Final Evaluation Team Leader, Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity Conservation Program, Kenya

Final Evaluation Team Leader,
 

Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity Conservation Program, Kenya

Company Profile:  MSI is a Washington, D.C.-based international development firm providing specialized short- and long-term technical assistance. Since its 1981 founding, MSI has grown in size and technical scope, now implementing and managing more than 70 projects worldwide. 

More than 30 are long-term, many in conflict-prone or fragile states that include Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Today, our range of technical expertise includes analytical and field projects in democracy and governance, economic growth, strategic planning, organizational capacity building, health and the justice sector. MSI focuses on helping our local partners foster progress, manage change and improve the effectiveness of development assistance. 

We expanded our global footprint in 2008 by becoming part of Coffey International Development, a leading development firm that is part of Coffey International Limited, a publicly traded company on the Australia Stock Exchange. Alongside Coffey, MSI has corporate offices in 17 countries. 

Together, MSI and Coffey International Development employ more than 1,400 professionals worldwide. 

For more information on MSI, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.

Project / Proposal Summary: 
 

Under this task order, MSI will conduct a final performance evaluation of the Laikipia Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity Conservation Program primarily for compliance and learning. 

The evaluation will serve three primary purposes: 

1) to examine the extent to which the project’s objectives and goals – at all results levels – have been achieved; 

2) to understand if the interventions have resulted into improved conditions and diversity of natural resources in the rangelands, forests, wildlife and river systems; and 

3) to capture lessons that can be applied to current and future interventions in the Laikipia landscape.  

The findings will be presented to: the Agriculture, Business, and Environment Office (ABEO) within USAID/Kenya. In addition, ABEO expects findings to be shared with Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF) and other Funding Partners (FPs) engaged in similar activities in Laikipia County.

Position Summary:
 

The Team Leader will work closely with a technical specialist to answer evaluation questions that address key issues of project impact, design, sustainability and lessons or best practices that are relevant for future programming.  

The questions should be considered both at a partnership or management level across LWF activities and also at the activity level for each resource – rangelands, forests, wildlife and water.

Responsibilities:
 

The Team Leader will address the following key questions:

• How has the project performed in terms of achieving projected results and impact, and how effective is the M&E system in measuring them?
• Has the project interventions resulted into improved conditions and diversity of natural resources in the rangelands, forests, and river systems and how can this be scaled up to a wider landscape level? 
• What factors beyond the control of LWF played a significant role in affecting, positively or negatively, the underlying challenges the project sought to address, and what was done to adjust the project design to those factors?

Qualifications:

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree in monitoring and evaluation, research methodology, or related field.
• Ten years of professional experience in implementing, monitoring and evaluating development programs in developing countries, particularly in Africa, with extensive experience leading evaluations – preferably with experience on USAID economic growth evaluations relating to natural resource management and development projects. 
• Strong background in social and cultural issues affecting rural development, including gender.
• In depth understanding of natural resource management and biodiversity conservation.
• Demonstrated written communications skills, especially in drafting evaluations, assessments and reports, required.
• Familiarity with USAID Forward quality evaluation standards and requirements.
• Must be willing to travel to remote areas of Kenya.

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. 

No phone calls, please.

To apply, please visit our website: www.msiworldwide.com.