Wildlife Specialist - Wildlife Conservation Assessment

Company Profile:

MSI, a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, DC metro area international development firm with a 35-year history of delivering development results across the world. Our core expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation (M&E), institutional development, public sector management, governance and anti-corruption. MSI implements nearly 100 projects in 90 countries around the world such as Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Colombia, and Mexico. As one of the leading companies in our field, MSI has partnered with more than 80 organizations across all sectors of international development with clients ranging from large bilateral and multilateral donors such as USAID, the World Bank and the UNDP to national and local governments, NGOs, think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information on MSI, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.

Project Summary:

In May 2015, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded a five-year contract to Management Systems International (MSI) to provide performance management support to USAID-sponsored development programs throughout Pakistan. The Performance Management Support Contract (PERFORM) serves as a centralized management support mechanism that provides services in (1) monitoring, (2) evaluation, (3) assessment, and (4) learning support. PERFORM provides data and information to help USAID/Pakistan project managers improve results through better implementation, design, and learning, enabling it to better target its programming and achieve its goals and objectives.

***Please note: Only citizens of Pakistan are eligible for this position. ***

Position Summary:

MSI is seeking a sector specialist in wildlife and forest conservation and rural development to support an assessment of lessons learned during a USAID-funded wildlife conservation project in four (4) districts of Gilgit Baltistan. The conservation project was implemented by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) between December 2015 and September 2016. During the life of the grant, WCS formed community-based conservation and social development organizations, helped target communities to develop conservation and resource management plans, and trained community wildlife managers to patrol and educate visitors in protected conservation areas. The sector specialist will join a team of experts tasked with identifying lessons learned and assessing prospects for replicating grant activities elsewhere in Pakistan. The specialist will be involved at all stages of the assessment, including assessment design, instrument development, team planning, data collection in Gilgit Baltistan and/or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, data management and processing, analysis, and validation of assessment findings.

The assessment will begin in March 2018 and conclude in May 2018. Team activities will take place in Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The anticipated level of effort for the sector specialist is approximately 40 days. The team will include a team leader, two (2) sector specialists, two (2) mid-level researchers and other support as needed.

 Responsibilities:

·         Provide conservation and community mobilization expertise during the design, planning, implementation, analysis, and reporting phases of the assessment.

·         Participate in the team planning workshop and in developing data collection instruments, a data collection plan, and a data analysis plan.

·         Participate in a briefing with USAID staff prior to field work.

·         Coordinate with implementing partner staff to organize interviews and meetings for the assigned assessment area.

·         Conduct interviews with project stakeholders (in one-on-one and/or group settings) and prepare detailed notes.

·         Participate in analysis of qualitative and quantitative data.

·         Identify and document findings, conclusions, and recommendations on area(s) assigned in the assessment, according to MSI/PERFORM protocols.

·         Participate in the presentation of assessment results to USAID and implementing partners.

·         Contribute to preparing the assessment report and briefing papers, if required.

 Qualifications:

·         At least a master’s degree and 10 years of professional experience or a Ph.D. with at least 5 years of experience.

·         Knowledge of wildlife and forest conservation and community mobilization, particularly in Gilgit Baltistan and/or KP/FATA.

·         Demonstrated experience evaluating development projects, preferably USAID projects.

·         Excellent communication skills, especially in written and spoken English. Fluency in local GB languages and/or Pashto, or experience conducting fieldwork in GB and KP/FATA preferred.

·         Fluent in qualitative research methods.

·         Ability/willingness to conduct field work in select districts of GB and KP/FATA.

Position will be filled on a rolling basis*

Candidates that have a real or potential conflict of interest in this evaluation will not be considered for this assignment. MSI will require a written statement to this effect before formal engagement on this assignment. Conflict of interest in this context includes, but is not limited to: close and/or family relations with the individuals that are related to the project, financial interest in the implementing organization(s) or grantees, current or previous experience with the project being evaluated or the USAID requesting office, etc.

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

MSI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer.