Research and Learning (R&L) Director

Research and Learning (R&L) Director 

USAID Nepal Karnali Water Security Activity (KAWAS) Project 

Scope of Work

DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients’ most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including crisis mitigation, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and host-country governments. More information about DAI can be found on the DAI website (www.dai.com).

Project Background

The USAID/Nepal Karnali Water Security Activity (KAWAS) will create healthy, resilient, and water secure communities at the watershed level through strengthened water and sanitation governance that improves water resource management (including water for more resilient and biodiverse ecosystems), enhances sustainable access to drinking water, improves agriculture water management, and reduces the fecal pathogen burden in the environment from poorly managed non-sewered sanitation through fecal sludge management. The program team will methodically integrate WRM, watershed biodiversity conservation, and water and sanitation service delivery by mapping and strengthening the roles, connections, and capacities of key actors and stakeholders system-wide.

Position Overview

The Research and Learning Director (R&L) will establish and oversee a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) system that supports effective management and collaborative and strategic research and learning across project teams, partners, clients/donors and stakeholders to ensure that evidence and lessons learned are effectively incorporated into project implementation to continuously improve the quality of interventions and outcomes.  The Research and Learning Director will report to Chief of Party and will be based in Kathmandu.

Essential Duties:

Research and Learning

• Develop and lead project Research and Learning/Evaluation Agenda in close collaboration with project teams and oversee research initiatives in areas where there are gaps in knowledge or data. 
• Collaborate with the project team in identifying project lessons, processes, tools, and/or outcomes for documentation, and design a system for capturing lessons learned and best practices and sharing that learning broadly through articles, events, conference, etc.
• Support and contribute to the development of flexible, adaptable and user-friendly measurements, learning and knowledge management mechanisms with innovative data visualizations and dashboards to support results-based decision-making, ensuring storytelling across the results framework, funding streams, etc.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Develop and manage the KAWAS MERL plan, results reporting, data use systems and activities, and the project evaluation strategy. Develop procedures for timely collecting, storing and reporting indicators, establishing baselines, measuring changes in status, attributing results to project activities, and assessing overall impact of project results.
• Lead the project to support theory of change exercises and M&E frameworks to establish the foundation of technical approach and measurement system and ensure alignment with the project’s goals , objectives and R&L agenda.
• Working closely with the project team, subcontractors, other partners and stakeholders in achieving high MERL standards and the collection, analysis, utilization, dissemination of data and learning.
• Monitor quality and completeness of data, ensuring that project M&E meets USAID standards by supporting the development of dta quality assurance mechanisms including data quality audits and document lessons learned and best practices in M&E according ot USAID guidelines
• Provide evidence-based strategic technical guidance to the project, and document project performance against established outputs and indicators.
• Develop surveys and survey administration protocols to assess the impact of training.
• Support and coordinate the overall M&E capacity , including preparation of written guidance, training and mentoring project staff, and reviewing annual work plans and routine reports (includes interacting with KAWAS senior management team, USAID, and local partners on needs and ensuring that local M&E staff, consultants, and partners can fulfill these needs).
• Lead and manage technical review of M&E reporting and ensure quality of project written communications; support the project management team in the production of the quarterly and annual reports and updates of the MERL results, including all reporting to clients.
• Ensure the alignment of USAID/KAWAS MERL plan with country beneficiary relevant systems (i.e. NWASH).

Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree or higher in statistics, machine learning, mathematics, economics, environmental management or related field.
• At least 10 years of experience designing, implementing and overseeing MEL and research activities and plans for donor-funded projects in Nepal, four of which are in senior management positions.
• Experience working with Nepali information systems (NWASH, WASH M&E/MIS, etc.) is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated qualitative and quantitative research skills, including but not limited to survey instrument design, sampling design, multivariate statistical analysis experience, qualitative interview guide development, qualitative data management, analysis and quality assurance, and use of data for decision-making.
• Extensive experience in the use of mixed measurement methods required for monitoring and evaluation of WASH and/or WRM programs.
• Proven experience designing and executing program evaluations and writing research and evaluation reports for external audiences.
• Ability to professionally communicate across all levels of an organization and the public. 
• Skilled in communication strategy thinking and planning.
• Experience conducting knowledge management and dissemination activities on similar programs. 
• An energetic, forward-thinking and creative individual with high ethical standards and appropriate professional image.
• An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with USAID M&E, preferably with multi-sectoral projects with multiple earmarks.
• Understanding of reporting/developing communications products for USAID funded project.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, and fluency in English

Travel requirements:

• Travel to the field, up to 40% of their time, ensuring close collaboration between the Kathmandu office, Surkhet office and additional field sites.

Application instructions:

Applicants should apply via Formsite at this link:

https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/6xxucllyae/index.html?1626454381977

Select the position in which you are interested in applying for, fill out the required information and upload CV. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as interviews will be conducted soon. Please note, due to the volume of applications that we receive and the urgency to fill-up positions only shortlisted applicants will receive notifications on next steps. Positions are for Nepali Nationals only. Interested candidates should submit their application no later than August 3, 2021.

Women and persons with disabilities, marginalized and disadvantaged communities are encouraged to apply.