The CLA Lead is a Team Lead and Key Personnel position on the USAID Ethiopia DFSA project. The CLA Lead is responsible for the overall management of collaboration, learning and adaptation on the project. In addition, the CLA Lead will lead his/her team and provide overall supervision of their work during implementation. The CLA Lead will serve as the primary liaison with field-based staff, local learning partner(s), as well as with counterparts and stakeholders on CLA matters and will ensure exceptional quality and timeliness of project deliverables within budget and compliance parameters.
- Work closely with all staff to ensure collaboration and learning with other activities in theimplementation area. S/he will ensure the activity includes active, intentional and adaptive learning within and across interventions, and will play a critical role in incorporating refinement activities and learning into implementation, including (but not limited to) the U.S. Government, host country government, international donors, multilateral organizations, and private sector investments.
- Ensure appropriate and continued coordination and joint planning with other USAID and other donor activities (specifically the USAID food security and resilience portfolio), host-government initiatives, and private sector engagement. Includes contributing to a joint learning agenda and events, and adapting to PSNP5 design.
- Represent project in various research and networking forums.
Learning
- Help develop and manage a shared learning agenda for the program that addresses evidence and knowledge gaps as well as strengthen understanding of local context; formative and implementation research (e.g., pilots) of innovative and participatory approaches and implementation strategies. The CLA Lead will manage the learning agenda which will be implemented in partnership with local learning partner(s). S/he will coordinate learning activities with the M&E Lead to ensure synergistic activities, assessments and approaches.
- Improve peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing and application, knowledge management, activity-based capacity strengthening, and evidence and data utilization in support of adaptive management both within and beyond initial refinement.
- Develop and implement a research dissemination strategy, feedback adaptation and advocacy initiatives.
- Provide technical support to project teams in the development and distribution of research tools, materials, and reports.
- Ensure that Phase 1 Research and pilot findings are incorporated into sound, evidence-based programmatic design for the Phase 2 Implementation Plan. Consolidate research results/outcomes to facilitate program decision making and integration of learning in project.
- Coordinate CLA monitoring processes with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Lead to ensure learning and knowledge application is on course through-out project life.
- Define program quality standards and accountability systems and ensure they are adhered to.
Management
- Responsible for overseeing the overall day-to-day management and operations of the RTI CLA work and monitor CLA-specific financials.
- Ensure that all activities conform to the terms and conditions of project requirements, including cost, schedule and quality parameters.
- Participate in regular senior management meetings and provide insights to inform technical and operational decisions.
- Contribute to the development of program strategies, planning, and implementation of program activities, while ensuring cohesion among the program components.
- Responsible for delivering high quality learning products.
- Contribute to the development of reports including quarterly reports, annual results reports, pipeline and resource estimates.
- Work closely with COP, technical staff, pertinent RTI Regional Office staff when necessary to ensure project resources are effectively and efficiently budgeted, analyzed, disbursed, monitored and reported in achieving project objectives and results;
Other responsibilities as jointly agreed upon by the Project Manager and COP.
- An advanced degree (PhD or Master’s) plus a minimum of three years relevant work experience or a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five years relevant experience is required. Two years of relevant experience can substitute for a master’s degree.
- Demonstrated experience in facilitating learning and knowledge sharing processes, in establishing and managing dynamic feedback systems to capture experiential learning and unintended consequences and fostering collaboration across teams or organizations is required.
- In-depth understanding of applicable research methods, knowledge management and project design.
- Previous experience with Food for Peace programming preferred.
- Significant field experience in research, design, and evaluation.
- Proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and lead a multi-disciplinary team.
- Strong leadership qualities and depth and breadth of technical and management expertise in nutrition, livestock, and market system development.
- Experience in developing capacity building through local stakeholders is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with host country government personnel, stakeholders, NGO partners, and international donor agencies.
- Strong interpersonal, writing and oral presentation skills in English required.
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More Information
- Address Addis Ababa
- Experience Level Senior
- Total Years Experience 5-10
- Qualification BA/BSc, PhD/Fellowship