Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Support Services Chief of Party

Position Description

I. Summary

Through an agreement with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Monitoring, Evaluation and Technical Support Services (METSS) Project, the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (LSU AgCenter) supports the USAID/Ghana Economic Growth (EG) section and its economic growth, agriculture and food security activities. This project is administered through a Participating Agency Service Agreement (PASA) between the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and USDA. Under this PASA, USDA has, in turn, contracted the LSU AgCenter to support the performance of the EG section’s functions relating to program design, monitoring and evaluation, and as needed, technical services for policy, regulatory reform and training for increased agricultural growth and food security in Ghana.

The Chief of Party (COP) will work jointly with USAID/Ghana, EG and partners, and the Ghana CAADP Country Team to create, develop and manage METSS in support of the Office of Economic Growth at USAID/Ghana. The METSS program engages in the following activities:
1) Supporting the USAID/Ghana EG M&E reporting needs particularly in terms of the Feed the Future Initiative;
2) Supporting Government of Ghana (GOG) M&E reporting requirements under CAADP;
3) Providing detailed narrative and quantitative impact analysis of USAID-supported interventions (This includes impacts on poverty and hunger reduction, and impacts related to global climate change mitigation and adaptation);
4) Monitoring of funding triggers;
5) Evaluation and impact analysis of the USAID/Ghana EG investments as a portfolio, in relationship to other GOG and donor portfolios, and in relationship to Ghanaian needs in order to make progress towards MDGs and towards becoming a middle income country.

II. Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The COP will provide in-country program management including technical oversight and direction to the METSS program activities. This is the most senior level field position within the METSS team, and has supervisory staff responsibilities.

The COP will assist the LSU AgCenter and USDA to meet their structured reporting requirements under the PASA, as well as periodic ad hoc needs for information from USAID/Ghana or the GOG. USAID/Ghana EG’s reporting requirements are based on various strategic development frameworks (i.e., USG Mission Strategy; the USAID strategic framework; and, Mission’s Strategic Objective Frameworks).

Specific duties and responsibilities are presented below:
• Lead the METSS program; including financial/operational oversight; manage the day to day Accra-based project operations in close collaboration with the LSU AgCenter, the University of Cape Coast (UCC, the Ghanaian partner institution under METSS), USAID partners, and other key local stakeholders;
• Define and develop an M&E system, including identification of data that is needed to weigh in on policy issues, program development and country strategies;
• Manage the compilation of M&E information on USAID/Ghana/EG partners and liaise with development partners on USAID/Ghana M&E issues;
• Provide advice and direction, orally and in written form, to a wide variety of professional leaders in the academic, public and private sectors on programmatic issues;
• Conduct research and/or coordinate research teams for generating new evidence relating to program outcomes and impacts;
• Develop and use data sets to produce and effectively apply knowledge broadly;
• Contribute to data analysis and recommendations as requested by USAID and the GOG;
• Coordinate analytical research of the donor and GOG investment portfolios particularly with respect to economic growth; and
• Anticipate METTS’s funding needs and respond appropriately.

The COP is also responsible for other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the USAID EG Section or that may become necessary for the proper functioning of the METSS.

III. Qualifications

The minimal required qualifications for this position are as follows:
1) Ph.D. or a combination of education and experience in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Rural Development, or closely related field;
2) Ten years experience in monitoring, evaluating and assessing impact of development programs, showing increased levels of responsibility. Must have ability to conduct and interpret impact analyses in the context of reporting against targets, and in the context of program design and expansion;
3) Experience in agricultural development program management, research, and exposure to a number of development sector disciplines (e.g. agricultural development, environmental management);
4) Knowledge of African agricultural policy and familiarity with Sub-Saharan African countries particularly in the area of agricultural issues within the region;
5) In-depth knowledge of current USDA and USAID development policies, priorities and project planning and implementation procedures;
6) Excellent personnel management, interpersonal, networking and team building skills;
7) Ability to work seamlessly between the ‘big picture’ and the details. Evidence of strong attention to detail. Knowledge of and experience in working with the principal public sector providers of analysis and information in country;
8) Effective writing and organizational skills to prepare guidance for specialists and non-specialists and to complete reports, analyses and presentations. Ability to write succinctly to produce documents quickly is highly desired;
9) Documented financial management skills; and
10) Excellent written and spoken English.

Any applicant showing at least one of the following preferred qualifications will receive additional consideration for this position:
11) Previous experience in leading a program performance unit,
12) Previous experience with USAID and/or USDA grants, especially PASA programmatic and financial reporting requirements;
13) Experience with database management, value chain analysis and statistical/econometric analysis;
14) Knowledge of survey and sampling design and techniques; knowledge of descriptive and statistical analysis of survey data. Proven skills and ability to work with complex quantitative data sets;
15) A holistic and solid knowledge of Ghana’s agriculture and agribusiness policy environment and its evolution in recent years; and
16) Ability to adapt to changing needs and evolving concerns, e.g. as food safety or climate change becomes a more pressing issue.

IV. Terms of Employment

The successful candidate will be an employee of the LSU AgCenter’s International Programs. Employment is anticipated to begin on April 1, 2011. The position is based in Accra, Ghana in an office location outside of US Embassy grounds. After being processed for employment at the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (a process that will include orientation) the COP should transfer to Accra Ghana by May 1, 2011 and work at that site until the conclusion of the project (currently scheduled for September 30, 2013).

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Outstanding benefits available as well as USG-mandated allowances for a expatriate professional. An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

The LSU Agricultural Center is a statewide campus of the LSU System and provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

V. Application Procedure

Interested Applicants should send an application consisting of a cover letter, a resume, three references, a writing sample of up to three pages (on a topic of the applicant’s choice) and salary requirements preferably by e-mail to: Jonathan Hubchen, (jhubchen@agcenter.lsu.edu) by March 25, 2011.