Nepal-based Consultant Supporting Mathematica and the USAID Early Grade Learning activity

Statement of work for Nepal-based Consultant Supporting Mathematica and the USAID Early Grade Learning activity

A. BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding a five-year early grade learning activity (USAID Early Grade Learning), implemented by Chemonics, its global partners, Inclusive Development Partners (IDP), Mathematica, Room to Read and Save the Children, and Nepali NGO partners- Aasaman Nepal, KIRDARC Nepal and REED Nepal. USAID Early Grade Learning is focusing on building the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) and provincial- and local-level education authorities. The activity will be implemented together with the Government of Nepal (GoN), with the following key objectives:

1. Build federal, provincial, and local levels capacity for delivering early grade learning services.

2. Improve local governments’ ability to provide teacher professional support, coaching, mentorship, and supervision.

3. Support local level governments in improving access to and quality of education services in early grades.

From 2024 through 2027, Mathematica will be supporting USAID Early Grade Learning in confirming the theory of change; providing technical assistance and guidance in the development of baseline, midline, and endline assessments; conducting diverse rapid feedback exercises, studies, and/or cost analyses; planning and overseeing data collection activities; and informing relevant indicators and inputs for project reporting.

Mathematica is seeking a Nepal-based consultant to join its team. This individual will support and advise the U.S.-based  athematica team on conducting high-quality monitoring, evaluation, and learning MEL activities and workshops in the context of the federal republic of Nepal and serve as a liaison between the Mathematica team, the Nepal-based USAID Early Grade Learning team, and other relevant stakeholders. The expected level of effort will average approximately two (2) days per month from the date of contracting through at least 2025, although this may vary from one (1) to five (5) days per month based on the level of ongoing activities.

B. RESPONSIBILITIES

The selected individual will:

1. Participate in at least biweekly virtual meetings with the Mathematica team.

2. As needed, represent Mathematica in Nepal-based meetings with the Chemonics-led consortium, and other stakeholders and provide written summaries of key discussion points and action steps from each meeting within three days of each meeting.

3. Support the design of MEL activities including co-developing and reviewing evaluation designs, data collection methodologies, and analysis plans.

4. Co-facilitate workshops as needed.

5. In support of studies and assessments, as needed, conduct oversight of Nepal-based field data collection teams and work with Mathematica staff to manage challenges and issues that arise during evaluation processes.

6. Contribute to and review deliverables, including data collection tools and reports, to ensure that they are relevant and appropriate to the contexts and stakeholders of both the USAID Early Grade Learning activity and the Nepali educational system more broadly.

7. Other tasks as agreed upon in writing with Mathematica.

C. QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education, social sciences, public policy, or a related field.
• A deep understanding of the federalized educational system in Nepal, including curricula used in early grades, federal, provincial, and municipal roles and responsibilities in managing primary education, and current assessment and performance measurement approaches.
• At least five (5) years of experience in designing and conducting MEL activities and data collection, analysis and reporting for donor-funded projects, including at least three (3) years of experience working on education projects.
• Proven track record of successful teamwork, workshop facilitation skills, and relationship-building with a range of stakeholders.
• Strong communication, writing, and interpersonal skills.
• Expertise in SPSS.
• Written and spoken proficiency in both the Nepali and English languages.

Preferred qualifications:

• Expertise in evaluation methodologies, strong qualitative and quantitative skills, including Stata, and demonstrated ability to synthesize and report on qualitative evidence.

D. TO APPLY

Please submit a cover letter and resume or CV via email to Laura Meyer at lmeyer@mathematica-mpr.com and Galina Lapadatova at GLapadatova@mathematica-mpr.com.