-based qualitative research support on democracy and governance issues, including political parties, democratic erosion, information disorders, civic engagement and social movements.
  • With guidance from ELP, conduct analysis of qualitative and/or quantitative data, including interview transcripts and program documents, for program and portfolio evaluation and institutional learning efforts.
  • Support learning for IRI staff and partners to disseminate evaluation results and lessons learned.
• Administrative Support:
  • Support ELP with the development and implementation of MEL systems and policies, especially related to thematic priority areas for ELP, such as inclusive MEL and MEL in restrictive/closed/closing environments.
  • Assist in the design, organization, and implementation of ELP virtual events, including internal and external webinars, trainings, and workshops.
  • Prepare MEL products for public and funder consumption, including copy editing, creating data visualizations, managing references, and formatting documents.

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain exposure to common monitoring and evaluation elements, such as developing logical frameworks, performance indicators, and data collection tools.
• Become familiar with international democracy and governance programming.
• Become familiar with research methods, practices, and standards within international development and the democracy and governance field.
• Gain experience with data management, including data cleaning and quality assurance procedures.