Assessment Specialist – Skill Development

About us

International Development Group (IDG) works to reduce poverty around the world through sustainable, broad-based economic development. For 30 years, IDG has partnered with USAID and other international donors in more than 80 countries. Our areas of expertise include economic governance, private sector development, international trade, public financial management, monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

Job Description

Exhibit A: Scope of Work

STTA: Assessment Specialist – Skill Development (Mid-level)

Background

The USAID Advancing the U.S.-India Partnership Platform (APP) Activity aims to support USAID/India staff and stakeholders to be more efficient, effective, transparent and skilled in achieving planned development outcomes. Through the use of evidence, performance management techniques, and Collaborating Learning and Adapting (CLA) approaches, the India APP Activity assists the Mission to advance goals mutually defined in cooperation with the Government of India (GOI) and the regional partner governments. This support platform will contribute to the development of a state-of-the-art Mission-wide monitoring and evaluation regime and advance the USAID/India Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), its projects and activities, by providing design, monitoring, evaluation, assessment, and learning, and organizational development services.  

Position Description and Rationale

USAID is exploring the area of adolescent/youth skill development to contribute to economic growth, youth empowerment and job opportunities in India. It is developing a position paper to prioritize programming opportunities on skills development in the context of other adolescent and youth skill development initiatives by the Government. It is also reviewing the role and programs of other key stakeholders such as private sector donors and employers, Foundations, other bilateral and multilaterals (UNICEF and World Bank) and communities (urban, rural and semi urban). Some potential areas for prioritizing may be located around facilitation of flexible learning programs and promotion of vocational, foundational & 21st Century skills for youth inside & outside formal education systems. APP will contribute to the design of an upcoming skilling activity by conducting a review and assessment of the skilling/TVET landscape in India including a) a contextual review of broad skilling context in India, b) gathering of primary feedback from ecosystem stakeholders, c) an ecosystem analysis of TVET, and d) drawing lessons from good practices within India (3 identified states), and global best practices, including the US community college experience.

Specific Tasks

The Assessment Specialist shall:

• Support the youth skills assessment and contribute in desk reviews and primary data gathering
  
• Support the Team Lead finalizing assessment design, stakeholder selection, tool development, data gathering, secondary /desk reviews, analysis and report writing
  
• Conduct analysis of primary and secondary data (qualitative and quantitative, as needed)
  
• Contribute to the assessment report writing, including relevant chapters as delegated  
  

Level of Effort (LOE) Estimate:

Approximately 40 days over the course of three months.

Deliverables:

1. Deliverable 1 – Support to inception report
   
2. Deliverable 2 – cleaned Interview notes
   
3. Deliverable 3 – contributions to Top line findings narrative and PPT
   
4. Deliverable 4 – sections/chapters in Draft report and PPT
   
5. Deliverable 5 – sections/chapters in Final report and PPT
   

Reporting Requirements

The Assessment Specialist will report to the COP or his/her designee through regular briefings and day-to-day dialogue.  

Period of Performance

The period of performance will be 1/1/2024 – 31/03/2024.

Required Skills and Experience

• At least 5 years of broad-ranging assessment expertise in the development sector in the domains of economic growth / employment & jobs /private sector/MSMEs
  
• Experience conducting skills assessment, research /or evaluation of skills development programs, or a closely related sector/ theme
  
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative assessment methods
  
• Experience in rapid literature reviews, developing tools, and conducting data collection
  
• Familiarity with secondary databases pertaining to skills/job market – such as PLFS, ministry administrative data on skill development schemes, CMIE, etc.
  
• Experience culling insights from existing reports
  
• Educated up to a Masters level
  

Desired

• Experience in capturing insights from global /national good practices
  
• Exposure to 21st century skills domain and the 4IR skills evolution
  
• Experience with a bilateral (e.g., USAID, FCDO, etc.), multilateral actor (e.g., UN agencies, World Bank, etc.), or large foundations (e.g., BMGF)
  

International Development Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran disability or genetic information or any other reason prohibited by law in employment.