Background
Panagora Group is a woman-owned small business providing novel and integrated solutions in global health and international development, implementing the (MEL-P) Activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Indonesia since August 18, 2020.
MEL-P’s purpose is to support the implementation of the USAID/Indonesia Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) for Fiscal Years 2021-2025 by providing technical, consulting, and advisory services related to monitoring, evaluation, and learning and other relevant short-, medium-, and long-term technical expertise. MEL-P also provides support to USAID initiatives, such as the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policy Making Act. These combined efforts will facilitate and inform program management decisions within the Mission, shape and democracy, the long-term strategic direction of programs, and enable USAID/Indonesia to comply with Agency policy and guidance, including USAID Automated Directives System Chapter 201.
Responsibilities
MEL-P seeks three senior-level Research Advisors and three junior-level Research Assistants to undertake three studies. The Indonesia-focused studies – which concentrate on the state of governance, corruption, and a multisectoral examination of the country’s disaster preparedness – provide complementary research and analysis of MEL-P’s ongoing context monitoring efforts. As such, these studies will provide additional context on the Indonesia operating environment in which the USAID/Indonesia is advancing its CDCS goal, i.e., Indonesia is an advanced, just, prosperous, and self-reliant Indo-Pacific partner, through four Development Objectives (DO): Effective democratic governance strengthened (DO1), Inclusive economic growth increased (DO2), Environmental sustainability improved (DO3), and Priority health outcomes improved (DO4).
These short-term technical assistance experts or consultants will report to the MEL-P Chief of Party or designated staff. This assignment shall be conducted in Jakarta, Indonesia with potential travel to some provinces. MEL-P anticipates issuing a fixed price service agreement covering the period of September 2022 to January 2023.
The Researchers will be responsible for reviewing the design of the three supplemental studies, suggesting adjustments to the study designs (including the key research questions), and finalizing the designs with support and consultation from MEL-P, USAID, and potentially other key stakeholders.
The Researchers will then carry out literature review for each study, compile and analyze data, develop findings and recommendations, determine what evidence is or is not available to answer the key research questions, and develop action-oriented final report. It will be essential for these experts to complete this assignment following a participatory process, including engaging and consulting with MEL-P and USAID staff throughout each stage of the studies.
Additional responsibilities include:
- Develop professional, respectful, and collegial relationships with MEL-P, USAID, implementing partners, Government of Indonesia ministries and departments, and other key partners and stakeholders.
- Provide leadership and demonstrated excellence in research; data collection methods; analysis/interpretation and visualization; utilization principles (e.g., participatory design and the development of “actionable recommendations”); collaboration- and learning-centric models; dissemination practices; and project management.
- For the study preparation stage, formulate study objectives and design approach/methods; develop and refine research (or learning) questions; integrate these components into a comprehensive statement of work and work plan (including process steps and illustrative schedule); and, with the Chief of Party, spearhead engagement of USAID to ensure participatory/joint processes.
- The Senior Research Advisors will be responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the study teams encompassing technical oversight and quality, as well as ensuring tasks are completed on time and overseeing project management functions.
- Preferred senior-level Research Advisor and junior-level Research Assistant experts will possess a minimum of four to seven or two to four years of experience, respectively, designing and implementing research efforts of complex phenomena.
- Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection methods is preferred. Sectoral experience in democracy and governance, corruption, disaster risk reduction, as well as multi-sectoral research would be beneficial.
- In addition, senior-level Research Advisor experts should be proficient at managing teams to effectively carry out research under short timelines.
- Ideally, experts will have experience working with international development organizations in completing similar studies, including experience with and knowledge of USAID or other international donors.
- A bachelor’s or post-graduate degree in social sciences, statistics, research methods, international development, or a related field is preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with diverse team members and computer proficiency are required. Fluency in written and spoken English and Bahasa Indonesian is required.
Panagora Group