Program Description
Building Markets’ USAID Sustainable Marketplace Initiative Liberia (SMI-L) creates jobs and sustains peace by championing local entrepreneurs and connecting them to new business opportunities. SMI-L works across sectors to support local businesses, build and strengthen local supply chains, and ensure monies spent in Liberia stay in Liberia.
Country Context
Building Markets has worked in Liberia since 2011 with funding from the Australian Government, Humanity United, BHP Biliton and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Bank and the World Food Programme. In Liberia, BM partners with the Government of Liberia, development organizations, local entrepreneurs and the private sector to provide innovative solutions to complex developmental challenges. Building Markets expects to receive new funding and will be implementing two programs in 2015.
Position Overview
The Capacity Building for Economic Surveillance and Statistical Reporting (ESSR) Project Manager will manage component two of the USAID SMI-L extension program which will focus on building the institutional capacity of the Liberian Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) to collect and process key economic data that can better inform economic policies and development of interventions that build the resilience and sustainability of the Liberian economy. This position will work closely with the Market Research, Business Operations and Training Units within BM in ensuring that key LISGIS staff are trained and mentored to conduct data collection and analysis throughout the country and to analyze the data to ensure timely compilation and dissemination of information on economic indicators of interest to the nation and the business community.
Responsibilities and Duties
The ESSR Project Manager reports to the Country Director and manages 2 national staff and international and national consultants. The LISGIS Project Manager is responsible for the LISGIS component of the SMI-L USAID extension phase, which involves building the capacity of LISGIS into an effective economic monitoring institution, by undertaking the following sequence of activities;
Organizational Capacity Assessment
The ESSR Project Manager will lead in-depth capacity assessment of LISGIS, which will include mapping existing capacity building assistance received, determining LISGIS’s mandate and shortfalls, as well as their current human and infrastructure capacity, and institutional organizational structure, and determining in which ways LISGIS is ready and able to adapt, in terms of flexible resources or budgetary support.
Formation of a Business Statistics Working Group within LISGIS
The ESSR Project Manager will support the establishment of a new working group for Business Statistics within the Statistics Division, which sits within the Department of Statistics & Data Processing.
Questionnaire Design and Data Collection
The ESSR Project Manager will support the Head of the Business Statistics Working Group, Research Analysts, alongside LISGIS Management, in designing effective data collection tools for business statistics.
The ESSR Project Manager will assist LISGIS in setting up a call center facility, setting up processes to ensure that it runs smoothly and training staff in managing the center.
Research Information System Set-up
The ESSR Project Manager will set up a survey tools, IT equipment and related LISGIS team on the system’s operation.
Capacity Development through Training and Mentoring
The ESSR Project Manager will be responsible managing the delivery of training and on-the-job coaching and mentoring of designated LISGIS staff on the following topics:
- Data collections tools design
- Data editing, cleaning, coding and analysis
- Data presentation and reporting
- Fieldwork planning and logistics
- Enumeration and data collection
- Dissemination to increase public consumption
- Where needed, provide technical advice on new concepts and existing activities
BM-L Cross-Team Collaboration
- Work closely with the Market Research team in producing analysis and research pieces
- Work closely with the Communications and Advocacy Team to ensure the SMI-L advocacy plan is closely in line with the programmatic objectives;
- Working closely with Business Operations Unit on ensuring data collected on Ebola related surveys are both accurate and complete
- Provide input to improve the overall strategy and efficiency of the SMI-L project.
- Provide input and insight to the CAT team on reporting deliverables;
Person Specification:
The ideal candidate will demonstrate skills in managing large business surveys with national and international scope, data collection and sampling, statistics, economic analysis and possesses strong writing, editing, and research skills. Experience working with governments on macro and micro-economics and government economic policies is an added strength. In addition, the LISGIS Program Manager will also have the following core competencies:
- Masters level or higher degree in development studies, economics, business management, social science, statistics, international development.
- At least 3-5 years of applied experience with development organization designing, implementing and overseeing monitoring and evaluation tasks preferably for governments, civil society, capacity building, and civic engagement programs;
- Demonstrated experience managing teams and building staff capacity within complex programs;
- Demonstrated experience designing logical frameworks and results based frameworks and associated performance monitoring and evaluation plans;
- Experience with M&E approaches for donor funded programs USAID programs
- Extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection including survey design, implementation and analysis; experience with various survey and rapid assessment approaches;
- Experience in designing information management systems;
- Competent in MS Excel, word processing, Power Point and experience using statistical software EPI-Info, SPSS and STATA are a prerequisite.
- Experience with USAID, preferred
- Experience working in developing countries, preferably in Africa
- Experience working on capacity building programs with governments in developing countries, preferably in Africa
- Creative mindset: initiative-rich, energetic and efficient, results-oriented
- Critical Analysis: an ability to structure and find solutions to complex problems
- Communications: good interpersonal skills and ability communicate, both verbal and written, to external counterparts and internal colleagues
- Capable of thinking “outside the box” and provide innovative approaches to programmatic and management challenges
- Comfortable with and managing large amounts of data.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please send your cover letter and CV to vacancies@buildingmarkets.org. This position will remain open until filled.
