The Education Office needs short-term technical assistance to provide M&E technical expertise, management and support to the Education Office of the Ghana Mission. This will include supporting a range of M&E education activities implemented by the Government of Ghana (GoG), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and traditional implementing partners (IPs), in close coordination with other bi-lateral and multilateral donors.

The Education M&E consultant will serve as a subject matter expert in strategic information, monitoring and evaluation and knowledge management to the Education Office. In addition, he/she will be responsible for ensuring the effective development and use of strategic information and performing M&E functions across the Education portfolio. His/her duties will include providing M&E technical guidance and support and, under the leadership of the Education Office Director or his/her delegate, manage portfolio research, evaluation and capacity development, data coordination analysis and management, and project and activity performance monitoring and reporting.

The consultant will work remotely for a period from on or around May 1 through November 29, 2024. The expected level of effort for this consultancy is a total of 60 days.

Responsibilities

Technical Guidance and Support

• Serves as team resource person for technical and M&E inputs at all stages of project and activity design and development, including, but not limited to: strategy and project review and modifications or amendments, objectives and results, technical reviews, and the suitability of interventions to achieve results.
• Provides technical expertise to support operational and strategic planning processes to develop and implement balanced and transparent education activities, emphasizing the use of host-country systems.
• Provides project and activity design support for positive youth development activities, and supports subsequent implementation.
• Monitors progress of planned results and their achievement in an efficient and timely manner, consistent and compliant with Agency regulations, policies, and requirements. Identifies and works with partners to seek resolution of issues affecting the achievement of results; maintains a calendar of important benchmarks to ensure team and partner M&E activities are on schedule.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Oversees baseline, mid-term, and final performance evaluations, and other relevant analytical efforts, such as activity assessments, impact evaluations, studies, keeping close contact and collaboration with M&E contractors and the GoG.
• Liaises with the Program Office and USAID/Washington on routine M&E tasks and stays up to date on USAID strategic information, M&E, and knowledge management practices, frameworks, and innovations generally and specifically for education.
• Manages and tracks Education Office and IP compliance with M&E policies and procedures, including, but not limited to Mission Orders, AMELPs, data quality assessments, and gender equity requirements. This includes providing quality control for all aspects of M&E for the Operational Plan.
• Conducts periodic site visits to assess IP and GoG data collection methods, and provides support and technical assistance to IPs.
• Participates in and/or leads knowledge management capacity building programs and workshops.
• Actively fosters and facilitates USG interagency collaboration and cooperation in the education sector.

Data Coordination Analysis and Management

• Coordinates and leads USAID Annual and Semi-Annual reporting, analysis of monitoring and evaluating progress toward planned milestones, achievements and expected results, and regular reporting on such progress to diverse target audiences including USAID, GoG and public and private NGO partners.
• Coordinates and consolidates input from activity IPs for the preparation, analysis and timely submission of Annual and Semi- Annual Activity Reports and ensures follow-up. This includes tracking, overseeing and verifying large volumes of data collected from IPs prior to consolidation into USG reports and developing M&E-perspective narratives on the submitted results with team members.
• Manages the M&E contractor analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, developing clear ways to represent, summarize and communicate the analysis verbally and in writing (e.g., graphics) to inform reporting requirements and internal and external communications.
• Develops databases, spreadsheets or other tools to ensure data is compiled and readily available.
• Provides focused technical guidance and support to government and local organizations to identify and develop evidence-based, contextually appropriate approaches for education activities, including for expanding and strengthening community-based approaches.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (masters or higher) in education, statistics, public sector administration, international development, or other relevant training in education program management and a minimum of five years' experience in international development programming and/or implementation, or a bachelor's degree and at least six years of progressively more senior experience managing education or bi- multilateral assistance projects in a developing country context.
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills.