Compensation Overview

About the Project

Through the Private Sector Engagement Modernization Contract (PSEMC), Dexis supports the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) PSE Hub to expand and deepen collaboration with the private sector to achieve greater development outcomes. The PSE Hub’s mission is to create the institutional conditions, operating infrastructure, and capacity necessary to expand engagement with the private sector in the United States and partner countries. The PSE Hub works to transform and modernize how USAID does development by institutionalizing USAID’s PSE policy and delivering capacity- and systems-building support for PSE across all sectors, operating units, and countries where USAID operates.

About the Position

Dexis is seeking an Evidence Advisor to support the independent Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), which supports USAID in improving the effectiveness of its programming by bringing stronger economic evidence, theory, and tools to bear on the Agency’s work. Toward this end, OCE

1. Promotes the use of high-quality evidence of “cost-effectiveness” (i.e., how much impact does an intervention deliver per dollar spent) in Agency decision-making;
2. Promotes the generation of more cost-effectiveness evidence that the Agency is uniquely placed to catalyze;
3. Provides analysis and advice to Agency leadership on pressing macroeconomic issues.

One key area of OCE’s engagement is the development of Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs), providing stable employment and economic opportunities in low- and middle-income countries. This position is expected to spend at least a portion of the time encouraging the use of evidence on effective strategies to support and grow SMEs.

This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC, with the possibility for remote work. It is currently envisioned to last two years, with the possibility for extension.

Responsibilities

The Evidence Advisor will support OCE efforts to increase the use of evidence in program decision-making at USAID (such as adopting proven, cost-effective interventions for key development outcomes in USAID programs) and supporting USAID to generate more evidence where there are evidence gaps. This will involve exciting opportunities to collaborate with technical teams and Missions across the Agency on specific programs and bodies of evidence as well as to identify opportunities to strengthen processes, policies, systems, and capacity related to evidence use and generation. Essential functions for this role are outlined below:

Synthesize Global Evidence and Provide Actionable Insights from Evidence to Support USAID Decision-Making (40%)

• Carry out syntheses of cost-effectiveness evidence related to specific development outcomes, particularly in the area of Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Includes conducting both in-depth and rapid syntheses, drawing on existing evidence synthesis where available, incorporating external program cost data to complement impact evaluation evidence, and providing clear guidance to Agency colleagues.
• Collaborate with USAID colleagues in other offices to co-create syntheses of cost-effectiveness evidence related to specific development outcomes.
• Stay abreast of the latest external randomized evaluation evidence from academia and other research institutes, particularly in the area of small and medium enterprise support; identify and execute on new opportunities to apply insights from emerging evidence to USAID’s work.
• Compile and communicate information to USAID colleagues about the relative cost-effectiveness of different development interventions—and the strength of underlying evidence—in user-friendly, actionable ways to guide Agency decision-making.
• Track the team’s portfolio of engagements around SMEs, including key indicators on number of engagements, dollar value of activities being informed by cost-effectiveness evidence, and likely impact of EU team’s advising. 

Build Capacity through New Tools, Guidance, and Products (25%)

• Engage with a broad range of USAID stakeholders to understand how, when, and why they do—or don’t—use cost-effectiveness evidence or generate new evidence as part of USAID-funded programs, in particular in SME-focused programs..
• Develop tools and  guidance that can support USAID colleagues in using cost-effectiveness evidence and/or generating new evidence as part of program design and implementation.
• Identify and execute new approaches to strengthening the knowledge and abilities of Agency staff in using evidence from randomized impact evaluations and cost-effectiveness analyses, with a particular focus on Agency staff involved in designing and managing SME-focused programs.
• Periodically seek input on tools, guidance, and/or products from expert individuals or groups outside of USAID.
• Support the development of internal and external communication products about cost-effectiveness evidence and OCE’s work on evidence generation and use.

Provide Technical Assistance to USAID Operating Units (35%)

• Make recommendations to Missions and other Operating Units on how they can assess program effectiveness and cost-effectiveness and significantly change their programs (in particular, SME-focused programs) through greater use of evidence and generation of evidence.
• Build and manage strategic relationships with a wide range of USAID Missions and other Operating Units to surface collaboration opportunities, with a particular focus on opportunities around SME programming.
• Understand the problems that colleagues in Missions and other Operating Units face in using cost-effectiveness evidence in their programming and in integrating high-quality randomized impact evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis into program evaluation.
• Provide high-quality hands-on technical assistance to USAID Missions and other Operating Units on use and generation of evidence, including through virtual and in-person support (requiring overseas travel).

Perform Other Duties as Assigned

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least five (5) years of experience in a relevant technical area, such as economics, international affairs, finance, statistics, and public policy, OR Master’s degree in a relevant field and three (3) years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated experience in the application of research and evidence for decision making
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to assimilate and process large amounts of information into a coherent and compelling narrative
• Proven experience building personal networks, resulting in securing new opportunities
• Excellent communication (written and oral), interpersonal, and collaboration skills
• Highly developed cultural awareness and the ability to work collaboratively in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Problem solving orientation and ability to manage dynamic workflows and priorities with multiple stakeholders
• Eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Ability to attain and maintain a facilities access clearance
• Ability to travel internationally up to 20% of the time on short notice

Preferred

• Professional and updated knowledge of SME development or experience supporting SMEs in developing countries strongly preferred
• Familiarity with impact evaluation evidence on approaches to support SME growth, profits, and employment in low- and middle-income countries
• Active facilities access clearance
• Experience living/working in developing countries
• Experience working within large donor agencies or with implementing partners