Principal Investigator, USAID/Serbia Impact Evaluation of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Activity

Social Impact is a global development management consulting firm. We provide monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity building services to advance development effectiveness. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. Since 1997 we have worked in over 100 countries for clients such as US government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits.

Proposal Objective:

USAID/Serbia is currently conducting a procurement process for the five-year Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Activity, the overall goal of which is to accelerate SME growth in Serbia through better integration into higher value-added value chains and developed markets. The Activity will support cross-cutting initiatives, namely human capacity development interventions focused on youth and expanding the pool of qualified entry-level employees for SME business by aligning skills training programs with business needs. In addition, the Activity will support the development of attractive employment opportunities for the country’s youth population, which may include the delivery of technical and vocational education and training, tailored internship programs, curriculum module development, support to young and innovative startups, among other interventions. Lastly, the Activity is expected to mainstream gender throughout.

Concurrently, Social Impact is pursuing an opportunity to work with USAID and the future SME Activity Implementing Partner (IP) to conduct an impact evaluation for select interventions commissioned under the Activity. The evaluation will take place on an ongoing basis throughout the life of the Activity and will assess to what extent selected interventions accelerate SME economic growth, the degree of SME integration into higher value-added value chains and developed markets, and the cost-effectiveness per outcome of such interventions.

Position Description:

Social Impact is seeking a Principal Investigator (PI) in support of the USAID/Serbia Impact Evaluation of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Activity. The PI may be requested to participate in an oral presentation to USAID as part of the proposal process. The position is remote with regular travel to Serbia required twice per year for field visits during the five-year period of performance from 2022 to 2027, in addition to visits for the baseline, midline and endline data collection. This is a long-term, part-time consulting opportunity contingent upon contract award.

Responsibilities:

• Assume responsibility for the conceptualization and development of the impact evaluation approach, methods, and deliverables, ensuring adherence to quality standards.
• Participate in a scoping trip to Serbia within 30 to 60 days of the start of the Activity to inform the evaluation work plan and design.
• Assist with the development of the evaluation work plan for the five-year period of performance from initial data collection to final evaluation report.
• Lead the evaluation design and participate in online and in-person working sessions with USAID/Serbia and the Activity IP to discuss the impact evaluation design options.
• Contribute substantially to the development of written reports and workshops for USAID.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in economic science or related discipline with focus on economic and SME development and/or economic assistance.
• Minimum 10 years of experience designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative impact evaluations using controlled group design.
• Minimum three years of experience in developing countries, preferably in the region (Serbia or the Balkans).
• Ability to work with various counterparts, implementing partners, and host country government stakeholders.
• Ability to travel to remote and challenging areas to conduct evaluation activities and provide technical expertise.
• Superior written and oral communication skills in English.