Research Associate (RA)

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 Research Associate(s) (RA) 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 Research Associate will be part of the local evaluation team 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. The Research Associate will work under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, supporting the various steps of the evaluation, including coordinating logistics with key informants, collecting data on the ground and supporting preliminary data analysis. The Research Associate will also support the evaluation team with translating data collection tools, interview guides and focus group discussion guides from English to local languages when needed. He/she will travel with the evaluation team to collect data for the performance evaluations.  

Location: Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zambia. DevTech seeks four Research Associates, three per country 

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

 Minimum Qualifications: 

• A bachelor’s degree in the field of program evaluation, international education, or a related technical field. Master’s degree or higher is an advantage. 

• At least three years of experience conducting qualitative research, performance evaluations or impact evaluations in the field of education or institutional capacity development and performance. 

• Knowledge of the education sector in the country of the evaluation, proficient in education policy. 

• Excellent English writing skills. 

• Understanding of the culture and operating environment of the assigned country. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

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

Deliverables: 

1. Data collection. Complete data collection from all different sources aligned with the approved evaluation design in close coordination with the rest of the local evaluation team. 

1. Preliminary findings presentation. Provide inputs for a Power Point presentation that includes a summary of findings, main takeaways, responses for all evaluation questions and recommendations. The Principal Investigator will assign the specific inputs request for the presentation. The RA will participate in the presentation to Palladium and USAID.  

1. Draft evaluation report. Provide inputs, as requested by the Principal Investigator, about findings, main takeaways and overall 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. Support the Principal Investigator in addressing 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.