Environmental Policy and Institutional Development Assessment

Position Summary: MSI is seeking qualified candidates to lead The International Resources Group assessment in Southern Sudan. The team will consist of an Environmental Policy Expert familiar with wildlife and forestry conservation, ecotourism and environmental protection, and an Institutional Development or Capacity Building Specialist in a post-conflict environment where institutional structures have been destroyed or never existed. The Environmental Policy Expert and the Institutional Development Specialist must ideally have experience in Southern Sudan or East Africa.  One or both of these Team members should be well versed in social science/soundness and gender analysis.  The assessment is slated to begin June 16^th, 2008 and the Level of Effort is anticipated to be between 16 and 18 days, with at least 12 days in-country.  

Responsibilities: The team will be asked to accomplish the following and more:

• Determine how effective the program strategy was in achieving the objectives of both the original and subsequently revised Contract.
• Determine what the strategic relevance of the program is to the USAID/USG Sudan program and foreign policy priorities – are the program activities rendering a clear CPA “peace dividend” and in what ways do they build the capacity of the GOSS and legitimatize the GOSS leadership. 
• Define how IRG has contributed to sustainable development and protection of Southern Sudan natural and environmental resource. How effectively has it build the capacities of the GOSS Ministry of Environment, Wildlife Conservation, and Tourism and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
• Determine what IRG has achieved since the signing of the STEP contract in August 2005.  This will be based on quarterly and annual reports, as well as subject interviews.
• Determine its performance in terms of results achieved, efficiency and value for money – are there better ways to improve efficiency and invest the limited resources in this sector.
• Determine how effective IRG’s approach to institutional capacity building is. Can this be demonstrated with the institutions it has been working with.
• To what degree has IRG been successful in promoting ecotourism in Southern Sudan. Is there evidence of “ecotourism” in Southern Sudan as a result of IRG’s activities.
• Make recommendations for moving forward if the activities were to continue and/or expand – are they replicable and desirable. 
• Identify the best practices, success stories, and testimonials – are there important lessons to be learned, and is there a story which can best demonstrate to the U.S. Congress lasting impacts of the program
• Determine to what extent are the activities of IRG addressing problems and challenges faced by the youth in Southern Sudan.
• Determine how effectively IRG is building local capacity for environmental conservation and protection. How effectively has IRG addressed environmental conservation and protection awareness in Southern Sudan. 

The result of the assessment will be a final report, to be submitted to USAID and MSI.

Qualifications:

• Prior experience conducting evaluations for international development programs (particularly USAID-funded programs);
• Advanced degree in a relevant field;
• Technical expertise is local governance, institutional capacity  assessment essential; a background in social science/soundness and monitoring and evaluation;
• Prior experience working in a post-conflict environment, especially in situations where human and material infrastructure is very basic or non-existent; ability to travel independently through underdeveloped and potentially unstable areas.
• Prior experience in Sudan or East Africa preferred.

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