Research and Evidence Manager (Ukrainian Nationals Only)

Monitoring & Evaluation

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Save the Children in Ukraine aspires to advance its research, evidence and learning ambition and transform into a learning organization. The Research and Evidence Manager will possess required expertise to drive this aspiration and ambition. In collaboration/under the guidance of the REALM Director maximize strategic evidence generation and utilisation. Lead in developing strategic partnerships with national and international research stakeholders such as local and international research organization and institutions. The candidate will provide technical leadership in research and evidence generation as per an overarching learning agenda, and ensuring evidence is used for learning, advocacy and communication, new business development and fundraising. The incumbent will work on exchanging best research/evaluation and analysis of monitoring data to inform learning and course correction best practices within the region.

Strategic research and evidence generation

• Lead in identifying strategic opportunities for key pieces of research to address strategic evidence and knowledge gaps and to strengthen country thematic programs and advocacy activities through implementation of the Learning Agenda.
• Support Country Office to ensure the Theory of Change is at the centre of building and utilising evidence to inform innovations, scale up interventions, partnership, quality, and advocacy.
• Coordinate research initiatives linked to strategic priorities to generate evidence and knowledge, ensure their uptake into policy domain, development discourse and new project/program design.
• Work closely with the new business development team to support them in proposal development through providing the necessary context and needs updates from both external and internal resources.
• Develop and review the country learning agenda together with its action plan which identifies the key research and assessment initiatives to cover knowledge and information gaps.

Managing and coordinating research, evaluation, and projects outcome measurement

• Lead on the measurement of outcome level indicators, coordinate the update of the Assessment and Evaluation Tracker, and ensure adoption of a strategic approach to baseline and evaluation studies to guarantee effectiveness and efficiency in measurements.
• Facilitating projects evaluations through coordinating with the area MEAL teams and thematic technical advisors, selecting service providers, facilitating internal reviews for evaluation reports, and ensuring final clean versions of evaluation reports.
• Lead the research implementation activities, budget management, and coordinate work with field teams, and ensures smooth and efficient day-to-day operation of research and data collection activities, data quality assurance, data management, analysis and report writing and communicating results.
• Determine and implement appropriate research designs, protocol and procedure, methodology, and -in coordination with thematic technical advisors- development/ modification of tools.
• Implement quality standards for all quantitative, qualitative, and participatory action research activities in country, including systematic literature and secondary data reviews, meta-analysis, programmatic research, legal and policy analysis, operational research, assessment, baseline and endline data collection and evaluations.
• Ensure all targeted research, evaluation, and assessment include key variables to understand contextual dynamics of resilience, gender, disability, ethnicity, children centred and geographic remoteness.
• Ensure inclusion of diverse stakeholders, particularly children and youth in participatory action research, as well as other research, for example promoting and applying child/youth led research.
• Act as the primary administrative point of contact for internal and external research service providers and develop and maintain a network of researchers and consultants from university, research institutions/organizations.

Coordination of humanitarian assessments

• Lead and oversight of initial rapid needs assessments in the event of a rapid onset emergency.
• Support the Humanitarian team on preparedness and the gathering of data for early warning systems.
• Lead on conducting needs assessment based on SCI Ukraine Research, Assessment and Evaluation SoPs and decision tree.
• Act as a focal point for SCI Ethics Review Committee (ERC).
• Determine the capacity required for each assessment and develop and lead on an assessment work plan.

Evidence based learning and reflection

• Work with the Head of MEAL to develop a culture of learning that is driven by the Response Plan, initiatives, Program results frameworks, thematic/sector learning agendas whilst encouraging space for innovation and pioneering project design based on evidence and research.
• Establish engaging forums for reflection, learning and evidence-sharing within the Country, Region and across CO teams.
• Ensure data is systematically and continuously used to identify gaps, emerging trends, and course correction and implementation decisions are guided by this data (within and across programs/functional areas).
• Conduct robust analysis of data generated through programming and research initiatives in a palatable manner to decision maker, program strategy development and ACCM team.
• Generate quarterly reports based on the action tracker and ensure its update by the area MEAL teams.
• Oversight of learning workshops and ensure that their outcomes are captured in the learning log and shared with the relevant country team.
• Support the relevant Programme and MEAL team to develop an Action Plan based on the evaluation recommendations with clear responsibilities for actions and monitoring.

Capacity building and coordination

• Lead on implementing capacity building strategy of country office/area offices and partner teams to generate and use evidence in program design and project cycle management.
• Identify opportunities to leverage external engagement of research institutions, consultancies, SC Technical Assistance, and the global Analytic Capacity Initiative towards capacity building priorities.
• Maintain the networks and strategic partnerships and accordingly work with research and academic institutions.

Knowledge Management

• Managing the key learning and evidence trackers such as the action tracker, assessment and evaluation tracker, learning log-sheet, learning agenda and its action plan.
• Archiving all research, assessment and evaluation tools, reports and any other related documents on SCI MEAL SharePoint.
• Geographical and sectorial mapping for needs assessment in all Ukraine.
• Facilitate the Evaluation Quality Scoring tools for all finalized assessment, baseline survey and evaluation report onto the Global Evaluation and Assessment Repository.
• In coordination with the area offices, manage the Action Tracker which includes the key issues identified through MEAL team monitoring initiatives.
• Support thematic Technical Advisors/Specialists in the pro-active collection, analysis, storage and utilization of external evidence and research, including trends and reports, to inform program development and strategic direction of the CO.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in Economics, Measurement, Evaluation, and Research Methodology, Statistics, Social Research or relevant equivalent, with at least significant coursework in quantitative or qualitative research methods. PhD in Development Economics or other mentioned discipline is preferred.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• At least 3 years’ experience in social research, impact evaluation studies, leading/overseeing Baselines/Endlines, knowledge management and knowledge translation.
• Experience in more than one of the Save the Children priority sectors: education, child protection, child rights governance, child poverty, health and nutrition (desired)
• Previous work experience in Ukraine or similar context or capacity to deliver quality research in low resource areas
• Excellent interpersonal communication and leadership skills
• Passion for evidence-driven development programming and interest in ongoing international research
• Demonstrated excellent skills in designing and carrying out qualitative and quantitative research and using research to inform program design and advocacy, including proven success in ability to present ideas and concepts effectively and persuasively
• Demonstrated experience in developing or overseeing data management solutions, and familiar with technologies in social research.
• Masterful analytical skills, including the ability to distil useful findings from a body of data, relating findings to external factors and context, and unearthing patterns of findings, discerning which are useful, appreciation for the complexities of social research, especially as pertains to deprivations of children’s rights.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, including experience using data analytics software such as SPSS, STATA, INVIVO, etc.
• Effective at collaborating and influencing across departments and sectors
• Excellent skills in training, capacity building, coaching, and mentoring
• Excellent research/evaluation project management skills including demonstrated ability to set and manage priorities and multiple tasks, outcomes and deadlines oriented.
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming teams, in emergencies
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Significant experience of MEAL approaches (desired)
• Significant experience research and quantitative/qualitative study designs

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Added 3 months ago - Updated 1 hour ago - Source: savethechildren.net