Rural Policy and Development Expert

at  Panagora Group

JOB DESCRIPTION

Panagora Group is a U.S. small business that provides technical and advisory services related to monitoring, evaluating, and learning USAID/Colombia’s strategy and activities. The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Short-Term Activity (MELSA) provides monitoring support services: designing and implementing performance and impact evaluations, as well as other studies and assessments, supporting their use and dissemination, and developing collaboration, learning, and adapting initiatives.
MELSA will use the baseline evaluation design to evaluate the USAID/Colombia Sustainable Agriculture Activity (SAA). The baseline evaluation design proposed collecting primary data in collaboration with SAA before a mid-term and/or final evaluation based on the baseline design conducted by the MEL Activity. The baseline design identified a set of data useful for USAID/Colombia and the implementing partner to understand the status of relevant issues around the objectives of Sustainable Agriculture in the prioritized regions. It also designed a set of quantitative and qualitative data collection instruments.
As part of the evaluation team, MELSA seeks a Rural Policy and Development Expert. The following are some of the key responsibilities and requirements for the position.

REQUIREMENTS

• Graduate degree in economics, business, rural development, business management, natural resources, sustainable agriculture, business law, social and political sciences, or other related areas.
• More than seven (7) years of demonstrated experience in rural development policies and institutional framework.
• Detailed knowledge of the institutional and non-institutional networks and stakeholders involved in the rural development sector.
• Knowledge of sustainable and climate-smart practices in agriculture.
• Experience in designing, implementing, and/or evaluating rural development and sustainable agriculture programs is desirable.
• Knowledge of value chains and market access for small and medium-sized agricultural businesses is desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of secondary sources of information and administrative registries related to the rural productive and agriculture sectors in Colombia.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver quality analysis, tables, visualizations, written products, and presentations.
• Intermediate or advanced knowledge of written and spoken English.
• Proven experience in conducting high-quality qualitative analysis.
• Experience in Nvivo preferred.
• Ability to conduct interviews and focus groups in Spanish.
• Experience with USAID evaluations is desirable but not required.
  If you are interested in this position, it is mandatory that you upload your labor certificates and proof of education in the Attachment Information. Only candidates who have attached these documents will be reviewed.
  No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted. Only applicants who include the required application components will be considered.

Panagora Group is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

• Note: Panagora does not offer visa sponsorship at this time.

• Lead the qualitative data collection in collaboration with the implementing partner and USAID/Colombia.
• Lead the thematic topics in the design and review of the qualitative data collection instruments.
• Design a codebook for the coding process.
• Participate and apply the qualitative data collection instruments in the field.
• Participate in the qualitative instruments coding process and contribute with a thematic revision of the process in creating the codebook.
• Ensure the quality of qualitative data collection.
• Participate in follow-up meetings with USAID/Colombia and the implementing partner to inform the progress of the qualitative data collection.
• Present the qualitative data collected to USAID/Colombia and the implementing partner.
• Support the MELSA evaluations leader in preparing reports and presentations for USAID and the Implementing Partner if required.
• Present a final report of the qualitative data collection analysis.