Social Scientist - MSI - FATA Region, Pakistan

Position: Social Scientist, FATA Region, Pakistan

Location: Pakistan

Job Code: 3235

Project/Proposal Summary:
In June 2011, MSI was awarded the Independent Monitoring and Evaluation Contract (IMEC).  On IMEC, MSI will provide verification, monitoring and evaluation, reporting throughout Pakistan, and across all projects that USAID is supporting.  The goal is to assess whether USAID resources are well-spent and achieving desired results and to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the administration of programs, regardless of the implementation mechanism.

Position Summary:
MSI has been commissioned by USAID to develop an operational strategy for gender integration in FATA development.  The purpose of the strategy is to assist USAID and its partners to better address gender issues in its future programming across its portfolio, including economic growth and agriculture, education, energy, infrastructure, and health.  Research will also address challenges faced in these types of development programs.  The strategy will answer how to effectively integrate the input of women and girls into project design in both activity and non-activity based projects and improve the rate of women’s and girls’ participation and decision-making in project activity components.  As part of this assignment, the team will look at similar activities in FATA, examining the approaches used by other organizations, what was successful and what wasn’t successful and why.  This work builds upon a previous assessment conducted by MSI.
As part of a four person team, the consultant will serve as the regional specialist.  The specialist will bring to the team a thorough understanding of the social, political and economic issues facing women and girls.  The specialist will also bring to the team knowledge of the key stakeholders in Peshawar and in the region who are responsible for development and for gender programming and implementation of projects.
The assignment is expected to begin in November 2012 and continue through December 2012.

** Please note that this is a local position based in Islamabad.
Only local citizens are eligible to apply **

Responsibilities:
• Identify secondary data sources on social, political and economic conditions of women and society in FATA;
• Participate in a team planning meeting;
• Help develop an assessment work plan and primary data collection instruments;
• Help identify stakeholders and organizations for interviews;
• Conduct fieldwork, including key informant and group interviews;
• Write specific portions of the report as assigned by the team leader;
• Revise draft portions of written report as required; and
• Participate in a mid-term and end-of assignment briefing for USAID highlighting the findings, conclusions, and recommendations in a PowerPoint presentation.

Qualifications:
• Ph.D. or Master’s Degree in development, economics or relevant field;
• At least 10 years of direct work experience in FATA;
• At least 15 years of development experience in Pakistan;
• History of consulting and/or directly working for USAID, DFID, the UN or another bi-lateral or multi-lateral institutions desired;
• Experience in conducting interviews required;
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English required; and
• Fluency in Pashto required.

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

To apply for this position, please click here