PROJECT ADVERTISEMENT

LOCAL EXPERT RESEARCHER, Guinea Evaluation

USAID/CPS Peacebuilding Evaluation, Analysis, Research, and Learning (PEARL)

Part-time consultancy position from January 2025 – July 2025, based in Guinea

Introducing Integrity

Integrity is an ethical consultancy and service provider working in challenging and complex environments around the globe.

We help our clients succeed in fragile and challenging environments while building trust and understanding as the basis for transformative change. We work across all phases of the programme and project cycle, delivering eleven complementary services: monitoring, evaluation and learning / data and knowledge management / research, evidence and analysis / advisory / project management / communications / risk management / technical assistance / capability and capacity development / stakeholder engagement / grant and fund management. Our services are underpinned by the principles on which we were founded, a commitment to providing reliable information and evidence, and expert and high-quality delivery.

Headquartered in London and Washington DC, Integrity also has offices in Jordan, Kenya, and Pakistan. Our multi-national team of over 80 deliver multi-year projects, programmes and consulting assignments to a wide range of government clients, international organisations, foundations and private sector clients.

VISION: To set the international standard for ethically delivered expert services in complex and challenging contexts.

MISSION: We use evidence and learning to provide trusted advice and enable change for a sustainable future.

VALUES:

• Courage: We work on many of the world’s most complex problems. We stand against violence in all its forms. We are unafraid to stand up to illegal or unethical practices.

• Objectivity: We challenge conventional thinking. Our recommendations are not based on assumptions or ideology but evidence and learning.

• Diligence: We incorporate our best individual and collective intellect through rigour, reflection, and collaboration.

• Accountability: We take responsibility for the quality of our work and performance. We hold ourselves to account through clear policy and process, sustained by long-term profitability.

• Sensitivity: We understand the impact of our presence and our work, empathise with people’s situations, and commit to do no harm.

ETHICS: Integrity upholds the highest ethical standards in our work, our employment of staff and our interaction with people. Through adherence to our core values, we ensure the best possible service and benefit the communities amongst whom we work.

We commit to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where all feel safe and able to progress, contribute and be heard, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, marital or parental status.

Further information about Integrity can be found at www.integrityglobal.com.

Project Background

Integrity is leading the Peacebuilding, Evaluation, Analysis, Research, and Learning (PEARL) Activity for the USAID Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization’s Center for Conflict and Violence Prevention (CPS/CVP). PEARL is a global buy-in mechanism that offers violence and conflict analysis, peacebuilding evaluation, and knowledge management services to USAID Missions and Operating Units.

Through PEARL, Integrity will evaluate efforts to achieve U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability (SPCPS) policy goals in the Global Fragility Act (GFA) priority countries (Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea) and region (Coastal West Africa: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Togo). The global-level evaluation will help distill lessons learned in prevention, stabilization, partnership, and management for U.S. Government interventions in fragile contexts. As part of the U.S. SPCPS evaluation portfolio, Integrity is conducting a series of case study evaluations to identify contributions toward the SPCPS objectives defined for each priority country and region.

In Guinea, PEARL will conduct a case study evaluation that seeks to analyze strategic management processes, partnerships, and progress toward outcomes intended by the African Democratic and Political Transitions (ADAPT) initiative and the U.S. SPCPS. Both U.S. Government (USG) strategic policy initiatives seek to advance peace and democracy in Guinea. The evaluation will consider strategic results at the portfolio level, partnership with local stakeholders, USG management processes, and broader alignment with other USG foreign policy priorities.

Integrity is recruiting an experienced Local Expert Researcher who is available beginning in January 2025, with anticipated completion of the assignment in July 2025. The position will require continuous engagement throughout the period of performance in accordance with the agreed-upon schedule, with increased engagement expected from February 2025 through June 2025. This position is based in Guinea with anticipated travel in Conakry and possibly Kankan (including Siguiri), Nzerekore, and Faranah (Kissidougou Prefecture).

Scope of Work

The Local Expert Researcher will provide technical support and expertise to the Team Leader throughout the evaluation. This includes supporting the evaluation design, playing a key role during the data collection and analysis phase, and ensuring high-quality services and outputs that meet USAID’s needs. S/he will provide PEARL with contextual and operational guidance in all phases of the evaluation, especially related to in-country data collection, to ensure that evaluation implementation is conflict sensitive and contextually appropriate.

The Local Expert Researcher will play a lead role in data collection and will participate in co-design and recommendations workshops with USG stakeholders. S/he will review data collection tools and advise the evaluation team on operational and logistical considerations. The Local Expert Researcher will lead the coordination of data collection activities in Guinea and will conduct interviews and/or focus group discussions as requested by the Team Leader. S/he will contribute to the desk review, support data analysis, and provide inputs to the evaluation report and presentation of findings.

This position reports directly to the Team Leader. The Local Expert Researcher will also coordinate with the PEARL SPCPS Global Evaluation team to ensure alignment, transfer of knowledge, and adaptations based on lessons learned. The Local Expert Researcher will work closely with the Team Leader and PEARL Activity Management Unit to ensure the activity is implemented according to Integrity standard operating procedures and PEARL analytical and communication standards.

Responsibilities

1. Provide technical expertise and hands-on support throughout data collection, enumerator training, synthesis of findings, data analysis, and development of evidence-based recommendations.

2. Support the evaluation team in identifying and conducting outreach to relevant stakeholders to arrange interviews and focus group discussions.

3. Support the development and finalization of data collection tools in collaboration with the Team Leader.

4. Conduct data collection activities with implementing partners, beneficiaries, subject matter experts, and stakeholders in English and/or French.

5. Contribute to open-source literature reviews to identify and analyze research articles, publications, and resources in English and/or French.

6. Advise the team on cultural, operational, and logistical considerations for data collection in Guinea.

7. Participate in and/or co-facilitate client meetings, training, and USG stakeholder workshops to design the evaluation and develop actionable recommendations.

8. Take detailed notes during data collection activities and stakeholder workshops.

9. Provide inputs into the Evaluation Design and Evaluation Report, helping the team to address any comments and questions raised by USAID.

10. Complete other tasks as requested by the Activity Director and/or Team Leader. This may include, but not be limited to: translating and transcribing interview data, contributing to the desk review, drafting sections of the evaluation report, providing quality assurance of deliverables, and/or supporting the dissemination of findings, conclusions, and recommendations in a format that is user-friendly and suitable for collaboration, learning, and adaptation.

Requirements and Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree required (advanced degree preferred) in a field relevant to conflict studies, political science, international development, or related studies.

2. At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in the international development field.

3. Demonstrated experience implementing research projects, evaluations, or assessments.

4. Extensive experience in Guinea examining issues of governance, stabilization, and/or conflict mitigation.

5. Experience in preparing and leading interviews and focus group discussions.

6. Experience using computer/data analysis software including Microsoft Office suite and database management systems.

7. Strong writing/organizational skills and a demonstrated ability to deliver written products.

8. Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

9. Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with a diverse team in different geographic locations.

10. Fluency in English and French required. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to facilitate meetings, write clear and concise reports, and present findings to diverse audiences.

11. Ability to work for extended hours when required.

12. Experience working with USAID is strongly preferred.