Short-term Technical Assistance for Technical Specialist – Science, Technology, and Innovation

Background
The United States Agency for International Development/Philippines (USAID/PH) will commission, through the Collaborating, Learning and Adapting for Improved Development (CLAimDev) activity, a third party, final evaluation of the Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development (STRIDE) activity. Through this evaluation, USAID/PH can gauge the extent by which STRIDE is meeting its objectives of strengthening capacity in science, technology, and innovation of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines and contributing to USAID/PH’s Development Objective of “Broad-based and Inclusive Growth Accelerated and Sustained” of the earlier Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) as well as the Development Objective of the new CDCS (2020-2024) of “Inclusive, Market-Driven Growth Expanded.”

STRIDE supports the Philippine government’s Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR), the Government of the Philippines (GOP) Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap included in its 2017-2022 Development Plan, and the new framework on higher education. Results of the evaluation will inform the design of the Mission’s next-generation, higher education activities. The evaluation will focus on the three-year extension period, which was granted to allow STRIDE to build on its initiatives during the five-year base period, the lessons learned during implementation, and the strong partnerships between government, academe, and industry. The three-year extension, until July 16, 2021, maintained the overall goal of STRIDE to “Strengthened Science, Technology, and Innovation Capacity for Inclusive Growth in the Philippines.” To deliver this goal, STRIDE will seek to achieve improvements in three intermediate results (IRs) re-defined for the three-year extension, namely: (a) IR1: Improved higher education capacity for innovation; (b) IR2: Improved regulatory environment for innovation; and (c) IR3: Improved government capacity for innovation.

Panagora Group, a woman-owned small business providing novel and integrated solutions in global health and international development, serving as the Contractor of the CLAimDev activity, seeks a Technical Specialist to support aspects of the evaluation of the eight-year STRIDE activity. This position is contractual and based in Manila, Philippines with possible travel to STRIDE project sites located in select regions of the country.

The members of the consultant team are to work together and complement each other in exploring the synergies of the three IRs of STRIDE and its contribution to the goal of “Strengthened Science, Technology, and Innovation Capacity for Inclusive Growth in the Philippines.” The consultant team is composed of the following: (a) Evaluation Advisor – Team Leader; (b) Science, Technology, and Innovation Specialist; (c) Partnership and Collaboration Specialist; (d) Field Regional Evaluation Assistants; and (e) Project Assistant.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as co-evaluator and work closely with the team leader to implement the work plan and data analysis of all the components of the evaluation
• Work with team members and complement each other in exploring the synergies of the three IRs of STRIDE and its contribution to the goal of “Strengthened Science, Technology, and Innovation Capacity for Inclusive Growth in the Philippines”
• Support the evaluation team leader with inputs on the development of evaluation plan, design and conduct of the focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and surveys
• Support the evaluation advisor – team leader in working together with the other members of the evaluation team

Required Experience and Skills:

• At least a Master’s degree in social sciences or related disciplines
• Evaluation professional with at least 10 years of experience of conducting evaluation studies in the social sectors having involved on at least two USAID program or activity evaluations and/or participated in at least three USAID program or activity evaluations
• Expertise in education activities, preferably in higher education and on science, technology, innovation with partnership (STI+P) and with expertise in:
• industry-academe linkages,
• institutional capacity development, or
• policy development in higher education.
• Strong background and proven expertise in conducting evaluations of development assistance and programs/projects, including gender and inclusive development
• Subject matter expertise, industry knowledge, a wide industry and education network and experience relevant to each of the STRIDE Missions that will be evaluated
• Research and analytical skills, data management and presentation, documentation skills, and strong communication and coordination with various stakeholders in government, industry, academe (GIA) as well as with non-government and international organizations
• Willingness and ability to work as part of a team
• Demonstrated knowledge of monitoring and evaluation systems
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral
• Three references
• Open for Filipino nationals only
• Evaluation reports drafted by candidates may be requested

Reporting
During the assignment, the consultant will report to the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist of CLAimDev, with the guidance of the Chief of Party (COP). The Consultant will also liaise with a team of technical specialists within CLAimDev and with the USAID/Philippines Office of Program Resources Management.

Period of Performance
The estimated level of effort for the Short-term Technical Assistance (STTA) for the Technical Specialist– Science, Technology, and Innovation will be 102 days. The duration of the Assignment would intermittently cover the period November 9, 2020 to July 16, 2021.