Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Advisor

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Position Title: Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Advisor
Location: Niamey
Country: Niger
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies. Established in 1945, CARE operates in over 100 countries, employing thousands of staff members who work tirelessly to improve the lives of vulnerable populations. The organization focuses on empowering women and girls, addressing the root causes of poverty, and promoting sustainable development. CARE's mission is to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice, making it a key player in international development and humanitarian efforts.

Job Overview:
The CLA Advisor position is crucial for the anticipated USAID-funded Resilience security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Niger, which aims to enhance nutrition" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food and nutrition security for vulnerable populations. The role involves integrating Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) principles throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring that adaptive management, learning, and collaboration are prioritized across all program components. The CLA Advisor will work closely with senior project staff, including the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party, to ensure the project remains responsive to changing contexts and is driven by data and evidence. This position is expected to foster a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing, maximizing the effectiveness of resilience programming in Niger. The CLA Advisor will engage with various stakeholders, including project partners and beneficiaries, to ensure that learning and collaboration are central to achieving project goals. The anticipated duration of this activity is five years, with a budget ranging from $50 to $100 million, making this a significant and impactful role within the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The CLA Advisor will lead the development and implementation of the project’s CLA strategy in alignment with USAID’s CLA framework and guidelines. Key responsibilities include ensuring that CLA principles are integrated into all project components, promoting collaboration, learning, and adaptive management to achieve project objectives. The advisor will facilitate learning events, workshops, and training sessions for project staff and partners to strengthen CLA practices and adaptive management capabilities. They will establish processes for capturing, analyzing, and utilizing data, feedback, and project experiences to inform decision-making and improve programming. The CLA Advisor will also lead efforts to apply learning and evidence to adjust project strategies and interventions as needed in response to emerging challenges and opportunities. Organizing and leading after-action reviews, learning sessions, and feedback mechanisms will be essential to ensure continuous improvement of project activities. Collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team is critical to ensure that CLA is incorporated into all monitoring and evaluation activities, including learning agendas and research questions. The advisor will promote gender equality and social inclusion in program activities and work closely with the M&E lead in reviewing and revising the project Theory of Change. Additionally, the CLA Advisor will oversee the development and maintenance of knowledge management systems and platforms to capture and disseminate project insights, lessons learned, and best practices to internal and external audiences. They will prepare reports, presentations, and other communication materials to document and share project learning, adaptations, and successes with USAID, partners, and stakeholders. Finally, the advisor will lead initiatives to build the capacity of project staff and partners in CLA principles, ensuring sustainable practices for collaboration, learning, and adaptation, and engage with government counterparts, donors, local organizations, and other key stakeholders to promote collaboration and share learning on resilience programming and food security.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in international development, social sciences, organizational learning, knowledge management, or a related field. A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in international development is required, with at least 3 years in a senior CLA, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), or program management role. Experience working on USAID-funded projects and in resilience programming is highly desirable. Candidates should demonstrate expertise in applying CLA principles, adaptive management, and knowledge management in complex development projects. Certification in project management (e.g., PD Pro) is desired, and experience working in Niger is preferred. Excellent facilitation, collaboration, and communication skills are essential, along with the ability to engage effectively with diverse teams, stakeholders, and partners.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree in fields such as international development, social sciences, organizational learning, knowledge management, or a related discipline. This advanced education is crucial for understanding the complexities of development work and the application of CLA principles in practice.

Experience:
The position requires at least 7 years of relevant experience in international development, with a minimum of 3 years in a senior role focused on CLA, MEL, or program management. Candidates should have a proven track record of working on USAID-funded projects and experience in resilience programming, which is highly desirable. Demonstrated expertise in applying CLA principles and adaptive management in complex development projects is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in both French and English is required, encompassing both spoken and written communication. This bilingual proficiency is crucial for effective engagement with diverse stakeholders and partners in Niger, where both languages may be used in professional contexts. Strong communication skills in these languages will facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing across the project team and with external partners.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as Key Personnel and is subject to USAID approval, as well as project award and funding. The anticipated duration of the project is five years, with a budget ranging from $50 to $100 million. The role will be based in Niamey, Niger, and may require travel within the country as needed. The position is full-time and emphasizes the importance of promoting gender equality and social inclusion in all program activities. Candidates should also demonstrate a commitment to the principles of Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Harassment, and Abuse (PSHEA) and Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (DEBI).