Position Description

EnCompass LLC is seeking a local consultant: Teacher Professional Development Specialist to conduct the Mid-Term Evaluation of the Esho Shikhi (Come and Learn) USAID/Upoma Activity in Bangladesh.

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 (MTE) of the USAID funded the Esho Shikhi (Come and Learn) Activity.

Location: Bangladesh – Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazaar

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.

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 in the review of relevant secondary data, both to inform the Inception Report as well as the final report, integrating secondary data to answer the MTE’s learning questions, as delegated by the Team Leader.

• Collect primary data through various means, such as interviews and focus groups, and stakeholder surveys, ensuring data quality and integrity, as delegated by the Team Leader.

• Provide inputs for the development of an inception plan, inclusive of methodology, tools, and a timeline to execute the MTE, as delegated by the Team Leader.

• Support the evaluation team's primary data collection efforts, ensuring methods are ethical and thorough, as delegated by the Team Leader.
• Support the collection, analysis, and synthesis of secondary data to complement primary data findings, as delegated by the Team Leader.

Deliverables and Timing:

• Inputs for the inception report including work plan, detailed methodology, data collection tools, lists of KIIs and FGDs, outline of the final report presenting the proposed structure of the report, and timeline.

• Inputs for, and co-facilitation of, an in-brief meeting with USAID Activity Manager upon arrival in Bangladesh.

• Inputs for, and co-facilitation of, any additional meetings with USAID, if needed.

• Inputs for regular progress reports/updates to the USAID Activity Manager.

• Inputs for, and co-facilitation of, out-brief presentation at the end of field work/data collection on key findings and recommendations,
• Inputs for, a comprehensive draft and, after receiving feedback from USAID, final version of the report.

Period of Performance and Level of Effort (LOE):

The LOE for the Teacher Professional Development Specialist is approximately up to 48 days. The period of performance is from on or about July 1st, 2024 to December 30th, 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

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in teacher education and in-depth knowledge and understanding of teacher professional development.

• Demonstrated experience in conducting research on teacher’s professional development particularly related to primary education.

• Deep understanding of the public education dynamics of Bangladesh required.

• Proven track record supporting evaluations, with expertise in application of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.

• Excellent communication skills in English are required.

• Fluency in Bengali is required.

How to Apply

Please submit a CV 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.