Position Description

EnCompass LLC is seeking an Education Research Specialist for the Mid-Term Evaluation of the Esho Shikhi (Come and Learn) USAID Activity

EnCompass is implementing the four-year?United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bangladesh Upoma Activity, providing a range of analytical and advisory services in support of USAID’s design, performance monitoring, evaluation, and operational learning and adapting efforts. Under Upoma, EnCompass has been tasked to conduct a Midterm Performance Evaluation of the USAID funded the Esho Shikhi (Come and Learn) Activity.

The objective of Esho Shikhi is to improve the learning outcomes of Bangladeshi children in crisis-affected and marginalized communities by improving access to quality education. The activity accomplishes its objectives through interventions in the following result areas:

• Result 1: Learning opportunities increased.
• Result 2: Enhanced teaching quality and teaching-learning materials to improve the quality of education.
• Result 3: National, district, upazila, and community personnel and officials’ ability to plan, manage, and oversee quality education improved.
• Result 4: School communities’ ability to mitigate and manage the effects of shocks and stressors on education access and quality improved.

To conduct the evaluation, EnCompass LLC seeks an Education Research Specialist with extensive experience evaluating education projects.

The following Evaluation Learning Questions (LQs) will be answered through a gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) lens:

• LQ1. What is the project progress against its set objectives and result areas?
• LQ2. How are the four result areas of the activity complementing and coordinating with one another to achieve activity objectives?
• LQ3. How well are the contractor’s partnerships with its subcontractors functioning and contributing to successful outcomes across results areas and overall project objectives?
• LQ4. How has the contractor's partnership with MoPME and DPE impacted the progress of the activity?
• LQ5. What are the major challenges/bottlenecks, both internally and externally, to achieving activity objectives?
• LQ6. What are the major lessons learned and how can they inform future programming?
• LQ7. What else does the project need to do to amplify its interventions for sustainable solutions?

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions:

• Support the Team Leader in the design and implementation for the MTE.
• Develop and refine data collection tools and methodologies in collaboration with the evaluation team.
• Assist in data coding and analysis as instructed by the Team Leader.
• Ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data collected for the evaluation.

Deliverables and Timing:

• Inputs for the inception report with a detailed M&E methodology.
• Regular progress reports on M&E activities submitted to the Team Leader.
• Analysis conducted of collected data for inclusion in the out-brief presentation and reports.
• Inputs for the preparation of the draft and final evaluation reports with a focus on M&E findings.

Period of Performance and Level of Effort (LOE): The LOE for Education Research Specialist is approximately up to 54 days. The period of performance is from on or about July 1 – December 30, 2024.

Travel: The position requires travel to Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazaar.

Position Requirements

Qualifications

Academic Qualifications

A master’s degree in education, international development, or related field is required.

Experience and Skills

• At least 7 years of experience in educational research.
• Demonstrated experience conducting research in primary education contexts with a particular focus on early grade reading and students’ performance.
• Demonstrated expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
• Proven ability to analyze data and contribute to evaluation reports.
• Communication skills with proficiency in English and Bengali.

How to Apply

Please complete the application and submit a cover letter and CV demonstrating how your experience aligns to the requirements above and complete the application. Please, note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

EnCompass LLC is a progressive Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote, celebrate, and support a diverse and inclusive organizational culture and workforce. We are committed to providing all of our employees with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, where all are treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate, and explicitly prohibit, discrimination or harassment of any kind, at any time, in all aspects of employment. This includes recruitment, hiring, promotions, disciplinary measures, terminations, compensation, benefits, social and recreational programs, and training. EnCompass also does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who report discrimination or harassment. Our continuing commitment to the principle of Equal Opportunity Employment for all means all employment decisions are based only on the job requirements, the candidate’s qualifications, and the needs of EnCompass as a business—not on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, HIV status, family/marital/parental status, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we work.