Research and Evidence Advisor, Child Poverty and Child Rights Governance at Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Research & Evidence Advisor is responsible for leading the research and monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) efforts of Save the Children’s child rights governance and poverty work - measuring and demonstrating the impact of our thematic work in these areas. The Advisor is responsible for monitoring results and progress related to these areas, monitoring and sharing results of tracer indicators and developing and operationalizing the relevant thematic components of the Global Results Framework in support of our Ambition 2030.

The role holder is also responsible for identifying, defining and accompanying robust research, evidence and learning agendas for common approaches that clearly demonstrate evidence-based practice, bring evidence and data from the country and regional levels up and contribute to bridging the global evidence gap both internally in Save the Children and externally in the wider sector.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

1. Demonstrated knowledge and experience of technical and program issues in development and humanitarian contexts
2. Demonstrated knowledge in the design and implementation of global monitoring and evaluation systems. Substantial experience of working in international development in designing, implementing and evaluating programs.
3. Knowledge of state of the art and good practice in global monitoring and evaluation
4. Proven ability to develop and apply monitoring and evaluation plans to determine program results and monitor impact within an international organization
5. Demonstrated skills in quantitative data, including but not limited to research design, data collection, analysis and presentation, and communication of results
6. Knowledge and experience in capacity building around monitoring and evaluation, research and learning
7. Experience using software packages including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and data analysis programs (e.g., SPSS, STATA)
8. Ability to adopt a proactive and creative approach to problem solving and strategic thinking working closely with colleagues as required to offer solutions and deliver results
9. Ability to influence and liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures and act with credibility, tact and diplomacy
10. Verbal and written fluency in English
11. Excellent organizational and time management skills
12. Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills
13. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to develop and maintain relationships with key individuals and groups within and external to the organization
14. Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and maintain focus to achieve results
15. A full appreciation of the value of cooperation within a team environment
16. Experience in collaborative working across a large and diverse organization
17. Ability to maintain a calm disposition and positive outlook when working under pressure
18. Willingness and ability to travel up to 20-30% of the time

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Lead monitoring of results and progress related to the child poverty and child rights governance technical areas:

1. Lead global results reporting of strategic initiatives to demonstrate the impact of our thematic work in these areas. 
2. Harmonise and align global strategic indicators.
3. Coordinate collection and presentation of tracer indicator data, including reach and spend data 
4. Support communications products for showcasing program successes and progress on strategic objectives
5. Support roll-out of the Quality Benchmarks, prioritising those that relate to programmatic approaches and provide assistance to COs as required.

Support Global Results Framework Development and Roll-out

1. Lead development of the components of the Global Results Framework, including defining metrics to measure our thematic ambitions and contributions to the child rights governance and child poverty 
2. Support the development of clearly articulated, measurable milestones and targets for the strategic goals as part of country strategic planning
3. Support thematic indicator inclusion and quality checking of thematic indicators in PPM Prime
4. Support roll-out of the Global Results Framework and ensure defined thematic indicators are tracked at the country and global levels
5. Lead thematic contributions to miscellaneous GRF-related initiatives/activities, e.g. reach methodology revision, country strategic planning, etc.

Evaluation, Research and Learning

1. Support implementation of a Research, Evidence and Learning (REL) agenda of priority questions and topics for Child Poverty and Child Rights Governance which contributes to both the Global REL Agenda, and programmatic approach agendas. 
2. Develop a pipeline of member/country office research items and evaluative activities planned for Q3-4 of 2021, support and analyse country office reviews and evaluations and produce learning papers and publications. Disseminate quality research and evidence to teams.
3. Contribute to building research and analytic capacity across the organization in the areas of research design and ethics, data collection, data analysis and communication of results

Support Common Approaches Development and Uptake

1. Contribute to the learning programs for “refreshed” common approaches
2. Oversee data collection efforts for annual mapping of endorsed common approaches and baseline data collection for new common approaches to provide data for defining future ambitions and monitoring progress 
3. Engage with thematic leads to facilitate and support generation of evidence and learning from common approaches

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

1. holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
2. holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

1. sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

1. builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

1. develops and encourages new and innovative solutions willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

1. honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS:  

1. A Masters degree and experience in international development, social studies or similar. Demonstrated knowledge and experience of technical and program issues in development and humanitarian contexts 

Desirable:

1. Additional languages, particularly French, Spanish and/or Arabic.
2. Additional job responsibilities
3. The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

DEADLINE: 31st March 2022