Principal Investigator (PI)

DevTech Systems, Inc. (DevTech) is an international consulting firm dedicated to development, with 40 years of experience providing advisory services and technical assistance to government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders in more than 100 countries. DevTech core practice areas include: Monitoring Evaluation, Research and Learning; Data Solutions; Public Financial Management and Fiscal Sustainability; and Education, Gender, and Youth.

At DevTech, we care deeply about doing work that leads to positive change in the world. We value diverse perspectives and are committed to an inclusive work environment. We encourage each person to learn, develop, and meet their professional potential. We rethink and evolve how we do things to grow and improve our company.

DevTech is seeking four Principal Investigators for the evaluations of the CATALYZE EduFinance interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of the CATALYZE EduFinance mechanism is to improve the educational and learning outcomes in disadvantaged children and youth by mobilizing private capital for the non-state education sector. Under this mechanism, USAID is funding public-private sector partnerships (PPPs) and private sector activities in several countries (hereafter called “EduFinance activities”). Independent evaluations will be conducted of these EduFinance activities to determine if the goals and intermediate results have been met. Findings of the evaluations will be used to strengthen implementation and support adaptive management and learning of EduFinance activities and inform future activity design. In addition, the evaluations will be shared with key stakeholders, such as Congress and the EduFinance Community of Practice, to expand the body of evidence about Private Sector Engagement (PSE) initiatives strengthening development outcomes. The activities to be performed under this contract will take place in the following countries: Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zambia. 

Target education levels:  

• Rwanda, Tanzania and South Africa: Early Childhood Education (ECE) 

• Zambia: Primary Education

Objective: 

Independent evaluations of the EduFinance activities will be conducted to determine if the goals and intermediate results have been met. 

The Principal Investigator(s) are responsible for conducting performance evaluations and preparing and finalizing the evaluation report that address evaluation topics related to relevance, effectiveness, sustainability, scalability and gender and social inclusion. DevTech has already developed a study design and draft data collection tools, including interview and focus group discussion guides in close collaboration with USAID. The Principal Investigator will be responsible for leading the different evaluation steps in the field. He/She will set up interviews, focus group discussion, coordinate with local implementors to discuss timelines, coordinate with the local data collectors, and lead the development of the evaluation report in close collaboration with a team of 3 local research associates and with DevTech's international team.

Location: Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zambia. DevTech seeks four Principal Investigators, one per country 

Eligibility: Locals only, must reside in the country of the evaluation 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree or higher 

• Experience evaluating large scale international development/or education interventions. 

• Knowledge of evaluating public-private sector partnerships (PPPs) and private sector financing activities.  

• Demonstrated experience in designing and conducting mixed method evaluations and using quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods. 

• Knowledge of the local contexts and of the education systems of the countries where the partnerships is implemented. 

• Ability to engage and direct local research teams including Research Associates and assure data quality.  

• Ability to produce a high-quality evaluation report that includes data visualizations.  

• Experience working in Africa preferably in Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zambia. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills; and 

• Fluency in written and spoken English.  

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Fluency in written and spoken local languages, such Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Zulu, Xhosa, Icibemba or Cinyanja.  

Deliverables: 

1. Evaluation workplan. Develop Work Plan for the Performance Evaluations detailing every step of the evaluation process, including data collection, steps for validating findings, presentation of findings to relevant stakeholders, and preparation of both draft and final evaluation reports and other deliverables. 

1. Finalize qualitative data collection tools. Share the preliminary KIIs and FGD guides developed in collaboration with Palladium and USAID with Implementing Partners, collect feedback and incorporate it. The purpose of the feedback should focus on "contextualizing" the tools, as needed. Tools are already cleared by the USAID DC and Palladium teams. 

1. IRB Approval. Request and obtain IRB approval from UNZA in Zambia and identify an institution for South Africa. This deliverable is not applicable for Rwanda and Tanzania, where DevTech has already received approval from recognized IRBs. 

1. Data collection.  Complete data collection from all different sources aligned with the approved evaluation design. 

1. Preliminary findings presentation. Power Point presentation that includes a summary of findings, main takeaways, responses for all evaluation questions and recommendations. The Principal Investigator will lead the presentation to Palladium and USAID.  

1. Draft evaluation report. Includes findings, main takeaways, responses for all evaluation questions and  recommendations, using the agreed upon evaluation outline. The draft report should incorporate questions and feedback from the preliminary findings presentation.  

1. Final evaluation report. Addresses comments and feedback to the draft evaluation report. This process will include up to two rounds of feedback before USAID and Palladium approve the report.  

NOTE: This job posting should not be construed to imply that the requirements are the exclusive standards of the position nor will it be the sole basis for any subsequent employee evaluations. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required by their supervisor. 
 
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age (40 and older), physical and mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history) or characteristics, military status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship or alienage, or any other protected status as established by applicable federal, state, or local law.