Qualitative Research Specialist

Experience : 7-10 years

Panagora Group provides monitoring and evaluation services in the international development industry and currently implements the USAID/Colombia Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) activity. The MEL activity provides technical and advisory services to USAID in the following components: (1) Monitoring; (2) Performance and Impact Assessments; (3) Research, Assessments, and Data Analysis; (4) Geographic Information Services (GIS) and (5) Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation tasks (CLA).

The USAID/Colombia MEL System Core has three main actors: 1) Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Working Group (MELWG), 2) MEL Activity, and 3) USAID Implementing Partners MEL teams. These actors constantly generate, analyze and process data and information from diverse sources for evidence-based decision-making. However, the Mission is not effectively identifying, capturing, processing, organizing, systematizing, or sharing all the information and knowledge it produces. For example, a lot of knowledge produced by implementing partners and the MEL Activity has only been shared or used by some narrow audiences. MEL SYSTEM CORE knowledge management procedures and systems for identifying, processing and centralizing this knowledge need to be more efficient. MEL SYSTEM CORE actors’ roles and responsibilities for this management also need to be clarified.

This consultancy will analyze current knowledge management at the Mission, its weaknesses, gaps and opportunities, and will propose a strategy and implementation guide for its improvement. The Knowledge Management Digital Strategy (KMDS) for the USAID /Colombia MEL System Core will allow internal and external stakeholders to access knowledge more effectively and easily, and will increase the use of knowledge for decision-making and reporting.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Support the construction of a strategic work plan that includes at least the following: methodological proposal, timeline for each task, a first version of research instruments and key informants to conduct interviews as part of the data collection process.
- Conduct a desk review of USAID knowledge management resources (policies, guides, tools, lessons learned, best practices etc.) and synthesize desk review results in a summary report.
- Conduct a diagnosis of the existing knowledge
- Conduct interviews with key informants (approximately 20) and surveys for USAID Implementing Partners (approximately 60) and prepare a report with main results.
- Based on the desk review and collected information, support the construction of a proposal for the USAID/Colombia Knowledge Management Digital Strategy (including, components, actors, roles, tools/resources, processes for capturing, storing, sharing and accessing knowledge and recommendations for how to operationalize the KMDS (repository/platforms, roles and responsibilities).
- Prepare the Knowledge Management Strategy implementation guide with at least the following sections: Introduction, approach, roles, resources, and a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for following-up on the implementation of the Strategy. The guide should include a step-by
- step description for each process (produce, store, access, share, etc.) for the different stakeholders.
- Support work sessions with USAID and MEL Activity to present and validate work plan, questions of research instruments, diagnosis results, proposal of the USAID/Colombia Knowledge Management Digital Strategy and implementation guide.

Panagora Group is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

*Note: Panagora does not offer visa sponsorship at this time.

**Español**
Panagora Group proporciona servicios de monitoreo y evaluación en la industria del desarrollo internacional y actualmente implementa la actividad de Monitoreo, Evaluación y Aprendizaje (MEL) de USAID / Colombia. La actividad MEL brinda servicios técnicos y de asesoría a USAID en los siguientes componentes: (1) Monitoreo; (2) Evaluaciones de desempeño e impacto; (3) Investigación, evaluaciones y análisis de datos; (4) Servicios de Información Geográfica (GIS) y (5) Tareas de Colaboración, Aprendizaje y Adaptación (CLA).

El Sistema MEL CORE de USAID/Colombia tiene tres actores principales: 1) Grupo de Trabajo de Monitoreo, Evaluación y Aprendizaje de USAID/Colombia, 2) la Actividad MEL de USAID y 3) Equipos MEL de los Socios Implementadores de USAID. Estos actores producen, generan y analizan información proveniente de diferentes fuentes, de manera constante con el fin de usarla para la toma de decisiones basadas en la evidencia. Sin embargo, la Misión no está siendo lo suficientemente eficiente en sus procesos de ide