Institutional Capacity Assessment Consultant at Creative Associates International for West Africa Trade and Investment Hub

Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Institutional Capacity Assessment Consultant

Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full Time

Project Summary

• The USAID-funded West Africa Trade and Investment Hub (hereinafter referred to as the Trade Hub) is a five-year, $116 million trade and investment facilitation activity that seeks to improve private sector competitiveness in West Africa through a market-based approach.
• By working in partnership with the private sector and fostering co-investments, the activity generates new private-sector capital investment in critical sectors to create jobs and increase two-way trade.

Job Summary

• At the Federal level, efforts are underway to evaluate the readiness of the Federal Education MDAs to implement the National Reading Framework (NRF). This includes identifying their strengths and weaknesses as they are preparing to follow the NRF implementation guide, to enhance their capacity to deliver quality Early Grade Reading interventions that align with current needs.
• Establishing a baseline for their capacity to manage Early Grade Reading (EGR) is crucial.
• To address this, the LEARN to Read Activity has introduced an Institutional Capacity Assessment (ICA)/Organizational Capacity Needs Assessment (OCNA) to evaluate the capacity of Federal Education MDAs annually, at baseline, midline, and end-line stages.
• The ICA/OCNA assessment will be conducted in 2024, 2025, and 2026 at the Federal education MDAs.
• The approach of the assessment will be consistent with the past ICA conducted in the legacy and launching states.

Justification:

• The Initiative's responsibility is to assist the Federal Education MDAs in enhancing their capacity to track the progress and implementation of the National Reading Framework.
• The purpose of this consultancy is to evaluate the managerial and technical capacity of the Federal Education MDAs in fulfilling their roles in the implementation of NRF commitments.
• Findings from the Institutional Capacity Assessment (ICA)/Organizational Capacity Needs Assessment (OCNA) will highlight institutional changes by comparing results from the baseline, midline, and end-line assessments.

Objectives

• To support the review of the ICA/OCNA manual as a job aid to ensure sustainability for Federal technical officers.
• To train key Federal Education MDAs (Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, NCCE, NTI, NIEPA, NERDC, NINLAN, TRCN, NECO and NMEC) on the administration of the Institutional Capacity Assessment instruments.
• To lead the conduct of baseline ICA/OCNA for Federal Education MDAs using the ICA/OCNA instruments and coordinate the activities.
• To produce high-quality baseline Federal ICA/OCNA report and presentations for various audiences.
• To support the LEARN team in providing TA to the Federal Education Agencies in developing Capacity Building Plans and implementation plans to address the gaps identified during the assessment.

Scope of Work / Specific Tasks
The broad scope of this activity will include:

• Coordinate the training of key staff from the Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, NCCE, NTI, NIEPA, NERDC, NINLAN, TRCN, NECO and NMEC on the use of the ICA/OCNA instruments.
• Coordinate the facilitation of the ICA/OCNA instruments.
• Provide technical advice to Federal education agencies on self-coordinating ICA/OCNA processes and interpreting results.
• Collaborate with the LEARN team to identify capacity-building needs and work with Federal MDAs to develop Institutional Capacity Building Plans on the implementation of NRF.
• Develop real-time progressive reports of the assessments in accordance with the approved format and framework for the Federal ICA/OCA.
• Submit all data and audio recordings collected during the assessment.

Deliverables (and when)
The major outputs of this assignment are:

• List of trained Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, NCCE, NTI, NIEPA, NERDC, NINLAN, NECO and NMEC staff and selected key stakeholders in the states on the use of the ICA/OCNA instruments.
• The 2024 ICA/OCNA score for the supported Federal education MDA and recorded transcriptions.
• A detailed and implementable Institutional Capacity Building Plan for the Federal MDAs.
• A concise process report on this assignment.
• Final ICA/OCNA reports in accordance with the approved format.

Duration of Consultancy

• The national consultant will be engaged for Twenty-five (25) days for both fieldwork and the initial assessment report.
• Expected Completion Date: The maximum level of effort for this assignment is 25 days beginning July 22, 2024, and ending September 30, 2024.
• Working and Reporting: While the Consultant reports to the Chief of Party, the Consultant will work closely with Senior Federal Policy Advisor and Senior Data Systems Advisor.

Specific Tasks of the Lead (National Consultants):

• The consultant will conduct the assessments, analyze results and write the final ICA/OCNA report.
• Train Federal Education MDAs on the ICA/OCNA tool with supporting evidence.
• Develop an ICA/OCNA protocol manual.
• Provide day-to-day leadership on the ICA/OCNA process.
• Collate, harmonise, and summarise the Federal’s assessment reports.
• Provide leadership in the facilitation of stakeholder meetings.
• Provide leadership during the validation and debriefing process.
• Provide and submit a federal process report (both hard and electronic copy)

 Skills Required

• Advanced Degree in educational evaluation, policy and management, social sciences, or related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in strategic planning, program and institutional development, technical needs assessment, and technical support planning.
• Demonstrate capacity to identify and solve problems of coordination of multiple stakeholders for Basic Education and EGR responses.
• Experience in development of educational assessment tools and management of assessment data.
• Experience in working within the education sector in Nigeria specifically on assessment.
• Sound experience with educational technology applications such as learning management systems, computer-based instruction, computer-based testing, and educational dashboards.
• Sound experience in assessment data analysis, preferably using statistical software such as SPSS.
• Sound experience in use of data to improve student learning (e.g. assessment-informed instruction, teaching to the right level).
• Experience in quantitative and qualitative research.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and writing skills.
• Fluency in English and Nigerian languages (spoken and written), preferably Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba.

Application Closing Date
8th July, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: [email protected] using the job title as the subject of the mail.