Interim Technical Support, SMLP-2

Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.

Project Summary:

The goal of USAID/Somalia Monitoring Learning Project-2 (SMLP-2) is to establish a third-party monitoring (TPM) system to collect data that verifies partner reported outputs and selected outcomes, and to deduce lessons learned from humanitarian programs in Somalia funded by BHA/Somalia. The overall goal of SMLP-2 is to increase BHA/Somalia’s access to independent, verifiable data related to the 1) quantity and quality of activities delivered, and 2) performance of BHA-funded programs in Somalia. This increased access to data will allow BHA/Somalia to make more evidence-based program design, implementation, and strategy decisions.

**Please note: All citizenships are eligible for this position**

Position Summary:

The Interim Technical Support will provide monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) technical guidance and management oversight as designated by the Chief of Party (COP) to the MSI team on all tasks. This role will provide the overall technical direction to MSI’s team on monitoring methodology and data analysis. This role will be responsible for the design of the monitoring plan, data collection tools, leading engagement with implementing partners (IPs), and ensuring integrity of data and the overall monitoring system. This is a Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA) position based in Nairobi, Kenya, although conducting a portion of the work remotely may be possible. The Level of Effort required to complete this assignment is up to 45 Days (January 1 – February 28, 2025).

Responsibilities:

• Take the Lead in Organizing and Delivering Learning Event 1, with support from the new Senior Learning Advisor (SLA).
  • Lead the planning and design of Learning Event 1, ensuring alignment with project objectives and USAID priorities.
  • Finalize the event agenda, define key objectives, and identify desired outcomes.
  • Engage stakeholders (USAID, partners) to secure participation and gather input for event design.
  • Oversee logistical preparations, including venue selection, virtual platform setup (if remote joining option), and the preparation of materials.
  • Coordinate with the SLA, once onboarded, and presenters to prepare presentations, handouts, and other supporting documents.
  • Collaborate with the SLA to facilitate the event, ensuring smooth flow and time management.
  • Collaborate with the SLA to lead discussions, moderate panel sessions, and encourage active participation from attendees.
  • Address any questions or issues in real time, with technical and logistical support from the SLA.
  • Document key discussions, insights, and feedback for reporting and follow-up.
  • Draft a comprehensive post-event Learning Event Brief, capturing key takeaways, feedback, and recommendations for future actions.
  • Collaborate with the SLA to ensure the integration of learning outcomes into broader project deliverables, such as the learning module.
• Collaborate with the new SLA to create a framework for identifying and capturing lessons learned from SMLP2 deliverables.
  • Review existing project documentation, reports, and briefs to identify key lessons learned to date.
  • Work with the SLA to develop a structured “Lesson Harvesting Framework” for cataloging lessons based on thematic areas (e.g., monitoring approaches, community engagement, partner feedback).
  • Begin working together with the SLA and the technical team to extract and document lessons learned from two years of project outputs, integrating these into the Learning Module on Ardea.
  • Support the research design of Special Study 1 on IP engagement.
  • Review the Research Partner’s draft Inception Report for Special Study 1, including literature review, study design/methodology, data collection tools, and data analysis plans, and provide substantive feedback on the research design.
  • Act as a liaison between the Research Partner team and project leadership, ensuring clear communication of progress and needs.
• Support the COP with management tasks in the project office.
• Organize and deliver Learning Event 1, including agenda, event materials and a post-event Learning Event Brief.
• Consolidate "Lessons Harvesting Framework" document for the project’s use in harvesting of lessons moving forward.
• Write review of the Inception Report for Special Study 1.